June 30th

Hotel reservation attached. 

Dates to Remember

Joust! The Musical

After school rehearsal (3:45 - 5:00) has been changed from Monday 4th May to Wednesday 6th May. Make sure you bring snacks/drinks to keep your energy level up.
Tech Run Tues May 12th
Dress Rehearsal Wed May 13th
Performance Thurs May 14th

• Subway Lunch - Friday May 8th
• Victoria Day - May 18th
• Grad Photo - May 20th
• EQAO starts May 25th for Grade Six and Three students

Margaret Haddix Replied to our Email

Dear Mrs. Lloyd Thomas and her grade 5/6 students,

I am delighted to hear that you all enjoyed AMONG THE HIDDEN so much! I also agree that it would be interesting to see the book turned into a movie or TV series. There has been a lot of interest in that over the years, and it has been optioned repeatedly, but so far the plans always fall through at some point. Hopefully someday it will all work out!

Some of the answers to your questions can be found on my website, but I will answer the others for you. First, here is the website page to go to: http://haddixbooks.com/books/hidden_faq.html

And now here are the answers to your other questions:

Where did you get the ideas for the characters' names?

I wanted Luke and his brothers to be named after the first three books of the New Testament in the Bible, so it would subtly imply that the family really wanted another child. (How can you have a Matthew, Mark and Luke without a John as well?) For Jen, I thought her mother would give her a fairly girly name--Jennifer--and it would say something about Jen's personality that Jen had shortened it into something not quite so girly.

Was this book written from any of your personal experiences or do you have a very creative imagination?

There are some parallels to my personal experiences, since, like Luke, I grew up out in the country, on a hog farm. But fortunately for me, I was not an illegal third child, and my life was not in danger from the government, so obviously there was a lot that I had to imagine.

Have you considered writing a “back” story of the rally or a prequel?

People have asked me that before, but I don't expect to do that. I kind of prefer leaving that to readers' imaginations.

Is Jen really dead?  

Hmm. I should be mean and say that you have to read the other six books in the series to find out for sure. But that seems really, really cruel. There was an editor at my publishing company who wanted me to have it turn out that Jen didn't die after all. But I kind of felt like that would be cheating--almost like explaining away something difficult by ending, "Oh, it was only a dream..." Unfortunately, Jen is really dead.

That seems like a really grim note to end on! I do hope that you will all continue to read the rest of the series, and a lot more books in general!

Best wishes,

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Novel Study Culminating Task: No Such Thing as Dragons by Phillip Reeve

Novel Study Culminating Task: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Novel Study Culminating Task: Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Novel Study Culminating Tasks: Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Novel Study Character Portraits

Texture #2 - Feathers

Vehicle Safety Public Service Announcement Posters

Novel Study Wanted Posters

Texture #1 - Winter Clothing

• Crayons
• Rubbing plates
• Various objects for example baskets, doilies, dinner plates, trays

Public Speaking Peer Evaluation Rubric

Name of Presenter:___________________ Topic: ___________________________ Spoke clearly with confidence and enthusiasm 1 2 3 4 Made eye contact with the audience 1 2 3 4 Stood still and didn’t fidget 1 2 3 4 Made their topic interesting with facts and ideas 1 2 3 4 Total:___________

Public Speaking Success Criteria and Tips

Writing a Speech and Public Speaking

Success Criteria

Ø  Choose an interesting topic that you know something about

Ø  Use a hook and write a clear conclusion

Ø  Speech must be between three and five minutes long

Ideas for Choosing a Topic

Something you feel strongly about (too many condos in Toronto; Canada’s Junior Hockey Team)

Something you enjoy (skiing; a specific video game; a favourite author)

Something you know a little but would like to find out more about (your family’s background; volcanoes)

Public Speaking Tips by Room 13 Students

Writing

Speaking

·         Choose an interesting topic ·         Use appropriate words ·         Start with a hook ·         Make sure it flows ·         End with a proper conclusion ·         Use correct grammar and spelling ·         Use well structured sentences ·         Include juicy words ·         Avoid repetition ·         Avoid repetition ·         Make it not too complicated for your audience ·         Use fact and opinion ·         Write neatly ·         Make sure it makes sense

