Surviving the Applewhites

Stephanie S. Tolan

A Literature Circle Unit

Dr. W. Trathen

RE 5730

Fall 2003

Prepared by:

Cathy Marlow

Randy Seldomridge

Launch Activity

Teacher comes into the classroom dressed like the character Jake Semple with spiked red hair, several earrings, an eyebrow ring (all fake), a dog collar, and a black t-shirt. After student’s initial reactions, have them write about how a new student dressed like this would fit into our classroom community. Have them share their reactions with the class.

Closure Activity

After completing the story, show students the video, The Sound of Music. Have students compare at least 2 characters from the book with how they are portrayed in the movie.

Students can also visit www.foxhome.com/soundofmusic/index.html to explore more information on the movie, The Sound of Music.

NCDPI Competencies and Goals

Science

Competency Goal 1

The learner will build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.

Reading

Competency Goal 1

The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.

Competency Goal 2

The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.

Competency Goal 3

The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.

Competency Goal 4

The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.

Computer/Technology

Competency Goal 2

The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.

Competency Goal 3

The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 1-32, Chapters 1-4

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

1 MCEOG

1 Point of View

1 Problem/Solution

1 Cause/Effect

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

1 Funny/Amusing

1 Descriptive

1 Figurative Language (Idiom, Metaphor, Personification)

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
probation / 3 / 1
furor / 7 / 1
impression / 7 / 1
interrupted / 9 / 2
tendency / 3 / 1

Character Sketcher

Your job is to sketch on of the following characters: E.D., Jake

Artful Artist

Draw and share an artistic representation of the material read. Avenues for expression may include: artwork in any medium, music, poetry, collage, music, mobile or anything else which represents an aspect of the material read.

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 33-58, Chapters 5-7

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

1 MCEOG

1 Setting

1 Problem/Solution

1 Cause/Effect

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

2 Funny/Amusing

1 Descriptive

1 Foreshadowing

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
cultivating / 35 / 1
pungent / 35 / 2
preposition / 38 / 1
scythe / 41 / 7
irrelevant / 42 / 2

Character Sketcher

Your job is to sketch on of the following characters: Lucille, Zedediah, Archie, Cordelia

Connector

Your job is to connect the book to the outside world. Write a paragraph, answering one of these statements:

Explain how this story reminds you of any other book or story you have read or heard.

Does this part of the story remind you of anything that has happened to you, a friend, or a family member? Explain.

(Include who or what your connection is about, where and when it happened, what happened, and how it connects or deals with a part of the story.)

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 59-82, Chapters 8-11

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

1 MCEOG

1 Setting

1 Mood

1 Sequence of Events

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

2 Funny/Amusing

1 Descriptive

1 Informative

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
criticism / 60 / 7
delinquent / 74 / 2
privileged / 62 / 1
ignorance / 63 / 6
maneuvered / 72 / 2

Character Sketcher

Your job is to sketch on of the following characters: Sybil, Destiny, Randolph, Jeremy Bernstein

Summarizer

Summarize what has happened and the major issues discussed to this point in the book.

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 83-111, Chapters 12-16

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

1 MCEOG

1 Setting

1 Cause/Effect

1 Sequence of Events

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

2 Funny/Amusing

1 Figurative Language (Idiom, Metaphor/Simile, Personification)

1 Informative

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
abstractedly / 83 / 1
intentional / 84 / 1
encountered / 86 / 1
impulse / 87 / 1
monopolizing / 88 / 1

Artful Artist

Internet Investigator

Your job is to use www.yahooligans.com to find out as much information as you can about the following butterflies:

fiery skipper

black swallowtail

great spangled fritillary

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 112-138, Chapters 17-19

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

2 MCEOG

1 Problem/Solution

1 Cause/Effect

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

2 Funny/Amusing

1 Descriptive

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
grueling / 112 / 3
documentary / 113 / 6
relinquish / 122 / 2
interfere / 126 / 7
metamorphosis / 127 / 4

Internet Investigator

Your job is to use www.yahooligans.com to find the words/lyrics to the song “The Lonely Goatherd” from the musical “The Sound of Music”. If possible, see if your music teacher can play this song for you to listen.

Activity Activator

Involve group members in a game of your choice that represents information learned and ideas experienced from reading the book.

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 139-165, Chapters 20-23

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

2 MCEOG

1 Character Goal

1 Cause/Effect

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

1 Funny/Amusing

1 Informative

1 Descriptive

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
haphazard / 141 / 2
frenzied / 142 / 4
infuriated / 155 / 2
ethnic / 163 / 3
contaminated / 163 / 4

Character Sketcher

Your job is to sketch one of the following characters: Jeremy Bernstein or Govindaswami

Connector

Your job is to connect the book to the outside world. Write a paragraph, answering one of these statements:

· Explain how this story reminds you of any other book or story you have read or heard.

