LESSON 12: CURIOSITY
Bearwalker (pages 9-42) written by Joseph Bruchac illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
Baron, the main character, and his classmates set out on a wilderness experience in the Adirondack Mountains. As campers begin this novel, they will engage with Baron's curiosity about the mysterious Camp Chuckamuck, and wonder what will happen to Baron there.
The Curiosity Unit encourages you to actively explore the world around you. Through books and shared experiences, you will view with wonder the world of ideas, information, people, and interactions, and actively engage in exploration of the world in ways that may challenge their perspectives.
Baron, the main character, and his classmates set out on a wilderness experience in the Adirondack Mountains. As campers begin this novel, they will engage with Baron's curiosity about the mysterious Camp Chuckamuck, and wonder what will happen to Baron there.
The Curiosity Unit encourages you to actively explore the world around you. Through books and shared experiences, you will view with wonder the world of ideas, information, people, and interactions, and actively engage in exploration of the world in ways that may challenge their perspectives.
Quick Write
Three Plus Three
Imagine being able to meet someone from the past. It could be anyone you wish you could talk to, such as a politician, a musician, an inventor, a movie star, a sports hero, or even a relative you never met. Write three questions you would like to ask this person. Then list three things you'd like to tell this person about life today.
Imagine being able to meet someone from the past. It could be anyone you wish you could talk to, such as a politician, a musician, an inventor, a movie star, a sports hero, or even a relative you never met. Write three questions you would like to ask this person. Then list three things you'd like to tell this person about life today.
Vocabulary WORDS OF THE DAY
Review and add these words and definitions to your vocabulary wall:
- stereotyped (p. 14): believed unfairly that all people in a specific group are the same
- motivation (p. 16): a reason for doing something
- fascination (p. 17): a strong interest in something or someone
- mysterious (p. 37): strange and unknown
Reading
Today is the second day of our unit on Curiosity. People who are curious about the world around them are interested in learning about new ideas, new places, and meeting new people. Bearwalker gives us a chance to be curious. It is a complex story that includes another story within it-a story about a monster.
DURING READING
As you read, stop as noted below for discussion.
AFTER READING
Baron is excitedly curious about Camp Chuckamuck when he sees the animals and trees. But his curiosity begins to change to apprehension when he sees the man by the main camp building.
- What are you usually curious about when you begin a new book?
- What are some wonderings you have about this story before we start reading it?
DURING READING
As you read, stop as noted below for discussion.
- AFTER PAGE 15: What do you know about Baron so far? What challenges is he dealing with?
- AFTER PAGE 24: What does Baron's love of reading tell you about him? Why do you think Baron is so interested in bears?.
- AFTER PAGE 32: Why did the author include the story of Jason Jones? How did the story affect you?
- AFTER PAGE 42: How does Baron's view of the camp begin to change when he sees the cabins and the people who meet the bus?
AFTER READING
Baron is excitedly curious about Camp Chuckamuck when he sees the animals and trees. But his curiosity begins to change to apprehension when he sees the man by the main camp building.
- What is Baron's first clue that there is something mysterious about Camp Chuckamuck?
- Why do you think Baron feels a chill when he sees the huge man?
BRING THE TEXT TO LIFE: First Impressions
Write the character names Asa, Baron, Willy, Heidi, Tara, and Mr. Wilbur on your comp book. A first impression is the way we feel about a person when we first meet them. After we get to know a person better, we learn just how accurate or inaccurate-our first impression was.
What is your first impression of these character from these early chapters of the book.
When responding, think about these questions:
What is your first impression of these character from these early chapters of the book.
When responding, think about these questions:
- How did you feel about the character when you first met him/her?
- How would you describe some of that character's traits?
- What attitudes and opinions does the character have about the events in the book so far?
READING POWER: Contrast Points of View
Review how the point of view of a story's narrator is developed.
An author may choose to tell a story through the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of one character. In Bearwalker, we find out on the first page of Chapter 1 that Baron is the narrator when his teacher speaks to him. Baron's perspective, or point of view (POV), about himself and the world around him influences how people and events are described and what readers know about the story.
On page 15, Baron describes himself as "a minuscule, mouthy, Mohawk misfit." He describes other people and events from the POV of an outsider who doesn't fit in. He states that nothing will change this, but we as readers may be curious to see what might happen to change his viewpoint.
Complete your "Contrast Points of View Graphic Organizers using events and details from the text. Find events in the story and write them in the grid. Then, write a few notes about how your point of view about that same event is the same as or different than Baron's.
Baron believes that he will always be a bullied outsider because he is small and a Mohawk. This point of view influences his expectations and how he describes events and other people. As critical readers, we can decide for ourselves if his point of view is true and also watch to see if it changes.
An author may choose to tell a story through the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of one character. In Bearwalker, we find out on the first page of Chapter 1 that Baron is the narrator when his teacher speaks to him. Baron's perspective, or point of view (POV), about himself and the world around him influences how people and events are described and what readers know about the story.
On page 15, Baron describes himself as "a minuscule, mouthy, Mohawk misfit." He describes other people and events from the POV of an outsider who doesn't fit in. He states that nothing will change this, but we as readers may be curious to see what might happen to change his viewpoint.
Complete your "Contrast Points of View Graphic Organizers using events and details from the text. Find events in the story and write them in the grid. Then, write a few notes about how your point of view about that same event is the same as or different than Baron's.
Baron believes that he will always be a bullied outsider because he is small and a Mohawk. This point of view influences his expectations and how he describes events and other people. As critical readers, we can decide for ourselves if his point of view is true and also watch to see if it changes.
WRITING POWER: I'm Curious
Bearwalker is told from the point of view of the main character, Baron. His descriptions of people and events are influenced by his view of himself and the world around him. Yet, he is curious about many things and wants to find out more. For example, how did he satisfy his curiosity about bears? What did his experience tell you about him?
Today, you will write a description of a time you were curious about something and what actions you took to learn more about it.
For example: When I was young I started to get really interested in space. I was fascinated by the planets and stars, checked out books from the school library, and I asked my mom to take me to the library for more. begged my dad to take me to the planetarium every time we had some free time. I even asked my teacher to save articles from her science magazine that had to do with space.
Try to think of a time when you followed your curiosity to learn more about something new. Include the strategies you used to find out more about it. Curiosity drives us to be open to the world and to learn about new things.
Today, you will write a description of a time you were curious about something and what actions you took to learn more about it.
For example: When I was young I started to get really interested in space. I was fascinated by the planets and stars, checked out books from the school library, and I asked my mom to take me to the library for more. begged my dad to take me to the planetarium every time we had some free time. I even asked my teacher to save articles from her science magazine that had to do with space.
Try to think of a time when you followed your curiosity to learn more about something new. Include the strategies you used to find out more about it. Curiosity drives us to be open to the world and to learn about new things.