Name_________________________________________________________________

No Promises in the Wind Final Activity

Here's the occasion:

The year is 1949. Josh Grondowski has just debuted at Carnegie Hall. As writer and performer of his piano music, he has become quite a sensation. The media wants those who knew Josh Grondowski before his big break to meet and share what they know about his past. Anyone interested in attending should contact the entertainment office at Life Magazine at (800)321-JOSH.

In this final activity, students will

1. Write a narrative poem based on a character in the book.

2. Recite (which requires memorization) two stanzas of the poem aloud using the language of the character.

3. Role-play in costume the part of the character in class.

Step One: First, brainstorm every character you can think of who could be used. As a class, you should try to avoid repetition to make the media meeting as fun as possible. Write down names of characters here in a list or web.

 Step Two: Look over the names above. Before you make your choice, realize that you will be required to act like this character in class. Choose a character whose personality you would feel comfortable portraying. Part of your grade will be to dress as this person so keep that in mind as well. Pick your three top choices from above and write them here. Underneath each name brainstorm three words to describe the personality of each character and two articles of clothing you could wear as a costume.

___________________ ______________________ _______________________

 

 

 

 

Step Three: Propose your character to me at break or before or after school, first come first serve. Proposal deadline:_______________________________

Step Four: Write the name of the character here after I accept your proposal:

________________________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions about this character:

A. What will you wear in class to dress as this person?

 

B. Describe the way this person talks. Formal, informal, slang? Keep in mind how much education this person has.

 

 

C. Copy at least two direct quotes from this character here that you could put into your poem. If direct quotes do not exist, make up two sentences that this person could have said in the book.

1)

 

 

2)

 

Step Five: Now it's time to plan your poem. It should have three parts. Just think about the information they will reveal now. Later we will discuss how to put it into poem form.

Part One: What your life was like before you met Josh

 

 

 

 

Part Two: How you know Josh and what you thought of him in the past

 

 

 

 

Part Three: What has happened in your life since then (after the book ended)