Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix 6th Grade Reading Project Ashley Hampton Michelle...

Among the Hiddenby Margaret Peterson Haddix

6th Grade Reading Project

Ashley HamptonMichelle GraysonJennifer Garrett

Maria Gaona

Boulter Middle School

Image from Titlewave Coverhttp://www.jborland.pbworks.com

Objective To Motivate Reluctant Readers By Engaging Them In Reading

Activities That Incorporate A Wide Range of

Interactive Technology Tools

TimelineThis unit can easily take 6 weeks or more.

These students met for 45 minutes each day and had regularly scheduled access to a computer lab at least once a week. This

presentation does not, by any means, include all of the activities used to teach this unit. Reading of the novel was done in class with

vocabulary support, additional writing exercises, quizzes, etc.

Introduction

Living in a society where the population has increased to dangerous levels and the government controls

virtually every aspect of its citizens' lives, including placing restrictions on how many children a family can

have.

IMAGINE

IMAGINE

Being a third child in a family when the government allows only two children.

IMAGINE

Having to spend your entire life "hidden" from society and the government.

How would you feel?What would you do?Would you have the

power to change the system?

Would you survive?

Among The Hidden Synopsis• Shadow Children Series• 7 books• Future society facing overpopulation

issues• Government passes 2 child law• Population Police enforcement• “Illegal” children are kept hidden• Study guides available: http://books.google.com/books?

id=xfGeteYePfgC&dq=literature+guide+among+the+hidden+kathleen+wokenrowley&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=RUTc6jYp6m&sig=nNpHP3pxVmHXljwYGKAgiu8CxCk&hl=en&ei=ZHJPS9LmDoeXtgfL47UB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Image from Titlewave Cover

Activity I“More People” Brainstorming

ActivityIn groups of 3-4 students, think carefully about what happens when we continue to add more and more people to the planet. Brainstorm and discuss the impacts that more people have, for better or for worse. In some cases, adding more people will cause there to be more of some things which causes more of other other things in a chain reaction. In other cases, more of some things might cause less of others in a chain reaction. Use the graphic organizer attached to the Wiki page to document your ideas and discussion.

Activity I“More People” Brainstorming Activity

Example: Adding more people causes us to need to build more houses which means we need to cut down more trees for lumber which results in more clear cutting of forests and less trees which reduces the amount of oxygen being produced on the planet and causes more erosion.

More

People

Activity 2: Population Trends in the U.S. Research

• How fast is the population in the U.S. growing? • Is the U.S. in danger of experiencing a

population crisis in your life time? • Is our government doing anything to try to

control population growth? • Are some places in the U.S. more crowded than

others? To find the answers to these questions, we will doa little research on population trends in the U.S.

Population Trends Research Questions1 class period

Use Nettrekker, Britannica Online, and the U.S. Census Bureau at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

• How fast is the population of the United States growing? Does this pattern suggest that we will have problems in the future?

• Where do the majority of Americans live--in cities or rural areas? What special problems relate to populations in urban and rural regions?

• In what ways are people encouraged to be responsible for the number of children they have?

• How does the government try to provide food and shelter for needy families?

Activity 3: China’s One Child Policy

The country that has taken the most drastic measures to control population is China because it is the most populated country in the world. Find out about China's "One Child Policy" by accessing the BBC article from the link below. Carefully read the article and answer the questions provided.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/941511.stm

Activity 4: Begin Reading Among The Hidden

Now that you have a better understanding of some of the issues

related to overpopulation, you are ready to begin reading Among the Hidden .

Along the way, you will be participating in some really cool new activities.

ENJOY THE BOOK!

Assuming The Role Of A Shadow Child

In order to get a better idea of what it must have been like for "Shadow Children" from all over the United States to join together via the internet, each of you is going to be assigned the role of a "Shadow Child" who lives somewhere in the United States. Some of you will belong to families who are rich. Others will not be as fortunate. Some of you will have some privileges like shopping passes, others will not. Some of you will live in big cities, others will live in very rural communities. Some of you will have other siblings who are also "Shadow Children." Others will not.


