Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue Reading and Discussion
In this 4-week course, students will use videos, worksheets, vocabulary words, and writing assignments to understand Lois Lowry's second book in The Giver quartet, Gathering Blue
Janelle Fila
Average rating:
4.6
Number of reviews:(903)
Star Educator
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will read approximately 5-6 chapters a week on their own time. Each week, students will have access to the 5-6 videos and a corresponding one page worksheet with discussion questions and places for fill-in-the blank answers for each day. Each lesson, I assign a 1-2 page writing assignment focused around that week's discussion questions and encourage the students to share their responses in the classroom. They will also write sentences for 12 vocabulary words.Letter Grade
includedClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Students will read approximately 5-6 chapters a week on their own time in this fast-paced course. They will have access to 5-6 weekly videos, 5-6 supplemental worksheets, 5-6 interactive "I Spy" challenges, and a weekly vocabulary crossword puzzle. There are also two one-page weekly writing assignments to gauge the reader's understanding of their previous reading. Weekly Schedule Breakdown: Students will receive 12 vocabulary words that will appear in the week's reading. Students will write individual sentences to demonstrate their understanding of the definitions. They will have access to a weekly online crossword puzzle that will help reinforce the word and their definitions. Each lesson, students will receive access to one new video that discusses a different assigned chapter. The prerecorded sessions will emphasize characters, their motivations, theme, social issues, story plausibility, and inferences about what might come next. Students will receive a corresponding one-page worksheet with discussion questions and places for fill-in-the blank answers for each day. Students are also assigned two one-page writing assignments focused around that week's discussion questions to post in the classroom. Their comments and my feedback wraps up our weekly discussion.
Learning Goals
The prerecorded sessions emphasize characters' motivations, theme, and story plausibility. Students will examine their own thoughts through weekly worksheets, writing assignments, and vocabulary words.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
From Commonsensemedia.org: Kira's world is more savage and disorderly, with the kind of violent brutality that readers might expect in a story set in medieval times: Deformed people are outcasts, parents slap their children, day-to-day life is meager, dirty, and angry, and villagers are fearful and superstitious. However, as in The Giver, a young person with special qualities emerges as the hero, and the overriding message is that kindness, honesty, and a selfless use of talent will create a better future for all.
Pre-Requisites
This is the second book in The Giver series, but it introduces new characters and a new world. Reading The Giver is not required (although it can be helpful).
Supply List
The students will need their own copy of Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue to read on their own. It can be borrowed from the library or even listened to as an audio book. The students will not need a physical copy of the story when watching the review videos, although they may find it helpful to have when completing the writing assignments.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined June, 2019
4.6
903reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Spalding University
I have a Master's Degree in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults. I was a substitute teacher for three years, tutored college students, and wrote curriculum for K-5. I currently teach English Composition at a local nursing college. I have read The Giver series multiple times! It is a series that I gave to my son to read as soon as I felt he was old enough to understand the concepts. I love that it uses a dystopian world to challenge us to think about our own world and current situations. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$10
weekly4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 3 learners
Choose your start date
Ages: 9-14
