Oh, no! I'm about to start teaching this novel and I've never done it before. I haven't even been out to look for a teacher's guide at this point. Anyone with anything brilliant? I don't mind doing the work myself but figure I don't need to reinvent the wheel if it's already out there.
teaching The Sign of the Beaver to the entire 5th grade. Last year they didn't like it (I didn't teach it), the year before when I did teach it they thought it was ok, this year they LOVED it! All the students did. At conferences parents were so pleased that their child had been reading this book and understanding it and such. Three of them asked if they could borrow a copy of it to read.
I'm not really sure what I do to make it exciting except for the fact that I get into the books. I do have something that I made that has questions to go with chapters and such if you want that to look at. I also have some activites that I came up with as well. I use some and some I don't use or modify per class.
If you are interested you can send me an email and let me know.
greg.austin<img src="images/smilies/...raser.misd.net
I read this book to my grade six classes every year. There are some parts that I don't think are appropriate, so I change the wording or omit it all together. It is a good survival story and it compliments Hatchet which we read at the same time. All my classes have liked it. I usually get them to do a project of their choice to go with the book.
I'm wondering about these inappropriate parts, too. My team member chose this book and I read it as a child. But, honestly, I haven't read it since I was young and haven't had a chance to reread it yet. What should I be worried about?
like i said, i've just finished reading it with the entire 5th grade at my school. i found nothing to be inappropriate with the exception of shooting the bear between the eyes with the bow and arrow and then stabbing it. kids love that part and it has such wonderful description. i dont feel that anything in there is inappropriate at all.
If you feel that the language, how they refer to Indians as savages or the constant term "white man". that was part of the times. they spoke that way. i feel that by speare doing this its a great way to talk about prejudice. in fact we had an hour discussion about it and what it means to be prejudice.
i read this book when i was in 6th grade. i remember our teacher made us keep a journal the entire time we read. we either had to be the white boy or the indian boy. i forget what was in the journal, but i remember enjoying it. for this story, we may also have come up with a symbol/language code that we had to write and then have a friend decipher it. but i can't remember if htat was with this story or not...
i did this as a read aloud with my 4th grades one year. they really liked listening to it. it's one of my favoriet books.
Don't get me wrong, it's a very good book. I read it to my class every year. But words like, Indian, squaw etc. are politically incorrect (at this time) and it does make refernce to scalping. I know it was the language and practice of the time. I just feel it is easier to leave those things out. I usually have two or three children of native ancestory in my class and I think it would make things uncomfortable. It is not something that I want to deal with. It is not like I am trying to hide something. It just might make things difficult and it is one less thing that I want to deal with at this age level. The kids always like this story and there are many other ideas and themes to explore. I also read Hatchet and the kids like to compare the two books. Even though they are centuries apart there are many similarities and things that Matt takes for granted pose a real problem to Brian. I usually do the twp books at the same time. We read Hatchet together and I read Sign of the Beaver to them.
As a project, this year, at least six students made a log cabin. Three kids wrote a report and one student made a collage.
I was reading your post on sign of the beaver and wondered if you could share what activities you came up with. My 5th grade class is really enjoying the book. I had not thought about any activities or even questions, we have just been discussing and enjoying it. Would be great to see what you have. Thanks
Online, I bought a unit from Professional Development Insititute. I don't remember the exact cost but it was around $5 or less. Then, I used some of those activities and some of my own. I put together a little booklet for each child. For a few days, we filled out a chart on the overhead together looking for setting, characters, vocabulary, theme, main idea, events, and predictions. After that, they fill out a worksheet in their booklet looking for the same things. I've attached a copy of the one for chatpers 5 and 6. Notice, at the top there are spaces for them to write a sentence with their vocabulary word. In their booklet, I included pages from the unit I bought with definitions, pos, synonyms, and antonynms for each word. Then, they write down the characters involved in the chapter. Then, they write the them or themes represented and why that chapter or chapters illustrates the theme. We're just starting our work with theme so I wrote out three theme statements (complete sentences) such as, "Survival depends on our ability to adapt to new situations and challenges." They pick one of the 3 and defend it. Next, they write the main idea of the chapter or chapters. And also a few major events. Then, finally, they write predicitons for the upcoming chapters.
Things I included in the student booklet:
1. Theme statements
2. Autobiography of Elizabeth George Speare
3. The Survival Story that the novel was based on
4. Anticipation Guide
5. Vocabulary dictionary (came from online unit)
6. Chapter worksheets (self created)
7. Writing/Other activities (from online unit)
We did a few activities where we compared Brian from Hatchet and Matt from Sign of the Beaver. We compared the things they learned, the hardships they encountered, and tools they made. We wrote these things on a paper doll (accordian style) for the two characters. As a cover the drew pictures of Matt and Brian.
11-16-2006, 11:54 AM
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