“Dogsong” Lesson Plan

2-2-09 to 2-6-09

Monday

Essential Question:  What does Ted mean when he vows to learn to mush?    

Vocabulary:  musher, gangline  

Warm-Up:  Write quickly about the most difficult thing you have attempted.  Consider what happened, how it was difficult, whether you succeeded or failed, and how the experience affects your view of yourself.  Compare your responses with Russel.     

Lesson:  “Snow Dogs” – Ted’s Artic Challenge Sled Dog Race

Tuesday

Essential Question:  From what point-of-view is your how-to manual? 

Vocabulary:  point-of-view

Warm-Up:  Brainstorm – graphic organizer  

Lesson:  Write a how-to manual about surviving in the Arctic from Russel's point of view. Include what he learned about getting food, making shelter, surviving the cold, and running the dogs

Wednesday/Thursday

Essential Question:  What does Dogsong tell you about the effects of the modern-day world on Inuit culture? (Inuit research)

Vocabulary:  Within online research 

Warm-Up:  Finding Internet sites

Lesson:  Students will choose one of the following Internet research projects:

1. The Inuit Culture – Research Inuit culture, its past and present, and write a report on it.

                                                         OR

2. Endangered Animals – Russel is astonished to see a polar bear, knowing that they are near extinction.  Research polar bears and other endangered Artic animals, and explore what is being done to protect them.  What have we learned from the past that will help ensure these animals do not become extinct?

Friday

Essential Question:  What thought-provoking sayings does Dogsong offer? 

Vocabulary:  song, quotation, illustration 

Warm-Up:   Oogruk says “You don’t get songs.”  “You are a song.”  What does it mean “you are a song?”      

Lesson:  Students work in groups to copy memorable quotations from the readings and create an illustration for each quotation.