Homework for October 31, 2013

Homework for October 31, 2013

1. What is so difficult about losing everything? 

2. Where do you think the Joad family should go?

Homework for October 30, 2013

Homework for October 30, 2013

Please answer these questions in complete sentences.

1. What are the tragedies suffered by the Joad family on their way to and in California?

2. Why did the Joad family not give up?

Homework for October 29, 2013

Homework for October 29, 2013:

Please answer the questions in complete sentences. These questions require you to answer the questions reflecting on your own experience.

1. When someone tells you something that does not agree with what you think is going to happen, how do you feel? Do you listen to what is said to you or do you just hold on to what you feel and believe?

2. What was the hardest thing the Joad family had to do?

Homework for October 28, 2013

Directions: Please answer each question in complete sentences. These questions require some thought.  Enjoy!

1. How would you feel if you were forced to leave your home in 24 hours? What would you do first? Where would you go?

2. Why are the people on Route 66 so afraid of the migrants (Joad family)?

Homework for October 24, 2013

Homework for October 24, 2013

Directions: Please answer these questions in complete sentences.

1. Why did the farmer’s and their families need to buy a car? How did they feel about needing to move?
2. How did the auto dealers try and take advantage of the farmers?

Homework for October 23, 2013

Homework for October 23, 2013

Directions: Answer the questions in complete sentences.

1. When faced with the failure of their crops, why did the tenant farmers decide to stay on their land?
2. Where do you think the families will get the money to go to California?

Homework for October 22, 2013

Homework for October 22, 213

Directions: Please complete the homework answering the questions in complete sentences.

1     

       What did Tom Joad find when he went to his old home?

H       How did Tom feel when he realized his family had taken everything and left?

Homework October 21, 2013

Homework for October 18, 2013

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.

Why did the “Bank” take the farmer’s land?

What did Tom and Jim see when they first climbed the hill before reaching the Joad farm?

Review of the Week of October 14-18, 2013

We are progressing very slowly through the text. The students are finding the reading challenging. They are learning to compare the novel to our present historical time. We have begun viewing the "Dust Bowl" documentary by Ken Burns. The students seemed to benefit from the primary source material offered by the dvd. I will continue to use this documentary as a way to enrich the reading and the class discussions. I like the fact that there are so many personal interviews and clips from home movies. The people in the documentary are real and their experience are palpable. I have also used the movie to enrich the reading of the book. Personally, this is more difficult as the movie leaves out material I want the students to learn. It seems that a daily review of the previous chapters has been a help to the students. Personally, I think the struggle that the students are in to read a classic and understand an experience different from their daily lives is worth the effort. Hoping everyone has a good weekend.

Homework for October 19-21, 2013

Homework for October 19-21.

1. What is the tenant farmers reaction to the "Bank"?

2. Where will the tenant farmers go if they leave their farms?

3. Why does the plow man take the job, plowing down his neighbors fields? Should he have taken the job or not?

4. How is the tenant farmers experience similar to that of the Native Americans?

Homework for October 17, 2013

Homework for October 17, 2013.

Please answer the questions as completely as possible.

1.     What does Tom first see when he climbs the hill near his family’s farm? How do you think he felt?

        What did the farmers hope to do by planting more and more wheat? Is this a good or a bad thing? Why or     why not?

Homework for October 16, 2013

Homework for October 16, 2013

1. What was the big bonus farmers were given by the government for growing wheat?

2. What did the young boy mean by saying “the ground is the wrong way up”?

3. How did the clouds of dust affect the farmers? What did they have to do to try and get away from the dust?

Homework October 15, 2013

Homework for October 15, 2013

Completely answer the questions. Use your own experience and any insights you gained from the day’s lesson.

1. Why was the “Dust Bowl” considered a man made disaster? What happened to the land?

2. Why is working together as a group such a challenge? How does the arrangement of the tables affect your working together?

A reflection on the week of October 7-11, 2013

This week has been a struggle yet exciting. The students have been trying to read and understand the book. This is a first for many of the students. We are trying to understand how the descriptions offered by Steinbeck enrich our understanding of the book. Some of the students finally stated that things were moving a little too fast and they had trouble connecting with the "Dust Bowl". I expressed my appreciation for their honesty. It was really a growing experience, for them to be able to admit that things are confusing. We will continue to read, to unpack and discover what Steinbeck wants us to know, but we will spend more time talking about the history of the "Dust Bowl" Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Homework for the weekend of October 11-14, 2013

Homework for October 11-14, 2013

Directions: Answer these questions in complete sentences. Take your time and try and be as thorough as you can.

1. Describe the "Dust Bowl". What caused the "Dust Bowl"? What people were most affected?

2. Who is Tom Joad? Where has he been the last four years?

3. Why does Steinbeck write a chapter completely dedicated to a turtle?

4. If you had met Tom Joad on the road, would you have given him a ride in your truck? Why or why not?

Homework for October 10, 2013

Homework for October 10, 2013:

Directions: Please answer the questions in complete sentences. Take your time and try to answer each question as completely as possible.

