Thursday, April 26, 2007
Chapter 1
Would you have liked to live in 1915? List some advantages and disadvantages of living 100 years ago. Think of some of the comforts that you enjoy today that would not have existed then. What comforts of modern life would you miss the most?
Chapter 2
Charlie has several options to consider when dealing with bullies – he can fight, he can run away, or he can stay and fight. Describe a time when you had to deal with a bully. What did you do? Why did you decide this was the best thing to do? Would you do anything different if you encountered a similar situation again?
Chapter 3
Describe a time when you were in trouble and list the steps you took to get out of it. Did it work? What advice would you give to someone else in the same situation?
Chapter 4
Why does Charlie’s mother say that war has nothing to do with us”?
Have you ever been separated from your family? Write about an experience including how you felt about it.
Have you ever been separated from your family? Write about an experience including how you felt about it.
Chapter 5
Have you ever played a joke on someone? Write about what happened. Did the person feel bad about it after? Do you think it was a positive or negative experience foe those involved?
Charlie says something to Davy that he regrets. He thinks, “That’s the problem with words—once you said them you couldn’t unsay them.” Describe a time when you felt this way yourself.
Charlie says something to Davy that he regrets. He thinks, “That’s the problem with words—once you said them you couldn’t unsay them.” Describe a time when you felt this way yourself.
Chapter 6
Sometimes people look back on upsetting events, but find that they have become funny to them over time. Have you had an experience like that? Write about it.
Chapter 7
Charlie has a nightmare while under anesthetic. Describe what it was about and explain why he might have had it.
Charlie regrets talking about Mac and Dr. Daniels, thinking that he has gotten them into trouble. Have you ever said something that you regretted? What did you do to make up for it?
Charlie regrets talking about Mac and Dr. Daniels, thinking that he has gotten them into trouble. Have you ever said something that you regretted? What did you do to make up for it?
Chapter 8
Lucy Wilcox says “you may be listening, but you are not hearing.” What is the difference between “listening” and “hearing” here? Can you think of another saying in this chapter that means something similar?
Have you ever made a decision that disappointed your family or friends? Do you think you did the right thing, even though you disappointed them?
Have you ever made a decision that disappointed your family or friends? Do you think you did the right thing, even though you disappointed them?
Chapter 11
Charlie talks out loud to himself as he tries to get out of the crate in the ship’s hold. In your opinion, how does talking to himself help Charlie in this situation?
Describe a time when you were in a scary situation and explain what you did to cope.
Describe a time when you were in a scary situation and explain what you did to cope.
Chapter 12
What significance do the images in Charlie’s dream have for him? Why does the image of the floating steel anchor disturb him?
Who is most to blame for the situation that Charlie now finds himself in—Clint or Charlie? What were their motives for doing what they did? Do a person’s motives change how you feel about their behavior? Explain.
Who is most to blame for the situation that Charlie now finds himself in—Clint or Charlie? What were their motives for doing what they did? Do a person’s motives change how you feel about their behavior? Explain.
Chapter 13
The letter that Charlie writes is very short and simple. Write a new letter explaining more of the feelings that you think Charlie may be having right now.
Chapter 14
Charlie is not given much help in getting home. In fact, he is told to take care of himself until the money arrives from Newfoundland to send him home. If this were to happen today do you think that adults would have the same reaction?
Chapter 15
Charlie lies a number of times in this chapter in order to get where he is going. Explain whether you think lying is okay under certain circumstances, or if it is never ok.
Chapter 16
Part of the reason that Charlie wants to work hard in the hospital is to prove that he is not a coward. What things has he done to prove this already? What things do you think he may do in the future to prove this?
Chapter 17
Mac says, “If you’re old enough to watch good men die, I guess you are old enough for wine.” Do you agree or disagree? What makes a person more mature—age or years of experience?
Chapter 19
What does the smell of the trenches tell you about what t must have been like to live in them?
Chapter 20
In order to be successful, the soldiers must work together as a team. Describe a time when you were able to accomplish more as a part of a team than you would have been able to do alone.
Chapter 21
There were many disturbing images in this chapter. What, in your opinion, was the most difficult to read?
List the many things that Charlie does to save Martin’s life. Out of all of them, which do you think is the most important? Why?
List the many things that Charlie does to save Martin’s life. Out of all of them, which do you think is the most important? Why?
