Cyberlesson by Jillian Savage Grade 6

1. Cyberlesson by Jillian Savage Grade 6

2. Did you know that a story can be different depending on who is telling it? • Did you ever wonder what the story of a Native American would sound like if they were telling it? How might that same story be different if a European told it? • Today we are going to read a story that will help us answer some of these questions. introduction

3. Encounter by Jane Yolen • Reader Response Journals • Laptops with internet access • Crayons/Markers/Colored Pencils • Pen/Pencil materials

4. An author writes from a certain perspective or point of view when telling a story. • Point of view refers to who tells us a story and how it is told. What we know and how we feel about the events in a story are shaped by the author’s point of view. • As we read Encounter, decide which point of view the author takes when telling the story. Ask yourself, “Why do you think the author is writing from this particular point of view?” Essential Question How do we learn about the past by reading different types of stories? Background knowledge

5. Have you ever experienced a situation when someone didn’t listen to you or believe what you were saying because they thought you were too young? Share your experience by writing a paragraph in your Reader Response Journals. Remember to explain the event and include how you felt. Before Reading

6. Look at the illustrations on the cover of the book. Who are the people? What else do you notice about the illustrations? • What do you think the title Encounter means? • Based on the title and pictures, what do you think this story will be about? Click on the image to record your predictions. Before Reading

7. Read pages 1-15 in Encounter. What items did the Taino tribe and the Europeans trade? Make a list of the items the Taino gave to the Europeans and then list the items the Europeans gave to the Taino. Click on the picture below to organize your information. • Who are the Europeans? Check out this site to help you find the answer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno • Why do you think the Taino gave the Europeans valuable gifts but not did receive equal gifts in return? What were the Europeans most interested in? Click on the site below if you are unsure. http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Taino%20Gold.htm During Reading

8. At one point in the story, the young boy goes to his Zemisand asks it for help. What is a Zemis? Visit this website to find out what it is and why it was used in the story. What is a Zemis? Record your answers by clicking on the Zemis picture Why does the young Taino boy keep telling his people not to welcome the Europeans? Why is he so afraid? During Reading

9. Let’s check our prediction sheet to see if we need to make any changes now that we are reading the story. Answer the questions below to help you revisit and/or revise your original predictions. • Who is the European’s leader? How do you know? Use information from the story to confirm or defend your predictions. • Why do you think the author chose the title Encounter for this book? How has your original title prediction changed? • So far are your predictions about the story accurate? What is different and why? Put a check mark next to your predictions that stayed the same. During reading

10. Look closely at the picture on the last page. What do you notice about this picture? How is it different from the other pictures in the story? Consider the character, his facial expression, the setting and the background. • Using the information on the last page, write a letter that the old man would give to his children or grandchildren. The letter should include the following: 1.The lesson that the old man learned in the story . 2. His thoughts and feelings about Columbus and his men. 3. What the old man would do differently if he had the chance to relive the experience. 4. His hopes and dreams for future generations. • Click on the picture to follow the steps on an interactive website to create a letter. After Reading

11. Point of view refers to who tells us a story and how it is told. Now it’s your turn to become a character from the story and inform the reader of their point of view. Create an “I AM” poem from the point of view of one of the following: • The old man • Christopher Columbus • One of the Europeans • One of the Taino tribe Click here to write your “I Am” poem After Reading

12. Create your own Zemis! • The Zemis played an important role in the Taino culture and dream interpretation. You already researched what a Zemis is and why it was used in the story. Now it’s your turn to create a Zemis that you can turn to in time of need. • Using the Artist’s Workshop format, research the websites below to construct a Zemis of your own.Remember to include a 3-4 sentence explanation of what you would use your Zemis for and how it can help you when you need advice. • Create a Zemis • My own Zemis Click here to create! Beyond Reading

13. Read the author’s note on the last page of Encounter. What are some questions you still have about Christopher Columbus or the Taino Tribe? Come up with 3 new questions you have about Columbus and 3 new questions about the Taino tribe. Visit the websites below to help you answer your questions. You can record your questions and answers in your Reader Response Journals. Christopher Columbus http://www.hartford-hwp.com/Taino/docs/columbus.html http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/christophercolumbus/Christopher_Columbus.htm http://www.nativeamericans.com/ChristopherColumbus.htm http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/btt/columbus/native_peoples.shtml Taino Tribe http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/taino.shtml http://www.taino-tribe.org/ http://www.lasculturas.com/articles/14-culture-a-identity/22-the-taino-survival http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1011-27.htm Beyond reading

15. Encounter by Jane Yolen All Clip Art~ http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default. aspx?lc= enus Websites~ http://www.zemi.com/what_is_zemi.html http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/ http://pattongold.com/zemi.htm http://www.athenapub.com/zemi1.htm http://www.discoverhaiti.com/history00_1_1.htm http://www.hartford-hwp.com/Taino/docs/columbus.html http://gosouthamerica.about.com/od/christophercolumbus/Christopher_Columbus.htm http://www.nativeamericans.com/ChristopherColumbus.htm Credits

16. http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/taino.shtml http://www.taino-tribe.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Taino%20Gold.htm http://www.lasculturas.com/articles/14-culture-a-identity/22-the-taino-survival http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1011-27.htm http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/btt/columbus/native_peoples.shtml Encounter picture: ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JGY7CNDHL._S... Credits

17. Students should have previous lessons on point of view and practice generating their own questions prior to completing this cyberlesson. • The essential question, “How do we learn about the past by reading different types of stories?” should be the focus question throughout the cyberlesson. Students should refer back to the question during and after reading, and by the end of the lesson provide an answer to the question based on their reading and participation in the unit. • It is recommended to scan the book Encounter if possible so the pages can be projected to the entire class for everyone to see. Students can chose to work through the cyberlesson independently, with a partner, or in groups of three. Teacher page