Mon. Mar. 31, 2014: Life of Pi Chpt. 23-36

Today, I informed you that you will have a quiz on the first 29 chapters of the novel Life of Pi. This quiz will consist of multiple choice comprehension questions, vocabulary questions, and two paragraph questions.
I also gave you the vocabulary and questions for chapters 23-36 which need to be completed (along with the readings) for Wednesday's class.

Fri, Mar. 28, 2014: Reading Class

Today, you were instructed to have Chapters 1-29 of the novel Life of Pi Read. I also gave you questions to answer (in paragraph form - NOT essays!). If you were not here, the questions are in your portfolio. Do not answer the last question. Questions are due at the start of class on Monday.

Thurs. Mar. 27, 2014 Def. of Eastern/Western Religions

Chapters 15 to 24 of the novel Life of Pi, refers to three religions: Christian, Islam and Hindu. In order to understand the context, students were presented with a PowerPoint in order to answer the Chapter 15 questions (and the text). If you were not here, you will need to research the Chapter 15 questions out fully. Students were then instructed to start reading the next chapters (I will expect you to have read up to Chapter 24 and answer the related questions for the start of Friday's class).

Wed. Mar. 26, 2014: Life of Pi

·        Students were instructed to hand in their Chapter questions for Chapters 9-15.

·        Students were placed in groups of three.

·        Students were provided with a felt to write with and an 11X13 sheet of paper with a chapter heading on it (9,10,11,12,13,14,15)

·        Students were then given 3.5 minutes to put down all the details they could come up with regarding the chapter presented on their sheet of paper.

·        Students were then instructed to move the paper to the next table clockwise.

·        Each group was then to read the information written about the chapter they received and add to it.

·        This was done until every group read and added to every chapter

·        On the last move, the students were to add questions based on the information presented (fruitful questioning).

·        These were then placed on the board and discussed (students took notes).

Students were reminded use evenings (such as this one) to work on their INS as they were not given a class reading to complete.

Tues. Mar. 25, 2014: Life of Pi Readings & Questions

Students were to hand in their answers for Chapters six to eight (homework check).

·        Notes were created on the board in order to demonstrate the ease in creating notes for the INS activity as well as determining questions from the notes.

·        Students were then instructed to read Chapters 9-14 and answer the accompanying questions which were handed out yesterday. Some of these questions involve research completion. I have some books in the class which were presented for use,. Students also can do this portion of the assignment using the Internet.

Mon. Mar. 24, 2014: Life of Pi Discussion and Questions

Today, you handed in your answers to the Life of Pi questions provided on Friday (and also posted on this Blogger site on that date). We then discussed Chapters 2 to 5. I showed you how to make notes of chapters when doing short ones for your INS. I also showed how questions can arise from these notes. I then went over the answers you submitted.
After this, you were provided with vocabulary for Chapters 1-22. I then gave you questions to answer for tomorrow which are as follows:

Read Chapters 6 and 7 and answer the following questions:
1. Pi's house is both overheated and overstocked. Any guesses as to why?
2. What is the difference between and atheist and an agnostic?
3. Describe Mr. Kumar.
4. Why is Mr. Kumar so important to Pi?
5. Why does Pi dislike agnostics more than atheists?

Read Chapter 8 and answer the following:
1. How does Pi's father teach him that "an animal is an animal?"
2. How does Ravi, Pi's older brother, terrorize him after the Tiger incident?

Fri. Ma. 21, 2014 Life of Pi Questions

Today, you were given questions to answer on Chapters One to Five of Life of Pi. I have pasted the questions and instructions below. These are due for Monday.

Life of Pi: Questions

 

INSTRUCTIONS: On a separate sheet of paper, answer each question FULLY. Keep in mind the importance of using correct grammar/punctuation/sentence structure.

 

Study Questions

Chapters 1–2

 

1.      How does the three–toed sloth survive?

2.      Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans. Find examples of anthropomorphism.

3.      Describe some examples of imagery, figurative language from this section.

4.      In chapter 2, in italics, who is the narrator and who is the subject?

 

Chapters 3–5

 

1.      Describe how Pi comes to be named after a French swimming pool.

2.      Pondicherry Zoo, which once loomed so large in Pi’s life, is now only a place of memory. Describe a childhood experience or place which has “shrunk” in your memory.

3.      Pi does not agree with people who “think animals in the wild are ‘happy’ because they are ‘free’”. Why?

4.      Describe how and why Piscine Molitor Patel becomes Pi. Describe a similar name change in your school experience.

5.      Pi writes his name on the blackboard with every teacher during the day. He says that “repetition is important in the training not only of animals but also of humans”.  Explain.