Freak the Mighty Webquest - IntroductionSection 1: About the Author
Rodman Philbrick has written several novels and is a successful author. Go to: http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/info.html to visit his website and answer the following questions:
Now, Google Rodman Philbrick and find out the following information:
Section 2: Quests and Chivalry
Freak talks a lot about knights and their noble quests and acts of chivalry. He gets these ideas from legends and stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In this Quest, you will be reading about these legends to build your background knowledge before starting the novel.
First, click here to visit ChivalryToday.com.
Visit this website to learn about the Legend of King Arthur to answer the following questions.
1. What task did Arthur have to complete to become King?
2. Who is Guinevere?
3. What was the name of King Arthur’s castle?
The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table are well known. Many knights were featured in the tale although most people remember the main characters - Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. King Arthur is the figure at the heart of the Arthurian legends but the Knights of the Round Table play an important part in the story. The legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry followed by the Knights of the Round Table - Honor, Honesty, Valor and Loyalty. The Knights of the Round Table were ' Brothers in Arms'. The significance of the Round Table is that no one person, not even the King, should sit at the head of such a table. A round table enforced the concept of equality - completely at odds with the concept of the Feudal System. (source: http://www.castles.me.uk/knights-round-table.htm)
Section 3: Previewing
Read the following page from the novel, Freak the Mighty, and answer the questions below.
Rodman Philbrick has written several novels and is a successful author. Go to: http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/info.html to visit his website and answer the following questions:
- What inspired Mr. Philbrick to write Freak the Mighty?
- What are the titles of three other books written by Mr. Philbrick?
Now, Google Rodman Philbrick and find out the following information:
- What year was he born?
- What city was he born in?
- Name three awards he won for Freak the Mighty.
Section 2: Quests and Chivalry
Freak talks a lot about knights and their noble quests and acts of chivalry. He gets these ideas from legends and stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In this Quest, you will be reading about these legends to build your background knowledge before starting the novel.
First, click here to visit ChivalryToday.com.
- In your journal, write your own definition of what the term “chivalry” means.
- Give three examples of how someone might act in a “chivalrous” way.
Visit this website to learn about the Legend of King Arthur to answer the following questions.
1. What task did Arthur have to complete to become King?
2. Who is Guinevere?
3. What was the name of King Arthur’s castle?
The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table are well known. Many knights were featured in the tale although most people remember the main characters - Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. King Arthur is the figure at the heart of the Arthurian legends but the Knights of the Round Table play an important part in the story. The legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry followed by the Knights of the Round Table - Honor, Honesty, Valor and Loyalty. The Knights of the Round Table were ' Brothers in Arms'. The significance of the Round Table is that no one person, not even the King, should sit at the head of such a table. A round table enforced the concept of equality - completely at odds with the concept of the Feudal System. (source: http://www.castles.me.uk/knights-round-table.htm)
- What is the Code of Chivalry?
- What is the significance of the round table?
Section 3: Previewing
Read the following page from the novel, Freak the Mighty, and answer the questions below.
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences:
Section 4: Ornithopter
Kevin’s ornithopter proves that he likes science experiments. View this short video of an ornithopter and record 3 observations about this mechanical bird.
- Who are the two main characters in this book?
- What kind of person do you think the main character, Max, is? Kind, funny, mean, scared? What makes you think this?
- Find one passage that stands out to you because it’s funny, puzzling, or something you can relate to. Write about why you picked this sentence or sentences.
- Who are they referring to when they mention “Him”? Why do you think they might be scared of “Him”?
- Freak calls his mom the “Fair Gwen of Air”. Based on your previous research about Arthurian legend, who do you think he is referring to?
- Why do you think they call Freak “robot boy”?
- The narrator says that they became “Freak the Mighty”. What do you think they did to earn this nickname? How does the narrator feel about this nickname?
Section 4: Ornithopter
Kevin’s ornithopter proves that he likes science experiments. View this short video of an ornithopter and record 3 observations about this mechanical bird.
Section 5: Morquio Syndrome
In the story Freak the Mighty, Kevin suffers from a genetic disease called Morquio Syndrome. Visit the following link to learn more about this disease.
Medicine Plus
List all of the symptoms of Morquio Syndrome.
Watch the video below about a young girl’s struggle with Morquio Syndrome. What difficulties do the parents describe about raising a child with this disease?
In the story Freak the Mighty, Kevin suffers from a genetic disease called Morquio Syndrome. Visit the following link to learn more about this disease.
Medicine Plus
List all of the symptoms of Morquio Syndrome.
Watch the video below about a young girl’s struggle with Morquio Syndrome. What difficulties do the parents describe about raising a child with this disease?
Section 6: Learning Disabilities
Max has a learning disability. Look at these descriptions of learning disabilities.
http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/signs
http://www.ncld.org/images/stories/Publications/Forms-Checklists-Flyers-Handouts/ldchecklist.pdf
People generally understand that it is unacceptable to tease or harass a person based on their race, religion, or culture. So why do we hear people use the word “retarded” to imply that something is stupid so often? Read this article.
1. Does it change the way you think about the word “retarded”?
2. Think back to Section 5, how would you respond if someone called Bella "retarded"?
3. How do you think Bella would feel if she heard someone call her retarded?
Section 7: Bullying
Bullying is a major issue that is presented within this novel. Go to the following websites to learn more about this issue.
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/warning_signs/index.html
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/risk_factors/index.html
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/effects/index.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/bullies.html#
What is your definition of bullying? Write 2-3 paragraphs citing examples from at least 3 of the links above. (Use parenthetical notation!)
Submit your answers to the Webquest on the FORM below:
(You will need to be signed into your school Gmail account for it to be submitted!)
Max has a learning disability. Look at these descriptions of learning disabilities.
http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/signs
http://www.ncld.org/images/stories/Publications/Forms-Checklists-Flyers-Handouts/ldchecklist.pdf
People generally understand that it is unacceptable to tease or harass a person based on their race, religion, or culture. So why do we hear people use the word “retarded” to imply that something is stupid so often? Read this article.
1. Does it change the way you think about the word “retarded”?
2. Think back to Section 5, how would you respond if someone called Bella "retarded"?
3. How do you think Bella would feel if she heard someone call her retarded?
Section 7: Bullying
Bullying is a major issue that is presented within this novel. Go to the following websites to learn more about this issue.
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/warning_signs/index.html
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/risk_factors/index.html
http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/effects/index.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/bullies.html#
What is your definition of bullying? Write 2-3 paragraphs citing examples from at least 3 of the links above. (Use parenthetical notation!)
Submit your answers to the Webquest on the FORM below:
(You will need to be signed into your school Gmail account for it to be submitted!)
Reading/Quiz Schedule
January 8 Chapters 1-4
January 10 Chapters 5-7
January 13 Chapters 8-15
January 14 Chapters 16-20
January 15 Chapters 21-24
January 16 Final Test!
January 8 Chapters 1-4
January 10 Chapters 5-7
January 13 Chapters 8-15
January 14 Chapters 16-20
January 15 Chapters 21-24
January 16 Final Test!