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A collaborative project between Canadian and American secondary schools
Lesson List
- Project Introduction
- Project Feedback
- Background Lesson #2 - Arts & Culture
- Background Lesson #1 - Biography
- Focus #1 - Meeting Maycomb
- Focus #2 - The Curious Case of Boo Radley
- Focus #3 - Narrative & Point of View
- Focus #4 - Characters
- Focus #5 - The Mob In Maycomb
- Focus #6 - Symbols
- Focus #7 - The Trial
- Focus #8 - And The Verdict Is...
- Focus #9 - Understandings
- Focus #10 - Heroes
- Group - Alexis B. and Kathryn W.
- Group - Britnee and Christopher M.
- Group - Brooklyn, Bryon K. & Kelsi E.
- Group - Carissa, Kendra J. & Michael F.
- Group - Caroline, Katie A. & Lemar E.
- Group - Christian and William F.
- Group - Cindy, Katelyn K. & Ryan J.
- Group - Colton, Kasondra G. & Russell M.
- Group - Daniel and Christopher L.
- Group - Jackson and Ryan G.
- Group - Janine, Mark S. & Haley S.
- Group - Jesse, Lauren Z. & Tyler W.
- Group - Joline, Austen B., Christina V & Caleb B..
- Group - Justin B. and Travis M.
- Group - Katrina, Garrett J. & Melissa D.
- Group - Kirk and Chad Z.
- Group - Kelsey ,Bridgette R., Lauren I.
- Group - Krista, Zach T. & Jazzmine S.
- Group - Ryan, Colton B. & Samantha B.
- Group - Sara, Nikkilyn H. & Jonathan S.
- Group - Shauna, Mark S. & Jessica P.
- Group - Shelean, Ana G. & Donald H.
- Group - Tamara, Angel C. & Allen A.
- Group - Tarrin, Aaron F, Lauren F.
- Group - Tasha and Jasmine Y.
- Group- Taylor, William B., Katie T.
- Group - Tyler and Brandon H.
- Group - Zoey, Julia S.
Resources
- Blog Rubric - Image
- Blog Rubric - Scribd
- Blogging Rules and Etiquette
- Cooperative Learning Rubric
- Cybersafety
- Group Participation Assessment
- Lessons From National Endowment of the Arts
- NEA: Jazz In The Schools
- Project Information
- Project Timeline
- Remembering Jim Crow
- The Role Of The Mentor
- To Kill a Mockingbird: A Historical Perspective
Hi, my name is Mark Stevens. I'm 16 years old. I have glasses and contacts. I live in Paddock Lake WI (its towards the lower right corner of the state.) I like to do sports like cross country and track. I get pretty decent times, around 21 minutes on the 3 mile for cross country. I like most any music other than country and rap. I also like to mess around with computers and play computer games.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Haley Sanchez,
ReplyDeleteI go to Central high School
Im a brunnette, Im 15, and I have a Mexican Backround.
Hello, my name is Janine. I am sixteen years old and currently in grade eleven. Right now I am on the Sr. Girls soccer team and we are doing pretty good. I happen to like country music.. sorry Mark. I also participate in Track(100m, 200m, 400m, and high jump.) In the winter I injoy snowboarding.
ReplyDeleteOh thats really cool, I used to be in JV Cheerleading my freshmen year and im joining track this year agian, i did it for three years in grade school but then i stopped my freshman year, and im going to be in it agian for my shophemore year, i like doing the 800m, and the 800 relay. I like any kind of music really but im not to much of a fan of country. So how is it in Canada? ive never been there but have been curiouse of what its like... Ive only been to Mexico, philadelphia and virgina. I go to mexico every year during the summer to visit my grandma, i went to Virgina and Philadelphia for a feild trip in grade school.
ReplyDeleteWe have crazy weather in Canada, it got extreamly cold this past winter, but summer time here is awesome. We don't live in igloos or ride dog sleds to school, :) if that's what your thinking.. We took a family trip to Mexico a few years back, and it was a lot of fun and this year we are headed to the Bahamas.
