By Lois Lowry

Project Directions

Attention all 1^st Semester 7^th Grade Language Arts Students: For duplicate information, go to the SSLC website, click on “Southwest Secondary Learning Center,” click on “Blue,” click on “Language Arts Novel Projects,” and click on the semester of language arts you are currently taking.

You have the wonderful opportunity to read a classic in the science fiction/fantasy world. The Giver is about the consequences, both good and bad, or living in a place devoid of problems and emotions. Have fun entering this strange, new (not always good) world.

· Read The Giver.

· As you read, answer the critical thinking questions on the next page.

· Critical thinking questions are due by Thursday, October 6.

· After reading the book, choose one project from the project list.

· Book projects are due by Thursday, October 21.

Due Dates at a Glance

Critical thinking questions – Thursday, October 6

Book project – Thursday, October 21

The Giver Critical Thinking Questions

Directions: Choose 10 of the 12 following questions to answer. These questions should make you think and your answers should reflect careful thought. Please type your answers in COMPLETE SENTENCES and answer all parts of each question. I am looking for critical thinking. (5 pts. each for a total of 50 pts.)

1. List some authorities to whom you must answer. Do you find it difficult to obey these authorities? If so, explain which ones and why you find it difficult. If not, why not?

2. What do you think is the purpose of a family? Is it important that families be biologically related in order to function? Why or why not?

3. Why do you think a community like Jonas’ would find it necessary to create a family?

4. Hills and snow may not be practical in Jonas’ world, but Jonas finds sledding on a snow-covered hill very pleasurable. Do you think it’s okay to do things simply because they are fun? Why or why not?

5. The duty of the Receiver of Memory is to bear all the pain and suffering for the community. Think of jobs that people in our culture perform. Which job or jobs might be close to what the Receiver of Memory does? How are the two jobs similar and different?

6. How realistic is the novel? Could that society exist?

7. What are your own thoughts on the value of life?

8. Look at the last two paragraphs of the book. What might Lois Lowry be suggesting about Jonas’ old community with the last few sentences?

9. The Giver presents a community in which every person and his or her experience is precisely the same. The climate is controlled and competition has been eliminated in favor of a community in which everyone works for the common good. What advantages might "sameness" have for a community? Is this loss of diversity worthwhile? Explain.

10. The creators of Jonas’ community were trying to make a “perfect” place to live. What about the community was not perfect? What would be the three most important things to change about the community if you were in charge?

11. If you had to give this book a grade, what would it be and why?

12. What point was the author making about utopian (perfect) societies? How successful was she in getting this point across?

Directions: Choose one project after reading The Giver. (Neatness and creativity count.)

Research: (All writing options must be at least one page, double-spaced, and typed in Times New Roman or Comic Sans font.)

• In the story Jonas sees an apple change color when in fact he is beginning to perceive color. Research the following question about the human eye and create a well-written report. What is color? (Think about the light spectrum.) How does the human eye see color? What causes color blindness? Is it possible to train the human eye so that it does not see color?

Drama

• Write a script that would turn a scene from the book into a play.
• Choose part of the novel to act out. You don’t have to memorize it, but it must be performed well. Video record your performance.

Art

• Compare this book to another that you have read. Create a Venn diagram to explain the similarities and differences. You must have ten items in each part of the Venn Diagram. This should be done so that is can be displayed (small poster, etc.)
• Turn the novel into a children’s book complete with cover, pictures, and at least 6 pages. Include no more than two sentences on each of the pages.
• Create a picture time line of ten events from the book. Write at least a sentence for each picture explaining why that scene is important in the book.
• Build a model of what you think Jonas’ community would have looked like. This must include the meeting area, school, houses (specifically Jonas’), House of the Old, Nurturing Center, and the Giver’s House.

Music/Poetry

• Compose a song, rap, or poem that introduces and explains 5 of the characters.
• Create a 15 - 20 line poem explaining a moral or lesson we can learn from reading this book.

Technology

• Create a Power Point presentation that summarizes the events of the book and what you think happened to Jonas and Gabrielle at the end. This must cover 10 important events from the novel, 3 main characters, and a lesson or moral to be learned from the book.
• Create a Power Point presentation based on creating a perfect community. (See me for further instructions.)

The Giver

Grading Sheet

(Fill out which projects you are doing and turn this form in with your projects.)

5 pts. per day late will be taken off you final grade.

Name:_____________________

___ Critical Thinking Questions (out of 50 pts)

___ Other Project ______________________________ (out of 50 pts)

___ Follows instructions (out of 5 pts)

___ Neat and organized (out of 5 pts)

___ Shows a complete understanding of the book (out of 30 pts)

___ Free from grammar and spelling errors (out of 5 pts)

___ Creativity (out of 5 pts)

___ TOTAL (out of 100 pts)

Extra Credit: Complete an age chart activity. See me for more details.

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