Valerie

**CLASSWORK** **Monday, October 6, 2008**
1. What are you good at? 2. How do you feel when you're doing the thing you're good at? 3. How would you feel if people wouldn't let you do the thing you're good at?

Answers: I'm good at writing poetry. I feel like I'm achieving in that particular subject. Well... I really wouldn't get affected because I have no reason whatsoever to tolerate someone who thinks they can control my actions, and besides I can just leave and find a better spot to write.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 CLASSWORK 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. Answers: 1. Besides the rabbit, a conflict is that he liked to draw pictures in his cave but it was a taboo.Another conflict was that his clan starved because it was winter and the hunting wasn't any good.

2. Conflict: His conflict was that it was winter and they have been eating little food for months now. Also that he enjoyed drawing in his cave but it was a taboo. Resolution:One resolution was that he had to draw on the dirt floor within the skin hut, where no one could see him.

Conflict:Since it was winter there wasn't much food to eat. Resolution:The sun was getting warmer, and soon the hunting will be good and that means there will be food to eat for everyone.

CLASSWORK: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 Answer the question below Chapter 2 What two important events happen in this chapter? One important event that happened in the story was that the wolf dog came back and he was thin and weak because he had a long sliver of bone jammed deeply into its upper jaw. Another event is that Tao and the wolf dog started to tackle each other, twisting and turning because Tao wanted to remove the sliver of bone in the wolf dog's jaw. Tao just wanted to help the poor dog.

CLASSWORK Friday, October 10, 2008 Answer the questions below Chapter 3 1. What do Tao and Ram learn to do together?

2. What decision does Tao tell Volt?

3. Look at Tao's decisions and actions from Volt's perspective. Pretend you are Volt. Write a first person paragraph explaining how you feel. Answers: 1.Ram and Tao learn to hunt rabbits and to defeat the eagle-owl. 2.Tao tells Volt that he will hunt alone and he suggested to use a wolf dog to help the hunting.

3.If I were Volt I really wouldn't be bothered because of Tao's decision to hunt alone because he hunted alone and brought back lemmings and rabbits.Also I would let him eat whether he brings food or not because he is part of the clan.I would also feel a bit concerned not angry about hunting with a wolf dog because of the rest of the clan and how they would feel about that situation.In addition, I would feel thankful most of all because Tao brought back food for the clan.

CLASSWORK Monday, October 13, 2008 Read Chapter 4 in class. Answer the following questions Chapter 4 In a good paragraph, describe Tao's mother. Start with an interest grabber. Then write your topic sentence. Give three details or examples to support your thesis. Use a quotation from the chapter. Answers: "She fought back like a cave lion, screaming, biting, refusing to give you up." Tao's mother Vedra was a good mother because she protected her son like a cave lion, and she would breast feed him.Although she was 16 summers old she didn't want to let Tao go. Also she made necklaces; from ivory and antlers she made bracelets, needles, and beads: even from the grass of fields she made rings and headbands. Vedra was a brave and creative young woman because she had a child to care for and she fought most of the people from the clan to keep Tao. And she still made beautiful necklaces and rings. In addition, she kept him alive through all the long snows and she never really left the cave so she can protect Tao.

CLASSWORK Friday, October 17, 2008 Finish reading Chapter 5 in class Answer the following questions Chapter 5 1. Which two animals does Tao try to draw? 2. Which is easier for him and why?

Answers: Tao tried to draw a horse and Ram the wolf dog. It was easier for him to draw Ram because he saw him and remembered how Ram looked like, but for the horse it was hard to draw the legs and the rest of the horse's body.

CLASSWORK Monday, October 20, 2008 Answer the following questions Chapter 6 1. Graybeard realizes that Tao has broken two taboos of his clan. What are they? 2. Which taboo doesn't he know about yet? 3. Graybeard describes Volt differently than we have. What aspects of Volt's character is Graybeard acknowledging?

Answers: One taboo is that Tao hunts at the Slough where it forbidden and full of evil and another one is that he hunts with Ram who is of course a wolf dog. Graybeard didn't realize that there were paintings on the cave walls which is another taboo. Graybeard describes Volt of how is a good man, but he dreams of demons and spirits. He is acknowledging the fact that Volt is strict but a good leader as well.

CLASSWORK Thursday, October 23, 2008 Chapter 7 Write your reaction to the last paragraph in the chapter. Do you agree or disagree with Graybeard? Is what he says true for those times, but not now? Or is the reverse true: is it true now, but wasn't true then?

Answers: I disagree with Graybeard because if you love something as much Tao loves art then wouldn't you want do that; you should be able to do it discard what anybody else says. Also what Tao is doing could affect the clan's rules in a positive way maybe not now but in the future. In addition, hopefully at the end all the people from the clan will have a chance to enjoy what they love doing.

