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Title of Lesson: Discussion
Questions for TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR by Ben Mikaelson
(A link to the book
is found by clicking "Valuable Links")
Subject: English
Target Audience: Grades 8-9
Lesson Summary: This lesson includes a series of questions based
on the book Touching Spirit Bear. The questions are designed to complement
traditional class discussion of the book.
Objectives/Goals: By adding the following questions to existing
classroom discussion of the book Touching Spirit Bear, students will gain
a deeper understanding of the plot and characters as well as increase their
understanding of positive interpersonal behaviors.
New York State Learning Standards to be Addressed:
English Language Arts
Standard 1: Readers will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships
and concepts
Standard 2: Develop an understanding of diverse social, historical,
and cultural dimensions
Standard 3: Analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues
Discussion Questions and Journal Assignments:
Chapter 1
Q: What behaviors describe Cole Mathews?
A: Possible answers
He knelt defiantly.
He didn’t trust Garvey.
He was being banished.
He told Edwin to get real.
He smirked and refused to turn his back as he undressed.
He thought that banishment was another big game.
He spit on Edwin and got angry because Edwin was staring at him.
He went to drug counseling and therapy sessions.
He had seen the inside of a dozen police stations and been through
as many counselors, a psychologist, several detention centers and
two residential treatment centers.
He believed that he always had another chance.
He trashed and broke into a hardware store.
He denied the brake into the police.
He beat up and picked on Peter Driscal.
He laughed when he saw fear in Peter’s eyes.
He did as little as schoolwork as possible.
He pretended he was sorry.
He was angry at his lawyer and his parents.
He ignored his parents when they came to visit.
He tried to take the easy way out of jail.
Chapter 2
Q: Based on Cole’s reaction to Edwin’s warning, “whatever you
do to the animals you do to yourself,” how do you think Cole will react
if he actually sees a spirit bear? Why?
A: Answers will vary.
Chapter 3
Q: What examples in the story explain Cole’s anger toward his
parents? How so?
A: With his parents being divorced, Cole believes that his parents
don’t care about him and that they only care about themselves. He
had to beg his parents to come to his wrestling match. His father was not
proud of him because he had lost. Cole’s parents drink. He feels
like he’s not good enough. His father beats him with the buckle end of
the belt. His mother ignores him.
Chapter 4
Q: (1) How does Cole behave toward Peter Driscal? (2) Cole
made the comment that, “this wouldn’t have happened if Peter had kept his
mouth shut.” What does that tell us about Cole?
A: (1) Cole narrowed his eyes in a threatening way until Peter looked
away. Cole grinned until he realized Peter’s lawyer watching him. (2) Cole
does not accept responsibility for his actions.
Chapter 5
Q: “At first his mind rejected what he saw? he was still at
the mouth of the bay. He shook his head to clear the illusion, but this
was no illusion. This was the same spot he had been 1000 strokes earlier.”
This statement is a metaphor for Cole’s life. How so?
A: Cole keeps repeating the same behavior, but it is holding him back
from making progress in life.
Chapter 6
Q: What do you think the other members of the circle think
of Cole’s father. Give examples to support your answer.
A: Answers will vary.
Chapter 7
Q: How is the way Cole treats the spirit bear similar to the
way he treats people.
A: Answers will vary.
Chapter 8
Q: How do you predict this mauling by the spirit bear will
impact Cole’s attitude toward people? Why do you think that?
A: Answers will vary.
Chapter 9
Q: Fear played a big role in Cole’s life. (1) Why do you think
Cole like it when others feared him?
(2) What had Cole been afraid of in the past? (3} What is Cole afraid
of now?
A: Suggested answers: (1) It meant he was less likely to get hurt by
them. (2) His father’s beatings, feeling unloved and unaccepted by his
parents. (3) The spirit bear, being mauled by a bear again, the fact that
the bear’s not afraid of him, dying alone.
Chapter 10
Q: (1) In what ways were Cole like the sparrows? (2) In what
ways was Cole different from the sparrows? (3) “To be alive was to have
choice. The power to choose was real power, not the fake power of making
others afraid. Cole knew he had used that fake power many times. All of
his life had squandered his choices, wallowing in revenge and self?pity,
keeping himself down.” How do you think Cole’s new understanding will change
the way he treats people? Why?
