Mental Health Literature Circles

You will each choose a novel for this unit. After you have chosen, you will form novel groups.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Dreamland by Sarah Dressen Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon Willow by Julia Hoban Crazy by Amy Reed

As you read, your overarching questions are: How do the characters deal with mental illness or mental disability? What are effective and non-effective coping mechanisms?

.LITERATURE CIRCLES MEETINGS: There will be at least 4 meetings for the novel groups.

Before the meetings:

Come up with at least 2 analytical questions and at least 2 important passages that you want to share with the group (be sure to note page numbers).

During the literature circle meetings:

1. Take turns asking your questions and getting answers. 2. After the Q&A and concepts, each of you share one of your comments about the section. 3. After each meeting, turn in your journal entries for the section of the novel just discussed

After the book: You will choose one of the options below to create based upon the book and the overarching question (do not forget the purpose of the unit). You will present this assignment.

Write letters that may have been sent between characters at the time of the story or at some specified time in the future.

Write a poem that the character would write. Knowing the character's personality, write a poem that expresses the way he/she feels about what's happening to him/her in the book.

Write in the diary a main character might have written in. Imagine you are the person in your book. Write a diary for a few days or weeks as he or she would have done.

Write an extension of the story, explaining future occurrences in characters' lives.

Read a scene with special effects. Choose a particularly interesting passage and read it with a musical background or sound effects.

Dramatize a scene from a book with other students taking parts. If desired, use props and costumes.

Dress and make up as a character in the book. Prepare and present an original soliloquy that the character might give, or memorize and present a soliloquy that the character actually gives in the book OR assume the role of a minor character, describe and react to a major character in the book; include responses (feelings, biases, etc.) that are appropriate to the minor character.

Make a weaving or tapestry that portrays some design in the book. These may be used as wall hangings. Use an old sheet.

Convert the events of a story into a ballad or song. Write the lyrics and music or adapt words to a melody by someone else

Make a collage to illustrate theme or mood. Use pictures, drawings, etc. Motif Mural clearly portrays the theme/subject/main idea of the text. Assume the audience will know nothing about the work. Include title, author, pictures, paintings, quotes