Chapter 8 An 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, where a person's desires go against society's expectations What situation did you imagine?

In the situation you imagined, should the person follow his or her dreams or should they follow society's rules? Give your opinion.

Answers: I imagined a young woman wanting to join the army but everyone expected her not to because she is a woman. It mostly has to depend on whether they decide to be a soldier or not, without giving a mind of what anybody else says unless it's advice or tips. Also I think she should follow her dreams because the society' s "expectations" are just pointless. They aren't going to stop you from being a singer,actress, or whatever else it is. Follow your heart because that is what's best and always believe in yourself because if you don't then there is no way in the world that you can accomplish your goals and YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS.

Chapter 9 Why do you think Graybeard changed his mind? What does this tell you about his character? Answers: I think Graybeard changed his mind because he saw how much Tao wanted to be an image maker and Graybeard noticed that he tried to draw things he saw for example: the Saxon. Also even though he knew Tao couldn't become a Chosen One it made him happy to draw art like Ram and other animals. It tells me that Graybeard is a good man because he respects the rules of the clans but also wants to help Tao. In addition, he knew it was wrong telling Tao he was going to help him improve in his drawings but I respect his decision because it's telling me that Graybeard is sincere and fine shaman.

**CLASSWORK Tuesday, October 28, 2008**
Chapter 10 1. What are the "mountains-that-walk"? 2. What almost happened to Tao? Answers: The 'mountains-that-walk" is a vast herd of animals. Tao almost got stomped on with the mammoth's foot.

**CLASSWORK Wednesday, October 29, 2008**
Chapter 11 Do you think Graybeard is a good teacher? Why? Would you like to have been taught a skill by him? Why?

Answers: Graybeard is a good teacher because he knows he skills well and also because he knows what to do and he has experience. To be honest, I wouldn't because if I would want to take art I would take proper art classes or buy a book for beginners, not from Graybeard because it's more better that way and also it will be hard to learn from him because of the materials and other important things you need to have for art.

CLASSWORK Thursday, October 30, 2008 Chapter 12 1. Name some of the ingredients used to make paint. Which surprised you most? 2. Why is Tao afraid at the end of the chapter?

Answers: Some ingredients were red, white and yellow earth, saucer-shaped rocks. fish oil, limestone powder, animal fat, and blood. Nothing really surprised me because I mean what can you expect from these people who lived hundreds of years ago, and also they didn't have what we have now at days like spices and commonly known herbs.

**CLASSWORK Monday, November 3, 2008**
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. 2. Predict what will happen next. If you've read ahead, invent an alternate scene.

Answers: I don't think it was a good idea because no one will actually care to my opinion, and you could cause chaos for something so idiotic like bragging about a dog. I think that Tao will be seen by someone but somehow he manages to get saved and not get in trouble with the clan.

**CLASSWORK Tuesday, November 4, 2008**
Chapter 14 1. Why does Tao cross the river? 2. What decision does Graybeard reach?

Answers: Tao decides to cross the river because he heard the howls of Ram and he assumed he was in trouble. Graybeard decides to 'give the word' to the clan about Tao being a good image maker and to accept him even though he isn't a Chosen One.

**CLASSWORK Wednesday, November 5, 2008**
Chapter 15 What problem does Tao have by the end of the chapter?

Answers: Well at first he couldn't remember which shoulder the shaman had touched, then a drop of water from the ceiling had snuffed out his lamp leaving darkness so Tao had to use his hand to feel the way along the walls unsure of whether he was going the right direction or not.

CLASSWORK Thursday, November 6, 2008 Chapter 16 Look at the website of the Laxcaux Caves: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/ Find a picture that resembles the one Tao is painting. Copy it as your answer to this question.



Read Chapter 17 together in class (not for homework)

Chapter 17 Wow! What a chapter! What was your reaction? Tense? Surprised? You predicted it? Write a paragraph describing your reaction.

Answers:

That chapter wasn't really surprising because as Volt being Tao's dad he treated him bad but at the end he ends up being good, and in most stories it ends up that way. Also I did predict it because it looked like if it was made to end up that way. I felt a bit curious as to why Volt started being nice to Tao all of a sudden but it was nothing big. In addition, I was glad that the chapter ended that way because it shows that there is nothing new and somehow without reading you can already predict the ending.

**CLASSWORK Friday, November 7, 2008**
Chapter 18 Why does Tao feel he needs to go to the Mountain People?

Extra Credit Write a narrative describing what happens next. Make sure your plot has a conflict, a climax, and a resolution. You can add new characters if you want.

Answers: He feels he needs to go to the mountain people because he realizes that he is following Graybeard's footsteps. And also because he was following his dream. 