ReplyDeleteMaycomb is obviously a small town, you can tell by the way everyone knows everyone else's business. Especially Boo Radley's history. I am not sure what I think of Boo Radley yet. From Scout's point of view he seems crazy, but Scout, herself has never seen Broo Radley and is just going on the stories she has been told. It is to soon to tell if Broo Radley is insane or if the stories being told are just rumors. If the rumors prove to be true, my guess would be that he had some sort of mental illness.
ReplyDeleteMaycomb is a Small town, I think Scout said it to the teacher when she was telling her about Cunningham. I live in a town called Silver lake its pretty small and things get around fast it really isnt that big you can walk from one end of the town to the other in about 1 hour and in a car about 3 minuets. There seems to be a lot of open minded people in Maycomb such as scout. It is a small town so im sure everbody knows who everyone is... Things can spread pretty fast in a small town. Im Kind of not sure on How Boo can come into the story i guess i have to read more about him to describe him. Being an outsider probably means something like being out side pretty much the whole time and never really inside unless to sleep or eat..
ReplyDeleteMaycomb is definitly a small town were a lot of farmers live and they arent to wealthy.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher, Miss Caroline wasn't too fond of Burris Ewell because he smack talked her. Miss caroline didnt get along with Scout either because of him trying to explaing the situation of Walter.
I think mabye Boo will go after the boys sometime in the story when they are walking by his house.
He seems like a beaten up child that is mad and would like to hurt anyone he saw.
I think being an outsider is to be like different and left out more than others. I think some people are outsiders because they chose bad decissions during their life and they were rejected for it.
Extend (Focus 1):
ReplyDeleteChapter One:
"The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, dept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb." (Page.11)
-We find out how the Radleys are seen in the town, sort of looked down on. This also shows how the Radleys keep to themselves.
Chapter Two:
" Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me any more, it would interfere with my reading."(Page 22)
- In our time it is good for your parents to help you with school and work with you to make you better. It makes me curious about what is going to happen in the future with Miss Caroline.. what she is up to.
Chapter Three:
"It was then that Calpurnia requested my presence in the kitchen." (Page 32)
- The family respects Calpurnia and Scout and Jem listen to her. Atticus backs her up when she is upset with the kids. Its odd in this time since back then colour and non-colour were usually seperate.
I don't think when they said 'outsiders' they ment people who spend time outside. Outsiders to me are people who don't fit in with any particular group. People who maybe like to be alone or are forced to be alone because of their personalities.
ReplyDeleteI think that Jem, Dill and Scout are so obsessed with Boo Radley because of all the stories they have been told, it interests them and they want to know more. I am not very interested in myths myself, but I know some people who pretty much live by them. We have found out some more about Boo Radley from what Miss Maudie told Scout. " His name's Arthur and he's alive." (Page 57,)In my opinion education now is a must. If you drop out of school now your not able to get a very good job. Back then if people didn't finish high school they could still get decent jobs. The education they recieve in Maycomb seems to be more strick than here, for example now teacher are not allowed to hit kids.
Expand: I think it was very courageous the way Scout tried to explain the situation with the Walter Cunninghams to Miss Caroline."The Cunninghams never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it." I also find Atticus to be courageous, the way he trusts Calpurnia's judgment even thought it is not the way things were then.
Focus 2
ReplyDelete1.
2.They are so curious about him. They have never seen him before; all they have heard is rumors. I can because I usually can’t stop thinking about something I’m curious about.
3.No, nothing I know of at least.
4.Boo seems like he is nicer than what the children rumored him to be.
5.I believe Harper is very bored toward education. I don’t find many of my classes entertaing, so I know were she is coming from. Teachers don’t care too much if you get taugh by your parents or not, now days. It’s the same because we still got to raise our hands.
Boo is different from the rest...
ReplyDeletei can compare this to real life because everybody gets made fun of for being a "nerd, geek" and so on...
There is an urban lagend that the "Animivlle Horror house" is Haunted.. They made a video in a house that is about 5 min. away from my house and they say its haunted i pass it everyday in the morning on my way to school but ive never been inside of it.
I think Boo isnt as bad as everybody describes him as. He seems pretty nice. Harper doesnt like School very much but i dont blame her school isnt very excitiing unless your intrested in what your learing.. I think that the school is the same and different in many ways in maycomb and here.
