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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
yo yo yo hey whats up? i'm on the varsity football team and the varsity track team. i live on a lake and have a REALLY nice wakeboarding boat. what do like to do?
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Lauren. I am 15 years old and I turn 16 May 26th and I live in Trevor, Wisconsin. I have 2 half brothers, Brad 20, Dave 21, and they are awesome. I love hanging out with friends, just about everyday. I love music, more than anything. My favorite bands are The Offspring, Alice in Chains, Soundgraden, Mad Season, Aerosmith, Queens of the Stone Age, and Rage Against the Machine. I mostly like rock, not so much rap or country. I have been out of the country 3 times, I've been to Canada twice and South Africa once. I have lived in Wisconsin all my life, and i love it here. The only thing i don't like are the winters, they are way too cold and take up half of fall and spring. I don't play any sports, because I am too clumsy. :)
ReplyDeletehi, my name is amanda johnson. I am 16 years old and I am in the process of moving back to salem. I go to central high school and I am in 10th grade. I love all sports and having fun. My friends are the weirdest people ever and i am the same way. I love to have a good time and hang out with all different types of people. What do you like to do?
ReplyDeleteHi :] My name is Bethany. Im fifteen, and wont be turning sixteen till May. I like to run on my treadmill, and shoot archery. I'm not fantastic at it yet, but I'm working on it. I'm very tall for a girl in my opinion. Im 5'11". Im not in any school sports because I dont want to make people mad by just doing it for fun when they are so serious about it. I might join the lacrosse club though. The clubs Im in are peer helpers and ABS. Which stands for association of business students. I live on a lake , too. I ski ,though. I cant seem to get up on a wakeboard. Anyway, im talking to much. Have a spiffy day.
ReplyDeleteHey my name Tarrin. I am 15. I love music. The best type of music in my opinion is metal. I play guitar, I have been playing for 5 years, my Squire Stratocaster is my baby :). I participate in Football and Wrestling. I work at subway :D(lol). I like to kid around a lot. Most people think I'm stupid because of how I act, but I am far from it lol.
ReplyDeleteThats cool, I used to play guitar for 3 years, but I quit because I was really bad, and I didn't have any free time. Saturday, I got a car, it's a 2000 Honda Accord. Im so happy, but I dont get my lisence until May. My hobbies are listening to music, hanging out with my friends, and texting. I text so much, it's not even funny! For the most part, I am a A-B student. I have been doing better this year, because i actually care about my grades, unlike years in the past. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome. I've had my 1990 Mercury Ford Topaz for a few months now, going for my license on November 18th. So lets get started on this project or our teachers will yell at us lol :P. This Maycomb town sounds a little bit like Delisle only more redneck haha. I can relate to Scout on her reading abilities, reading was always something that just came easily to me. All of the children in grade 1 already know some of the social classes associated with their classmates and their families; they are accepting of these classes. I think Boo Radley will come more into the story on some sort of racial issue. I would describe Boo as an outgoing person who is dominated by his father and does not want to dissapoint him in any way. To be an outsider is to not be accepted by anyone; some people are outsiders based on race, social class, how they dress, how they act and many other things. I think the most important sentence of chapter 1 is on page 9, bottom paragraph "Dill was from Meridian, Mississippi, was spending the summer with his aunt, Miss Rachel, and would be spedning every summer in Maycomb from now on". I believe this to be important because every summer Dill will return; this could set up for later events to happen. In chapter 2 I believe the important sentence is on page 23 paragraph 1 " Now you tell your father not to teach you anymore. It's best to begin reading with a fresh mind..." This I believe is a set-up for later conflict between Scout and Ms. Caroline. In Chapter 3 the most important sentence is on page 30 the bottom paragraph " Come on home to dinner with us,..." I believe this to be important because it is setting up for a friendship that I think will develop throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteWell thats me answering the questions :p. Your turn.
