1 Call of the Wild


			The Iditarod An Alaskan Adventure ************************************************************** AnInterdisciplinary Unit for Grades 8 and 9 Lesson Title: "Call of the Wild" Subject(s): Language Arts ********************************************************************************************************************************************** Grade Level 8th and 9th Subject Language Arts Learner Outcomes: The students will: Develop a themebook based on the novel "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London. The themebook will include: a designed cover a map of Buck’s travels key terms a list of characters chapter study questions Listen to (audio tape) or read (textbook version or Internet text) the novel "The Call of the Wild Listen to a lecture and view a demonstration of sled dog racing by sled dog trainers. Time Frame: The reading or listening of the "The Call of the Wild" and related activities will take approximately four weeks. It should begin prior to the running of the Alaskan Iditarod race (March) and be completed soon after the finish. Materials: Audio tape, textbook version or Internet text of the "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London Document of key terms (see attachment) Document containing a list of the characters (see attachment) Chapter 1-7 Study Questions (see attachments) Technology Tools/Courseware: Computers with Internet access Microsoft Encarta Virtual Globe Software "The Call of the Wild" audio tape Teacher Notes: This language arts lesson will take place over the duration of the Iditarod (approximately 10 days). Discussion of the novel can be done in groups or individually while the completion of the themebook needs to be done by each individual student. Procedures: The students will design a cover for their themebook. A color collage presentation can be chosen from magazines, newspapers or pictures that reflect characters, settings, or themes related to "The Call of the Wild". It could also be a character portrait that captures personality and appearance in either sketch or collage. The students will include in their themebook a map that shows Buck’s travels with major events plotted on the map. (see technology software) The students will complete the document of key terms. The students will complete the document with the list of characters by describing who each character is and how they relate to the story. The students will complete the documents with study questions for each chapter. The students will listen to a lecture and view a demonstration of sled dog racing by trainers. Modifications: Teachers should determine the need for student assistance based on Inclusion and request a special education teacher and/or aide be present during lesson activities. Enrichment Activities: The students could do reports on the Gold Rush, sled dogs, geography, etc. A book report could be done on additional Jack London stories. Draw cartoon strips showing the main parts of the story. Write poems and include illustrations about each major character in the book. Research the author Jack London and compose a written summary of finding. Evaluation/Assessment: The themebook cover will be evaluated. The key terms and character documents will be evaluated. Chapter study questions will be evaluated. IGOs and Other Standards: West Virginia IGOs: Language Arts – 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.12, 8.14, 8.15, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.20, 8.22, 8.38, 8.59, 8.63, 8.141, 8.143, 8.144, 9.3, 9.9, 9.12, 9.21, 9.22, 9.24, 9.25, 9.33, 9.75, 9.81, 9.83 National Standards References: 1. WEISER Educational Incorporation – audio tape narrated by Stewart Granger 2. "The Call of the Wild" complete novel - http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London/Writings/CallOfTheWild/ 3. Sandy and Woody Ellenwood - breeders and trainers of sled dogs, Belpre, Ohio Comments: Please direct questions concerning this lesson to the Blennerhassett Junior High School email contacts listed in the "Created by" section. Created By: Blennerhassett Junior High School Jo Miller Eric Minigh Beth Morgan We will update our school's progress through this unit on our school web page found at http://www.netassoc.net/wcboe/Schsec.htm -- Go to the Blennerhassett link. Date Created: February 15, 1999 Attachments Key Terms Novel - Setting – Inductive reasoning – Characterization - Cause and Effect – Plot – Conflict – Climax – Expert Opinion – Theme – The law of club and fang Survival of the fittest Relationship between humans and animals Destructive power of greed Powerful force of loyalty and love Call of the Wild Characters Judge Miller Molly and Alice Miller Manuel The man in the red sweater Perrault and Francois A Scottish Half-breed "Black" Burton An Ape-like man Charles Mercedes Hal John Thornton Hans and Pete Mathewson Jim O’Brien The Yeehats Buck Curly Spitz Dave Billee Joe Sol-leks Dolly, Pike, Dub Skeet and Nig Call of the Wild Study Questions Chapter 1-2 Where did Buck live at the beginning of