Tangerine Literature Circles

General Information:

You will meet every 4-5 days with your group (see calendar).

Every person in the group has specific responsibilities.

The information that you collect and record will be shared with the whole group.

You will change roles for each section.

Group Roles:

  1. Discussion Leader: you will find the big ideas of the book, look for higher level questions, locate themes, and lead the discussion about the “big ideas” in the story.
  2. Figurative Language Finder: you will find many examples of figurative language in the section and share this with the group.
  3. Character Developer: you will keep track of all of the characters, who they are and their importance to development of the plot.
  4. Text Evidence Locater: you will locate and record important passages that lead to the development of the plot and themes of the story.

Areas to be completed by everyone:

  1. Journal Writing
  2. Vocabulary
  3. Mini Projects
  4. TDAs
  5. Quizzes/Test
  6. Group Project

Members of your group:

Name / Role for Section 1 / Role for Section 2 / Role for Section 3

Discussion Leader

Identify 3 Big Ideas of Section One:

______

Create 7 higher level questions (thick questions) and page numbers for information related to these questions:

______

Identify 2 themes of Section One:

______

Lead the discussion about the “big ideas” in the story and the themes. Use the back of this paper to take notes on your group’s discussion.

Figurative Language Finder SECTION ONE:

Find two (2) examples of the following figurative language in the Section One. Include a page number for each example:

Imagery, Flashback, Exposition, Irony, Simile, Character Trait, Foreshadowing, Mood, Internal conflict, External conflict, Onomatopeia, Suspense, Inference, Metaphor, Opinion, Motive

______(use the back if needed).

Character Developer: you will keep track of all of the characters in Section One, who they are and their importance to development of the plot

Character / Who this person is…. / Importance to the Plot

Text Evidence Locater: Locate and record important passages that lead to the development of the plot and themes of the story.

Text Evidence (include page #) / How this evidence develops the plot or theme
Plot:
Theme:
Plot:
Theme:
Plot:
Theme:
Plot:
Theme:
Plot:
Theme:
Plot:
Theme:

TangerineSection One:Role ______

In your notebook, list the page numbers and answer the question completely (at least 7 lines with 2 pieces of text evidence). Refer back to the novel to answer the questions, and you aren’t limited to only the pages listed to find your answers.

Pages/DatesQuestion

1 – 4 / 1)In your own words, what do you think really happened to Paul? Was Erik involved?
Friday, 8/18 / 2)The author keeps referring to a zombie. This is a metaphor. What do you think he is really talking about?
Saturday, 8/19 & 8/19 later / 3)Describe Lake Windsor Downs and its living conditions.
Monday, 8/21 / 4)Make a T-chart comparing Lake Windsor Middle school and Northley Middle School. Minimum of 10 ideas.
Monday, 8/21 / 5)What does Paul feel self conscious about and why?
Wednesday, 8/23 / 6)What are the weather conditions in Tangerine County?
Monday, 8/28 & Wednesday, 8/30 / 7)Why was Paul called Eclipse boy? Where did it come from?
8)What do you think the Erik Fisher Football Dream is?
Thurs, 8/31 & Fri. 9/1 / 9)Describe the players on the Middle School Soccer team. How does Paul measure up?
Tues, 9/5 & Wed, 9/6 & Thurs, 9/7 / 10)What tragedy occurs? How does the community and characters in the book react?
Friday, 9/8 / 11)What second tragedy occurs for Paul?
12)Which tragedy is the worse for him and why?
Fri, 9/8 later & Sat, 9/9 / 13)What was Mrs. Costello referring to when she said “Life goes on”? And later Mrs. Fisher is upset because life is going on. Why?
Monday 9/11 & 9/11 later, Tues 9/12 / 14)What was Paul questioned about that happened at the carnival? Why do you think that this will become important later in the story?
15)Describe how Paul feels during the sinkhole scene.
Thursday 9/14 / 16)Seventh grade students have two options in the emergency relocation plan. What are they and why does Paul choose as he does?

