Name Lit Section/Rouse Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen Chapter 1 1. What has Cole agreed to do for one year? Why? 2. Who is Garvey? 3. Who is Edwin? 4. Cole must wear his clothes inside out for two weeks. Why? 5. Cole believes there will always be another last chance. Why? 6. How does Peter Driscal play a part in Cole s life? 7. Why might Cole be tried as an adult? 8. Describe Cole s home life. 9. Circle Justice tries to heal, not punish. How does it work? Chapter 2 1. What is a Spirit Bear? 2. What is an at.oow? 3. Describe a scene from this chapter that illustrates Cole s anger. Chapter 3 1
1. What motivates Cole to burn down his shelter and supplies? Lit Section/Rouse 2. Explain how Cole believes that his parents see him. 3. Describe the cake scene. 4. Does Cole feel any remorse yet? Why or why not? Chapter 4 1. Describe a few of Cole s observations at the Hearing Circle. Chapter 5 1. Discuss Cole s escape plan. Any issues or problems with it? 2. Evaluate Cole s reaction to the Spirit Bear. What judgments can you make about Cole? 3. Why doesn t Cole regret burning the shelter and supplies and hurting Peter? 4. Describe one issue that Cole must face in order to move past his crippling anger. 5. To Cole, what equals power? Chapter 6 1. At the Circle Justice meeting, Garvey says that Cole isn t the only problem, but he s a symptom of a bigger problem. What other problems are there? 2
Lit Section/Rouse 2. Evaluate the emotional and physical issues that Peter is struggling with on a daily basis. (Keep in mind, these effects are impacting Peter s family, too.) 3. The Circle s solution to Cole s problem must include protecting society from Cole s violence and making him responsible for his own actions. Why isn t locking him in jail a good solution? 4. At the end of the Circle meeting, how did you think it went? Prove it with a scene. 5. What does Garvey mean when he says living on the island will be hard because Cole can t manipulate a storm, lie to his hunger, and cheat the cold? Chapter 7 1. Explain why Cole is unable to sleep. 2. Give an example of how Cole acts towards the Spirit Bear. Now, analyze how those actions reflect who Cole is. Chapter 8 1. Evaluate why the Spirit Bear attacks Cole. 2. Was the Spirit Bear s intention to kill Cole? Why or why not? 3
3. Describe some of Cole s injuries. Lit Section/Rouse 4. How do the seagulls humble Cole? 5. Cole admits that all of his life that he had been haunted by dreams of being? Chapter 9 1. Why does Cole feel such anger toward the mother sparrow and her young? 2. How is the storm a moment of awakening or an epiphany for Cole? Chapter 10 1. How does Cole feel after lightning hits the tree with the sparrows nest? 2. Explain how the tree teaches Cole the cycle of life. 3. Once Cole decides to live, he figures out that his power of making people afraid of him is fake. What is the real power? What has changed his thoughts? Chapter 11 1. The author goes into great detail about Cole eating the mouse. How is the mouse s death different from the first caterpillar Cole kills? 2. Discuss how Cole reacts to the Spirit Bear s presence. 3. In reference to #2, has Cole changed? Why or why not? 4
Lit Section/Rouse Chapter 12 1. Describe what happens when the Spirit Bear teaches Cole about trust. 2. Although Cole is in horrible physical shape, he tells Garvey that he s okay. What does he mean by this statement? Chapter 13 1. We learn about Garvey. Why does Garvey help others? 2. Cole states, I am done being mad. What does Edwin say is the problem? 3. Discuss how Cole decides that he will now tell the truth. Part 2 (6 Months Later) Chapter 14 1. Why was Cole s father arrested? 2. Who brought up the charges? 3. Who pressured the above person to press charges? 4. What reason did this person give? 5. At night when Cole struggles with nightmares and being alone, what gives him peace and calm? 6. What are the permanent physical damage issues from the bear attack? 7. What is different about the bear s attack versus Cole s dad abusing him? 5
Lit Section/Rouse 8. Describe the changes that Cole is beginning to see in his mom. 9. Discuss why Cole s dad is the way that he is. Chapter 15 1. What does Peter s lawyer reveal about Peter? 2. Edwin says people change in two ways with slow persistent pressure or by a significant happening. Which way do you think works better and why? 3. What is significant about Bernie? 4. What proposal did Edwin offer the Circle? Chapter 16 1. Explain the hotdog lesson. Chapter 17 1. What is Cole struggling with back on the island? 2. Explain the stick and the pond. Chapter 18 6
1. Describe what an animal dance is. Lit Section/Rouse 2. What does Cole learn from the whale dance? 3. Explain what you learn about the anger dance. 4. Discuss the rock ritual. Chapter 18 3. The Tlingits tell Cole he should eat more breakfast and wear gloves, but he chooses not to, and they don t insist. What is their method of teaching him? Chapter 19 1. Explain why Cole is struggling at the beginning of the chapter. In short, why do you know that he still has room for improvement? 2. What did he learn from the wolf dance? 3. Today s soak and ancestor rock roll were different for Cole; why? Chapter 20 1. What dance did Cole choose for tonight? 2. What gift does Garvey give Cole? 3. What does he suggest that Cole can do with the gift? 7
4. Do you think that Cole has made progress? Why? Lit Section/Rouse Chapter 21 1. Cole passes a huge test while alone on the island. Explain. Chapter 22 1. What does the beaver teach Cole about himself? 2. What are the two questions that Cole mentions on the last page of the chapter that are bothering him? Chapter 23 1. Cole decides, Being invisible had nothing to do with being seen. Being invisible meant not being sensed or felt? P. 189) Why is this his definition of invisibility? 2. Describe Cole s anger dance. 3. What did he learn from his anger dance? 4. Who watched his dance? Chapter 24 8
Lit Section/Rouse 1. From the dance of anger, Cole learns, Being angry is giving someone else control of my feelings so they own me. Forgiving gives me control again. Explain what Cole means by this statement. 2. Each time Cole sees Edwin, who does he ask about? Why is this a sign that Cole is becoming a dynamic character (a character who changes)? 3. Most people fear death because it is unknown, yet Peter is searching for it. Why? 4. Cole wants Peter to experience the island. What does this say about his experience on the island? Chapter 25 1. Cole tells Peter that he didn t mean to harm him when he beat him up. It was the only thing he knew. Does this excuse Cole? Why or why not? 2. How does Peter react to what all Cole shares in this chapter? Chapter 26 1. What is happening between Cole s mom and dad? 2. Cole wonders if Peter realizes he and Garvey are collecting firewood for Peter, but Garvey says they are all there because of Cole. What does Garvey mean? 9
Lit Section/Rouse Chapter 27 1. Peter acts aggressively toward Cole. Describe one incident and analyze why Peter is acting this way. Chapter 28 2. Describe the resolution between Cole and Peter. 3. Do you think a circle is a good symbol for forgiveness? Why or why not? 10