Lambrinou 7th
Touching Spirit Bear Study
Touching Spirit Bear Vocabulary List
Activity: Choose 5-6 words from the list and a) write the definition in your own words; b) draw a picture/symbol that will help you remember the meaning of the word; c) write a sentence using each word of your choice.
Chapter 1
defiant (p.3) Marked by defiance; boldly resisting (adjective)
banishment (p.3) state of exile; being sent away from your home (noun)
skiff (p.3) A flat-bottom open boat of shallow draft, having a pointed bow and a square stern and propelled by oars, sail, or motor. (noun)
vicious (p.7) cruel, fierce (adjective)
Circle Justice (p. 12) a form of justice designed to rehabilitate and heal youth rather than contain them in detention centers (noun)
Chapter 2
grudgingly (p.15) give or let have unwillingly (adverb)
moseyed (p.16) shuffled along; ambled (verb)
at`oow (p.19)a tradition of passing on a gift which cannot be owned - only cared for before passing it on to another person (noun)
devil's club (p. 17) A spiny deciduous shrub of western North America, having wide palmate leaves, greenish-white flowers, and scarlet fruit clustered in umbels; a plant whose thistles will infect skin and cause swelling. (noun)
barrage (p. 24) a rapid attacking outpouring or something (gunfire, words, etc) (noun)
fantasized (p.22) imagined in fanciful way (verb)
venomous (p.24) spiteful; poisonous (adjective)
Chapter 3
sullenly (p.26) indicative of gloomy behavior or ill humor (adverb)
scoffed (p.33) filled with scorn, mockery (verb)
Chapter 4
symbolizes (p.38) To represent or identify by a symbol. To use symbols (verb)
obligations (p.38) - A social, legal, or moral requirement, such as a duty, contract, or promise that compels one to follow (noun)
Chapter 5
illusion (p.41) deception; false impression (noun)
dignity (p.44) The quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect (noun)
isolate - To separate (verb)
devoted (p.46) dedicated (verb)
Chapter 6
taunted (p.48) to provoke, ridicule or tease (verb)
persistent (p. ) Insistently repetitive or continuous: a persistent ringing of the telephone. (adjective)
scrounged (p. ) to acquire something by begging or borrowing without intending to give back (verb)
manipulated (p.57) to control or influence somebody in an ingenious or devious way; to operate, use or handle something (verb)
Chapter 7
remote (p. ) situated a long way away; far from civilization (adjective)
vanished (p.59) to disappear suddenly or without explanation (verb)
boughs (p.60) - branches in a tree or bushy plants (noun)
shrouded (p.60) - Something that conceals, protects, or screens: under a shroud of fog (adjective)
fetal (p.60) pertaining to womb like character, curled in a ball (adjective)
incessant (p. 63) - Continuing without interruption (adjective)
Chapter 8
gluttonous (p. 68) Indulging in something, such as an activity, to excess; voracious (adjective)
brazenly (p.68) boldly, shamelessly (adverb)
mauling (p.69) - being tackled, attacking (verb)
seeped (p.71) oozed; passed gradually (verb)
bile (p. 72) - Any of the liver-generated steroid acids, such as cholic acid, that commonly occur in the bile, or a feeling of bitterness or irritability (noun)
Chapter 9
haphazard ( p.75) - By chance; casually (adjective)
stupor (p.76) state of deadened sensibility; apathy (noun)
detonated (p.77) - To explode or cause to explode (verb)
Chapter 10
squandered (p.84) wasted (verb)
grueling (p.85) exhausting, tiring (adjective)
Chapter 11
replenish (p.89) fill again (verb)
forage (p.91) to hunt or search out (verb)
Chapter 12
meager (p.95) sparse, scanty (adjective)
silhouetted (p.96) – shadowed, outlined (adjective)
bizarre (p.98) - Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd (adjective)
Chapter 13
antibiotics (p.104) a substance able to kill bacteria in the body. Antibiotics are widely used in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases (noun)
mauled (p.110) handled or used roughly (verb)
Chapter 14
hobbled (p. 115) A hobbling walk or gait, walked with a limp (verb)
violated (p.123) broke a promise, showed disrespect (verb)
prosecution (p.124) carry on a lawsuit (noun)
Chapter 15
diminished (p.126) to make or become smaller or less important (verb)
sarcastically (p.129) - ...Expressing or marked by sarcasm (remarks that mean the opposite of what they seem to say and are intended to mock or deride) (adverb/adjective)
resignation (p.130) patient acceptance; quiet submission (adjective)
Chapter 16
irked (p.134) irritated, annoyed (adjective)
savoring (p.139) to enjoy something with unhurried appreciation (verb)
Chapter 17
vulnerable (p.144) capable of being wounded (adjective)
Chapter 18
wearily (p.150) exhausted, without energy (adverb)
redemption (p.157) deliverance, forgiveness (noun)
Chapter 19
dawdled (p.165) wasted time, idled (verb)
Chapter 20
stifled (p.169) smothered, suppressed (verb)
Chapter 21
desperate (p.178) no hope; despair (adjective)
depression (p.182) gloominess, sadness (noun)
ancestry (p.183) somebody’s ancestors regarded as a line linking the modern generation to its past (noun)
