Essential Questions
As we read and explore The Bean Trees, we will examine the following questions and issues:
How are we shaped by our life experiences and difficulties?
What is the meaning of love?
How much in life are we capable of handling?
How are we shaped by our life experiences and difficulties?
What is the meaning of love?
How much in life are we capable of handling?
Need a copy of the book? Unfortunately, I cannot provide a free pdf file like I can with many texts. We will check out books from the school library, but if you want your own copy it is available on kindle or ereader for small fee, or any local bookseller.
In-Class Work
You must be present in order to receive credit for all in-class assignments. Make-up work will only be available to students with an excused absence note. Make-up work must be requested the day you return to school and must be completed in no more than three days time from the original absence. This includes field trips, athletic events and all senior graduation business.
Activity #1: What Matters To You?
Inspired by Sarah Kay's TED Talk, make a list of 10 things you know to be true. You may interpret that statement any way you like. When you finish, make another list: 10 things you know to be false. Evaluate both lists. Which was easier to write? Why do you think that is? Choose one item from each list and write a poem - it can be free form (doesn't need to rhyme) or traditional, no assigned length.
Activity #2: Who Are You?
Reach into your backpack or purse. Choose one item. Write 1/2 page about how this item reflects who you are as a person. Make another list: 10 things you would keep if all your possessions were going to be destroyed. You can assume that people, pets, general living supplies would be spared. I'm talking the personal items: photo albums, phones, books, jewelry, etc... How do these items reflect who you are?
Activity #3: Family
Draw or create a portrait of your family. This does not necessarily mean just blood relatives. Sometimes friends and neighbors can become a part of our families. Include in your portrait anything that you feel is significant. You may include words, or keep it purely visual. This is an interpretive activity so each person's family portrait may look different. This is okay.
Activity #4: Post Traumatic Stress
Turtle's inability or unwillingness to talk signals that she might have suffered some past trauma. Using the handout provided in class, we will discuss how Turtle, Taylor and LouAnn handle the traumatic events in their lives and how stress and anxiety affect them all. We will expand this conversation to discuss how anxiety and stress affect your lives. What are some ways of dealing with this issue?
Activity #5: The Rules
Taylor and LouAnn often have to live by their own rules in order to make their lives work. What are some the rules that you follow in life? I'm not talking about the rules that we impose on you here at school or even out in public in general. I want to know about the rules or guidelines that you set for yourself. How do these rules/guidelines reflect your values? Create a list of ten rules that you follow in your life, which of these rules do you think would benefit other people? Why?
Activity #6: Character Observation
Using the class handout, chart the observations that Taylor and LouAnn make about themselves and others throughout the story. What do you observe about your daily life, the people around you? Yourself? How do our observations affect our view of the world?
Activity #1: What Matters To You?
Inspired by Sarah Kay's TED Talk, make a list of 10 things you know to be true. You may interpret that statement any way you like. When you finish, make another list: 10 things you know to be false. Evaluate both lists. Which was easier to write? Why do you think that is? Choose one item from each list and write a poem - it can be free form (doesn't need to rhyme) or traditional, no assigned length.
Activity #2: Who Are You?
Reach into your backpack or purse. Choose one item. Write 1/2 page about how this item reflects who you are as a person. Make another list: 10 things you would keep if all your possessions were going to be destroyed. You can assume that people, pets, general living supplies would be spared. I'm talking the personal items: photo albums, phones, books, jewelry, etc... How do these items reflect who you are?
Activity #3: Family
Draw or create a portrait of your family. This does not necessarily mean just blood relatives. Sometimes friends and neighbors can become a part of our families. Include in your portrait anything that you feel is significant. You may include words, or keep it purely visual. This is an interpretive activity so each person's family portrait may look different. This is okay.
Activity #4: Post Traumatic Stress
Turtle's inability or unwillingness to talk signals that she might have suffered some past trauma. Using the handout provided in class, we will discuss how Turtle, Taylor and LouAnn handle the traumatic events in their lives and how stress and anxiety affect them all. We will expand this conversation to discuss how anxiety and stress affect your lives. What are some ways of dealing with this issue?
Activity #5: The Rules
Taylor and LouAnn often have to live by their own rules in order to make their lives work. What are some the rules that you follow in life? I'm not talking about the rules that we impose on you here at school or even out in public in general. I want to know about the rules or guidelines that you set for yourself. How do these rules/guidelines reflect your values? Create a list of ten rules that you follow in your life, which of these rules do you think would benefit other people? Why?
Activity #6: Character Observation
Using the class handout, chart the observations that Taylor and LouAnn make about themselves and others throughout the story. What do you observe about your daily life, the people around you? Yourself? How do our observations affect our view of the world?
characterchartbeantrees.docx | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Writing Projects
Response Papers:
You will write a total of 3 response papers. One for the beginning, middle and end. You determine what chapters you want to cover for each section. A response paper differs from a research essay or book report in that it is focused on your personal reaction and opinion of the events in the book. How does it make you feel? Do like the book? Why or why not? Do you like the characters? Why or why not? See the attached assignment description for specifics and a suggested template. Response papers are 1 page only, no more. It is trickier than it sounds, you have a lot of content to fit into a small amount of space, so be concise!
All 3 papers will be turned in together on May 29. You may submit via Edmodo or hard copy in class. If you use Edmodo, you absolutely, positively turn your work in via a word document. Other formats (rtf, odt, pdf, google drive, etc...) will not be accepted.
Character Journal:
You will write a diary entry style journal entry for each chapter of The Bean Trees. You may choose the perspective of any character in the story. Your final products can be neatly handwritten or typed. This is a creative writing project, feel free to have some fun with it!
Chapters 1-8 Due May 8
Chapters 8-16 Due June 1
You will write a total of 3 response papers. One for the beginning, middle and end. You determine what chapters you want to cover for each section. A response paper differs from a research essay or book report in that it is focused on your personal reaction and opinion of the events in the book. How does it make you feel? Do like the book? Why or why not? Do you like the characters? Why or why not? See the attached assignment description for specifics and a suggested template. Response papers are 1 page only, no more. It is trickier than it sounds, you have a lot of content to fit into a small amount of space, so be concise!
All 3 papers will be turned in together on May 29. You may submit via Edmodo or hard copy in class. If you use Edmodo, you absolutely, positively turn your work in via a word document. Other formats (rtf, odt, pdf, google drive, etc...) will not be accepted.
Character Journal:
You will write a diary entry style journal entry for each chapter of The Bean Trees. You may choose the perspective of any character in the story. Your final products can be neatly handwritten or typed. This is a creative writing project, feel free to have some fun with it!
Chapters 1-8 Due May 8
Chapters 8-16 Due June 1
beantreesreadingjournal.docx | |
File Size: | 68 kb |
File Type: | docx |
beantreesresponsepapers.docx | |
File Size: | 76 kb |
File Type: | docx |
TED Talks
Points for these talks are primarily accrued by attendance. Some will have a written component attached, some will simply be class discussion. Only excused absences will be allowed to makeup points for missed days.
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Tests and Quizzes
tests and quizzes are only available in-class. If you are absent you need an excused absence note and the test will be made up within two days of your return to class.