A: (1) The sparrows and Cole lived through a terrible event and are
now trying to survive, both were searching for food, both were frail and
helpless (2) Cole didn’t have a safe home to go to, the birds wanted to
get to their safe home, nobody was there to search for Cole “not even a
scrawny gray bird. (3) Answers will vary.
Chapter 11
Q: Why do you think Cole spit at the spirit bear and at his
life?
A: Possible answer: It scared him to be weak and vulnerable.
Chapter 12
Q: When Cole touched the spirit bear, he felt trust. Why was
this a strange feeling for Cole?
A: He wasn’t used to trusting anyone or anything.
Chapter 13
Q: Why is it important to the story that Cole said, “my fault!”
when Garvey said “that bear used you for a chew toy”?
A: It was the first time Cole had taken responsibility of his own actions
Chapter 14
Q: Now that Cole agrees that “anger is a memory never forgotten,“
what can he do to get rid of some of his anger?
A: Discuss anger management techniques, or, if appropriate, bring in
a counselor to discuss anger management. You may also time this unit to
coordinate with a health class lesson or managing emotions.
Chapter 15
Q: (1) Why is it important for responsible people to understand
that they are not always able to control situations? (2) Over what should
responsible people have control?
A: (1) It is not realistic for someone to think that they can control
everything. There are too many factors outside anyone’s control. It is
also important to take into consideration other people’s rights, desires,
and opinions rather than just having your own way. (2) Their anger and
their actions.
Chapter 16
Q: What is Garvey trying to help Cole understand when he talks
about the hot dog?
A: Your attitude toward something influences the way you see it.
Chapter 17
Q: What is the lesson of the stick?
A: You can choose what end you will focus on.
Chapter 18
Q: (1) Why do Edwin and Garvey refuse to help Cole build his
cabin? (2) Why is there “no room
for pride” on this island?
A: (1) They want Cole to understand the consequences of his decision
to burn the first cabin down. (2) Pride can keep a person from making the
best choice.
Chapter 19
Q: How are the dances helpful to Cole?
A: They teach him to see situations from another perspective.
Chapter 20
Q: Cole admits that he won’t ever get over his anger unless
he quits blaming others for everything. How does blaming others keep you
angry?
A: Possible answer: Until you accept responsibility for your own action
and choices, you are not able to take action to change your circumstances.
**Journal writing: Describe a time when you accepted responsibility
for your actions and tell how those around you reacted?
Chapter 21
Q: How will helping Peter help Cole to heal?
A: Suggested answers: It will help ease Cole’s guilt; Cole will learn
to do good instead of cause
hurt; Cole will be focusing his attention on something other than his
anger.
Chapter 22
Q: Edwin said to Cole, “maybe you still aren’t invisible,…
have you danced the dance of anger
yet?” What do you think Edwin means by this?
A: The animals (as well as the people) can sense his anger.
**Journal: How can you tell if someone is angry even when they are
not telling you are?
Chapter 23
Q: (1) Why did Cole’s dance of anger last so long? (2) Who
do you think Cole forgave at the end of the dance?
A: (1) Cole’s anger was very deep. He had to act out many situations
to find the real cause of his anger (2) His father for beating him; himself
for being so cruel to others; his mother for not helping him.
Chapter 24
Q: Why are thoughts of Peter keeping Cole awake at night?
A: Cole now understands that he is responsible for some of Peter’s
problems.
Chapter 25
Q: In chapter 25, what evidence is there that Cole has really
changed?
A: Cole felt no anger; Cole says “this is not about me now”; Cole agrees
to stay on the island longer if it will help Peter.
**Journal: Cole tells Peter, “when I beat you up, I never meant to
hurt you. It was all I knew.” If Cole hadn’t come to the island how do
you think Cole might have treated the children he would have someday? Why?
Chapter 26
Q: Why does Garvey indicate that he would try to prevent Cole
from having to live with his father again?
A: He understands how dangerous it would be for Cole to return to his
abusive father. Garvey believes that it will undo the good that the island
has done for Cole.
Chapter 27
Q: Garvey tells Cole, “Think how much your arm and hip still
hurt. Wounds of the spirit heal even slower.” How has Cole healed some
of his own “wounds of the spirit“?
A: He faced his anger and learned to forgive.
Chapter 28
Q: Just like Cole, Peter had to face his anger before he could
move on. He thought that beating up Cole would feel good, but it didn’t.
What would have been a better way for Peter to have dealt with his anger?
A: Any acceptable anger?management technique.
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