1. Call of the Wild
Day 1
Lesson 1

2. Bell Ringer
What do you think Jack London meant by this quote? Does this apply to your life? How does it or does not apply?

3. Students read literary and informational texts about human interaction with animals and nature. They understand how authors portray animals to serve a purpose and make a comment about human interaction with animals. Students then explore scientific and personal accounts of animal cognition to express their understanding of Jack London’s portrayal of Buck and his interaction with humans in The Call of the Wild.

4. “The main text we will read in this unit is The Call of the Wild about a sled dog named Buck and his journey through the wilderness. After reading this text, you will write an literary analysis essay that discusses the way in which London develops a theme about humans’ treatment of animals throughout The Call of the Wild. You will also write an argumentative essay about the extent to which Jack London, the author of The Call of the Wild, is a “nature faker,” give the way in which he portrays Buck with some human-like emotions and reasoning in the text. To do this, you will read and examine additional nonfiction texts about animal cognition to determine your perspective on Jack London’s portrayal of Buck and his interaction with humans in the text.

5. Objective(s)

6. 4-Corners Activity

7. Agree
Strongly Agree
Strongly Disagree
Disagree

8. Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree
This quote is saying that humans and animals are the same in their ability to feel emotions - both good and bad.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree

9. Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree
This quote is saying that we can judge a person based on the way they treat animals.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree

10. Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree
This quote is saying that the ability to adapt to things as they change is more important for success than intelligence or strength.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree

11. Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree
This quote is saying that nature allows things to get back to their true state.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree

12. Klondike Goldrush Bell Ringer Read “The Call of the Wild” silently.

13. Essential Unit Questions
Turn & Talk
With your shoulder partner, discuss how the quotes in the 4-Corner Activity connect with these unit questions?
There is ongoing debate around the extent to which animals can feel and think in ways that are similar to humans

14. Let’s read the epigraph.
Jack London begins the text with an epigraph, or a short saying at the beginning of a book or chapter that is intended to suggest its theme. 
Let’s read the epigraph.
What’s the meaning of these words? Work with your shoulder partner to find the meaning using context clues.

16. Independently,

18. Objective(s) L2

19. Let’s read paragraphs 1-6.
Now, with your partner, you will answer the following questions, citing evidence from the text to support your thoughts.
Let’s read paragraphs 1-6.

20. Let’s read paragraphs 7-22.
If needed, give the definition for each word:
Impending, adj: soon to appear or take place
Calamity, n: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
“Why did Buck feel a sense of doom?” (He was trapped in a cage with strange men for the first time).

21. Now, with your partner, you will answer the following question, citing evidence from the text to support your thoughts.
Guiding Questions and Prompts:
Re-read paragraph 22. Then ask: “How is Buck described? What is he doing? Thinking? Feeling?”
“If you didn’t know Buck was a dog, which words or phrases would make you think that Buck was a human character?”

22. What is anthropomorphism?
anthropo is a Greek root that means human; morph is a Greek root that means shape.
What is anthropomorphism?
Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. This is a common attribute that you’ll see in Jack London’s stories and characters.

23. Independent Practice Think:
How does Buck feel about humans prior to the incident with Emanuel? How do his feelings change after? Why?
Why did you choose that text evidence? How does it support your explanation of how Buck changes?

25. Objective(s) L3

26. Turn & Talk – Discuss this section of the text with your partner.
Let’s read paragraphs
“But the saloonkeeper let him alone…” to “There was an instantaneous scattering of four men…”
Turn & Talk – Discuss this section of the text with your partner.

28. What they know about tone and mood and their differences?
tone is the how the author feels about the character or subject of the text (ex. - serious, comical, etc.)
mood is the feeling that the reader has about the text 
Let’s read paragraphs
Start at: “Buck rushed at the splintering wood…” Stop at: “Also he saw one dog…mastery.”
Turn & Talk – Discuss the mood and tone of this section of the text with your partner.

31. Independent Practice
Consider the author’s use of word choice and sensory details; select a word, phrase, or sentence from chapter 1 that emphasizes Buck’s return to a primitive state. Explain why you choose this phrase/sentence given its impact on the reader.