Lesson 1: Character Analysis

Objective: Students will be able to analyze the characters from Polar Bear Son, identifying the protagonist and antagonist.

Materials: Polar Bear Son, character profile sheets

Procedure:

1. Students will read Polar Bear Son for 20 minutes.

2. Ask students to identify who the protagonist and the antagonist is in the story so far.

3. Pass out character profile sheets for the protagonist and antagonist.

4. Have students fill out the profile sheets, analyzing the characters’ personality traits and motivations.

5. Summarize what the students have learned and discuss how the characters influence the story.

Lesson 2: Prediction

Objective: Students will be able to predict what will happen in the story next and offer supporting evidence for their predictions.

Materials: Polar Bear Son, prediction sheets

Procedure:

1. Read the next section of Polar Bear Son with the class.

2. Ask students to make predictions about what will happen next in the story.

3. Distribute prediction sheets and have students write a short paragraph explaining the prediction and offering relevant background information to explain their prediction.

4. On the back of the page, have students write a reflection on the prediction.

5. After 10 minutes, have students share their predictions with the class.

Lesson 3: Theme

Objective: Students will be able to identify the theme of the story and explain how it is represented in Polar Bear Son.

Materials: Polar Bear Son, slides or poster board

Procedure:

1. Read the next chapter of Polar Bear Son with the class.

2. Ask students to identify the theme of the story and explain why.

3. Make a list on the board of the major events in the story and the people included in them.

4. Ask students to explain how the events and characters support the theme.

5. Create a visual aid on slides or a poster board illustrating the theme and how it is represented in the story.

Lesson 4: Character Trait Analysis

Objective: Students will be able to identify character traits that define each character in the story, citing examples from the text to support their conclusions.

Materials: Polar Bear Son, list of character traits

Procedure:

1. Divide the class into small groups.

2. Ask each group to choose a character from Polar Bear Son and read the text associated with them.

3. Pass out a list of character traits to each group.

4. Ask each group to choose the character traits that best describe their character, citing examples from the text to support their conclusions.

5. As a class, discuss which traits were chosen and why.

Lesson 5: Writing

Objective: Students will be able to write a short story that involves the same themes and characters of Polar Bear Son.

Materials: Paper, pencils

Procedure:

1. Brainstorm with the class about the themes, setting, and characters of the story.

2. Have each student choose one of the themes and write a new story using the same elements.

3. Give students 15 minutes to brainstorm ideas and develop their stories.

4. Give students another 20 minutes to write their stories.

5. Ask each student to share their story with the class.