When you receive your "Shadow Child" identity you will discover what city and state that you live in, as well as the type of house in which you are hidden. Other special information about your living situation will also be given. In addition, you will be given a link to a live EarthCam that will let you "see" what it looks like "out your window" each day. You will also be given a link to a Wikipedia site that you will use to learn more about your town/city.


• As soon as your teacher hands you a slip of paper that reveals your "Shadow Child" identity, go to the “Shadow Child Identities” document in StuShare and click on the link for your child.

• Read the description of your child and where he/she lives.• Choose an appropriate “screen name” for your child and report it to your

teacher. Do NOT use your real name.• Go to the Wikipedia link and read the information about your town/city. • Go to the EarthCam link to see what it looks like “outside the window” of

your new home.• Go to the photo link to see what your actual house looks like.• Make sure that you are very knowledgeable about where you live and

what your situation is because you will be required to share this information with others as you get acquainted with the other Shadow Children when you blog.

• (See document for “Shadow Child Identities” attached on my Wiki)

Google Maps Activity:Where Do We All Live?

Picture from http://www.abcteach.com/free/u/unitedstateslabeledrgb.jpg


In this activity we will use Google Maps to locate the city/town for all of the"Shadow Children" in your class. Each "Shadow Child" must find the exact

location of his/her town on the master map, create a placemark that tells who lives there, and include some details about the child who lives there. Once

you have located you own town, you will want to spend some time looking also at the "satellite view"

and the "terrain view" of your town.


Once you are familiar with the location of your town, start looking around the map to find your

other "Shadow Child" friends. In particular, look for others who live near you.

Finally, use your skills and Google Maps to found

out the distance, in miles, from your home town to Washington, D.C.

(See document for Google Maps Activity attached to my Wiki)

Where I Live Glogging Activity

Now that you have had a chance to learn some things about where you live, create a GLOG to show off your “home” to others. Include some information about the population size, economy, and recreation in your area. Provide a link to your house photo as well as to your live EarthCam. Also include a map and any other things you think are interesting about your town/state.

Among the Hidden Glog See Glogster Tips on Wiki

Blogging Activities

Picture from http://techrichclass.com/attachments/Image/blog_clip_art.jpg

Blogging ActivitiesHow did Jen communicate with the other "Shadow Children"

around the United States? She used the internet, of course! Isn't that what social networking is all about?

Now it is your turn to get involved in the action as you take

on the identity of your "Shadow Child." For the next few weeks, every time your class comes to the computer lab you will be blogging with each other about things related

to being a "Shadow Child." Ultimately, you will be planning for the big rally in Washington D.C. and

discussing it with each other. You will have to decide whether or not you are going, how you will get there, how

you feel about the whole thing, and more.

Blogging Activities

There will be some rules that you must follow while posting your blogs. If you fail to follow the rules, your entries will

not be posted. You will get more details regarding the rules in your first blogging

assignment.

Picture from http://www.macomb.lib.mi.us/harperwoods/clipart-pencil-checklist.jpg

Introduction To Blogging

Welcome students. We are excited about the opportunities to communicate and express our

ideas with each other using this blogging format. It is our expectation that participants will respect each

other's ideas and opinions at all times and will demonstrate common courtesies when responding to each other. All response posts will be screened by the moderator before posting. Any responses that are determined to be inappropriate will not be

posted. Students must use standard rules for grammar and writing in this blog. "Texting lingo" is

not appropriate and will not be accepted.

Introduction To Blogging

In an effort to keep our site safe and secure, we ask that you do not include our school name in any of your posts. Students must use screen names in place of their real names. These names will be established by students with the teacher who is

moderating their blogs.

After a short demonstration by your teacher to show you how to log in and navigate in the blog, read the

blogging instructions that follow and get started!

“Day In The Life Of A Shadow Child” Blogging Activity

Today as you blog with your fellow Shadow Child friends, we want you to get to know each other better. Tell each other

about where you live and what you do every day. Talk about your house, the surroundings outside your house, your

"freedoms" (like whether or not you have a shopping pass), whether your family is rich, poor, or somewhere in between, etc. Do you ever get to go outside? If so, to do what? Do you have other brothers and sisters at home with you? Do you get to watch TV, play on the computer, etc.? Since you don't go to school, how are you learning to read, write, do math, etc,? Do you like being at home all of the time or are you really anxious to become free? Are you afraid? What are your favorite things to do while you are at home alone?