totem (p.183) 1. an object, animal, plant, or other natural phenomenon revered as a symbol of a tribe and often used in rituals among some tribal or other traditional groups of people 2. a carving or other representation of a totem (noun)
Chapter 22
ingenuity (p.186) cleverness; skill in planning (adjective)
Chapter 23
meandered (p.190) followed a winding course (verb)
ceremoniously ( p. 191) - ...Strictly observant of or devoted to ceremony, ritual, or etiquette; punctilious: borne on silvery trays by ceremonious world-weary waiters (adverb)
writhed (p.193) twist and turn (verb)
welled (p.194) rose up, flowed out (verb)
Chapter 24
treacherous (p.198) not reliable, deceiving (adjective)
routine (p.204) fixed, regular method of doing things (adjective or noun, depending on usage)
Chapter 25
hesitant (p.209) doubtful; undecided (adjective)
rehabilitation (p.213) restoration to good use (noun)
Chapter 26
assaulted (p.217) sudden, vigorous attack (verb)
custody (p.219) charge or care (noun)
smirk (p.224) self-satisfied smile (noun or verb, depending on usage)
Chapter 27
maneuvered (p.229) skillfully planned movement (verb)
indifferently ( p. 229) 1. Having no particular interest or concern; apathetic: indifferent to the sufferings of others. 2. Having no marked feeling for or against: She remained indifferent... (adverb)
mesmerize (p.230) hypnotize (verb)
Chapter 28
pummeled (p.236) beat (verb)
massive (p. 238) - Large or imposing, as in quantity, scope (adjective)
Cole Matthews: Before and After
Instructions: Think about what kind of person Cole Matthews is. Things to consider: What drives him as a person? What causes him to get into trouble? Who does he blame for his actions/ consequences? How old is he? What does he look like? Use this representation of Cole to organize your thoughts. Write on the man what you think Cole’s most important characteristics/ character traits are (what a character looks like on the outside = external traits, what a character is like on the inside = internal traits). Use this organizer to describe Cole like he was in the beginning of the novel.
Instructions: Write on the man what you think Cole’s most important characteristics/ character traits are (what a character looks like on the outside = external traits, what a character is like on the inside = internal traits). Use this organizer to describe Cole like he was at the end of the novel.
Character Profile Tic-Tac-Toe for Cole Matthews
Using your Cole Matthews Graphic Organizer (before and after) as a guide, choose one of the activities below to complete.
Facebook profileCreate a Facebook character profile for Cole Matthews describing him at the beginning of the novel and also showing how he changed from the beginning to the end of the novel (through wall updates). / Cole Matthews poster
Using magazines or newspapers, cut out pictures and words that connect to Cole Matthews. You can also use drawings and your own words to add to the poster. In one section of your poster, write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) describing Cole from the beginning to the end of the novel. / Cole’s iPod playlist
Using songs of your choice, create a song playlist that you think would best represent Cole Matthews (8-10 songs). Underneath each song choice explain a) why you chose that song and b) how the lyrics connect to Cole.
Character Venn Diagram
Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Cole in the beginning of the novel to Cole in the end of the novel (must include 5-6 differences and 2-3 similarities). / Storybird
Create a Storybird “book” that illustrates Cole’s physical and emotional change from the beginning to the end of the novel. Show how Cole comes across to the reader as a dynamic character (dynamic characters change in the course of the story while static characters stay the same). / Gameboard
Create a gameboard showing everything that Cole has to go through in the novel to finally be the person he becomes at the end of the book. You may use lego pieces, clay figures or any other objects to move around the gameboard. Your game needs to include rules/instructions that you must write/type on a piece of paper, as well as game cards (question cards).
Timeline
Using pictures and sentences, create a timeline illustrating the experiences in Cole’s life from the beginning of the book and throughout his time in Alaska. Put these events in order. Also, explain in 2-3 sentences for each event, how Cole changed through your timeline. / Character sketch
Create a two paragraph character profile of Cole Matthews. This should include details of Cole’s age and appearance, his personality, and his past; in addition, write what you think Cole’s strengths and weaknesses are, his relationships with others, and what others think of him. Include your own opinion about Cole and justify it. / Conflict
Create/build a structure that shows all the types of conflict that take place in the novel. On cards that you attach to your structure, explain, in 2-3 sentences, why you chose those types of conflict and where they happen in the book.
Theme Tic-Tac-Toe for Touching Spirit Bear
One of the themes, or life lessons, of the novel, is perseverance (never giving up). Choose one of the following options that help highlight/express the theme of the novel.
