Teachers’ Guide to The Scarlet Cross

Chapter Activities (Gr. 7-9/10) by Margot Griffin

To view the pages of these study guides, you need to have Acrobat reader,
free at Adobe.com

Teacher Note: these activities were created to:

• Meet the language outcomes for students, in Grades 7-9/10, outlined by The Ontario Ministry of Education.

• Develop a hierarchy of thinking skills as laid out in Bloom’s Taxonomy.

• Offer students of differing multiple intelligences a variety of processes and products.

The following are samples from the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines that would apply particularly well to the study of this novel:

• explain how authors use stylistic devices such as imagery, personification, foreshadowing and onomatopoeia to achieve particular effects in their writing

• use a variety of print and electronic sources to gather information and explore ideas for their written work

• use a variety of organizational techniques to present ideas and supporting details logically and coherently in written work

• demonstrate an understanding of literary and informational forms, such as poems, scripts, newspaper articles

• make constructive suggestions to peers when discussing a piece of writing

• use specific examples, facial expressions, gestures, intonation, humour, visual aids and technology to engage the audience’s interest during oral presentation

• explain differences in how individual readers perceive examples of stereotyping in texts

Questions and activities for each chapter are included.
Skills and/or outcomes are in brackets.

PROLOGUE

1. Crusading for words: vocabulary: (Using specialized word choices to match time and place)

2. The Purpose of Prologue: (Discovering elements of a novel)

3. Just the Facts: (Reading for a reason; recording in point form)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER ONE

1. Woolly Words: Vocabulary: (Combining unexpected words to create a unique image or perspective)

2. Our Hero: (Awareness of character development)

3. Point of View: (Ability to identify through whose point of view you are seeing the story)

4. Minor Characters: (Ability to identify and understand the purpose of minor characters)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER TWO

1. Origins of Words: (Dictionary skills)

2. Mysterious Stranger: (Culture and/or life experience can affect individual interpretations)

3. Act it Out: (Ability to recreate a piece of writing in a different form)

4. Your Character Journal: (Identify your own responses to a character as the story unfolds)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER THREE

1. Fearful Words: (Use words with feeling and/or action to bring characters and scenes alive)

2. A Stranger’s Prophecy: (Research a topic to design a web page for high level challenges.)

3. Predicting the Future: (Developing questions)

4. Adding a New Character: (Diversive thinking)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER FOUR

1. Vocabulary: (Action - recognizing and choosing just the right verbs.)

2. In Another’s Voice: (Choosing point of view and language to suit a character)

3. A Way With Words: (Imagery techniques)

4. The Missive: ( Recognize and use design elements)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER FIVE

1. An Unforgettable Meeting: (Creating character descriptions)

2. A Time Line: (A method of organizing information)

3. The Power of the Spoken Word: (Ability to speak in public)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER SIX

1. Imagery: (Using word pictures to create a mood)

2. Matching Characters Game: (Skimming for information)

3. Then and Now: Orphans: (Research; use a different media)

4. Males Versus Maidens: (Debating)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER SEVEN

1. Alternate Words: (Using a thesaurus to build vocabulary)

2. Heightening the Mood: (Using the weather to intensify the mood)

3. Inner Thoughts: (Recognizing inner monologue)

4. Mapping an Emotional Journey: (Mapping a story)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER EIGHT

1. Vocabulary: (Alphabetize beyond the first letter)

2. Healers and Herbs: (Crediting your source)

3. Parents’ Permission: (Defending a position with facts)

4. The Miracle of St. Dionysius: (Interpreting literature with art)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER NINE

1. Vocabulary Selection: (Choosing the terms to fit the situation)

2. A Plot Twist: (The purpose of plot twists)

3. A Little Humour: (Identifying and using comic relief)

4. Curious Children: (Developing questions from a character’s point of view)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER TEN

1. The Encampment: (The rhythm of writing)

2. Is This the End?: (Identifying with a character’s emotions)

3. An Oath: (Using different forms of writing)

4. A Minstrel Show: (Planning and performing an entertaining and informative presentation)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

1. Postcards from Paris: (Writing in character)

2. Communication Conundrums: (Using different kinds of media - an advice show)

3. Our Hero to the Rescue: (Rewriting from a different point of view)

4. The Poetry of Paris: (Turning prose into poetry)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER TWELVE

1. A Charade of Feelings: (Vocabulary building and dramatizing)

2. Importance of Dialogue: (Identifying the uses)

3. Supporting Actors: (Understanding the purpose of supporting roles)

4. The Journey Continues: (Group decision re continuing the map)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

1. Dying of Thirst: (Using vocabulary in context)

2. The Faithful and the Faithless: (Listmaking classification)

3. A Sad Day: (Purposeful authentic writing)

4. A Barter Market: (Recreate the culture of the time)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

1. Opposite Reaction: (Vocabulary building)

2. Imagery: (Creating word pictures)

3. Point of View: (Comprehension of complex characters)

4. Human Predators: (Speaking with purpose - a warning)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

1. Word Mountains: (A change of setting = a change of vocabulary)

2. War of Words: (Researching and interpreting print media)

3. Bulletin Board: (Visual ways to display information)

4. Silent Protest: (Ways to influence opinion)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

1. Vocabulary: (Comprehend and classify)

2. Time Traveller’s Report: (Interviewing and reporting)

3. What If?: (Story inspiration)

4. Now What?: (Predicting)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

1. Con Men: (Recognizing and creating a villain)

2. Foreshadowing: (Identifying this literary technique)

3. A Priest’s Tale: (Journal writing from a character’s viewpoint)

4. Time Passes: (Perspective in writing)

To get guide, click HERE.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

1. 1-18 : (Main idea - naming each chapter)

2. The Unsung Hero: (Understanding a character’s purpose)

3. The Cover: (Analysing - what appeals to different readers)

4. The Story Goes On: (Writing a beginning paragraph for the sequel)

To get guide, click HERE.

Return to Teachers’ Guides page.