Maycomb is like my town, everyone knows everyone. No one can keep a secret, because everyone will tell everyone. The social issues of Boo and everyone in Maycomb, is that no one has the guts to go up to Boo’s house and ask him if he really did it. So, they are just assuming that he stabbed his parents with scissors, when there still is a possibility that he didn’t. Boo seems like the type of a guy that seems like a scary, dark person. He might be mysterious, in ways. Outsiders are people who are new to the group, town, or activity. They are newcomers that aren’t aware of the old stories, inside jokes, or yearly traditions.
ReplyDeleteWhen Atticus tells the children that they are not allowed to play their game anymore it reminded me of when I was a little child and my parents forbade me to play certain games because I was too violent(lol), and I'd. I see this as a relation because Atticus forbade them to play their game because it may hurt Boo Radleys feelings. Do you have any connections like this to your childhood? The children are obseesed with Boo because his character is shrouded with mystery and intrigue; no one really knows anything about him and they can't really find anything out about him. To my knowledge there are no urban legends or myths around the Delisle area. Something new that I've learned about Boo is that he is lonely and is seeming like he just wants someone to talk with or connect to; he also has a friendly nature to him, contrary to popular Maycomb belief. I would now describe him as a shy person who just wants someone to be with him. I think Harper Lee does not think much of education, she seems to be more of a "Street Smart" type of person, or the kind of person that would rather learn things on her own, rather than have them taught to her. I think education plays a big role in society today, without a Grade 12 Diploma you can not achieve a whole lot. Education is a lot more different today, nowadays society tells us that education is an important factor inones life, and that we can't survive without it. I think the most courageous person in the book is Jem, he accepts almost all the dares he is given and he goes back to the Radley house all by himself in the dark even after Boo came out with a shotgun. I don't really think anyone in the book has shown much sign of cowardice.
ReplyDeleteJem tried to ignore Scout when she came to school, because she annoyed and embarrassed him. The kids are so into the Boo story because that’s all they can do, they are very bored during the summers. I cannot relate because I don’t live by any weird/crazy people. :)There really aren’t any urban myths/legends in my area. Boo lives with his brother Nathan, and is still alive. Boo is a very quiet and might be a somewhat crazy person. I think Harper Lee is all about education, she wrote an amazingly written book. I agree with Lee about education, just not as much. Education is mandatory nowadays, unlike in 1933.
ReplyDeleteDill might write it about school, and not just summer, and Boo would write it about how 3 kids keep messing with his and Nathans house. You don’t know why people do things until you know where they are coming from. Atticus wants scout to know that Boo isn’t weird and mysterious just because he is, he’s weird and mysterious because of what he’s done. Lee wants the reader to think that Scout (the narrator) is a mature child, when, she isn’t, she is a normal grade-schooler, but she is writing how she says it and how she went through all of the things in the book. A good work of historical fiction is having a story in a certain of a certain era/ big event, and this could have been true, but mainly, it’s false.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, seeing a story through the person point of view is different then just seeing it through third person. If you have the first person view, it is more or less giving you that persons side of the story. This is like someone I know, this person used to get angry all the time and I never understood why, and it was hard to deal with it because they seemed to be angry all the time, later on I was told they had Bipolarism, knowing that it has been a lot easier to deal with that person, and whenever they get angry I just try to calm the down. A good work of historical fiction would be a novel that deals with issues from that time period and is also historically correct. Harper Lee might tell the story from this perspective because as an adult you are able to reflect on what you saw as a child, and maybe interpret it better than you wetre able to when you were a small child. Just like anything in school right now, doing simple math seemed harder when I was younger but now its a cinch, and even more recent things, when I first got my learners license I was scared to drive and to be a bad driver, but now that I've had some time it is alot easier to get in a vehicle and drive.
ReplyDeleteHarper Lee tells the story from an adult perspective, many years after the fact because it was a simple love story. And its kind of the same way she grew up. In a small town just like Maycomb.
ReplyDeleteAlso I think that the viewpoint through Scout adds to the storyline of the book, because with this viewpoint we can see where Scout is coming from.
ReplyDeleteHey I was just wondering who we should study for focus #4? I was thinking Boo, Calpurnia or Francis.