·         Speak loudly and clearly (especially during the introduction and conclusion) ·         Don’t “um” or stammer ·         Stand still and don’t fiddle ·         Make eye contact with at least a few people in the audience ·         Speak confidently and with enthusiasm ·         Hold the audience’s attention ·         Memorize as much as possible ·         Annunciate ·         Don’t ramble, keep to the topic

Written speech due by:  Monday, Jan 26th

Classroom presentations: Tues, Jan 27th, Wed, Jan 28th, Thurs, Jan 29th

My presentation date: _______________________________

School-wide presentations: Tues, Feb 10th

Dates to Remember

Public Speaking

• speech written by Monday January 26th
• classroom presentations Tues Jan 27th, Wed Jan 28th and Thurs Jan 29th
• school competition Tues Feb 10th
• Legion competition Tues Feb 17th

Scientists in Schools

• Air & Flight Monday January 26th, all morning

Junior Scrabble (Grades 4,5 and 6), 12:15-12:40 in the library

• Wed Jan 21, Wed Jan 28, Wed Feb 4, Wed Feb 11

Primary Scrabble (Grades 1,2 and 3), 12:15-12:40 in the library

• Wed Feb 18th, Wed Feb 25, Wed Mar 4, Wed Mar 11

Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

A. Read the following pages each week.  Please resist the temptation to read ahead. We will be doing some predicting and inferring during our class discussions.  Questions should be answered based only on what has been read up to that point in time.

Novel	Week One Jan 12 - 16		Week Two Jan 19 - 22	Week Three Jan 26 - 30	Week Four Feb 2- 6
The Giver		Pg 1 - 39	Pg 40 - 87	Pg 89 - 138	Pg 139 - 179
Tiger Rising		Pg 1 - 25	Pg 26 – 55	Pg 56 – 86	Pg 87 - 116
The White Giraffe		Pg 1 - 45	Pg 46 – 86	Pg 87 – 134	Pg 135 -181
No Such Thing as Dragons		Pg 1 – 49	Pg 50 – 102	Pg 103– 145	Pg 146 - 186
Hatchet		Pg 1 - 55	Pg 56 - 118	Pg 119 - 146	Pg 147 - 195
Loser		Pg 1 - 49	Pg 50 - 100	Pg 101 - 160	Pg 161 - 218-

B. Summarize each week’s reading in your own words.  Include all important events. Leave out minor details.

C. In your language notebook answer the questions.  Include the page numbers when giving evidence from the text.  

Week One Jan 12 - 16

Week Two Jan 19 - 22

Week Three Jan 26 - 30

Week Four Feb 2- 6

Questions (in back of novel)

1, 2, 3, Wanted Poster

5, 6, 7

8, 9,

4, 10, 11, Portrait

* Create a “Wanted Poster” for the tiger(template will be provided).

* Draw and colour a portrait of either Sistine or Rob. Label your portrait with evidence from the text (a large sheet of blank paper will be provided).

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A. Read the following pages each week.  Please resist the temptation to read ahead. We will be doing some predicting and inferring during our class discussions.  Questions should be answered based only on what has been read up to that point in time.

Novel	Week One Jan 12 - 16		Week Two Jan 19 - 22	Week Three Jan 26 - 30	Week Four Feb 2- 6
The Giver		Pg 1 - 39	Pg 40 - 87	Pg 89 - 138	Pg 139 - 179
Tiger Rising		Pg 1 - 25	Pg 26 – 55	Pg 56 – 86	Pg 87 - 116
The White Giraffe		Pg 1 - 45	Pg 46 – 86	Pg 87 – 134	Pg 135 -181
No Such Thing as Dragons		Pg 1 – 49	Pg 50 – 102	Pg 103– 145	Pg 146 - 186
Hatchet		Pg 1 - 55	Pg 56 - 118	Pg 119 - 146	Pg 147 - 195
Loser		Pg 1 - 49	Pg 50 - 100	Pg 101 - 160	Pg 161 - 218-

B. Summarize each week’s reading in your own words.  Include all important events. Leave out minor details.

C. In your language notebook answer the questions.  Include the page numbers when giving evidence from the text.  

Week One Jan 12 - 16

Week Two Jan 19 - 22

Week Three Jan 26 - 30

Week Four Feb 2- 6

Questions

1, 2, 3 Wanted Poster

4,5,6

7, 8, 9

10, 11 Portrait

* Create a “Wanted Poster” for the “giver”(template will be provided).

