Discussion Director
You job is to ask 6 questions, the answers to your questions, and the page and par. Where the answers are found (if possible).  Ask good thinking questions!  Ask the following:

1 Descriptive
1 Prediction
1 Character
1 “Thinking” questions of your own
1 Timing
1 Compare/Contrast
 

Character Sketcher
Your job is to sketch one of the following characters:  Jesse, Leslie, or Miss Edmunds
 

Passage Picker
Pick 4 passages that exhibit the following:

1 Foreshadowing
2 Descriptive
1 Personifying
 

Word Wizard
Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following words:

Melodic  pg. 30 – par.5
Angelic   pg. 43 – last par.
Solemn  pg. 47 – last par.
Pandemonium  pg. 13 – last par.
 

Artful Artist
Your job is to draw a picture that illustrates what you liked best about the story.  After finishing your picture, write about your drawing.
Include in your response:
- who or what your picture is about
- where my picture takes place
- when it is happening
- why I drew it
 

Examples of Section 1:

Bridge to Terabithia  by Katherine Paterson
Section 1: pgs. 1-48

Discussion Director

1.  Explain what type of relationship Jesse has with his father.
 (They are not close.  Jesse’s father is short with Jesse and not encouraging.)

2.  Where is Jesse’s father all the time?  Why do you think he spends so much time away from home?
 (He has to work far away and by the time he gets home, the last thing he wants to
   do is spend time with kids.)

3.  What type of person is Miss Edmunds?  Describe her.
(She is sweet, artistic, and a good teacher.  She encourages Jesse to practice    drawing and always stay with it.)

4.  Why does Jesse keep his artistic ability hidden?
 (His father looks down on Jesse’s artistic ability.)

5.  When do you notice Jesse and Leslie becoming good friends?
 (After she beats all the fifth grade boys in a race.)

6.  Compare/Contrast Jesse and Leslie.  How are they different and how are they alike?
 (Jesse’s family is poor and less encouraging to Jesse than Leslie’s family is to her.
   They both have a sense of adventure and imagination.)
 

Character Sketcher

Jesse is artistically talented.   pg.12 – par. 3
-Miss Edmunds described Jesse as “unusually talented.”  She enjoyed looking at his         drawings.

Jesse is imaginative.   pg. 10 – par. 4
-Jesse’s drawings are very creative.  He thinks up unique ways to draw animals.

Jesse is competitive.  pg.2 – par. 1
-Jesse was determined to be the fastest boy in fifth grade.  He practiced running every day during the summer, so he could beat the rest of the boys in 5th grade.

Character Goal:
Jesse’s goal is to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade.

Jesse’s problem is he cannot console in his father.  He feels like he cannot talk to him and tell him about how he loves to draw.  His father thinks that drawing is a waste of time and is a sissy thing for little boys to do.

Possible Solution:
Try to talk to his father more or to his mother about what he feels.

 
Passage Picker

*pg. 28 - Last paragraph

“She just took off…….hurried up toward the house.”

This passage is descriptive and foreshadowing because it describes, for the first time, what Jesse thinks about Leslie.

Do you think this passage foreshadows a love relationship between Jesse and Leslie?
( Maybe, it could just be a “beautiful” friendship.)

The author included this passage because it reflects on how Jesse thinks about Leslie and their new friendship.

*pg. 10 – last paragraph

“He would like to show his drawings……even after four years.”

This passage is a sad passage.  It describes Jesse’s father’s attitude towards his son.

How do you think Jesse’s father became the way he is?
(Maybe his father was not around or treated him with negligence.)

The author included this passage because it gives a look into Jesse’s family life.  The relationship Jesse has with his father affects Jesse’s self esteem.

*pg. 40 – par. 3

“You should draw……could ever really defeat them.”

This passage is descriptive of Jesse and Leslie’s friendship.  They encourage one another, which forms a strong bonding relationship.

What do you think Jesse means when he says, “I just can’t get the poetry of the trees”?

The author included this passage because it tells how and why Terabithia is so important to Jesse and Leslie.  It’s a place they can go to rid all their fears and be themselves.

*pg. 46 – par. 2

Terabithia was their secret….wiser in that mysterious land.”

This passage describes how Jesse feels about Terabithia.  Terabithia excites him and makes him happy.

Are there any places that make you feel like Jesse feels about Terabithia?  Describe it.

The author included this passage because it gives a look into how Jesse feels warm and comfortable at Terabithia.
 

Word Wizard

Melodic   pg. 30 - 5th par.

“Even her ordinary speaking voice bubbled up from inside her, rich and melodic.”

I think melodic means flowy and to have rhythm.

Dictionary: having the nature of melody, pleasing to hear; tuneful

The word melodic describes Miss Edmunds voice and personality.
 

Angelic   pg. 43 – last paragraph

“Jesse could hardly keep a straight face in class just trying to imagine what might be going on behind that angelic look of Leslie’s.”

I think angelic means sweet and innocent.

Dictionary:  like and angel in beauty, goodness, and innocence.

The word angelic describes how Leslie looked, but really she was always full of curiosity.

Solemn  pg. 47 – last par.

“He nodded and without speaking, they went back to the creek bank where they shared together a solemn meal of crackers and dried fruit.”

I think solemn means holy.

Dictionary:  observed or done according to ritual or tradition

The word solemn adds to the passage because it gives the reader a sense of how important Terabithia is to Leslie and Jess.

Pandemonium  pg. 13 – last paragraph

“So the students of Lark Creek Elementary sat at their desks all Friday, their hearts thumping with anticipation as they listened to the joyful pandemonium pouring from the teachers’ room.”

I think pandemonium means chaos and confusion.

Dictionary:  any place or scene of wild disorder, noise, or confusion

The word pandemonium is a great exaggeration of the word noise, so it adds to the feeling of confusion the student characters have.
 

Artful Artist

The picture is when Leslie becomes the fastest kid in the 5th grade.  She beats all the boys and completely surprises Jesse.  The picture takes place during recess at school.  I drew it because I love that part in the book.  It was great when Leslie surprises all the boys in her class, and she doesn’t even think it’s a big deal.