Vocabulary Activity: Locate Vocabulary Words in the text. Write the phrase/sentence it is in, find 2 synonyms for the word, the actual definition, and draw a picture of the word.

Predator, Exploit, Calisthenics, Benefactor, Mourn, Survey

Mini Projects

At the end of this section, you have the choice of the following mini projects:

Pick One (1)

  1. Write a one page description of sinkholes
  2. Look up information on people who are visually impaired (legally blind) and write a one page paper
  3. Write a news article about the disaster at Paul’s school (one page and include a picture)
  4. Pick a character and completely describe his/her personality, likes, dislikes, behavior
  5. Write a letter that will be sent home to all of the students at Lake Windsor Middle School describing the emergency relocation program
  6. Make a small collage of the events that have occurred so far in the story (minimum 15)
  7. Draw a scene from the story and include a caption that completely describes the scene
  8. Make a Graphic Organizer for this part of the story

Each project is worth 25 points. For #1 and #2 you must include your source/s. For #s 1,2, 3, 4, 5 you must write at least one page worth of text (12 font). For #s 6, 7, 8 your project must be neat, colorful, relevant, and show an in depth knowledge of the book.

Tangerine Section Two:Role ______

In your notebook, list the page numbers and answer the question completely (at least 7 lines with 2 pieces of text evidence). Refer back to the novel to answer the questions, and you aren’t limited to only the pages listed to find your answers.

DatesQuestion

Monday, 9/18 / 1)Summarize this section
Tuesday, 9/19 / 2)What do the TMS boys say happened at the carnival? How does Paul feel about all of this?
3)Describe the TMS soccer team. How is it different from the LWMS team?
Wednesday
9/20 / 4)What do Erik and Arthur do towards Joey? How does this make him feel? What is his explanation to Paul about the shoes?
Friday,
9/22 / 5)Make a graphic organizer summarizing this section.
Saturday,
9/23 / 6)What happens during the first LWHS football game and how does Paul feel about this event?
Tuesday, 9/26 / 7)Make up 4 questions that cover the important points of these pages. (include answers)
Wed. & Fri,
9/27 & 9/29 / 8)Summarize the key points for these pages.
Mon &Tues. 10/2, 10/3 / 9)Discuss Joey’s “attitude”. Why do you think he is acting as he is?
Wednesday,
10/4 / 10)Describe the problems that the people in Lake Windsor Downs face.
Thursday, 10/5 / 11)Summarize these pages.
12)Describe Lois Cruz
Thurs, Sat. & Sun. 11/2, 11/4, 11/5 / 13)Summarize these pages. Come up with two discussion questions.
Tues, Wed. & Fri 11/7, 11/8, 11/10 / 14)What is the significance of Erik attending school in Lake Windsor and Paul attending school in Tangerine? What could the two places symbolize?

Vocabulary Activity:

Locate Vocabulary Words in the text. Write the phrase/sentence it is in, find 2 synonyms for the word, the actual definition, and draw a picture of the word.

Combatants, Saturating, Encephalitis, Reverence, Amateur, Congregated, Retaliate, Commotion

Mini Projects

At the end of this section, you have the choice of the following mini projects:

Pick One(1)

  1. Write a one page paper about the history of soccer.
  2. Look up information on growing citrus fruit and write a one page paper.
  3. Explain the rules of soccer and draw a diagram of a soccer field.
  4. Create a drawing of a Quonset hut, include information about these structures.
  5. Pick a character and completely describe his/her personality, likes, dislikes, behavior (must be different from last section).
  6. Write a letter from the Homeowners Association that will be sent to all of the people living in Lake Windsor Downs describing the current problems that the development is experiencing.