Chapter 22
When Charlie’s mom first sees him, she hardly recognizes him. In the author’s words he is “tall, grown, a man.” In what other ways do you think Charlie’s time in Europe has changed him?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Welcome to Charlie Wilcox blog!
Charlie Wilcox – Sharon E. McKay
Your mission is to complete the reading of you assigned novel according to an outlined reading schedule. As you read, you may wish to make some notes to help you remember key people and events. You will have a set of assigned questions to respond to on a weekly basis. You are also expected to respond to the answers posted by your group members. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are up to date with your questions and comments.
When you begin your journey you will find several postings to help you get started. They include a summary, information about the author, a short character list, and an excerpt from your novel. Included with each section you will find some “starter questions.” These questions may be answered at any point during your reading. They are designed to help you shape your thinking as you progress through your book. Upon completion of the project all of the questions must have been answered by you. Feel free to respond to your group members answers here as well.
Hopefully, this project will give you a chance to:
- Read and discuss books
- Connect with books
- Take responsibility as readers and construct meaning together
- Debate and challenge one another
- Make drawings and notes that reflect your ideas
- Ask open-ended questions
- Read aloud your favorite passages
- Revisit the text constantly
- Prove points and settle differences by using specific passages
- Think critically!
I will be grading you according to the following criteria:
Student Assignments / Outcomes:
Students will:
i) Independently read a novel that has been selected based on their interest and ability.
ii) Respond to a series of questions about the novel from both their teacher as well as their group mates.
iii) Comment on other students’ understandings / contributions.
iv) Submit original student illustrations or other graphic reactions for the blog community to enjoy.
v) Other responses (e.g. videos, plays, rewrites, etc.).
Your mission is to complete the reading of you assigned novel according to an outlined reading schedule. As you read, you may wish to make some notes to help you remember key people and events. You will have a set of assigned questions to respond to on a weekly basis. You are also expected to respond to the answers posted by your group members. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are up to date with your questions and comments.
When you begin your journey you will find several postings to help you get started. They include a summary, information about the author, a short character list, and an excerpt from your novel. Included with each section you will find some “starter questions.” These questions may be answered at any point during your reading. They are designed to help you shape your thinking as you progress through your book. Upon completion of the project all of the questions must have been answered by you. Feel free to respond to your group members answers here as well.
Hopefully, this project will give you a chance to:
- Read and discuss books
- Connect with books
- Take responsibility as readers and construct meaning together
- Debate and challenge one another
- Make drawings and notes that reflect your ideas
- Ask open-ended questions
- Read aloud your favorite passages
- Revisit the text constantly
- Prove points and settle differences by using specific passages
- Think critically!
I will be grading you according to the following criteria:
Student Assignments / Outcomes:
Students will:
i) Independently read a novel that has been selected based on their interest and ability.
ii) Respond to a series of questions about the novel from both their teacher as well as their group mates.
iii) Comment on other students’ understandings / contributions.
iv) Submit original student illustrations or other graphic reactions for the blog community to enjoy.
v) Other responses (e.g. videos, plays, rewrites, etc.).
Summary:
In this book we meet a young boy named Charlie. Charlie is living with his Auntie Maud. He is 14 years old and he is very scrawny. He wants to go to sea like his father and his grandpa. His dad is the Captain of a ship and he goes hunting seals every now and then.
Charlie has problems with his leg and eventually goes to the hospital to get it fixed. Charlie ends up in a room with a boy named Davy who has no legs. They become very good friends and have great adventures while Charlie is at the hospital. A nurse named Mac looks after Charlie in the hospital. Finally he gets out and is able to go home.
He leaves to visit his father and then he overhears his dad talking about him. His dad says that Charlie isn't good enough for the sea. Charlie packs up and sneaks out his window that night. He goes to the port and sneaks on a ship by crawling into a box. He stays in the box for days before someone finds him. Two soldiers find him and give him food and a drink. After he is done eating he asks why there are so many soldiers aboard the ship and the soldier tells him they're going to war.
They get off in France and Charlie goes to see the Matron-inn-Chief who is like a judge. She tells him that he can work at the hospital until he finds a passage home. Charlie meets Mac in the hospital that he is helping in and takes her on a picnic.
