Peak on Vimeo.
Peak | Roland Smith |
Harcourt | 2008 | ISBN: 0152062688
Synopsis
It is often difficult to find well written novels with male protagonists that appeal to teen boys that aren’t focused on crime, gangs or drugs. I struggled with this often as a middle school Language Arts teacher, and was always looking for the perfect combination of excitement and literary merit. Peak is a book that has all the bones of a great novel, yet it is a fun and exciting page turner that boys and girls will be excited to read. Additionally, Peak offers the reader an interesting glimpse into the unique world of mountain climbing and into the Chinese/Tibetan conflict. The novel addresses all major literary elements and would work well for a middle school novel unit. In the unit, students will address conflict (internal and all types of external), plot structure, characterization and organization of text.
Before/During/After Reading Activities
Before reading, have students read the following article and watch the video and write a journal reaction to what they have seen and read about Mount Everest. Have students answer the journal question “Should we care about the state of Mount Everest? Why or Why not?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/29/mount-everest-is-overcrowded-polluted-and-nearing-a-crossroads-60-years-after-first-climb/
During reading, students will work to analyze the conflicts that are presented in the novel. Students will be instructed on the different types of conflict using a graphic organizer similar to this. 4 types of conflict.pdf
Have students work on rich and rigorous conversation around a common text by organizing a fishbowl discussion. Have students in the inner circle discuss the conflicts in the story and the students on the outer circle will record the discussion to make sure they are using appropriate language frames and using text support in their discussion. After 10 minutes of discussion, halftime will occur and the outer circle students will give feedback to the inner group. For the next “half” the inner and outer groups will switch roles.
After reading, students will keep a personal conflict journal to record how often the different types of conflicts arise in their own lives. Every day, students will list and briefly describe the conflicts in which they were involved. Students will notice the patterns in the types of conflicts they have and in ways they respond to conflicts. Students will label each of their conflicts, internal (1. Person v. Self) or external (2. Person v. nature, 3. Person v. Person, 4. Person v. Society.) Additionally, as a creative writing assignment, students will also write an alternate ending to the novel, due to the unexpected and surprising end to the novel.
Connections to Other Content Areas
Peak lends itself to use in an ELA classroom, however, there could be a possibility of use in a social studies or economic classroom if you were discussing Tibet, or country boundaries or even possession of resources/landmarks. Teachers could also use this novel in a physical education classroom if they are looking for a text to incorporate literacy into physical education.
Fourteen year old Peak Marcello is always looking for adventure, but when he takes it too far, he begins his most exciting adventure yet. Arrested for tagging a skyscraper, Peak needs to get out of New York City as fast as possible. His professional mountain climbing father who was never there for him, steps in to offer his assistance and take Peak out of the country for a little while. His father’s motive is not exactly pure as Peak finds out during his journey. Unbeknownst to Peak, his father is planning to have Peak become the youngest climber to ever reach the summit of Mount Everest, bringing fame and fortune to their family. As Peak begins his journey up the mountain, he begins to learn that with this fame and fortune comes a price. Will Peak be willing to pay that price?
Rationale for Use in the English Classroom
Rationale for Use in the English Classroom
It is often difficult to find well written novels with male protagonists that appeal to teen boys that aren’t focused on crime, gangs or drugs. I struggled with this often as a middle school Language Arts teacher, and was always looking for the perfect combination of excitement and literary merit. Peak is a book that has all the bones of a great novel, yet it is a fun and exciting page turner that boys and girls will be excited to read. Additionally, Peak offers the reader an interesting glimpse into the unique world of mountain climbing and into the Chinese/Tibetan conflict. The novel addresses all major literary elements and would work well for a middle school novel unit. In the unit, students will address conflict (internal and all types of external), plot structure, characterization and organization of text.
Before/During/After Reading Activities
Before reading, have students read the following article and watch the video and write a journal reaction to what they have seen and read about Mount Everest. Have students answer the journal question “Should we care about the state of Mount Everest? Why or Why not?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/29/mount-everest-is-overcrowded-polluted-and-nearing-a-crossroads-60-years-after-first-climb/
During reading, students will work to analyze the conflicts that are presented in the novel. Students will be instructed on the different types of conflict using a graphic organizer similar to this. 4 types of conflict.pdf
Have students work on rich and rigorous conversation around a common text by organizing a fishbowl discussion. Have students in the inner circle discuss the conflicts in the story and the students on the outer circle will record the discussion to make sure they are using appropriate language frames and using text support in their discussion. After 10 minutes of discussion, halftime will occur and the outer circle students will give feedback to the inner group. For the next “half” the inner and outer groups will switch roles.
After reading, students will keep a personal conflict journal to record how often the different types of conflicts arise in their own lives. Every day, students will list and briefly describe the conflicts in which they were involved. Students will notice the patterns in the types of conflicts they have and in ways they respond to conflicts. Students will label each of their conflicts, internal (1. Person v. Self) or external (2. Person v. nature, 3. Person v. Person, 4. Person v. Society.) Additionally, as a creative writing assignment, students will also write an alternate ending to the novel, due to the unexpected and surprising end to the novel.
Connections to Other Content Areas
Peak lends itself to use in an ELA classroom, however, there could be a possibility of use in a social studies or economic classroom if you were discussing Tibet, or country boundaries or even possession of resources/landmarks. Teachers could also use this novel in a physical education classroom if they are looking for a text to incorporate literacy into physical education.