Do you think that Harper Lee was bored with school? How did she want it to change? (hint-Where was Atticus educated?) I think Harper Lee brings up a least two issues about school-corporal punishment, which was being addressed by the 1960's when she wrote this book, and educating to the lowest common denominator, which still needs addressing, if you ask me!!
ReplyDeleteThe rumour about the "Animivlle Horror house" is a lot like a small house/shack by my friends place. When we were young we would run really fast past it because of things we had heard about it being haunted. We would throw rocks at it and wait and see what would happen. Nothing ever happened but it was still fun.
ReplyDeleteI think Harper Lee is bored with education because of the way she makes the teacher react towards Scout knowing how to read. Miss Caroline gets upset with Scout and tells her not to read anymore at home. This shows how she is trying to keep everyone at the same level which in my opinion is wrong because if you are capable of doing better you should be allowed to do so. Even now in school, teachers continue to teach to the weakest and those who are ahead are forced to pull back.
I personally like the way Scout narrates the novel, I like the way she is telling it as an adult but it is a story when she was young. She says at parts what she thought and felt as a child about that particular moment in the story. If the story was told by Dill or Boo Radley it would be completely different. What happened to Boo anyways? He seemed to be the main point in the beginning of the book but in the last few chapters he is not even mentioned. The story seemed to take a turn and focus more on Atticus, and how he is defending a black man in court. I am also confused about why the entire event with Jem and Mrs. Dubose happened? Maybe, to show how caring Atticus is and how he doesn’t let things like what other people think bother him. I agree that Boo must be kinder then they make him seem
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” I believe this completely. People are very quick to judge others. There might be reasons why that particular person acts a certain way because of events that have happened in the past. Since you were not there to experience that event you wouldn’t see things the way they would. Atticus may have been trying to explain to Scout why Mrs. Dubose said rude things about him and his family.
I gave you guys a 3 and two 4s great job!
ReplyDeleteI gave you guys a 4, 3 and 4. I can't really think of anything you could do to improve your answers.
ReplyDeleteFocus 4
ReplyDeleteWhat characters would you guys like to do? I am interested in Boo and Miss Caroline.
Extend- Personally I believe the antagonist in “To Kill a Mockingbird” is all the racial comments form towns people about Atticus’s trial. It is hard for Scout, Jem and Atticus himself to cope with everyone thinking he is doing the wrong thing while he believes he is doing to right thing and that I must defend this man. Another antagonist in the book could be Aunt Alexandra since she is causing such change in the household against Scout’s will. Miss Caroline might be an antagonist towards Scout also because of the way she treats Scout at school.
Aunt Alexandra is forcing Scout to look at herself in profound ways ever since she has come to live with them. She wants Scout to act more like a little lady. Atticus stated: “Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding-“
A good work of historical fiction depends on how well the characters are portrayed. If you are able to understand the way the character thinks and will react to situations. The better the Characters are explained the better you are able to understand the story and how the author wants you to see it.
Hi I'm Danielle C. and I'm in Ms. J's second period class at Central. Have you ever considered that if Aunt Alexandra is making Scout to look at herself in more profound ways that she might not be an antagonist? Sure she can be rude to Scout sometimes, but I believe she's just acting that way because is doing what she believes is best for Scout, however, I think she's going about it in the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle, thanks for joining our blog. I do think that Aunt Alexandra is trying to do what SHE thinks is best for Scout. If that is the case then I strongly disagree with her, but that could be because of the time period I have grown up in. In my opinion Scout herself would see Aunt Alexandra as an antagonist. On the other hand, Atticus would not see her that way.
ReplyDeleteAn obvious sign of Jem coming of age is the amount that he has been eating. Scout stated: “His appetite was appalling, and he told me so many times to stop pestering him I consulted Atticus: “Reckon he’s got a tapeworm?” Scout also talks about how he acquired an alien set of values over night. And Jem gets after Scout for not acting like a girl.
The mob scene shows how people who are your friend every day can turn and become completely opposite over something they believe in. Atticus was lucky to have Scout there in that situation because her innocents did help the mob calm down. Atticus is right about remaining grounded in your character, no matter what, it is not right to act one way towards someone and turn around and act completely different to that same person or another. Jem has now seen how some people can behave.
