LESSON 13: CONFIDENCE
Bearwalker (pages 43-74) written by Joseph Bruchac illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
In this section of the novel, the suspense builds as Baron feels even more threatened after taking a closer look at the man who gave him a chill. Through Baron's revealing thoughts about bears and his Mohawk traditions, you will begin to understand that knowledge supports confidence.
The Confidence Unit guides you to observe, note and practice acts of confidence when navigating various circumstances. Through books and shared experiences, campers will reflect on their personal level of confidence and take actions that will help them build academic and social tenacity.
In this section of the novel, the suspense builds as Baron feels even more threatened after taking a closer look at the man who gave him a chill. Through Baron's revealing thoughts about bears and his Mohawk traditions, you will begin to understand that knowledge supports confidence.
The Confidence Unit guides you to observe, note and practice acts of confidence when navigating various circumstances. Through books and shared experiences, campers will reflect on their personal level of confidence and take actions that will help them build academic and social tenacity.
Quick Write
Celebrate Greatness
Give someone else the gift of confidence. Think of someone in your life you love or admire. Think about what you admire about them. What is one thing you could say to that person to make her or him realize how great she or he is? Write this down and make a plan to share it!
Give someone else the gift of confidence. Think of someone in your life you love or admire. Think about what you admire about them. What is one thing you could say to that person to make her or him realize how great she or he is? Write this down and make a plan to share it!
Vocabulary WORDS OF THE DAY
Review and add these words and definitions to your vocabulary tab:
- circumstances (p. 53): facts or conditions that affect a situation
- optimistic (p. 55): having hope for the future
- deceive (p. 72): to make someone believe something that is not true
- corrupted (p. 73): made dishonest or immoral
Reading
Today we start our Confidence Unit. People who have confidence are independent thinkers and believe in themselves. In our reading yesterday, Baron was chilled when he saw the huge man by the main camp building. As you read, pay close attention to how Baron's thoughts help him have the confidence to know why the man is a threat.
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. Today's text begins on page 43 and ends on page 74.
AFTER READING
Even though Baron is happy that Cody seems to be a friend, his apprehension about Walker White Bear grows as he studies details about the man and recalls the bearwalker stories he heard from his family.
- How might understanding a threat help Baron face it?
- How does Baron's fear affect him?
DURING READING
As you read, pause for discussion as noted below. Today's text begins on page 43 and ends on page 74.
- AFTER PAGE 49: Why does Baron believe that the huge man is not an Indian but only pretending to be one? Why might this be important?
- AFTER PAGE 55: How can pretending to be confident lead to actually becoming more confident?
- AFTER PAGE 67: Why does Baron speak up about his family background? How does he react to his own confidence?
- AFTER PAGE 74: Why do you think Baron has such strong feelings about Walker White Bear? Do you think his instincts are justified? Why or why not?
AFTER READING
Even though Baron is happy that Cody seems to be a friend, his apprehension about Walker White Bear grows as he studies details about the man and recalls the bearwalker stories he heard from his family.
- How does Cody inspire confidence in Baron? How does Baron's behavior change as a result?
- How does the author's detailed description of Walker White Bear build suspense about who he is?
BRING THE TEXT TO LIFE: Camp Map
Today, you will use what you have learned to draw a map of the camp. Go back into the book and reread the descriptions given. Imagine the rest.
Review "bird's eye view." Include a key with symbols to mark points of interest.
Review "bird's eye view." Include a key with symbols to mark points of interest.
READING POWER: Suspense
Review how an author can develop and build suspense.
Authors have many ways to create suspense or apprehension in a character and in readers. For example, they might create suspense by using vivid words to describe a setting, characters, and events. In Bearwalker, we know that Baron believes that Walker White Bear is a threat. We know this because on page 41, the author ends chapter 3 with the sentence "A chill runs down my back," after Baron sees the huge man for the first time. We are now as apprehensive as Baron is. How does the author continue to build this suspense in what we just read?
I swill model filling out the "Suspense" Graphic Organizer on whiteboard. Do you think Baron is confident in this suspenseful situation?
You will complete your "Suspense" Graphic Organizers to record how the author builds suspense. Note an event and how the author describes it. Then write how the author's words create suspense.
Remember that the stories Baron heard from his parent about long-ago monsters made him feel confident that his people survived and defeated them. Now he is suddenly confronted with someone who possibly may be one of those monsters. We can look for more suspenseful clues as we read.
Authors have many ways to create suspense or apprehension in a character and in readers. For example, they might create suspense by using vivid words to describe a setting, characters, and events. In Bearwalker, we know that Baron believes that Walker White Bear is a threat. We know this because on page 41, the author ends chapter 3 with the sentence "A chill runs down my back," after Baron sees the huge man for the first time. We are now as apprehensive as Baron is. How does the author continue to build this suspense in what we just read?
I swill model filling out the "Suspense" Graphic Organizer on whiteboard. Do you think Baron is confident in this suspenseful situation?
You will complete your "Suspense" Graphic Organizers to record how the author builds suspense. Note an event and how the author describes it. Then write how the author's words create suspense.
Remember that the stories Baron heard from his parent about long-ago monsters made him feel confident that his people survived and defeated them. Now he is suddenly confronted with someone who possibly may be one of those monsters. We can look for more suspenseful clues as we read.
WRITING POWER: That's Debatable
Sometimes, different people explain the same event or issue in very different ways. In a debate, two sides present opposing viewpoints. The audience then has to decide which viewpoint is the more convincing.
You will write a draft for one side of a debate about the following question: Is Baron's view of Walker White Bear as a threat real or imaginary.
Choose which side you will write : "real" or "imaginary"
The "real" group will examine what Baron and other characters have said and done that shows Baron could be right about Waker White Bear. What details does the author provide that support the claim that Walker White Bear is real threat?
The "imaginary" group will come up with reasons that support the idea that Baron is imagining the danger. Look for details that show that Baron may have been wrong in the past about other people, and other details that support their claim that Baron is wrong and Walker White Bear is not a threat.
Write an argument to support your side of the question. Begin by stating your claim, then go on to give reasons, each supported by evidence from the text, and conclude by restating why their claim is correct.
You will write a draft for one side of a debate about the following question: Is Baron's view of Walker White Bear as a threat real or imaginary.
Choose which side you will write : "real" or "imaginary"
The "real" group will examine what Baron and other characters have said and done that shows Baron could be right about Waker White Bear. What details does the author provide that support the claim that Walker White Bear is real threat?
The "imaginary" group will come up with reasons that support the idea that Baron is imagining the danger. Look for details that show that Baron may have been wrong in the past about other people, and other details that support their claim that Baron is wrong and Walker White Bear is not a threat.
Write an argument to support your side of the question. Begin by stating your claim, then go on to give reasons, each supported by evidence from the text, and conclude by restating why their claim is correct.