Contents epigraph part one touching spirit bear chapter 1. Most important lessons in the novel touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen he discuses the idea of morals. After being mauled by a spirit bear and eating mice, worms, and even his own vomit to survive, cole started to heal. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. As the reader reads the novel it is filled with many important lessons from many perspectives.
The most important lessons learnt from the book are life is what you make it, forgiveness, and that people. Touching spirit bear teaching guide packet distance. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 289 pages and is available in paperback format. When cole is attacked by spirit bear, hes sure that hes going to diebut even though hes weak and horribly injured, cole quickly learns he has what it takes to survive, including eating live mice and consuming pieces of fish he vomited up so gross. Touching spirit bear complete 224page teaching guide for touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen is aligned to the common core standards for grades 78. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. I personally cant make any connections to cole but i feel like he is just lost and cares but trys to hide it so he can be a big tough guy. Its a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the. Choose a theme that you think touching spirit bear has and explain why you think this theme can be found in the story. The major theme of the book is that you need to overcome your past before you can move forward. Rigor is great, but we also need to set students up for success. The main characters of this young adult, realistic fiction story are edwin, cole matthews.
Fifteenyearold cole is cocky, embittered, and eaten up by anger at his abusive parents. The theme is to be honest, if you dont tell the truth, people wont believe you. The punishment for smashing peter driscals skull into the sidewalk his most recent crime is harsh. Dec 05, 2015 this video is about my book report about this book.
The reader finishes the book with a sense that justice ought not to be equated. In touching spirit bear, garvey tells cole that he should create his own totem pole that tells his own story. Honestly i chose the book because it sounded inkteresting but it was him on the ground half the book and. What is the themes in touching spirit bear answers. This time, cole will have to choose between prison and circle justice. But instead of jail time, cole is given another option. Jun 18, 2014 a movie trailer for humanities, based on the book touching spirit bear. Touching spirit bear 2001 red midnight 2002 tree girl 2004 ghost of spirit bear 2008 jungle of bones 2014 awards and honors. Teaching touching spirit bear is ideal with developing or resistant readers. Just like when nobody believed cole when he said he saw the spirit bear. Each character worksheet has quotes that character says in the book. While the circle theme or, karma is a great and prominent theme in mikaelsens touching spirit bear as outlined above, there are also a myriad of other themes mikaelsen weaves through his.
In the novel touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen he discuses the idea of morals. He will live either behind bars or in isolation for one year. He is a very angry, furious, fierce and violent boy who does not seem to have any control over his anger. Touching spirit bear doesnt shy away from descriptions of harrowing violence, whether its talking about spirit bear tearing open coles flesh or cole bashing peters head into the pavement. Despite the fact that it resembles a more advanced book, touching spirit bear has low reading level metrics. What is the hardest situation that you have been in that is as close to surviving alone as in the book. In the last few chapters of the book, they take on a bigger role and are portrayed as truly desperate in their. Touching spirit bear chapter 1 cole matthews knelt defiantly in the bow of the aluminum chapter 2 the heavy load of supplies caused the skiff to wallow chapter 3 cole stared sullenly into the fire, then let his gaze chapter 4 by the time cole paused to catch his breath, he chapter 5 once clear of the bay, cole swam even harder. Some of the main themes are to treat others with respect, you always have redemption for your mistakes, and that you cant change the circle of life. He taught me to be gentle and that i, too, am part of the circle.
This video is about my book report about this book. Cole returns to the island, learning from garvey and edwins knowledge of their past experiences. Touching spirit bear character analysis cole in ben mikealsens novel touching spirit bear, cole is a 14 year old juvenile delinquent from minneapolis. After severely injuring peter driscal in an empty parking lot, mischiefmaker cole matthews is in major trouble. Touching spirit bear study guide contains a biography of ben. In spirit bear cole learns ways to control his emotions when he is by himself. Touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen is a provoking story about cole matthews, a young man who beats up another boy. One time my parents went to mousurri and i got to stay home alone so me and my buddies went camping and had to catch fish to eat and start a fire with out a lighter and had a good time. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant coming of age story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life. Troubled teen meets totemic catalyst in mikaelsens petey, 1998, etc. He is sentenced to time on an island as a way of healing. Free download or read online touching spirit bear pdf epub book. Mikaelsons work has won many state youth literature awards, including the california young reader medal and wyomings indian paintbrush book award. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life after severely injuring peter driscal in an empty parking lot, mischiefmaker cole matthews is.