Questions:
1. What is the setting for this novel?
2. Why is the setting important to this story?
3. Whose point of view is the story being told from?
4. What conflicts arise throughout this story? Are the conflicts resolved? Why or why not?
5. If you could change one thing about this novel, what would it be?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
Charlie has problems with his leg and eventually goes to the hospital to get it fixed. Charlie ends up in a room with a boy named Davy who has no legs. They become very good friends and have great adventures while Charlie is at the hospital. A nurse named Mac looks after Charlie in the hospital. Finally he gets out and is able to go home.
He leaves to visit his father and then he overhears his dad talking about him. His dad says that Charlie isn't good enough for the sea. Charlie packs up and sneaks out his window that night. He goes to the port and sneaks on a ship by crawling into a box. He stays in the box for days before someone finds him. Two soldiers find him and give him food and a drink. After he is done eating he asks why there are so many soldiers aboard the ship and the soldier tells him they're going to war.
They get off in France and Charlie goes to see the Matron-inn-Chief who is like a judge. She tells him that he can work at the hospital until he finds a passage home. Charlie meets Mac in the hospital that he is helping in and takes her on a picnic.
Questions:
1. What is the setting for this novel?
2. Why is the setting important to this story?
3. Whose point of view is the story being told from?
4. What conflicts arise throughout this story? Are the conflicts resolved? Why or why not?
5. If you could change one thing about this novel, what would it be?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
About the Author:
Sharon McKay is a script editor and an award winning author of 14 non-fiction books. Charlie Wilcox was her first novel for young adults. Charlie Wilcox has already been sought out to be a television show and/or a movie.
When Sharon McKay was younger she failed grade three. Her family moved around a lot so she was not in any one school for very long. McKay is originally from Newfoundland, but she now lives in Ontario in a log house made of red cedar. She is married and has two sons, two dogs and a cat.
Questions:
1. Why do you think Sharon McKay would chose to write a story like this?
2. It is often said that it is easier to write what you know. Do you think that McKay’s life events could have shaped her writing? If so, in what ways?
3. If you were to write a book based on your life experiences so far, what might it be called? Why?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
When Sharon McKay was younger she failed grade three. Her family moved around a lot so she was not in any one school for very long. McKay is originally from Newfoundland, but she now lives in Ontario in a log house made of red cedar. She is married and has two sons, two dogs and a cat.
Questions:
1. Why do you think Sharon McKay would chose to write a story like this?
2. It is often said that it is easier to write what you know. Do you think that McKay’s life events could have shaped her writing? If so, in what ways?
3. If you were to write a book based on your life experiences so far, what might it be called? Why?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
Some Important Characters:
As you read there are some important characters that you should pay close attention to. You may wish to jot down some notes about these characters as you go. These characters include:
· Charlie Wilcox
· Charlie’s parents
· Davy
· Mac
Questions:
1. Who is you favorite character? Why?
2. Can you relate to any of the characters? If so, in what way(s)?
3. Who is your least favorite character? Why?
4. We learned earlier in the year that “good” characters experience some sort of change. Name one character and discuss the changes that they undergo throughout the novel.
5. In your opinion, who is the protagonist? Who or what is the antagonist?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
· Charlie Wilcox
· Charlie’s parents
· Davy
· Mac
Questions:
1. Who is you favorite character? Why?
2. Can you relate to any of the characters? If so, in what way(s)?
3. Who is your least favorite character? Why?
4. We learned earlier in the year that “good” characters experience some sort of change. Name one character and discuss the changes that they undergo throughout the novel.
5. In your opinion, who is the protagonist? Who or what is the antagonist?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
Excerpt from Charlie Wilcox:
The first of the wounded they picked up that night was young. Maybe nineteen years old. His tunic, soaked through with blood, had turned purple. It was the only thing holding him together. "Mother," cried the boy. "Mother." "Run, kid, run," yelled the stretcher-bearer. This time Charlie gave no thought to his head bouncing over the top of the trench. He just ran. . . . "I hates it when they does that," said the stretcher-bearer, who plunked himself down on a crate and fished around his tunic for cigarettes. "Does what?" "Calls out for their mother. Means they are going to die." Charlie slumped down, his back pressed up against the mud wall of the trench. "Is it always like this?"
Questions:
1. Explain why you think that this excerpt may be important.
2. Choose another short excerpt that you enjoyed and explain why you enjoyed it. Why do you think it might be important to the overall story?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
Questions:
1. Explain why you think that this excerpt may be important.
2. Choose another short excerpt that you enjoyed and explain why you enjoyed it. Why do you think it might be important to the overall story?
Click on the comment link to answer these questions!
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