Novel Study: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Culminating Task:
A culminating task is a task at the end of a unit of study that shows your kowledge and allows you to apply that knowledge and understanding. You will have a choice of tasks. If you have a different idea that fulfills the criteria, then you may discuss it with me.
Your culminating task must show:
a) Your understanding of the story, The Giver. The plot, characters and complex ideas that are brought forth need to come through in your creation.
b) Your understanding of some of the themes in the story that communicate a message (i.e. theme of memory, or of individuality, grief, courage ... there are so many to choose from. You must incorporate at least one.
c) Your understanding of at least 2 of the symbols in The Giver and using them in an appropriate way in your creation.
Choices:
1. Write a prologue to the book. (We can discuss this in class if you would like an explanation of what that entails.)
2. Write Chapter 24 ... what happens next (or an Epilogue)
3. Write a script for and create a trailer for the novel.
4. Write a comparative essay comparing the novel and the movie. (We can discuss this in class if you would like an explanation of what that entails.) You may use your comparative writing piece from class.
Rubric: wid.ndia.org/about/Documents/WID_EssayRubric.pdf
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: *** Spoiler: This question refers to the last 2 chapters *** Explain how the ending of the story is ambiguous (define ambiguous). (~2-3 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Some things are worth hating and defeating. What are some of the things you hate what are you doing about them? (~3-4 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: (~2-5 sentences - write as many as are appropriate) *** Spoiler: Some of these questions refer to the last 2 chapters ***
1. What is the real, true definition of "Release"?
2. When The Giver was young, he did not have the gift of "seeing beyond". He had what gift?
3. What is the plan Jonas and The Giver come up with to release the memories back into the community?
4. What goes wrong with the plan?
5. What happens in the last two chapters, and how does the novel end?
6. EXCEPT for the "Release" of babies and others, describe what you think are the worst parts of the society described in the book.
7. Describe the best parts of the society described in this book.
8. Re-read the last two pages of the book. First, decide ... Do Jonas and Gabriel reach Elsewhere? Another Community? Is he hallucinating? Do they just die together in the snow? To you, when you read it, what exactly happens? DEFEND your answer by quoting from and referring to the book. To you, is the ending of this book a happy one or a sad one?
9. What are the lessons, themes and messages that the author would like us to get from this book.
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: What is the difference between Equality and being The Same?
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Why does the community have release? What are the positive results for the community? What are the negative results? (~3-5 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary: (Chapters 16-19) rueful, ecstatic, solitude, imploring, pervade, obsolete, permeate, wretched, dejected
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Who is your best friend? Why? What kinds of things do you share with your best friend? (~2-3 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: (~3-5 sentences each)
1. The first memory of pain Jonas received was a sunburn. What is the second, much worse experience with pain The Giver gives him?
2. What is Jonas' solution for getting Gabriel to sleep through the night?
3. One day, The Giver is in extreme pain, and Jonas takes some of it from him (Chapter 15). What is the extremely painful memory? How did The Giver feel about sharing the memory?
4. Somehow, you come upon Jonas's community ... a group of people living peacefully, no poverty, no suffering, no pain, no war. Should you tell them about pain and war and all those bad thigs, or not?
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: The Receiver of Memory was granted the utmost respect in the community where Jonas lived. The Receiver was responsible for knowing everything that had occurred in history and for using his knowledge to advise and protect the community. Do you agree with the community members that being named Receiver of Memory was the highest possible honour? Why or why not. (~3-5 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary: (Chapters 6-11) anguish, scrupulous, buoyancy, indolence, conspicuous, benign, deftly, torrent, stench
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: What is your favourite memory? Describe it and explain why it is your favourite. (~5 sentences)
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The 20 questions above this line will be due after the March Break. I would like 5 of them to be done by March 21st, another 5 by March 22nd, another 5 by March 23rd, and the last 5 by March 24th.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Do you think it is important to have choices? Why or why not? How does the elimination of choice make it easier in The Giver? (approximately 3-5 sentences)
Due Date: Wed. Mar. 1st
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
In-class activity: Creating a Utopian Society
Due Date:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Worksheet: Listening for Syllables
Due Date: Wed. Mar. 1st
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal Questions (after reading Chapter 10-12): (approximately 3-5 sentences each)
1. Which of Jonas' rules DO disturb him? Which ones do NOT disturb him?
2. How is the receiver's house different from other houses in the Community?
3. What is the actual process for transmitting memories? What is the first memory Jonas receives?
4. Jonas receives 3 memories in Chapter 11. List everything in those 3 memories that he has never seen or experienced before because they no longer exist in the community.
5. So what really happened to the apple that day with Asher? What is starting to happen with Jonas?
6. Agree or disagree, and say why: People should learn history, and learn about the past.
7. Agree or disagree, and say why: It is possible to have a world where everyone is equal, but every is not the same.
8. Agree or disagree, and say why: A world without pain would be a bad thing.
Due Date: Wed. March. 1st
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10 & 11 Questions (in booklet)
Due Date: Friday, February 24th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
True/False Survey: Answer true or false for the 10 questions. Be prepared to explain your answers to the class!
Click the following link and sign in with your Office 365 account to answer the survey!
Link: forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h108BHCDT0avEQybnbgNgkXDZAfvnx1Potpuz7mDnzZUN0RKSTdLN1VZSE45TkFHMTJCS1IxTDIyVy4u
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 14th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Worksheet: Understanding Special Meanings
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 14th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Chapter 8 identified the qualities that are necessary in the Receiver. Why are these qualities important qualities for this position? (~2-3 sentences)
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 13th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary: (Chapter 6 - 10): reprieve, meticulous, integrity, interdependence, exuberant, integral
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Why do you think Birthmothers, or biological mothers, held such a low status in the community? The community's role of birthmother is similar to our society's role of surrogate mothers. What kind of status does a surrogate mother have in our society? (~5 sentences)
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 13th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Worksheets: Finding Base Words & Euphemisms 2
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 13th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary:
Chapters 1-5: utopia, intrigued, adherence, aptitude, gravitate, serene, palpable, chastise, transgression, nurture, infraction, remorse
Chapter 6-10: reprieve, meticulous, integrity, interdependence, exuberant, integral
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
At the end of Chapter 5, answer the following questions (~2-3 sentences):
1. What effect did the pills have on Jonas and the other people who took them?
2. Why do you think all adults were required to take them?
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 6th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
After reading Chapter 3, answer the following questions (~2-3 sentences):
1. Why were Gabe's eyes of such interest to Jonas?
2. How did Lily react to the word "hippo"? Why did she react this way?
3. Why did Jonas risk the public humiliation of public chastisement for taking an apple from the recreation area?
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 6th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Why are memories important? (~2-3 sentences)
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 6th.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Question: Is it better for all people to be alike or for people to be different? (~4-5 sentences)
Write your opinion on the question. Provide support for your opinion from the novel, from other stories you have read or other sources.
Due Date: Mon. Feb. 6th
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journal: Brainstorm 5 things you do every day. Classify each activity as: (1) one that is totally your choice, (2) one in which they have some choice, or (3) one in which they have no choice. (point form or a list)
Freedom to choose is an important issue in the novel we're reading.