Passages 11

Web Links

Unit 5 Issues: Taking Sides

Urban Development (acrylic painting by Charles Weiss)

• Charles Weiss 1
  At this site, students can check out other work by this artist and read his profile.
• Charles Weiss 2
  Students can navigate this site to find the page on Weiss to read more about him and view more of his images.

• Alexander Autobiography
  This page presents Alexander's autobiography and links to a booklist and interview. Ask students to read the questions in the interview and then develop five questions they would like to ask this author about "The Two Brothers."
• Alexander Info
  This is a teacher resource Web site for Lloyd Alexander with links to various other sites. Choose a suitable article for your class, and print it out. Together, discuss how a fantasy author might address issues such as war with more freedom than an historical writer.
• Folk Tales
  This Web page features an excellent article about folk tales. (Unfortunately it is about using tales as tools for teaching young children, which may turn some students off the folk tale format.) Encourage students to read the article and decide what category "The Two Brothers" fits in to. Discuss the points the article raises about the importance and relevance of folk tales.
  • As a class, discuss whether students think folk tales are only suitable for young children. Why or why not? If necessary, point out how these tales were often written originally for adults; have proven a rich area of study for many scholars; and reveal essential truths about our society. As well, some tales can be interpreted differently by people of different ages; the more sophisticated the reader the more sophisticated the interpretation. You may also wish to have on hand more sophisticated versions of some traditional tales.
  • Challenge interested students to complete an independent unit of study on folk tales, beginning by reading some of the tales that are mentioned in the article.
• Folk Tale About War
  Encourage students to read the folk tale "When the Twins Went to War" on this Web page. Discuss any similarities between the two folk tales.
  • Students could read other tales adapted by Aaron Shepherd by clicking on the "Next Story" button at the top of the page. Note that many of the tales on this site have a suggested grade level of grade 5-point out to students that many tales have lessons to teach people of all ages and encourage them to read several tales. Students can also choose a tale that they would like to read to younger siblings or students.
  • They could also locate on this Web site (by clicking on "Folktales" at the top of the screen and scrolling down the list of folktales) the reader's theatre script version of this tale. Small groups can plan a presentation of this tale, or of "The Two Brothers."
  • Encourage students to read other tales on this Web site, or to locate other Web sites with tales, particularly tales that deal with issues they are discussing in class.

• Biography and Writings
  Students can read the biography at this site, and then check out the links for further writings by Clarke.
  Challenge interested students to research other writers of African descent in Nova Scotia.
• Fog of War
  This site includes information about the Gulf War that students can access to increase their understanding of the context for this poem.
  Remind students, as they look at Gulf War texts, to consider who produced the material, and whose voices are not heard in the texts.
• Gulf War Timeline
  Students can visit this site to find out about the Gulf War. They can click on the map link for a visual aid. You may wish to click on "Classroom Activities" for further ideas for this topic.
  Ask students to research when the United States and Britain stopped taking military action against Iraq, and how long after the ceasefire this was.
• Diary of Iraqui Soldier
  Students can read this diary account, written by an Iraqi soldier. Discuss the importance of different perspectives in understanding an issue.
• War Photos
  Invite students to view the Gulf war photos in the various galleries of this US Army Center of Military History Web site.

• Canadian Forces Reserve-Queen's York Rangers
  Encourage students to visit this Web site to read more about the reserves, as well as to check out the "Quotations" link. Ask students to choose one quotation that they agree or disagree with, and discuss it in small groups.
• Canadian Forces Reserve-The King's Own Calgary Regiment
  Students can visit this Web site and check out the history of the regiment, as well as viewing the photos.
• Canadian Peacekeeping
  This site provides many links to articles about Canadian peacekeeping. Students can explore several of the links and discuss the information.

• War Paintings
  Students can view other war paintings by Colville at this page, and then click on the "Next" and "Previous" buttons to view the work of other artists. Discuss as a class the importance of creating such drawings.
• Colville Gallery and Bio
  This site presents several of Colville's works, as well as a brief biography and career history. Students can choose one painting to respond to in a short paragraph.
• US Army Paintings
  Students can visit this Web site to view some paintings in the US Army archives. Ask students to choose one painting to compare with Colville's work.