ReplyDeleteAll members of this group are put together well and have plans and projects set together. Also you guys have long and detailed explanations, maybe summarize just a smidge. not much to say really, but good efforts, and great jobs!
ReplyDeleteTarrin
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in your comment on Dill. I was surprised when Ms. Woodward told the class last year that Dill was based loosely on Trueman Capote. If you don't know who he is, google him. He was a significant influence on Harper Lee's life, at least till they had some sort of difference and lost contact with each other.
I wonder if you don't think Harper Lee is trying to talk separately about learning, which she is definately in favour of, and formal education, about which she has mixed feelings. I think she probably had some of the same school experiances with teachers that Scout did.
To me it seems like there is no clear antagonist in this novel, or no one person who is the antagonist. Racism is the Antagonistic force in the novel. Do you think any one person is cleary defined as the antagonist? Some characters are making Scout look at herself or make Atticus explain certain things to Scout that she has to understand and learn. Take francis for instance, she had no real idea of what Francis was calling her father but yet she still defended him. With Atticus telling her she has to go in someone elses skin and walk around to see their point of view, this makes Scout a lot more understanding to many things, as in how Jem is acting.
ReplyDeleteFinal Post – Focus #4
ReplyDeleteBob Ewell is more of an antagonist in the book. He was mean to quite a few people. Aunt Alexandra is the character that wants Scout to act like a perfect little girl and she’s not, and she’s a tomboy. Atticus is a lawyer, during the Great Depression, and he defends a black man for apparently raping a girl. Calpurnia showed the Historical Fiction from when she hit Scout for being mean to Walter for putting molasses on all of his food.
Tarrin I think that we should do Boo for Focus number four.
ReplyDeleteSince antagonist is the bad guy in the story, I would have to say its Boo Radley. Alexandra wants her to be a lady, and she is making her do activites that Scout normaly doenst do. Atticus history and added non-real characters makes a good story.
ReplyDeleteLauren, are you in agreeance with Aaron and I, that we should do Boo Radley? Also, who should we study for the second character?
ReplyDeleteJem's coming of age is shown multiple times, one example is his constant seclusion from Scout, he is starting to get more interested in football and "Boys" stuff, he is acting mature, as compared to earlier in the novel, for example when Dill ran away to their house, Jem immediately went and got Atticus.
ReplyDeleteComparing myself to Jem, I still find it somewhat enjoyable to play games with my little 5 year old sister, but then again,sometimes its good to let loose and bring back childhood.
ReplyDeleteThe mob shows us that the human race has a vengeful and angry nature, and they act according and upon this nature.
Journal
ReplyDeleteToday I saw Atticus do one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen, he stood up to a bunch of people to defend Tom Robinson. It makes me think and hope that one day I will grow up and be like him. The heroism he showed today was amazing, I have never seen anything like it before, it was an incredible act of seflessness. I am proud to have him as my father.
Yes, I agree with doing Boo Radley.
ReplyDeleteFor focus #4 we need to do two characters. for Boo Radley he was once an outgoing person but after the "Gang" incident he became house-ridden and mysterious, and not much is known about his physical appearance or his mental abilities or personality, but we do know he can be kind, during the fire he gave Scout a blanket to keep her warm. Boo brings about reactions from Scout for about the first 10 chapters or so, she makes fun of him during her plays, she wonders what he looks like. He helps her to understand that stories that are told may not always be true, and that you can't judge a person until you know them well.
ReplyDeleteFocus #6
ReplyDeleteThe mocking bird symbolizes innocence in the novel, it reflects aspects of the story, one being the young child innocence that is portrayed by Scout, another one is the innocence of Tom Robinson, he is wrongfully accused of rape.
Scout: This reflects how she is adventurous and loves to explore and do new things
Atticus: The meaning is "father-like", which is what he really is, he does not always treat the kids like he is their father, he treats them as if they are his equals
Finch: Another type of bird, realting to the innocence of a mocking bird
Jem: Maybe a reference to "Gem", and showing that he could be a diamond in the rough.
Bob(Ewell): Common (Trashy?) name.