“Day In The Life Of A Shadow Child” Blogging Activity

Once you have posted some information about yourself, start reading other people's posts. Respond to at least 3 of them. Ask additional questions and comment about something they

have said.(Remember to keep hitting the refresh key to see

new postings)

This discussion may extend to a couple of class periods as you get used to how the blog works.

“Rally Time” Blogging Activity

Before participating in this blogging activity, you must have completed the Among The

Hidden Google Maps Activity. In this activity you will use Google Maps to

pinpoint your location on the class map, calculate the distance from your town/city to

the rally in Washington, D.C., and look for your closest "neighbors" to determine who

you might ride with to the rally.

“Rally Time” Blogging ActivityDone Before Reading About Actual Rally

Today you need to blog with your fellow “Shadow Child” friends about the upcoming rally at the

President's house. What are your plans? Are you going? If not, why not? If so, how are you getting there? How long will it take you to get there? Do your parents know you are going? What are your feelings about going? Are you afraid? What are

your hopes about what will happen? Tell us your plans and then respond to your friends to

arrange your ride and discuss the rally.

“Survivors Of the Rally Reunion” Blogging Activity

Note: You must have finished reading the book to participate in this blog!

We are presuming since you are here

blogging today that you survived the rally. Either you didn't end up going that day, or you managed to get away from the ordeal

that happened that day in Washington, D.C.


It is now 10 years later. Since that day of the rally 10 years ago, you have been unable to contact your Shadow Child friends because the government blocked all of your blog

sites. You have spent the last 10 years thinking about what happened that day, whether you were actually there

or not. You have wondered what happened to your friends. You know some died, including Jen, but you aren't sure who else. Since then, a new President has been elected and the laws are beginning to change.

Some of the Survivors of the Rally have organized an online reunion and have advertised the blog site around the country. You are joining the online reunion today.


So, talk to your fellow Shadow Child friends. Tell them what happened to you that day of the rally. Tell them how you felt after that day was over. What have you been doing since then? Where do you live now? Have

you done anything in the last 10 years to help other Shadow Children? Are you still in

hiding or are you now free?

“Through Your Vent” Activity

If You Were A "Shadow Child" Inside Your Own Home, What Would You See Outside Your Window?

Picture from http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/869487-001.jpg

“Through Your Vent” ActivityBy now you know a lot about what Luke saw outside his window in Among the Hidden. What if you were in Luke's shoes? What would you see outside your window? Write a descriptive narrative that answers the following questions.

1. What do you see when you look outside your bedroom window?

2. If you see your neighbor’s house, do they have blinds? Is their house two stories? Are their blinds open? Can you see in their house? If so, what do you see?

3. Do you see bushes or trees? Do you see people? If so, who?4. Do you see out the back or front? Do you see cars, do you see

pets? 5. What does the sky look like? What is the weather like?

Post Reading Journal ProjectAdapted from Pre-Reading Activities from

Among The Hidden Literature Guide by Kathleen Woken-Rowley

http://books.google.com/books?id=xfGeteYePfgC&dq=literature+guide+among+the+hidden+kathleen+woken-rowley&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=RUTc6jYp6m&sig=nNpHP3pxVmHXljwYGKAgiu8CxCk&hl=en&ei=ZHJPS9LmDoeXtgfL47UB&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAQ#v=onep

age&q=&f=false

Picture from http://www.clker.com/clipart-pencil-eraser-and-journal.html

Post Reading Journal ProjectThis will be a journal project using the topics that follow.

All entries should be placed in a separate notebook or a booklet of loose-leaf that you make to be handed in and:

1. Each journal entry should be at least a half of a page long.

2. There must be 11 journal entries done, following the topics that follow.

3. You may decorate the entries to make the journal more like you.

4. Covers should be decorated. We will bind your booklet for you.

Post Reading Journal Project

Day 1: Journal/discuss the concept of having dreams

and goals for the future. Are dreams and goals important? What happens when those

dreams are never fulfilled? What if other people make fun of or doubt those dreams? Is it more important look at reality or to have

dreams? Can you do both?