Each project is worth 25 points. For #1,#2, #3 and #4 you must include your source/s. For #s 1,2, 5, and 6 you must write at least one page worth of text (12 font). For #3 and #4 your project must be neat, colorful, relevant, and show an in depth knowledge of the book/subject.

Figurative Language Finder SECTION TWO: Find two (2) examples of the following figurative language in the Section One. Include a page number for each example:

Alliteration, Imagery, Mood, Hyperbole, Simile, Character Trait, Inference, Flashback, Opinion, Irony, Foreshadowing, Internal conflict, External conflict, Onomatopeia, Motive, Suspense, Symbol, Protagonist/Antagonist, Rising Action

______(use the back if needed).

Tangerine Section Three:Role ______

In your notebook, list the page numbers and answer the question completely (at least 7 lines with 2 pieces of text evidence). Refer back to the novel to answer the questions, and you aren’t limited to only the pages listed to find your answers.

DatesQuestion

Monday, 11/20 / 1)What does Erik do to Tino at Paul’s house? How do you think Tino will react?
2)Why is Paul “sick to his soul?”
Tuesday, 11/20 / 3)What is the discovery made at the storage bin? Predict it’s significance?
4)Describe the scene that Paul sees (hears) while hiding under the bleachers?
Thursday,
11/23 / 5)What does “fighting the freeze” mean? What are the three ways to “fight the freeze?”
6)Why does Paul feel compelled to help “fight the freeze” and why does Luis question Paul’s willingness to help?
Friday,
11/24 / 7)After reading this section, how does the football team feel about Erik and Arthur?
8)What does Paul see on the wall and how does he react?
Monday, 11/27 / 9)What is Paul’s explanation for the disappearance of the koi? What does this say about his “sight”?
10)What events are happening that cause Paul to say his father is coming “unglued?”
Tuesday,
11/28 / 11)How does Luis Cruz die? Who does Paul think is responsible?
Wednesday, 11/29 / 12)Describe the scene with Paul and the little boy at the pond? Why does Paul tell the boy these things?
Thursday, 11/30 / 13)How did Paul observe Luis Cruz’s death since he was not at the funeral?
Friday, 12/01 / 14) Create a graphic organizer for the events of this section (at least 8 events).
15)Who is Vincent Castor and what event was he involved in?
16)Why is Vincent Castor’s “name” so important?
Saturday, 12/02 / 17)Why is Betty Bright outside Mr. Donnelly’s house?
18)Name 3 important things they discuss.
Sunday12/03,
Sunday12/03 / 19)There are two important articles in the “Tangerine Times”. Summarize them:
  1. “Lake Windsor Athlete Confesses in Football Scandal”
  2. “Thoughts on an Imaginary Porcelain”

Sunday, 12/03 later / 20) What do we find out about at Mom and Dad’s meeting? What is the outcome?
21)After the meeting, as people are leaving, what happens on Paul’s front lawn?
Monday, 12/04 / 22)Mom and Paul have a meeting with Dr. Johnson. What is the outcome for:
  1. Tino & Victor – and why
  2. Paul – and why

Tues. & Wed 12/5, 12/6 / 23)Make a graphic organizer for the events of these days (at least 5).
24)What is the importance of Dad driving Paul to school?

Vocabulary Activity:

Locate Vocabulary Words in the text. Write the phrase/sentence it is in, find 2 synonyms for the word, the actual definition, and draw a picture of the word.

Menacing, Vulnerable, Dedication, Compromise, Aneurysm, Deteriorate, Mirage, Spectacle

Figurative Language Finder SECTION THREE: Find two (2) examples of the following figurative language in the Section One. Include a page number for each example:

Static Character, Imagery, Simile, Inference, Character Trait, Metaphor, Opinion, Irony, Foreshadowing, Flashback, Mood, Internal conflict, Motive , Suspense, External conflict, Theme, Symbolism, Hyperbole, Protagonist/Antagonist, Climax, Dynamic Character, Rising Action, Falling Action, Resolution

______(use the back if needed).