• Profiles of WWI Soldiers
  Ask students to visit and explore this personal Web site for the creator's ancestors who fought in WWI. Students can then write a diary based on the experiences of one of these men.
• The Great War: 80 Years On
  This is a comprehensive Web site on WWI that students could explore in small groups. Encourage them to listen to archived interviews, and to view the newsreels and photos, as well as reading two or three articles. Discuss how this information changes the perspective from which they first read "My Turn at Vimy Ridge."
• Canadian Veterans Affairs Site
  This is the official site for Canadian Veterans Affairs, and includes an account of the Vimy Ridge battle that students can read to increase their knowledge of the battle. Discuss the importance of veterans' organizations.
• A Canadian Visits Vimy Ridge
  This History Television approved site offers some interesting information and links for students to explore, particularly the "Canadians Shot at Dawn" link. Encourage students to compare the information on this site with the article "My Turn at Vimy Ridge."

• Hemingway 1
  Students can investigate this New York Times Web site for Hemingway, which includes his dispatches from the Spanish Civil War. Students can search the site for reviews of his work or his obituary.
  • Students can click through the photos on this site-under "Slide Show"-and then discuss the impression they receive of Hemingway from viewing these photos.
  • Challenge students to write a newspaper account of the war based on Hemingway's articles.
• Hemingway 2
  This is the Hemingway Society's official Web site, a source for everything Hemingway, including teaching resources. The above link takes you to a page of links that you may wish to explore, bookmarking appropriate sites for students.
• Hemingway and Gary Cooper
  This well-designed Web site for the movie about Hemingway and Cooper's friendship is full of fascinating information about these two famous men.
  • Ask students to check out the Quotations page and choose one quotation that they think reveals something about why he wrote the story "The Old Man at the Bridge." Discuss their choice.
  • This site provides some great links to other terrific sites about Hemingway (and Cooper). For example, check out the Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure site.

• Kogawa Bio
  This site includes a biography, criticism, and bibliography. Students can further investigate Kogawa's Obasan character and her experiences in an internment camp.
  • As a class, discuss the purpose and mandate of this Web site, checking out other authors that are featured.
• Japanese Canadian Internment
  This University of Washington Web site on Japanese Canadian Internment provides fascinating information. Ask students to comment on the information gathered on this site, and express their feelings about the Japanese Canadian internment.

• Article by Armstrong
  This site provides students with another selection by Armstrong, as well as a short biography.
• Armstrong Info
  This site provides information and a bibliography for Armstrong. Students can read the information, and discuss how it helps them interpret the poem "History Lesson."

• Free the Children
  This is the official site of Kids Can Free the Children, with a link to Craig Kielburger's biography. Encourage students to explore the site, particularly the "Voices" section. By visiting the site students can find out the history of the project and find out how they can help.

• Envirolink Web SIte
  Encourage students to visit Envirolink's Web site and investigate one of the issues highlighted in its articles. Students can report back to the class.
• Environmental News Network
  Students can read several environmental news items on this Web site, and then discuss the issues these articles raise.
  • Challenge students to choose one issue reported on this site and find at least three more articles about that issue from other sites and sources. Students can compare the bias, perspective, audience, purpose, et cetera, of each article.
  • Students might also enjoy taking the quiz on this site.

• Leon Zernitsky
  Other artwork by the artist who illustrated "Litter of the Law" can be found at this site. Students can view several images, and then discuss this artist's style.

• Hard Green
  This site provides reviews of the book, Hard Green, (the book mentioned in the selection) plus related articles and links to Peter Huber's personal Web site. Point out that only favourable review would be chosen for inclusion on this site that is intended to promote the book. Students can review related writings by Huber for further discussion.
• Articles by Freeman
  Encourage students to choose three other articles by Freeman on this site to read. They can discuss his viewpoints and ideas in small groups.
  • Ask students to respond to one article by writing a letter to the editor, which they can send to the author electronically if they wish.

• CPAWS
  This is the official Web site for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and it includes an educational link. Students can use the information on this site to investigate an environmental issue.
• Global Forest Watch
  This Web site provides real time tracking of what is happening in Canadian forests, as well as around the world. Students can search for information about future plans by the organizers of this site, and consider how they might get involved.
  • Interested students could complete an independent unit of study on the issue, using information from this site, other Web sites, and print resources.
• Ancient Forests
  This Greenpeace Web site focusses on current environmental dangers facing the world's forests. Encourage students to investigate this issue by reading several articles on this site.

• Patricia Grace
  At this Web page, students can read a brief biography and extensive reviews and critiques of Grace's books. Discus how this information helps them increase their understanding or appreciation of "Butterflies."
  • Invite students to use this site to find out about other writers based in New Zealand.