· Does this part of the story remind you of anything that has happened to you, a friend, or a family member? Explain.

(Include who or what you connection is about, where and when it happened, what happened, and how it connects or deals with a part of the story.)

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 166-192, Chapters 24-27

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

2 MCEOG

1 Mood

1 Cause/Effect

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

1 Funny/Amusing

1 Informative

1 Foreshadowing

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
dwindled / 167 / 1
skirmish / 168 / 8
awkward / 168 / 8
passion / 173 / 5
catastrophe / 175 / 1

Artful Artist

Connector

Your job is to connect the book to the outside world. Write a paragraph, answering one of these statements:

· Explain how this story reminds you of any other book or story you have read or heard.

· Does this part of the story remind you of anything that has happened to you, a friend, or a family member? Explain.

(Include who or what you connection is about, where and when it happened, what happened, and how it connects or deals with a part of the story.)

Surviving the Applewhites

Fifth Grade

Assigned Reading: Pages 193-216, Chapters 28-30

Discussion Director

Your job is to write six questions from the assigned reading. Ask the following:

2 MCEOG

1 Setting

1 Sequence of Events

2 “Thinking” Questions on your own

Passage Picker

Your job is to choose 5 passages from the assigned reading. Four of the passages should be selected from these types of passages:

2 Funny/Amusing

1 Descriptive

1 On your own

Word Wizard

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Word / Page Number / Paragraph
conferred / 193 / 1
perky / 194 / 3
exhausting / 201 / 1
position / 205 / 5
desperately / 205 / 5

Activity Activator

Design a short skit depicting a major event of the book. This should take no more than five minutes.

Summarizer

Summarize what has happened and the major issues discussed in the book.

Bibliography of Reference Materials

Tolan, Stephanie S., Surviving the Applewhites, Scholastic, Inc.

2002.

www.yahooligans.com

dvd, The Sound of Music, Fox Home Entertainment, 2002.

www.foxhome.com/soundofmusic/index.html

Discussion Director - Model

Pages 1-32

Chapters 1-4

MCEOG

Which of the following describe the Applewhite family?

a. thriving on chaos

b. all were extremely talented

c. they loved spontaneity

d. all the above

Point of View

How does the way E.D. sees her family differ from that of Jake’s?

E.D. sees her family as normal and talented while Jake sees them as a bunch of freaks.

Problem/Solution

What was the family plan for assimilating Jake into the Creative Academy?

Jake would be assimilated by clumping him with E.D. He would follow her curriculum notebook.

Cause/Effect

Why did Jake hear a scream on his first visit to Wit’s End?

Cordelia was upset over the goat trying to attack her.

Thinking Questions

How would you feel being sent to the Creative Academy?

Just like Jake, out of place and worried about fitting in with the family.

Do you agree with the quote by Z. Applewhite, “Education is an adventurous quest for the meaning of life, involving an ability to think things through.” Explain

As a fifth grader, I would disagree with this quote. School seems separate from life.

Character Sketcher – Model

Pages 33-58

Chapters 5-7

Summarizer – Model

Pages 59-82

Chapters 8-11

Jake, the delinquent, had been kicked out of several schools. He has been sentenced to schooling at the Creative Academy, run by the extremely eccentric Applewhites. He has no choice but to accept this and figure out a way to make his stay as short as possible. Jake attempts to “break the rules”, but soon realizes there are no rules. He gets acquainted with the school and begins to settle into life with the loonies.

Artful Artist - Model

Pages 83-111

Chapters 12-16

A cinquain on Jake Semple.

delinquent

rebellious misunderstood

burning cursing smoking

Spikey wild red hair.

Jake

Internet Investigator – Model

Pages 112-138

Chapters 17-19

http://www.sunnycorner.com/moviesom/goatherdsom.html

~ The Lonely Goatherd ~

Maria:
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd's throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Children:
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay
Maria:
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Kurt:
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Children:
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Maria:
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Brigitta:
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Maria:
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
All:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Ummm (ummm) . . .
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee . . .
Brigitta:
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
Brigitta:
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Maria:
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
All:
Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
Soon the duet will become a trio
Maria:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
All:
Odl lay ee, old lay ee
Odl lay hee hee, odl lay ee
Odl lay odl lay, odl lay odl lee, odl lay odl lee
Odl lay odl lay odl lay
Children:
HOO!