rubric gallery

Think about how Cole learns to regret his actions in the SECOND half of Touching Spirit Bear (TSB). He realizes that his actions were his responsibility and that his mistakes hurt himself, others that he physically or directly injured (Peter, the Spirit Bear, people he lies to, etc.) and those who try to help him (Edwin, his mother, Garvey, Rose, etc.) Now think about a time when you acted out, hurt someone, did or said something disrespectful, or did something you feel was wrong and would like to go back and change. Choose one of those mistakes or regrets and create a "cautionary tale" to help yourself avoid making the same mistake. How would you warn yourself or stop yourself from making the same mistake if you went back in time? You can also think about how you would stop yourself from acting destructively (negatively /wrongly) if you faced with a similar situation now. Use the Brainstorm and Checklist assignments to help you complete the assignment.

Totem Poles

As you ponder what to write, it is important to know that Greeks insisted on certain guidelines. Everthing they composed, built, made, conceived, danced, sang, or explained had elements of beauty, symmetry, clarity, balance, proportion, and function. Your story should not only have beautiful language, but should also serve a function (explain something in nature - either human nature or the earth).

After a Read Aloud of different Myths and a class discussion you, the students will be writing your own myths. You will create a myth that explains a natural phenomenon such as the reason behind a volcano's eruption, earthquake, echoes, rainbows, droughts etc. This corresponds with the second half of the Greek Gods novel, "Nature Myths." As you brainstorm what to write, it is important to remember that Greeks created their stories with a purpose. Everything they created, wrote, thought of, danced, sang, or explained had a reason. The main purpose of mythology was to explain the way their world worked or to help them understand mysteries of nature or human life. Your story should not only have beautiful language, but should also serve a function (explain something in nature - either human nature or the earth).

This rubric is to use in creating a "Spirit Animal" or animal guide using information we have read in the novel Touching Spirit Bear.

This rubric is to use in creating a Greek God character using information we have learned about Ancient Greek figures from our novel.

Vocabulary Builder: Students will define, illustrate a new vocabulary term as well as use the new vocabulary in a context appropriate sentence.