Alexandra/Francis:Prim and proper names that are generally used in "Higher" class society
To be an individual in society is to be almost like an outsider, but still socially accepted, which at some times the line dividing the two can be very thin. It alos means to act in non-conforming ways, that is not doing what everyone else does, not just being another face in the crowd.
Atticus' does not fully align with the stereotypical view of a man, he is more softspoken and would rather use words then agressive forces, he does not participate in other things typical dad's do, like football; also he is not a typical Finch, he strayed from his family's norm; and the lats thing is that he does not treat his children like children, he treats them like individuals.
I find it interesting that the first half of the book didn't give much information on the main storyline, it really only gave us some background information on the town and the people within it. I;m not too sure on why Harper Lee decided to do this, do you have any idea of why she wrote it like this?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think the act of a child intervening, stopped the mob from doing anything to Atticus and Tom.
FINAL POST - FOCUS #5
ReplyDeleteJem is getting too old to hang out with Scout anymore. He is getting more mature and wants to only be with Dill. He gets embarrassed about Scout because she is his younger sister and she always wants to be by him.
FINAL POST - FOCUS #7
ReplyDeleteScout: Her name means that she is adventurous and that she is a non-stopping person.
Jem: His name means that he is strong and willing to do whatever he pleases and that he is a leader.
Atticus: the name Atticus means that he is a very good father and that he is a loyal and non-racist type of person.
Finch: This last name is a type of bird and it is a well known bird that doesn’t have a lot of enemies.
FINAL POST- FOCUS #7
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 18 the trail is still going on. Mayella Ewell is being testified and seems to be really nervous when she answers the questions. He explains nervously how Tom took advantage of her and raped her. And how he ran away when her dad came home.
I believe that some of the major turning points in this novel could be: When Dill comes to Maycomb, this sets up for a lot of the novel to happen, some of the Boo Radley events may not have happened if Dill was not there, another turning poiint would be when Boo Radleys father fills the hole in the tree with cement, that cuts off all connection between the kids and Boo. When Atticus explains to Jem and Scout that courage can come from anyone, after what had happened with Mrs. Dubose, after this happens Jem seems to have a new insight on the world,and entire new view. The trial of Tom Robinson paves the way for the discussion of racial issues and leads to the evntual death of Tom. When Scout stepped in between the mob and Atticus, the mob could have killed Tom and/or hurt Atticus, sometimes it takes the innocence of a child to make us realize that we ourselves are acting in childish and immature ways.
ReplyDeleteHi. Im Logan K. and I participate in wrestling and football. I build boats with my dad and sometimes I even read for fun.
ReplyDeleteI've realized in the book that many of the events that happen influence the character development of Jem. When the kids are trying to get Boo to come out or when they're are at the court it changes Jem.
Another point in the story is when Atticus shot the dog. It gives both Jem and Scout a different view and a higher respect for their father.
Final Post- Focus #8
ReplyDeleteA couple of turning points during the book was when the connection or communcation between Jem and Boo was cut off. And when Atticus defends Tom Robinson in the trail. Because if Atticus wouldn't of helped out Tom Their wouldn't of been a mod, and the town folks wouldnt of been mad at Atticus. Also when Dill comes back into town to visit with Jem and Scout.
Mayella, Bob, Tom, and Mr. Tate were all questioned. Mayella seemed to be very nervous and sometimes questioned her self. Bob seemed to be very prejudice. Tom was very blunt and straight to the point, and was very confident with what was going on. The sheriff really didnt know what happened.
FINAL POST - FOCUS #8
ReplyDeleteSome turning points of the book are: when Dill visits annually, the Radley House, Atticus teaching Scout to read, the gum found in the Radley tree, Aunt Alexandra being racist, and not wanting cal there anymore, and Atticus defending Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was convicted of raping a young girl, only because the judge and jury were all racists.
Hi I'm Eric Spangler for another Mrs. Johnson's class. I think there are a lot more events in the book like where the fire showed Scout's first encounterment with Boo. There was also the times she spent time with Mrs. Maudie. When Scout and Jew were reading to Mrs. Dubose when she was in her last hours. Even the times when Jew was just growing up she developed many different aspects of life and understanding.