the novel? Describe "Judge Miller’s place". How old is Buck at the beginning of the novel? How much did Buck weigh at the beginning of the novel? What and when was the Klondike strike? Who kidnapped Buck? Why? What reason did the stranger give the baggageman for taking Buck to Frisco? How did the express manager treat Buck while he was in a cage in the express car? What did the man in the red sweater do to Buck? How does Buck’s attitude toward men change after his meeting with the man in the red sweater? How much did Perrault pay for Buck? Which other dog did Perrault buy? Who is Perraut’s partner? Describe the two men. Describe the other two dogs which joined them on the boat. What did Buck do when he saw snow for the first time? How did Buck describe the people and dogs of Dyea Beach? Describe the fight at Dyea Beach which involved Curly. What did the other dogs do during the fight? Why did Buck hate Spitz? Why was selecting a place to sleep a great problem for Buck? Why did Buck think his teammates had disappeared when he was trying to find a place to sleep? Why did the men need the dogs? Who became Buck’s teacher? Which dog was the leader of the team? What does it mean when London says, "They broke their own trail"? How was Buck’s life in the South different from his life in the North? Name two ways Buck adapted to the North. What is meant by "the law of club and fang"? What is the setting of this story? Call of the Wild Study Questions Chapters 3-4 How did Spitz treat Buck? Why did Buck attack Spitz? How did each of the following react during the attack by the wild dogs? a. Buck e. Joe b. Billee f. Pike c. Dave g. Perrault d. Sol-leks h. Francois What injuries did each of the dogs have after the fight? In addition to food what did the wild dogs eat? Why was it necessary to stop frequently to build a fire? What did Francois make out of his moccasin tops for Buck? Why? Why did Francois have to kill Dolly? Why did Spitz attack Buck after Dolly’s death? Why did Spitz and Buck hate each other? What caused the breaking down of discipline among the dog team? What triggered the final fight between Buck and Spitz? What did the other dogs do while Buck and Spitz were fighting? How many "other" dogs watched the fight? Why were they fighting? What quality did Buck have that Spitz did not have which made Buck a better fighter? Which dog won the fight? What did Buck do the morning after the fight when Francois was ready to harness the dogs? Which dog became the leader of the team after Spitz’s death? Who became Buck’s owner after Francois and Perrault? How many dogs were in the new owner’s pack? Who became the leader? How? Why did the drivers take care of their dogs even before themselves? How far had the dogs traveled since the beginning of winter? Why did the driver harness Dave into his place again? "Buck knew, and every dog knew what had taken place behind the belt of river trees." What had happened? The Call of the Wild Study Questions Chapters 5, 6, and 7 Who bought Buck’s team in Skagway? Who was Mercedes? Describe Buck’s new owners. Why could the dogs not move the packed sled when they first tried? How many dogs made up the final team? Why was that a mistake? What happened to the dogs along the trail that caused their deaths? (Be specific. Name the dogs and tell exactly how or why each one died.) What did Mercedes do that made the trip worse for the dogs? What did Thornton do when Buck refused to go any further? What did John Thornton do to save Buck? What happened to the dog team and the three owners after they left John Thornton’s camp? Why had John Thornton’s partners left him alone at the camp? How did Buck feel about Thornton? What does the author, Jack London, mean when he says of Buck, "Each day mankind and the claims of mankind slipped farther from him"? What did Buck do when "Black" Barton hit Thornton? Describe how Buck saved Thornton’s life at Forty Mile Creek. What did Buck do outside the Eldorado Saloon which added to his fame? What did John Thornton whisper to Buck before the contest began? What did he mean? Why is Chapter 6 called "For the Love of a Man"? What did John Thornton do with the money he won in the contest? What did Thornton and the group find at the end of their wandering? What might the "short-legged hairy man" that Buck dreamed about have been? What is the call from the depths of the forest that Buck hears? With what does Buck make friends in the woods? Why did Buck not stay with the new friend in the woods? Describe how Buck changed after he met the new friend. What kind of dogs were Buck’s parents? How did Buck change when he left camp and went into the woods How did Buck treat the moose he wanted to kill? How long did it take Buck to kill the moose? What had happened at John Thornton’s camp while Buck was gone? What did Buck do to the Yuhats? What caused the great pride Buck felt in himself? Where did Buck go when he left Thornton’s camp for the last time? To what does the title of the story refer?**

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