Why does Tom Joad stare as the truck moves down the highway? What might he be wishing for?

Is it difficult when you feel stuck in a place in your life? How can you get out of being stuck?

Homework October 9, 2013

Here is the homework for October 9, 2013

Please answer the questions in complete sentences. Be ready to share. Take your time.

1. Why does Steinbeck write a chapter about the turtle? What do you know about turtles?
2. How is the turtle’s struggle to get where it wants to go similar to the struggles of the tenant farmers?

Chapter Two "Wh" Questions: Comprehension Questions

These are some questions I used with my students after reading chapter 2 of The Grapes of Wrath. The students were able to answer most of the questions using the book for added information.

Chapter 2 Review

The Grapes of Wrath

Name: _____________________________________________

1. Who is Tom Joad? How does Steinbeck describe him? What is he wearing when we first meet him?

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2. Where has Tom been living the past four years?

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3. Why is Tom going home?

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4. Who gives Tom a ride? Describe the character.

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5. What is Tom doing when he first meets the truck driver?

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6. What is Tom’s attitude about the crime he committed?

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Homework for October 8, 2013

Homework for October 8, 2013

Directions: Please answer the questions in complete sentences.

1.  How does Tom Joad feel about the crime he committed? How do you think he should feel or react to the crime he committed?

2. Why is using the text a good source for information on characters and the story?

October 7, 2013 Homeowork

Homework for October 7, 2013

Please write your answers in complete sentences.

Who is the character introduced in chapter 2? Where is he coming from?

How does the author describe the setting in this chapter? Is this the same as the information we learned in chapter 1?
 

A Review of the first four lessons: The Grapes of Wrath

This week has been an interesting learning experience. The students began the week reviewing what we had learned from our reading and research based on the material covered in Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

Introducing the "Great Depression", the "Dust Bowl", and The Grapes of Wrath has opened a lot of eyes. Students have discovered that their knowledge of the "Great Depression" is more vast than they knew. Discussions have been wide ranging, but intriguing as students have made links to last months learning and shown an understanding and a knowledge of the "Great Depression". 

I have discovered some good materials on the internet and look forward to showing parts of the documentary on the "Dust Bowl" I found a very good resource with lesson plans and worksheets to go with the film. The students appear eager to hear survivors tales. There is also some eagerness to continue on, reading the book.

I believe the class is looking forward to next week's learning. Have a nice weekend!

Homework: October 4-6, 2013

Homework: October 4-6, 2013

1. What impact did the "Great Depression" have on the United States and the world?


2. How did the Native Americans treat the land and soil compared to the frontiersman and the farmers who came later? What was a consequence of the choices they made?


3. What caused the "Dust Bowl"? How did people survive? What did the people lose because of the "Dust Bowl" ?


4. In Chapter one of "The Grapes of Wrath", how did the men (fathers), women (mothers), and the children survive dust storm? How did each group react?

October 3, 2013 Homework Assignment

Homework for October 3, 2013:

Directions: Please answer the questions in complete sentences.

1. How did the Native Americans use the land when they lived on their homelands?

What did the settlers/frontiersman do when they lived on the land? How did their actions negatively affect the land?

More good, useable information on the "Dust Bowl"

In a recent google search, I found a whole unit of study on the "Dust Bowl" developed by Scholastic. I have begun using it as the material has worksheets, pictures, maps, and historical information. This material enhanced my lesson today and opened a good discussion amongst the students. The material also includes comments and questions about the Native Americans which ties in nicely with las month's theme. Happy Hunting!

Chapter 1 Review: The Grapes of wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

Chapter one Review

Name: _______________________________________________________

1. Who were the three groups affected by the “Dust Storm”?

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2. What was the “Dust Storm” like?

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3. Where did the “Dust Storm” strike?

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4. When did the “Dust Strom” strike?

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5. Why was everyone worried?

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October 2, 2013 Homework Assignment

Homework for October 2, 2013

What was one cause of the “Great Depression” discussed in class? How did that cause affect the population of the United States?


What happens to the corn crop as described in Chapter 1 of The Grapes of Wrath?

October Reading: The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men

Good Day:

The students are working hard every day. Attendance has been very good. Students will be reading The Grapes of Wrath. One student asked about Of Mice and Men, another story of the "Great Depression" and survival.

As we discussed the author, John Steinbeck, one of the students pointed out Of Mice and Men. This is actually a novella. It is intriguing that a student brought this book up. The class expressed an interest in reading this book. The intriguing part to me as their teacher is the fact that the story is about two friends, one who is disabled. I have a feeling that the students are not aware of this fact. Time will tell.

It was interesting reading the first chapter as it becomes obvious how graphic and detail oriented Steinbeck is in his writing.

I will let you know what happens, sharing our adventures.

Sincerely,

Mr. Telposky

October 1, 2013 Homework Assignment

October 1, 2013 Homework Assignment:

Directions: Please answer these questions in complete sentences.

1. What is a novel? What is fiction?

2. When did the “Great Depression” begin? Describe at least one thing that happened to the United States during the “Great Depression”.