What songs would go with the book touching spirit bear answers. I dream about the spirit bear i try to kill the spirit bear i hope to leave this island i am isolated and dying. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Touching spirit bear book report by tyler miller on prezi. Character analysis touching spirit bear free essays. Touching spirit bear free essay example studymoose. Touching spirit bear study guide contains a biography of ben mikaelsen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It helped students grasp the concepts of restorative justice. Touching spirit bear is a book that is about a boy named cole that was evil and mean. In touching spirit bear, cole learns the importance of perseverance, especially when it comes to surviving in a harsh climate like alaska. Immediately download the touching spirit bear summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching touching spirit bear. Understanding that all these lessons made cole a better person. After repeated skirmishes with the law, he finally faces jail time when he viciously beats a classmate.
Pdf touching spirit bear book by ben mikaelsen free. A native of minnesota, he had been in the juvenile justice system for quite some time, and his wealthy and wellconnected parents usually would get him out of trouble with the law. One theme that stands out in the book touching spirit bear is survival. What is a theme of touching spirit bear and textual evidence. Despite the fact that it resembles a more advanced book, touching spirit bear has low reading level metrics teaching touching spirit bear is ideal with developing or resistant readers. What would you have chosen prison or wilderness for a year, and why.
A japanese quote that was also the theme for a novel we read in class, touching spirit bear. A movie trailer for humanities, based on the book touching spirit bear. What songs would go with the book touching spirit bear. In this lesson, we will discuss how these themes play into the story. Cole mathews used to be a violent kid, but a year in exile on a remote alaskan island has a way of changing your perspective.
Everything can give you clues to the themes in the book. Coles parole officer offers him an alternativecircle justice, an. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen. He learns to soak in the freezing water, and roll his angers away with the ancestors rock. Touching spirit bear is a comingofage novel by bolivianamerican author ben. We read the books prequel touching spirit bear and the students loved it. True, the spirit bear was an important part in coles healing but it is not the main theme of the story i agree with matt h that the them of the story is the healing of cole and peter. His father beats him, so cole goes out and picks on other children in order to feel powerful.
Survival is a theme because since cole burned down his supplies and shack, he has to survive on an island with only a at. After only being on the island for a couple of days, cole gets mauled by the spirit bear, only then realizing he was afraid of something. Dedication thisbookisdedicatedtobuffy, asevenhundredpoundblackbearwho hasbecomemyownspiritbear. The story, touching spirit bear, has different possible themes. Golden spur, juvenile fiction, rescue josh mcguire. All credits go to the various movies ive spliced, the writer of touching spirit bear and imovie for templates and music. What is a theme of touching spirit bear and textual. See more ideas about touching spirit bear, spirit bear and spirit. This book is dedicated to buffy, a sevenhundredpound black bear who has become my own spirit bear. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Because cole treated peter with respect towards the.
I am dying,forgotten i understand i have been making the wrong choices. Feb 28, 2001 troubled teen meets totemic catalyst in mikaelsens petey, 1998, etc. This guide includes comprehensive study of the novel, and covers many standards through indepth reading and analysis of the novel, and leaves students with a true appreciation for the themes of the book, as well as a grasp of the many skills. During his stay in the detention center he was asked to apply for circle justice. Touching spirit bear lesson plans will help you with any book or any question. The first edition of the novel was published in june 25th 1997, and was written by ben mikaelsen. While waiting for the courts decision cole, the boy, was kept in a detention center. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in. Click on the link above to learn more about the theme of a story. In touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen, what is the one theme that is at the center of the book and brings the other themes together. The wilderness island setting for coles banishment and the indian traditions surrounding the place demonstrate the centrality of nature to understanding the environment, culture, and personal healing. Do you think cole has broken the cycle of violence at the end.
I just finished ghost and we will read this one to start our new school year. At fifteen, cole matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. This mentions the quote we are more together which is like the wolf pack. Touching spirit bear notes chapter 1 a flashback explains to us how cole got to alaska in the first place. This blog is about the book touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen. We read the book s prequel touching spirit bear and the students loved it. Why i love teaching touching spirit bear easy reading level. Nature is a pervasive theme in touching spirit bear. This guide includes comprehensive study of the novel, and covers many standards through indepth reading and analysis of the novel, and leaves students with a true appreciation for the themes of. The book touches on a lot of themes, including isolation, violence, and personal transformation. Beat it this is an upbeat song representing coles healing and friendship with peter at the end of the book.
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