* Draw and colour a portrait of either Jonas or Gabriel. Label your portrait with evidence from the text (a large sheet of blank paper will be provided).

1. In Jonas’ community, every person and his or her experience are precisely the same. Everything is controlled to create “Sameness”. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this “Sameness”.

2.  What is a Birthmother? Why does Lily wish to be one?

3. What is “Elsewhere”? How would you explain it to Jonas?

4. Describe Jonas reaction during the Ceremony of the Twelves. Why do you think he was feeling this way?

5. Describe how the Giver transmitted memories.

6. Explain Fiona’s experience of her first day of training?

7. Why did this society remove choice making?

8. How did Jonas comfort Gabriel?

9. Why did the Giver ask for forgiveness? If you were in Jonas’ position how would you react?

10. There are communities in Canada that actively seek to maintain an identity outside of mainstream culture (Mennonites, Hasidic Jews). What are some advantages and disadvantages of living in such a community? What pressure does mainstream culture put on these groups?

11. The ending of the Giver can be interpreted in two different ways. Perhaps Jonas is remembering his Christmas memory-one of the most beautiful that the Giver transmitted to him, or perhaps he does hear music and with his special vision is able to perceive the warm house where the people are waiting to receive him. What is your interpretation of the final scenes of the novel.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

A. Read the following pages each week.  Please resist the temptation to read ahead. We will be doing some predicting and inferring during our class discussions.  Questions should be answered based only on what has been read up to that point in time.

Novel	Week One Jan 12 - 16		Week Two Jan 19 - 22	Week Three Jan 26 - 30	Week Four Feb 2- 6
The Giver		Pg 1 - 39	Pg 40 - 87	Pg 89 - 138	Pg 139 - 179
Tiger Rising		Pg 1 - 25	Pg 26 – 55	Pg 56 – 86	Pg 87 - 116
The White Giraffe		Pg 1 - 45	Pg 46 – 86	Pg 87 – 134	Pg 135 -181
No Such Thing as Dragons		Pg 1 – 49	Pg 50 – 102	Pg 103– 145	Pg 146 - 186
Hatchet		Pg 1 - 55	Pg 56 - 118	Pg 119 - 146	Pg 147 - 195
Loser		Pg 1 - 49	Pg 50 - 100	Pg 101 - 160	Pg 161 - 218-

B. Summarize each week’s reading in your own words.  Include all important events. Leave out minor details.

C. In your language notebook answer the questions.  Include the page numbers when giving evidence from the text.  

Week One Jan 12 - 16

Week Two Jan 19 - 22

Week Three Jan 26 - 30

Week Four Feb 2- 6

Questions

1, 2, 3 Wanted Poster

4,5,6

7, 8, 9

10, 11 Portrait

* Create a “Wanted Poster” for the “Brian”(template will be provided).

* Draw and colour a plan of Brian’s camp. Label your portrait with evidence from the text (a large sheet of blank paper will be provided).

1. Why did Brian’s mother give him a hatchet? How did Brian feel about the gift? What does the fact that he wore it tell us about his feelings towards her?

2. Evaluate Brian’s ability to handle the controls of the plane. Do you think that a boy his age could realistically land a plane under these circumstances? Explain your opinion.

3. Predict what Brian might do to save himself. What would be your first priority, if you were in his position?

4. Brian thought that the danger in a city park at night was worse than the danger he faced in the woods. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

5. In what way did Brian’s past science lessons come in handy? How did he apply this knowledge to his challenge to make fire?

6. Why did Brian think that “he had never felt so rich somehow”?

7. Explain Brian’s solution for storing fish and catching the “foolbirds”.

8. After the tornado, Brian was once again alone with just his hatchet. Why didn’t he feel the same hopelessness as when he first landed the plane?

9. How, do you think, was it possible for Brian to do things he’d never done before, that helped him survive, without anyone teaching him?

10. What role do patience and observation play in Brian's survival? How do Brian's powers of patience and observation change in the course of the book?

11. What do you think would have happened if Brian had found the survival pack much earlier? Would he be the same person he became under the book's circumstances?