Ruth W. Wilson
This photograph was taken in Africa and shows a young African child in a curled, squatting position with his knees drawn up to his chin. He is looking at something. He has a pensive look on his face while his arms are resting on his legs. There is a bandage over his eye and he is scantily dressed. The boy’s clothing is ragged and his arms, legs, and body give the appearance of malnutrition.
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you think this boy was really found in the jungle?
2. If so? Who do you think raised him?
3. Does he look healthy?
4. What kind of food do you suppose he ate?
5. How does this child appear to you?
6. Does he seem to be happy or frightened?
7. How do think this child will walk if he was raised by animals?
8. Do you think this photo is a “put on?”
9. If so, them tell why you think so?
10. Have you ever read
THE JUNGLE BOOK
by RUDYARD KIPLING?
This type of questioning will allow the students to use their imagination and take off. If the students have not heard or read the
JUNGLE STORY
by KIPLING, teacher can read excerpts from the book to the class. Also for an added treat class can be treated to the video tape of the story. This would make for a fine treat and excellent culmination to the unit.
Also there will be several writing assignments planned around this story. One will be a photograph about the story which will have blank spaces to be filled in (see lesson plans at the end of the unit). The students will fill in the spaces using vocabulary words previously learned while reading the story. This activity will encourage the students to know and understand the new vocabulary which is presented to them. Then the student will read a short paragraph comparing some action of today with the actions of the “wild-boy” in the story. Does time really make a difference? Would Victor’s behavior be considered acceptable today as compared to the actions of some “heavy metal” rock groups, for example. In order to accomplish this writing, we will use clustering with discussion first. This discussion may shed some light on what is approved or considered appropriate behavior today as opposed to long ago and give the student’s a focus for their paragraphs.
This proposed unit will be integrated into my remedial reading program to be used with a seventh or eighth grade class. Hopefully, with other refreshing ideas, the class can enjoy the project.