Dear Journal,
ReplyDeleteI have been worried about Atticus lately, so tonight Scout, Dill and I went down to town to check on him. There was a mob outside the Macomb jail. It was scary and Atticus keeps telling us to go home. Thanks to Scout we all got out of there alright. She started to talk about Mr. Cunningham’s son. You could see his anger go away. I think hearing about his son made him realize who he regularly was and how he normally acted towards Atticus and us. It is weird the way all those guys in the mob were acting. They all were so mad and I am not use to seeing them that way. Atticus says you have to stay grounded in you own character. I guess that is what he is talking about.
Jem
A ‘mockingbird’ is a huge symbol in this novel. Closer to the beginning on the book
ReplyDeleteAtticus tells Scout “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘ em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”. This is a symbol because in the story innocent people are being accused of stuff that they did might not have done. Miss Maudie, agreed with Atticus and added “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.” The mockingbird in the case represents Tom Robinson and how he is being accused.
To be an “individual in society” in my opinion means someone that is not like everyone else. Individuals don’t follow what everyone else is doing, they do things differently. The names of the characters in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ are chosen very well. They suite there personalities.
Scout- I thinks the name “Scout” seems like a girl who likes adventures, likes to explore and learn new things. But likes to do it on her own watch.
Dill- Another adventure name. But more cleaver and sneaky.
Atticus- A wise man who doesn’t worry about what others think.
Jem- The name ‘Jem’ seems like the name of someone really strong, and smart.
Focus #7
ReplyDeleteThe mob showed up and they were all mad, Mr Cunningham included but after Scout starts to talk to him about his son I think he remembers who he regularly is and changes his view. He tells the mob that they should get going. In my opinion Mr Cunningham just changed his mind for that night and not all together. What do you think? I believe that Scout and Jem also change there views and start seeing things the way Atticus does during the trial.
Foucus #3
ReplyDeleteI like how scout narrates the story, she gets peoples attention in the story. Also for a little kid she knows how to explain things well. When Atticus told scout to walk into
the other persons skin it kind of reminded me about the saying "Put yourself in my/their shoes" meaning put yourself in there position.
Foucus #4
ReplyDeleteI like the Role of Boo, he would be intresting to play in a role as.
I Think that Atticus and Boo and Jem are very nice to the other races like the black people. They have Calpurnia in there home and they all treat her well. Im not sure but i think i remember atticus saying he did a trial for a black person. did he?
Haley: He is doing a trial of a black man named Tom Robinson. How far have you read in the book? You learn more about the trail as you read.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I thought also when Attiucs talked about being in another’s skin. I have also heard of that saying in the form of "walk a mile in someone else’s shoes."
Focus #8
In this point of the novel I think the major turning point is the trial. What do you guys think? The trial changed the way Scout and Jem see Atticus. Before the trial there was a lot of stuff they were “left in the dark” about, such as the fact that Atticus was appointed to represent Tom. It was his choice if he wanted to do it well or not. Since the trial we have also seen a different side of Jem. He is very upset about the end result of the trial and he lets everyone know it.
Janine: i think the trial is the main turning point as well. Especially on how it changed Jem, Scout, and Dill's view on things.
ReplyDeleteFocus #8
I beleive the main turning point so far is how the trial went and how it ended. During the trial the children learn how harsh people can be. It really changed Jem and Attcius when they learned that the jury convicted Tom guilty. Jem, Scout, and Dill got worried about Atticus, because of Bob Ewell's threat to harm him. They desperately share their feelings with Atticus.
Mark: It changed their opinions in general, but also the way they see Atticus now. Scout always thought Atticus to not be very manly or strong. I believe the trial made Scout and Jem see him as a stronger person.
ReplyDelete"Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed" (323). I believe what they are saying is that Atticus and Tom didn’t have a change to win at all. It could be because the Ewell family is well known in town, but most likely it’s because Tom Robinson is black and is not accepted in the town as much as the Ewells. At that time you would tend to lean to the side that has the same race as you, instead of looking at the evidence.
Harper Lee's theme of social injustice still relevant today because there are still those people that continue to be raciest towards all types of people. I think everyone has bee hypocritical at some point in their life. The situation might not be about race but jealously or when someone is upset. People behave this way I believe to make themselves feel better about something or just to hurt the others feelings.
