CLUE Novel Studies: Gary Paulsen Unit, January 2008 Weekly Schedule: (to incorporate stems, vocabulary, and

thematic studies)
Monday 5-10 min. 5-15 min. 20-30 min. 5-10 min. 10-20 min. 20-30 min. 5-10 min. 30-40 min. 5-10 min. 5-10 min. 30-40 min. 5-10 min. 10-15 min. 10-20 min. 20-30 min. Unit Timeline Week One: Chapters Covered Week One: Journal Topic Week One: Specific Skill Week Two: Chapters Covered Introduce new stems list; students make flashcards. Set reading schedule for the week; assign LC jobs. Discuss journal topics and other weekly objectives. Students begin to read and write in journals. Individual stems practice; review answers. Specific skill mini-lesson; student practice w/assessment. Students prepare for tomorrows LC meeting. Students read or write in journals. Group stems practice; review answers. LC (Literature Circle) Group Meetings; teacher observes. Students write reflection in journals. Individual stems practice; review answers. LC (Literature Circle) Group Meetings; teacher observes. Students write reflection in journals. Stems quiz on weekly list Whole-group discussion on LC meetings. Teacher shares observations and suggestions. Students complete weekly culminating activity/assignment plus group and self evaluations. Hatchet The River Brians Winter Ch. 1-5 Ch. 1-7 Ch. 1-3 Think about a time you spent hiking, camping, or enjoying the outdoors in another way. What were the best parts of your experience? Were there any bad parts? How do you feel about nature? Conflict: Internal and External Ch. 6-13 Ch. 8-11 Ch. 4-7
Brian's "secret" troubles him through Hatchet. It is a secret from which Brian cannot escape, even in the Canadian wilderness. What is Brian's secret? How did Brian learn about the secret? Why do you think the author included the secret in this book about survival in the wilderness? Do you think the secret makes Hatchet a better book? Why or why not? Brian has been feeling somewhat superior to Derek, even though Derek is considerably older. Write about a time when you felt you knew more than someone else, even though the other person was older than you. Consider the many items Brian recovered from the plane's emergency kit. Which item do you feel was most important in helping him survive? Give reasons to support your choice. Now, list the natural resources Brain has available to use in his wilderness environment. Next decide which of those resources is most important to him and tell why.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Week Two: Journal Topic

Week Two: Specific Skill Week Three: Chapters Covered

Ch. 14-17
After Brian recovers the survival kit from the airplane, he finds the rifle and says it makes him feel less close to his natural surroundings. Although the rifle makes killing animals easier, Brian is not entirely happy with it. Write an essay addressing these questions and others of your own making: Why do you think the rifle made Brian uncomfortable? Do weapons make people more likely to kill and less aware of the consequences of killing? Are there lessons to learn in Hatchet about the use of weapons in modern society?

Foreshadow and Flashback Ch. 12-18

Before, Brian survived in the wilderness by himself. This time he is responsible for another person. Describe an activity you almost always prefer to do alone and another activity that is better with a group or at least one other person. Give reasons for your preferences.

Ch. 8-12
Describe in detail the bear's attack on Brian and his shelter. Give details to explain what damage was done and how Brian managed to survive the large beast's invasion. Does this even seem realistic to you? If you were Brian, how would you have handled this disaster?

Week Three: Journal Topic

Week Three: Specific Skill Week Four: Chapters Covered

Ch. 18-Epilogue
How might this story be different if its main character were female? Would she have survived? How might she have responded differently to the same challenges and events? Justify your position with examples from the book and from your own experiences.

Characterization Ch. 19-Measurements

Describe a time when you could have taken the easy way out of a situation, even though to do so would be wrong. What decision did you make? How did you feel afterwards? Would you make the same decision today? Why?

Ch. 13-Epilogue
Describe the wolves' attack that Brian observed in Chapter 16. How did you feel after reading that chapter? Do you think you could have survived in the wilderness as Brian did? Why or why not?

Week Four: Journal Topic

Week Four: Specific Skill

Theme (Small Group and Whole Group)