The most recent class of students in the Theology and Children’s and Youth Literature class developed some literature circle guides based on particular books. If you are unfamiliar with literature circles, you might want to read this article by Dr. Pamela Mitchell-Legg that we posted soon after we began Storypath. The book being used for the literature circle was reviewed on our site last week and the link to that review is below. The guide below can be copied and pasted into a word processing document for prettier printing!
LITERATURE CIRCLE DISCUSSION GUIDE
For use with Middle School or High School students
Please read the entire novel and come prepared to contribute the following five things in Literature Circle conversations:
- Thinking about the various characters in this book, select 5 characters for your small group to discuss their struggles/weaknesses and their strengths/power. Be prepared to share the 5 characters you selected and noting passages that describe these traits. (Technique: Questioner)
- Identify two passages in the book that totally surprised you or caught you off guard. Locate the passages in the book and read them in your small groups. Discuss within the group how the element of surprise contributes/or not to the story. (Technique: Passage Picker)
- The story is based in Shanghai and rich in Chinese culture. Pick five words, phrases, or concepts that draw from the Chinese culture and traditions that you were not familiar with and elaborate on what you learned. (Technique: Word “Wizard”)
- What social issues does this book touch on that you see as issues we continue to battle today? Clarify the struggle as presented in the book and what you believe the challenges are today in the 21st century? (Technique: Connector)
- Drawing from your creative powers and wicked sense of humor, select one of the humorous scenes in the book and illustrate as a cartoon using whatever form of media you wish to create a visual.
Created by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Alice Blanton.