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The Cay--Learning about the time period and setting

Click here to begin Web Quest on The Cay

If you have trouble with the link--here's the URL address:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=75791
 
You will be working in pairs.  Each group will create slides on two topics from the web quest  on our class Power Point on The Cay.  Go to Google Classroom to access the class Power Point. 

The Call of the Wild

7th graders are about to travel to the Yukon and begin a great adventure with Buck.  Before we actually start reading Jack London's classic novel, The Call of the Wild, we are going to learn a little bit about the Yukon, sled dogs and what it takes to make it rich during the 1800s.

 The Call of the Wild:  Background Information

Skookum Jim Mason, Dawson Charlie and George Washington Carmack found gold in a tributary of the Klondike River in Canada's Yukon Territory. Their discovery set off one of the greatest gold rushes in history.

All kinds of men (and women too), sold or gave up everything they had, and tried to strike it rich. A few actually did (mostly the early arrivals), some decided to profit from the gold fever of others. Some had to move back to wherever they came from, broke and broken, and many didn't make it at all. The Canadian Mounties (their organization began during this tumultuous time) tried to keep order, but there were scams and hoodlums and all kinds of unsavory characters. You had to watch your back, as well as the weather.

Jack London wrote vividly about life during that time, and the effects the harsh environment and circumstances had on the men and animals who lived through it. Now it's your turn.

(Pic from: University of Washington Libraries, text from http://leckrone321.blogspot.com/2011/05/call-of-wild-webquest.html)

Click here to begin The Call of the Wild web quest. 

If you have trouble getting onto the Web Quest, click here to get to the list of research topics and websites.

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

 7th graders-- Today we begin a new play, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. This is a screenplay, a play that was written for television. It was written as an episode for a show called The Twilight Zone. Ask your parents about it--many of them will remember watching it. We will watch a clip today of the opening scene of every Twilight Zone show. Rod Sterling, the writer and narrator of The Twilight Zone began every show the same way. His opening introductions are a good example of a lead that really pulls you in and makes you want to know more! Click here to watch the epilogue of The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

Join Quizlet Classroom

Click here to join Ms. Casassa's Quizlet classroom

Writing an Essay- How to paraphrase (and not plagiarize)!

We have talked a lot about citing your sources and giving credit to another person's writing and thought.  Before you begin to research and take notes, let's review how to paraphrase by watching this Brain Pop video.

Click here to watch the video


Click here to take the Brain Pop quiz on paraphrasing
Print out a copy of your quiz and hand it in.

Short Story Unit Review

You have your Short Story Unit Test on Tuesday.  Use the quizlet flashcard and review games to learn the Elements of Short Stories.
Click here to go to the quizlet set

Short Story Unit Review

1.  Elements of Short Stories-

Review list and be able to identify elements

2.  Reread the Short Stories- Click title to go to a copy of the story

“Monkey’s Paw”

“The Raven”
interactive version of "The Raven"

“The Tell Tale Heart”

“The Lottery”

“The Most Dangerous Game”

3.  Use Graphic Organizers to study-
Be able to identify main characters

Literary devices/elements

Plot structure

Authors
Review notes and annotations on stories

"The Most Dangerous Game" Pre-reading survey

"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

Click here to read some Background information on Shirley Jackson

Read the New York Times article on "The Lottery"

"The Lottery" Survey

Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day"