Friday, March 13, 2015

Closing Project

Wonder has taught us all a lot about bullying. As your final project for the book, I would like you to create an anti-bullying poster based on the book, Wonder.
You will work in pairs and your poster will promote kindness, acceptance and respect among teenagers. Remember the theme of the book, the characters from the book and use a quote from the book.

Monday, February 9, 2015

WONDER: Part 5 Julian Pages 186-204

Justin's Story


Justin's part is introduced with a quote from The Elephant Man, a play written by Bernard Pomerance that is based on the life of Joseph (sometimes called John) Merrick. John Merrick was a real person who lived in the 1800s. When he was two years old, growths began to appear on his face. As he grew older, his appearance continued to change until, according to Wikipedia, "His skin appeared thick and lumpy, he developed an enlargement of his lips, and a bony lump grew on his forehead. One of his arms and both feet became enlarged." His head grew to be 36 inches around.

The name "The Elephant Man" comes from John Merrick's time in a carnival freak show where people paid to look at "freaks." He was advertised at "The Elephant Man." He eventually did leave the freak show, but died in a hospital at the age of 27.

Check out the trailer to the award winning movie here.
Write in your notebook, on a new page, how this trailer makes you feel, and what you think the movie is going to be about. Do you think it is going to have a happy ending or a sad one?

In one line of the play, John Merrick says the words quoted at the beginning of Justin's section.

"Sometimes I think my head is so big 
because it is so full of dreams."


Friday, January 9, 2015

WONDER: Part 4 Jack Pages 133-185



Part 4: Jack Pages 133-185

At the end of Part One, we read about what happened on Halloween at school. Most of you had some very strong opinions about Jack. Think about how you felt when the Bleeding Scream walked into class and heard the conversation between Darth Sidious and the two mummies. How did that make you feel? Have you ever experienced anything like it or can you imagine how Auggie must have felt?

Now consider the quote that begins Part Four, Jack's story:

"Now here is my secret. It is very simple. It is only with one's heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
Seeing with the heart? What is essential, or most important, is invisible to the eye? Does that match what we read at the end of Part One?

In your notebook do a quick write about what that means to you?
That quote is from The Little Prince, a short novel originally published in France in 1943, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It is a very famous children's book, but is loved by adults as much as children and is still a best selling book today some 70-years on. A preview is available in Google Books where you can read the first few chapters.

Read P. 133-185

Self-Animal Portrait                                                              (handout page 66)


WONDER: Part 3 Summer, Pages 118-132



Part 3: Summer, Pages 118-132

Pre-reading: Vocabulary/Syllables                                                (worksheet p.45)

1. major p.119
2. sanitizer p. 120
3. directly 120
4. merged 122
5. hovering 122
6. expression 127
7. register 127
8. biracial 127
9. platoon 128
10. syndrome 128
11. morphed 128
12. artifact 131

a. First, watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu51ECdLkIU
Next, copy the vocabulary list into your notebook and write next to each word the word broken into syllables and the number of syllables each word has.

For example: 
major ma-jor (2)
sanitizer san-i-ti-zer (4)

b. Then, choose one word you do not know and fill out a vocabulary handout on that word. 
Stick into notebook.

Read pages 118-132

WONDER: Part 2: Via Pages 8-117

Part 2: Via (Pages 81-117)

* On your device, using headphones, check out Mr. W Reads Blog and listen to the cool David Bowie song, Space Oddity which was a giant hit when it was released in 1969.

* On a new page, put today's date in the top right corner. Next, please answer the following question, in a complete sentence. Remember, capital letters, punctuation, neat handwriting.

Why do you think Palacio chose this song to include in her book? 



Example: I think the author, R.J.Palacio uses the classic song from Space Oddity in Wonder to demonstrate how Auggie feels like he is living in a different planet sometimes. I also think it shows how people look at him as if he is an alien. There is a line in the song that says: "take your protein pills and put your helmet on" which I think relates to Auggie because he has to take a lot of medicine and likes wearing a space helmet. When he wears the helmet no-one can see his deformed face.



Read P. 81-117

Figurative Language: alliteration, metaphor, simile, personification

Now, in your notebook, write the title: Figurative Language
Beneath the title. write the sub-title (or sub-heading) Alliteration  and three examples of alliteration. Then do the same for metaphor, simile and personification. Please highlight or underline the figurative language.
For example:
Alliteration:  the dirty dog danced in the dusty dump.
Simile: the little girl was as pretty as a daisy.

* Answer questions on handout about Part 2.                                                                           (P. 29 for Ms. G)


* Stick handouts into notebook.

What Auggie Really Looks Like...

On page 88-89 Via describes what Auggie looks like. You are going to use the internet to research what his condition looks like.                                                                                       P. 36 for Ms. G