Week #9- Final Project Checkpoint and Activity Guide

Cara Pinti - Plot Pitch for Week 9

Jake is a troubled teenager who struggles socially and academically.  After several big issues at school, his parents decide to send him to Iowa to spend the summer with his grandparents on the family farm.

Jake is hesitant to go but decides to make the best of it.  While in Iowa he learns the benefits of hard work and dedication and develops a love for the land he works.  His grandparents are pleased with his progress and decide take Jake to visit historic and points of interest in the state of Iowa.

Through this experience Jake feels drawn to the life of a farmer. He returns to his home to finish school and decides to attend college in Iowa where he learns more about the farming industry.  After graduation he remains in the state he has grown to love, farming with his grandfather.

Rough Draft:  Where the Heart Calls

Activity Guide:

ACTIVITY GUIDE for WHERE CALLS THE HEART

SUMMARY

Jake is a troubled teenager who struggles to gain acceptance among his peers.  His grades are poor and he has been expelled from school on several occasions.  Jake’s parents decided to send him to Iowa to live with his grandparents on the family farm for the summer.  Their intent is for Jake to learn what hard work and dedication can accomplish and how to respect those around him.  He travels to Iowa and works diligently on the farm with his grandfather while learning responsibility and hard work.  His parents want to show him a glimpse of his heritage in Iowa and reward his effort with weekend trips to visit some of the historical points of interest in Iowa.  Jake finds himself “home” and later returns to Iowa to attend college and finally farm with his grandfather.

ILLUSTRATIONS/IMAGES

What evidence do the images present as far as the state of Iowa and the sites to behold there?  After viewing the images, is it conclusive to say that Jake found solace as well as satisfaction in the heartland where the fields of corn flow freely?  Do the images portray a sense of peace and tranquility or any other mood as it relates to the text?  What do the colors of the images relay to you about the mood of the story?

FINDING DETAILS

Looking at the images and text in the book, can you find examples of metonymy? Metaphor? Simile?  Explain how these examples are used to support and/or progress the story. For example, the rolling fields of corn and serenity of the fields emulate peace and tranquility. This is what Jake finds when he is struggling within himself and he visits his grandparents and works the land they farm.

VOCABULARY

What is the level of the reading text? Is there more advanced vocabulary that helps to develop the story for a higher level of reader? Make a list of words that may need further study to enhance your understanding.  Does the vocabulary used intrigue you, the reader to investigate more about Iowa? The sites? And the History that is found in Iowa?

EXTENDING THE TEXT/EXPANDING UPON THE STORY

Reflect upon the lessons learned by Jake as he went to Iowa to work.  Have you ever learned lessons through hard work and effort? Were they difficult lessons to learn and how did you cope with the challenges? 

Sometimes images in a book compliment or match the story or text.  Give an example of a page where this occurs.  How does it influence a deeper meaning of the lessons learned for Jake and the adventures that were done while in Iowa? Are there any images that seem confusing to the story or do not match the text?  Explain why they are confusing and what might enhance the image or the text to change it.

EXPANDING UPON THE STORY

What do you think Jake thought when his parents sent him to Iowa? What do you think happened in the story for Jake’s perspective on life to change and him to recognize responsibility?  Think of Jake’s return to his home where his parents were amazed to see the transformation that had occurred while he was in Iowa. How do you imagine the conversation unfolded between his parents and him upon his return?  What were his parents’ reactions to Jake’s return?  Do you think they felt they had chosen the best solution to Jake’s problems at school?

RELATED BOOKS

Green, John.  Looking for Alaska.  Speak, 2006 ISBN 0142402516

Harris, Alex & Harris, Brett.  Do Hard Things:  A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.  The Double Day Religious Publishing Group, 2008 ISBN 9781601421616

Nolan, Han.  Dancing on the Edge.  Harcourt, 2007 ISBN 0152058842

Nolan, Han.  Pregnant Pause.  HMH Books for Young Readers, 2012 ISBN 0547854145

Pierce, Patricia A.  H is for Hawkeye: An Iowa Alphabet.  Sleeping Bear Press, 2003 1585361144