ReplyDeleteFocus 8
ReplyDeleteI thought one of the major turning points in To Kill A Mockingbird was when Tom was convicted. The trial was suspenseful and exciting, and when Tom was convicted the Finch's lives had changed. People of Maycomb had stopped making such a big deal out of Atticus defending Tom. Jem was definitely affected by Tom's conviction because he couldn't understand how the jury would allow something so injust to happen. He wouldn't let anyone talk to him about the trial because he would get upset if they did.
I believe that one of the most crucial turning points in the novel was when the trial was taking place. I agree with Christina along rhe lines of the trial being very exciting and suspenseful. Basically throughout the novel the reader was imagining what was going to take place with the trial. How would Atticus win/lose this case? What will happen to Tom? Every reader questions the result, and the trial connected the book. Even with the judge, how he would automatically agree with a black man's word over a whites'. This part made me really think about prejudice, and how it can affect someone's life because they may be of a different color. Tom really didn't do the crime, and this book was all about the different races of people, and how all of Maycomb acted with one another.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I do agree with Eric. When the kids sit with Mrs. Dubose for her last moments, the book seems not suspenseful, but lessons being taught throughout the afternoons spent with her. Jem and Scout realize that she may just want company, although at first they are only at her house to read to her, as a punishment.
FINAL POST-FOCUS 9
ReplyDeleteSocial injustice is still around in my community today. I always seem to be around it. I think it is because I live in a smaller community and everybody talks, and knows each other. I don't live in some big city were everyone is mixed. I feel bad when people are racist against other people of a different race. Because May comb is such a small community, it is very racist.
FINAL POST - FOCUS 9
ReplyDeleteI think people behave hypocritical because they want things to go their way, and only how and when they do it. And, they always want things going their way, and only their way. Hypocrisy is when someone does something and they are totally against of doing it when someone else does.
FINAL POST - FOCUS 10!
ReplyDeleteI think Atticus is the most heroic character in the novel because he is sincere and is a very strong parent. He teaches Scout how to read before she even gets to kindergarten. He doesn’t want anyone to know that he can shoot very well because he doesn’t just want to be known for that, Also, he defends a local black man charged for rape to a young girl, and he then, proves that the girls father is a lefty and Mayella had bruises on the left side of her face, but, the jury was racist so he, sadly, got convicted anyway. Atticus is also very unracist, he defends a Tom Robinson and he also has a African American cook, Calpurnia, that is pretty much a mother to the kids.
Eric.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how the fire and visiting Mrs. Maudie were a turning point in the story, they are both maybe more of a major event than a turning point.
Christina.
yeah the trial was probably the most key turning point, it totally changed the entire storyline; it would have been a completely different story ending if Atticus had won the trial.
Lauren I agree with you that Atticus is the most heroic, not showing he has talent in shooting, this shows he has a mark of modesty, something all heroes should possess. I think that Atticus is not a hero for defending Tom, Atticus was appointed to defend Tom, I think it is more heroic that he tries to win the trial and fight for Toms right, most lawyers of this time would just do nothing and let Tom be prosecuted wiht virtually no defense. Atticus shows heroism with Calpurnia because many people of the time had black cooks and maids, but they treated them unequally and unfair, Atticus on the other hand treats Calpurnia as if she is part of the family.
ReplyDeleteAaron Fincher
ReplyDeleteFinal post-focus #10
I think the hero in this book is Atticus he is always trying to make his children understand for example he says "climb into someone’s skin and walk around in it." In the end of the book Scout finally got what that meant, it took her a while but she understood and that’s something that would stick with her for the rest of her life. Atticus always wanted his kids to stand up for what’s right and be an individual. Some people may say that Author Radley was the real hero, but being a hero isn’t always about saving someone physically. I'm not saying that Author wasn't a hero I'm just saying in my opinion Atticus was a bigger hero. Even when Atticus's own son, might have killed someone and Atticus could have lied and said Jem didn't he was still wanting to do what’s right. In the end he knew that saying Bob Ewell killed himself was right.