ELA 30 Novels


ELA A30 Novel Study - Grade 12

john_wilson.jpgThe Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson by Lois Simmie - Non-Fiction Novel

IDEAS

  • After reading the book and as a final project, have students create a book review using the program Comic Life. They could include quotes and pictures to go along with their review write-up! Then publish them on a wikispace or website dedicated to the book, that your students create in groups or as a class!

  • Poster ideas: Recruitment poster for RNWMP, Missing poster for Polly, Alternate book cover, Wanted poster for John Wilson (Use EDUGlogster or Comic Life) then create a bulletin board or post to the web!

  • Record (film) a role-play project between Polly/John, Joanne Wilson/Polly, Colin Thatcher/John Wilson (kind of a neat one but needs some background research on the case), Jesse/Polly, John/Jesse

  • Write a group essay (or presentation) using Google Docs - in groups gather information on the Colin Thatcher case off the Internet, then compare and contrast the two cases. Pay particular attention to similarities in the relationships, the murders, and the impact on the extended families. Evaluate the impact of the voices that have been silenced (descriptive or expository essay). Then possibility of having students present the essay to you!

  • Have students create a movie trailer video for the novel - this is an interesting activity since there is not actual movie made (as of today) for this novel!

Stone_Angel.jpgThe Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence - Fiction Novel

IDEAS

  • Create a new DVD cover for the film using Comic Life, or a film premier poster

  • Develop a soundtrack for the novel using one song per chapter (10), either create your own songs with Garageband or Audacity or using Prezi, develop a soundtrack with Youtube video clips of each of the 10 songs with a brief description of why you chose each song beside the embedded video

  • View the film and Google Doc in pairs a critique of the movie in comparison to the novel

  • Create a movie trailer for the novel

  • Using Popplet, create an interactive, class-created map of the themes and how/where they are shown in the novel

  • Since Laurence uses many vivid literary descriptions in this novel, create a slideshow (slide, animoto, etc) of these images based on purpose, sensory details, and point of view, put music with it to help the audience understand the mood

  • Create a Powerpoint or Prezi comparing the Biblical Archetypes and The Stone Angel (allusions used)


ELA B30 Novel Study - Grade 12

The_Lord_Of_The_Flies-cover_image.jpgThe Lord of the Flies by William Golding - Fiction Novel

The following ideas were borrowed from:
http://english9quest.blogspot.com/2007/11/lord-of-flies-challenge-projects.html

IDEAS

  • Compose a musical score (using Audacity or on the MAC GarageBand), depicting one major event in Lord of the Flies. Perform for the class. Write a one-page paper explaining the event and the reason you chose each musical effect.

  • Prepare a recording of island sounds that may have occurred during the Lord of the Flies adventure. Write a one-page paper explaining your sound montage and play your montage CD for the class.

  • Videotape a grand jury preliminary hearing determining whether there is enough evidence to investigate Piggy’s death as a murder. Use actual characters and details from the book, as well as your own characters for your grand jury and court personnel. Write a 2-3-page script for this videotaped courtroom drama.

  • Videotape interviews with the major surviving characters appearing on a talk show to relate their adventure to the t.v. audience. Use events from the book. Write a one-page paper explaining the significance of the events you choose to share with the t.v. public.

Night_book_cover.JPGNight by Elie Wiesel - Non-Fiction Novel

IDEAS

  • Develop a website in tribute to Elie Wiesel

  • Research and present a Prezi about Auschwitz or Buchenwald and the Holocaust

  • Create a Popplet as a class about the themes presented in the novel

  • Pretend you are a Jewish prisoner and create a diary on a blog about your experience

  • Using Audacity, do a dramatic reading from a portion of the novel, give each student a different section, record the dramatic reading, then listen to them in proper succession in class

  • Film a movie trailer for the novel

  • Record or film a Mock-interview with Elie Wiesel or take it in another direction and interview a guard from Auschwitz or Buchenwald- be as descriptive as possible and be sure to include scenes from the novel

  • View an interview with Elie Wiesel http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/04/07/VI2009040701847.html and discuss

  • Research Elie Wiesel's Foundation and present a Powerpoint about it

  • Research and present information (variety of ways) about the psychological connections to concentration camp survivors and the effects it had on their lives