Totem PoleDraw or create a totem pole that shows the theme of perseverance story and illustrates how that theme is expressed through the characters, plot, and setting of the novel. / Powerpoint/Prezi
Create a PowerPoint or Prezi that explores the theme of perseverance in the novel. Use each of your slides/Prezi circles to examine how this theme is expressed through the characters, plot, and setting of the novel (also use pictures that visually connect to the theme). / Soundtrack of TSB
Using songs of your choice, create a song playlist that you think would best represent the theme of perseverance in the novel (8-10 songs). Underneath each song choice explain a) why you chose that song and b) how the lyrics connect/express the theme of perseverance.
Venn Diagram
Using a Venn Diagram, compare and contrast the theme of perseverance as it is portrayed in Touching Spirit Bear to the theme of perseverance as it is expressed in a book or movie of your choice(must include 5-6 differences and 2-3 similarities). / Perseverance in TSB Poster
Using magazines or newspapers, cut out pictures and words that connect to the theme of perseverance in the novel. You can also use drawings and your own words to add to the poster. In one section of your poster, write a short paragraph (6-8 sentences) describing how the characters, plot, and setting of the novel contribute to the theme of perseverance. / Theme greeting card
Draw/paint a greeting card that expresses the theme of the story. In your greeting card, explain, in 5-6 sentences, how perseverance is shown in the novel, and how Cole moves past the obstacles he faces in the beginning of the book. Write an inspirational quote expressing why perseverance is important in life.
Theme Podcast
Using a smartphone or any other device, record a podcast expressing a) how the theme of perseverance is expressed through the novel; b) how the setting, plot, and characters contribute to the theme; c) how the theme of perseverance connects to your life and why perseverance is important in life. / Theme Comic Strip
Draw/create a comic strip (8-10 boxes) illustrating/expressing the theme of the novel. Your comic strip should show scenes from the book where the theme of perseverance is expressed through the characters’ actions, setting, or plot. Under each box should be a caption explaining in 3-4 sentences how that scene shows the theme of perseverance. / Theme Poem
Create/write a poem expressing the theme of perseverance as it is shown in the novel and as it relates to your own life. Write about why perseverance is important in life.
Setting Activity for Touching Spirit Bear
- On a piece of paper or online draw/create a picture of the setting of the book as you imagine it in your mind. Then, underneath your picture explain a) why you chose this drawing/picture to represent the setting (2-3 sentences) and b) how the setting helps create the mood of the novel (4-5 sentences).
-OR-
- Make a map (draw or create online or create with other materials) of a key place in the novel and explain a) what the place islike (2-3 sentences) and b) why it is important in the characters’ lives (4-5 sentences).
-OR-
- The time and place in which people find themselves and where events happen shape those people and events in important ways. Touching Spirit Bear uses the technique of flashbacks (going back in time to revisit an event of the past) throughout the story. Create a timeline putting events of the story in order. Illustrate each event and explain the mood the setting creates at that point in the story.
Read the following article and answer the questions below
Alaska courts taking new approach to rural justice
Posted:March 18, 2012 - 12:08am
ByAUSTIN BAIRD
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JUNEAU —Alaska Magistrate Mike Jackson of Kake, Alaska first heard of “circle sentencing” in the mid-1990s, when alcohol-related problems in his village were increasing.
Kake had higher rates of accidental deaths, child abuse and suicides than just about anywhere in the state.
The idea of forming circles, Jackson learned, was for a moderator to bring together family, friends and others who know a victim or offender to help a judge hand down a fair sentence by considering local history, community beliefs and other views of a defendant’s background. It was used after a guilty plea or a conviction.
He tried out the idea in 1999 with a woman convicted of crimes related to her alcohol addiction. She had previously refused in-patient treatment. At the circle, state authorities told her it was her last chance before losing her kids, and her friends and family persuaded her to get help.
“She came back and was sober,” said Dinah Aceveda, who helped organize that circle and 66 others since. “She changed her life from that. When you have good people around you in that circle, in that community, that’s what can happen.”
Circle sentencing is about to be used for the first time in a felony case in Alaska. Jackson said the system recognizes Tlingit traditions and approaches to justice used since time immemorial in ways lost on state courts.
“What matters most under state court is punishment and control,” said Jackson, who also is a tribal court leader. “Determining guilt and punishment for the offender is the focus, but under circles justice considers both the views of the community and the victim.”
Judges follow state sentencing guidelines and make the final decision when circles are used, Jackson said. And at least as many examples of not effective outcomes exist in state courts, he said.
“(Circles) let me take community recommendations and createa sentence that helps with the victim’s rehabilitation,” he said. “But people don’t get off easy. Many times they end up with a harsher punishment through circle justice, but the point is we realize that we need each other to survive out here, and we’re going to have to live with each other after the punishment is over.”
Questions (answer these on a separate sheet of paper):
- In your opinion, does the author believe that “circle justice” works better than traditional forms of justice (i.e., putting someone in jail)? Justify your response with evidence from the text.
- Based on the article and Touching Spirit Bear, do YOU think the idea of restorative justice (circle justice) is better than traditional forms of justice? Justify with evidence from the book AND the article.