Day 2: Journal/discuss the concept of loneliness. Write/tell the difference between loneliness

and being alone. Write about a time or situation in which you felt particularly alone or lonely and how you might have (or did)

remedy the situation. Include a photograph or drawing to illustrate the writing.


Day 3: Journal/discuss the quote: “Liberty, too, must be

limited in order to be possessed,” by Edmund Burke (1729-1779). What do you think would happen if everyone were free to do whatever they pleased? Should liberty be limited? How far should the government go to protect our

lives? Or do you think the government should not be involved in our freedom to choose the

life we want to live?


Day 4:

Journal/discuss the concept of happiness. Is there really such thing as true happiness? How would you

define it? Explain.


Day 5: Journal/discuss a time when you

wanted something so badly you would do almost anything to get it. What was the situation? What was the result? Include how it felt to

get/not get what you wanted.


Day 6: Discuss/journal the saying “To thine own self

be true,” which comes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. What does the quote mean?

Where have you heard the saying? In what situation might you find yourself having to be true to yourself? When have you ever had to decide to be true to yourself in a

tough situation?


Day 7: Discuss/journal the characteristics of a good leader. Then discuss the characteristics of a bad leader. Are leaders born or made? List

the attributes of their ideal “leader,” how he/she would act, reason, negotiate, follow, etc. Can leadership be used for evil deeds?


Day 8: Most people feel that honesty is the best policy. Is it ever okay to lie? If so, when and under what circumstances? Explain your answers using specific

examples or situation.


Day 9: Sometimes the course of our lives can be

changed in an instant. Whether it is a change for the positive or negative, it can

sometimes bring surprising results. Journal/discuss a time when major change was introduced into your life, paying special

attention to the astounding effect this change had on you.


Day 10:

Journal/discuss the concept of courage and/or what makes a hero.


Day 11:

Describe the room you would like to have if you were not allowed to “exist”. What would you want in it? Take into account that during the

day, no one can know that someone is living in your house. Also include what you would do

while other people are playing and having fun in the outside world, when you are not allowed to

leave your house.

Power Of Persuasion Activities

To prepare students for their last Web 2.0 activity using FLIP cameras to film a persuasive speech, we engaged students in several activities to teach them the elements of persuasion and give them a chance to practice their persuasion skills. To see these activities, go to the “Power of Persuasion” page in my Wiki.

FLIP Camera Persuasive Speech Activity

Picture from http://blogs.glam.com/glamchic/files/2007/11/flip-camera.jpg

"PLEASE SET ME FREE!"

What if the government that instituted the limit on the number of children a family could have in Among the Hidden had a partial change of heart?

What if they instituted a program where "Shadow Children" 14 years and older could submit a video in which they had a chance to argue for their freedom?

What if you were one of those "Shadow Children"?

How convincing and persuasive could you be?


In this activity you will prepare a short persuasive speech which will be filmed using one of the school's digital FLIP cameras. You will be working in pairs so that each of you will operate the FLIP camera as well as make your speech.

When all of the videos have been completed, a panel of

government officials (teachers and administrators) from your school will view the videos and decide which children will receive their freedom and which will not. So, plan your argument carefully and practice being persuasive in your delivery!


Use the following questions as a guide in planning your speech.

1. Who are you addressing in your video?

2. What is the purpose of your speech?

3. Which method of persuasion are you using?

4. Come up with 5 reasons/arguments as to why YOU should be free.

Why should the government choose you over someone else?

What are you going to do that will make you an outstanding

citizen and member of society?


Use the O.R.E.O. Persuasion model to assist you in writing your final speech.

O = Opinion

R = Reasons

E = Expand, Elaborate, Explain

O = Restate Opinion(See my Wiki for a copy of the O.R.E.O. template)

Persuasive Video

Contact Information

Janice BorlandAustin Academy for Excellence

1125 Beverly DriveGarland, Texas 75040

972-926-2620 Ext. [email protected]

http://jborland.pbworks.com

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix 6th Grade Reading Project Ashley Hampton Michelle...

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