Job Discussion Forums

[Volver]

Our first book will be "Ordeal by Hunger" and he is the one who chose it as he had heard of the Donner Party and wanted to learn more about it. The entire story is just on screw-up after another, and I want him to focus on the people/events/decisions that got them into the mess in the first place. I don't want to just focus on the heroic aspects of it as the backstory is, I think, more interesting. It will also allow for more thinking and interesting discussions/role plays. We will use a map of the States to follow the route and help him learn about American geography.

Looking for vids that will interest him as a way to test his listening comprehension skills. I think ted.com would be good in this situation.

Little nervous about this student, but his he, his mom, and the school seem happy.

V

[nomad soul]

Check out the following for potential lesson ideas:

YouTube full-length film, The Donner Party.
PBS' Donner Party Teacher's Guide
For a scientific perspective, The Weather Channel's YouTube clip: How Weather Doomed the Donner Party. I actually watched the full documentary, "Dead of Winter: The Donner Party" on TWC this past fall. Interesting stuff.

[Volver]

Cool stuff, NS, and thanks for sending it. This will definitely make the lessons better. It also might give me some ideas for what to do after he devours this book.

V

[nomad soul]

[Volver]

Oh, s**t! I just realized what I wrote

[wangdaning]

I think a good discussion would be what he would do. Good way too hammer in the conditional, but also let him be creative and share. What the Donner party did (close to Dahmer) is not heroic or great. I lived near where they cannibalized themselves, they were ill prepared. It makes for great discussion.