Discussion Director:

Your job as the Discussion Director is to come up with at least 5 thinking questions.  The purpose of this role is to make your
group think about what you just read.  You want to make sure that everyone in your group understands the reading.  If your
group members do not know the answers to the questions, make sure to encourage them to go back to the book to find the
answers.  Be sure to ask questions that really make your group think!!!
You must write down the 5 questions, the answers to your questions, and the page numbers where the answers to your
questions are found.  You need to ask the following types of questions:

1 MCEOG

1 Problem and Solution

1 Characterization

1 Main Idea

1 Sequence
 
 

Passage Picker:

Your job is to pick out 4 passages that exhibit the following:

1 Figurative Language (simile)

1 Important

1 Informative

1 On your own

First, pick out the passage you would like to share with your group and write down the page number and paragraph number.  Second, write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.  Third, write down what type of passage you chose (the passage is a great example of ____ type of passage).  Look on the Passage Picker hand-out for different possible "types" of passages.  Fourth, explain the reason why you believe that the passage you chose is an example of a ___ type of passage.  Finally, think of a good thinking question about the passage.  Write it down along with the answer to this question.  Answer one of these questions using a complete sentence(s):  Why did the author include this passage in the story?  What does this passage add to the story?
 
 

Word Wizard:

Your job is to complete your role sheet for the following 4 words:

Nuclear

Contaminated

Swaggering

Anxiously

First write down the word, the page number and the paragraph number.  Second copy the
sentence from the book in which the word appears.  Third, re-read the sentence in which the
word appears.  Think about the word, the sentence, and the story.  Write down what part of
speech you think the word is and what you think the word means.  Fourth, look up the word in
the dictionary.  Using the dictionary definition and everything you know about the word, write
your definition of the word.  Fifth, write down an explanation telling how this word adds
meaning to the story.  Think about the characters, plot, setting, theme, etc.  Finally, make your
word wizard card.  Be sure to include in large print your word and the page and paragraph
number.  On the other side of the card you should draw a picture to represent your word, the
word, and the definition of the word.
 
 

Character Sketcher:

Your job is to sketch Muncie.

Your job as Character Sketcher is to identify a character's actions (traits) and explain or prove
these traits, identify the character's goal (which is what the character wants to do or
accomplish), identify the problem and solution in the reading, and complete a sketch or
illustration of the character.
You need to be aware that the character traits you will chose will be implied character traits.  In
other words, they are not directly stated in the reading.  You really want to use descriptive words
for you character traits.
Sometimes the solution to your character's problem will not be in the section of the book that
you are reading.  In this case, you will need to come up with a possible solution for your
character's problem.
When you begin to sketching or illustrating your character, try to use any physical descriptions
from the text to help you.  Use the following guide to help you complete the role for Character
Sketcher:

Character Traits (3)
First, write down the character's trait.  Second, write the page number and paragraph on which
the trait is described.  Third, explain the trait and give proof of the trait.  Fourth, write the
character's goal.  Fifth, write the character's problem.  Sixth, Write the solution or possible
solution to the problem.  Finally, sketch the character.
 
 

Investigator:

Your job is to get information on the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island.  The following is a list of places where you can get information:  library, magazines, newspapers, web, encyclopedia, content texts, etc.); you need to share this information with your group.  Make sure to include references.  You may use the following sites to find the information:
Click on the following link to see a sample of an investigation.

Investigation of Three Mile Island

Meltdown at Three Mile Island
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/three/
This site can tell you about what happened on that fateful day.  It has transcripts of interviews that took place during the accident.  This site has pictures that you may want to use.

Three Mile Island:  20 Years Later
http://www.loe.org/series/three/three.htm
This site can tell you what it is like 20 years after the accident took place and what happened 20 years ago.  As well as much more...

A Nuclear Nightmare in Pennsylvania http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/tmi/tmi.htm

This site shows you the coverage that the Washington Post did on this disaster.  This has pictures that may be used.

Click here to return to lesson index.