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back to Izzy's home page Prewrite
1. What are you good at? I am good at art and science. 2. How do you feel when you're doing the thing you're good at? I feel like I can discover new secrets with ease and fun. 3. How would you feel if people wouldn't let you do the thing you're good at? I would get mad or just do it anyway without being seen.

Chapter 1
1. What problems or conflicts are presented in chapter one? Tao needing to find a rabbit is an obvious one; identify at least two **more** (not having anything to do with the rabbit!).

2. Predict the resolution of each conflict. .
 * Example**:
 * sample conflict** : Tayo needs to find a rabbit.
 * sample predicted resolution**: He will find the one he lost.


 * conflict 1**: Tao wants to draw but its taboo.
 * predicted resolution 1**: I think they will let Tao draw when they see his marvelous paintings.


 * conflict 2**: Volt is always despising him and yelling at him.
 * predicted resolution 2**: Volt will see how he hunts with the dog and he will except him.

Answer the questions below

Chapter 2
1. Why wasn't the wolf eating? The wolf had a bone-splinter in his mouth. 2. What was the resolution of the wolf's problem? Tao pulled out the bone and fed him. 2. Tao entered the slough. Why was this a good idea? Why might this be a bad idea? It was a good idea because there are plenty of game. But it is a bad thing because its forbidden by Volt. Answer the questions below 1. In chapter 1, what does Tao really want to learn to do?

**A. draw **
B. hunt C. make a flint knife D. control fire

2. In chapter 2, what is stuck in the wolf's jaw? A. food

** B. a bone splinter **
C. part of a tree D. a flint knife

Chapter 3
3. What do Tao and Ram learn to do together? A. walk on a leash B. swim the river

** C. hunt **
D. escape Volt

4. What decision does Tao tell Volt? A. he is going to hunt with the dog B. the dog's name is Ram C. he is going to look for his parents since he doesn't know who they are

** D. he is going to hunt alone but bring back food to the camp **
5. Look at Tao's decisions and actions from Volt's perspective. Pretend you are Volt. Write a first person paragraph explaining how you feel.

I am leader of the valley people.My name is Volt.I am frustrated with the child Tao for his lack of hunting and his dream of being chosen one! He will not hunt and he always walks behind the group! Then he comes and considers we use the demon wolf to hunt! A long time ago I was in the slough with my mother when we were attacked! My mother was killed and my father said that was the doing of an evil wolf dog. Since then the slough and the wolfs are considered demons! I wish Tao will respect that and listen to me for once. In a good paragraph, describe Tao's mother. What are the qualities of her character? List 3 qualities. Find evidence in the chapter to support your ideas.
 * Chapter 4 **

Tao's mother was a brave,caring young girl. We didn't know her but we caught her during a raid. Tao was born during early winter and was disabled and hungry. The elders decided to leave Tao for the hyenas but she would not let him go. She always sang and rocked Tao to sleep. She fought bravely trying to keep Tao safe but one day she died. Kala inherited taking care of Tao and Tao inherited her will of art.

Answer the following questions

Chapter 5
1. Which two animals does Tao try to draw? Tao tried to draw a horse and Saxon. 2. Which is easier for him and why? I think Saxon was easier because he examined Saxon and Graybeard helped him.

**CLASSWORK Friday, October 16, 2009**
Answer the following questions Chapter 6 1. Graybeard realizes that Tao has broken two taboos of his clan. What are they? He was hunting in the slough and with a wolf dog. 2. Which taboo doesn't he know about yet? He doesn't know Tao was painting in the cave. 3. Graybeard describes Volt differently than we have. What aspects of Volt's character is Graybeard acknowledging? He is talking about how Volt cares for his clan.

CLASSWORK Tuesday, October 20, 2009Chapter 8An important theme in this novel is that people should follow their dreams and do what they believe is right, even if they don't follow their society's expected ways. The author examines this theme in a stone age setting. Imagine a similar situation today. Imagine a young person who wants to do something with their life that is different from what is normally expected in our society.What situation did you imagine? I thought of a young girl who's family loved and played baseball. She was tired of baseball and wanted to be an artist. In the situation you imagined, should the person follow his or her dreams or should they follow society's expectations? Give your opinion. I think the girl should follow her dreams so if she gets a job making paintings she could take care of her family and draw them baseball pictures.

** CLASSWORK Wednesday, October 21, 2008 **
Chapter 9 Why do you think Graybeard changed his mind? I think he saw talent in Tao and was going to teach him to draw. What does this tell you about his character? It tells me that Graybeard is calm and knows how Tao feels about art.

** CLASSWORK Thursday, October 22, 2009 **
Chapter 10 1. What are the "mountains-that-walk"? The "mountains-that walk" are mammoths. I think they call them that because the mammoths are big and brownish-red. 2. What almost happened to Tao? Tao almost got hit by the Saxon's horns. He also almost got caught by the clan members,but it was just Graybeard.

**CLASSWORK Friday, October 23, 2009**
Chapter 11 Do you think Graybeard is a good teacher? Why? I think Graybeard is a good teacher because he is calm and patient. Would you like to have been taught a skill by him? Why? Yes because he is strict and focuses on making his students better.

**CLASSWORK Monday, October 26, 2009**
Chapter 12 1. Name some of the ingredients used to make paint. Which surprised you most? He used bright red earth, yellow clay, limestone powder, fish oil, honey, boiled fat, and clotted blood. I was surprised to see that they used limestone powder to make white. 2. Why is Tao afraid at the end of the chapter? He is afraid because he heard Graybeard have a serious cough and may have thought Graybeard was going to die.

**CLASSWORK Tuesday, October 27, 2009**
Chapter 13 1. Even if Ram had succeeded in hunting the deer, do you think it was a good idea of Tao's to "show off" his dog's ability to hunt? Explain. I say no because Graybeard said that Volt would not change unless there was a omen or a sign. 2. Predict what will happen next. If you've read ahead, invent an alternate scene. I think that Tao will follow Ram after the hunters leave and he might try to become the mountain people.

**CLASSWORK Friday, October 30, 2009**
Chapter 17 Wow! What a chapter! What was your reaction? Tense? Surprised? You predicted it? Write a paragraph describing your reaction. I was surprised that Volt would actually treat Tao like that. He sent Tao against Saxon. Made the hunters go after him.He cast him out into the wild. And he said his own son was an bad sign for the spirits! I would not forgive him if he was my dad.

** CLASSWORK Monday, November 2, 2009 **
Chapter 18 Why does Tao feel he needs to go to the Mountain People? He either has to tell them Graybeards dead, or he has to tell them that he's the new cave painter and would like their forgiveness of what happened with them and Ram.