Imagine that you could create a perfect world. How would it be different from the world you live in right now? How would it be the same? Give your community a name, a system of government,and a physical description. Imagine yourself living there and describe what an ordinary day would be like. Obtain some poster board and make a pictoral representation of your world.
"It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened." (p. 1)
This is the opening sentence of The Giver. What kind of picture does this produce in your mind? What feelings does this sentence create?
How is it different to feel apprehensive rather than to feel frightened?
Illustration by Orville Simpson II.
Define these words : utopia and dystopia. Write their definitions into your journal.
Print a copy of the worksheet Utopian Societies.
Fill in the chart with information from the websites about the two societies you will read about.
Explore a historical utopia at these web links:
BROOK FARM
BROOK FARM
Explore a future utopia at this web link:
VICTORY CITIES
Begin compiling a list of rules which govern the community in which Jonas lives. You will add to this list as you read The Giver.
What are the pros and cons?
Print out a copy of the worksheet "Community Life Schedule". Enter the ceremonies and life milestones that occur at each stage as they are revealed in the book.
Add to your list of rules governing Jonas's community
Why do you think members of this society must do volunteer work when they are young? Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Defend your answer.
Write about any volunteer experiences you have had in your life.
Print out the Career Assesment worksheet.
Assess your career interests by taking the survey at this website: http://www.careerkey.org/english/
Fill in the worksheet as you go through this exercise.
Add to your list of rules governing Jonas's community
By visiting this web site you will be exploring the concept of memory as well as testing out your own memory.
Copy off the worksheet before going to the web site:
Memory Exercises Worksheet
http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/index.html
Start a list of the "painful" memories that Jonas receives.
Add to your list of rules governing Jonas's community
Imagine a world without color. What color would you miss the most and why?
Agree or disagree with this statement and say why:
A world without any pain would be a bad thing.
Print out a copy of the worksheet that will take through this Discovery of Color.
Add to your list of "painful" memories that Jonas receives.
Add to your list of rules governing Jonas's community
Why have you chosen that event to give him?
What will Jonas learn from it?
Read the acceptance speech Lois Lowry delivered upon receiving her Newbery Award for The Giver. The speech can be found at this website: http://www.loislowry.com/pdf/Newbery_Award.pdf
Read to the bottom of page 6 and do the following:
- In an essay format, write a response to this question:
(must be at least five paragraphs)
What experiences in Lois Lowry’s life made her want Jonas’s world “familiar, comfortable and safe”?
- Answer the following question using a quote from Lowry’s speech:
What does Lowry say we give up by living in a world where we are all the same and feel safe?
Add to your list of "painful" memories that Jonas receives.
Add to your list of rules governing Jonas's community
Read the rest of Lowry’s speech after you complete your reading assignment
Complete the lists you have been adding to.