Focus #5
ReplyDeleteAtticus shows scout that it isnt right to be different around other people that you should be the same to everyone. The mob standing up for what they belived in, and a lot of people do that especially these days, but i think that they shouldnt act different around other people that just isnt right.
The “hero” in the novel I think would be Scout. What do you two think? It seems like she keeps everyone on track thought out the entire story. Scout is the youngest and the bravest. Even though she does not do anything spectacular she does little things that made others in the novel think. She helps Jem through having to read to Mrs. Dubose. She saves Atticus from the mob, and she went out with Dill when he felt sick at the trial. She was the main character of the book, but that is not why I think she is the hero. She is just mature for her age and she seemed to teach everyone a lession.
ReplyDeleteFocus #3
ReplyDeleteI think Harper Lee told the story from an adult by a child was for the various amount of readers, and I believe that the role of the perspective helps certain groups of people to understand whats going on. I think a good work of historical fiction is one that many readers find helpful and fun to read. The Perspective of TKAM definitely improves the novel, because its easy to read it from a child's view and get what they're talking about.
Focus #4
ReplyDeleteI think the antagonist is Mrs. Dubose. Aunt Alexandria wants scout to be more lady like, and less of a tom girl. How all the characters get into arguments, solve their problems, and just how the story flows makes it a great work of historical fiction.
Focus #5
ReplyDeleteI think Jem is growing a lot, he is starting to not hang around with scout as much as he did before. Jem also starts thinking hes at a higher authority than Scout is.
Humans don't usually think very well when they're stressed or mad, and when scout comes it puts them back into their senses. Which this makes them feel bad and leave.
Entry in Jems Diary, Tonight me and Scout went out to check on Atticus, to see what he was doing. When we got there, this mob of men came edmanding that we leave. They tried to grab me away, but Scout got me free. Scout then started to talk to Mr. Cunningham, and soon the mob left.
Focus #6
ReplyDeleteThe mockingbird shows that if you harm something that does nothing bad it will come back to get you. The warning comes when Tom Robinson gets convicted for the rape of Mayella. Being an individual in society, means that you do what everyone else doesn't do and your different than everyone else. I think Atticus does align with the masculinity, because he doesn't get into fights, he finds a way around violence. He as well gives good advice to everyone.
Focus #7
ReplyDeleteDill finds out how unfair court can be to people, he doesn't like how Mr. Gilmer questioned his suspects. Mr. Dolphus Raymond had the same feelings as Dill about the court trial.
Focus #9
ReplyDeleteHarper Lee's Theme is still relevant today because there are still people who criticize other people on how they live, who they are, and what they do. Some times I've seen people excluded out of activities and other stuff because of who they are. I think the meaning if what scout said "Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home--" is that people are always criticizing people they despise no matter were they are.
Focus #10
ReplyDeleteScout has learned that killing a mockingbird is a sin, don't judge a person until you've walked around in their shoes, and that life cant always be fair. African Americans are a lot more respected now, there is a lot less segregation, and its not bad to like a a black person if you are white or the other way around. I think the most heroic character is Jem, because he helps Scout a lot along the way, he saves her from Mr. Ewell.
Focus # 8
ReplyDeleteAtticus is defending Tom Robinson, what they call is a "nigger" and Tom is accused of rape and Atticus does a Great job at defending Tom. Mayella is shaky and nervouse and begins to cry because shes so nervouse.
Atticus is defending a "nigger" Called Tom Robinson, he's accused of rape and atticus does a Great job at defending him. Mayella gets really nervouse and starts to cry because shes so nervouse. She thinks atticus is going to be to hard on her.
ReplyDeleteFocus# 7
ReplyDeleteAtticus is defending a "nigger" Called Tom Robinson, he's accused of rape and atticus does a Great job at defending him. Mayella gets really nervouse and starts to cry because shes so nervouse. She thinks atticus is going to be to hard on her.
Focus # 10
ReplyDeleteI think the most heroic person in the story
is Atticus Finch because he tried his best to
defend a black guy and he was also there to give advise and he was the one who was always trying to help the other people.
Focus #9
ReplyDeleteI think what scout said to jem meant that everybody lables and says things about people wheather they heard about it or just made it up or saw it themselves people are Always judjing others. I think harper lee's story
relates to right now and in the past and most likley the future too, because someone is always judging others