Starclimber Post#1: Astralnaut Training - How Well Would YOU Do?

Think about all the different ways the astralnaut candidates are tested and the different tasks they had to perform. Answer the following questions using at least 3 complete sentences PER question.  You need to include 2 dressups in each answer so that you have used all 6 dressups.

1. What physical skills, emotions, and personality/character traits are  astralnaut candidates tested on?
2. What are the testers looking for in an astralnaut? 
3. How do you think you’d perform on the astralnaut tests? Where do you think you would excel in these tests?  What areas would you have difficulty with?

Copy the question into MS Word. Answer below the question using the Golden Rules. Proof read (COPS) it using WORD TALK. 5 sentences minimum (JM!) When you have saved the best copy, then copy and paste it into the comments below.  Remember to include only your first name.

Science - The Nervous System

Here is a practice quiz for you to take to help you review for your class quiz.

Rules By Cynthia Lord

Here are some questions based around the book we are reading in class right now, Rules by Cynthia Lord.  It is a difficult book which deals with some difficult situations.  Sometimes the author makes us feel uncomfortable for Catherine, or David, or Jason.  Here are some questions I would like you to think about and answer three of them.  As usual, use MS Word and Word Talk BEFORE you post.  Remember your name (first only) after your entry.  Try to be original in your answers and ideas, and give details; don't read other posts by other students. 

1. What are Catherine’s strengths? What are her weaknesses?
2. Name at least three characters who exhibit prejudice in RULES. What do they say or do which shows that prejudice?
3. How do Catherine’s feelings change toward Jason as the book continues? What causes that change?
4. What do you think would’ve happened if Catherine had been honest right away with Kristi and told her about Jason? Why wasn’t Catherine honest? What do you think she was afraid of?
5. Catherine is not the only character in the story who is not always honest. How do the other characters avoid dealing with problems or act in ways that are not completely truthful?
6. Do you think it’s true that “Leaving out isn’t the same as lying?” If not, is it ever true?
7. Some of Catherine’s rules are what we might call “unwritten rules,” comments on how people behave, such as “Sometimes people don’t answer because they didn’t hear you. Other times it's because they don’t want to hear you."  How do people learn these rules?  Why do we have them?
8. When Kristi has David dance in Catherine’s room, is she being mean? Since he wasn’t upset by it, should Catherine have stopped the music?

Born To Run: Craig's Side of the Story...

In the book Born To Run, Craig had Alfie "taken away" because he came up lame in a race and would never be able to run competitively again.  Craig has always said that the greyhounds are not pets; they are his working dogs.  Becky was horrified when she saw what actually happened to Alfie and all the previous dogs that could no longer run.  As you know, this caused Becky to run away with Brighteyes.

1. I'm going to ask you to do something hard!  Defend some of Craig's rules: what possible reasons could Craig have for

• not allowing the dogs in the house
• not allowing Becky or anyone coddle the dogs
• not keeping the dogs around after they are no longer able to race

2. What alternatives could Craig have chosen for his dogs, once they can no longer run?

Remember:

Draft your answers in MS WORD. Edit them for clarity and details; PROOF READ them for COPS before copying them into the blog editor and posting them.

Born To Run - Life is Full of Choices...

Becky made the choice to run away from Craig and her mother in order to "save" Brighteyes.  That decision made her make all sorts of other choices. She had to put up with all sorts of hardships, and, in the end, found herself in hospital and seriously injured.  She was lucky that Brighteyes was "adopted" by another, kind, person; it could have been far worse for both Becky and Brighteyes. 

• Describe all the choices Becky made that were unwise and potentially very dangerous to her own safety? 
• What other realistic and safer alternatives could Becky have chosen instead of running away to save Brighteyes? 
• How else could she have stopped Craig from having his dogs picked up by the grey Land Rover and "taken away"?

Remember: 

Draft your answers in MS WORD. Edit them for clarity and details; PROOF READ them for COPS using WORD TALK before copying them into the blog editor and posting them.

How Does It End? Your Opinion...

How Does It End? Your Opinion...

Re-read pp 174 to 179 on etext The Giver or, if you have a book, read pages 177-180.

The ending of the The Giver may be interpreted in two very different ways. 

Perhaps Jonas is remembering his Christmas memory - one of the most beautiful that the Giver transmitted to him - as he and Gabriel are freezing to death, falling into hypothermia and hallucinating in the snow.

Or perhaps Jonas does hear music and, with his special vision, is able to perceive the warm house where people are waiting to greet him.  Lois Lowry mentioned both possibilities but would not choose one as correct. 

Choose the ending that you believe, and tell in your own words what happened. 

1. Find 3 pieces of EVIDENCE from the book to support your idea of what happened from the last chapter. 
2. Include a quote straight from the book as PART of your evidence.  Give the page number of the quote.
3. What will happen to The Giver? The Community? Jonas and Gabriel now?
4. What are some memories (plural) that you have you would give to someone you care about?

 Do this is MS WORD.  Use WORD TALK to proof read your answer BEFORE you post it.

The Giver: Rule#8 You May Lie.

In Jonas' new work package, one piece of paper outlined the 8 rules he had to live by.  Rule#8 stated "You may lie."

Why does Jonas find the instruction about lying so disturbing?  3 Sentences minimum.  (What would you feel/think if you were given this "permission"?)

Remember: Draft your answers in MS WORD. Edit them for clarity and details; PROOF READ them for COPS before copying them into the blog editor and posting them.