Friday, February 24, 2012

Chapter 17: We Shop For Waterbeds - LT#19

We are almost there, Chapter 17 is an interesting chapter to provides Percy the key he needs to the underworld. So let's get right to it. There is not Anticipatory writing activity for this chapter,just the questions as you participate in the live blogging or audio listening. Here are the questions:


As You Read:


1.How does Annabeth pay for the trip to Los Angeles?




2.Annabeth seems worried when they discuss the voice from the pit. Percy thinks she has an idea what it might be. Do you have any guesses?


3.Who is the spirit in the sea? What does she give to Percy?


4.Why is Annabeth uneasy about the gifts Percy received?


5.According to Percy, how is L.A. different from New York?


6.Why doesn’t Riptide work on the kids who jump Percy in the alley?


7.What does Crusty do to his customers?


8.Why can’t Percy simply fight Crusty?


9.How does Percy trick the giant?


10.How does Percy find the address for the Underworld?


After the Reading:

You already know how to use Pages and Keynote. Using what you learned, make an Advertisement for Crusty’s Waterbed Palace. Crusty has hired you to advertise his fabulous waterbeds. Make a magazine ad for him. How would you attract customers? What special deals would you promise? Save your completed project on your flashdrive and have it ready for posting on Monday.


Have fun!

Chapter 16: We Take A Zebra To Vegas - LT#18


Part 1

As we get closer to Los Angeles, the trip across the country with Percy, Annabeth and Grover gets a little interesting. I hope you have enjoyed the ride so far, however, before we get into chapter 16, let's take another virtual trip on our own. In this chapter, Percy and his friends arrive in Las Vegas. What do you know about the city’s attractions? A good place to start researching is www.lasvegaskids.net for kid-friendly activities. Pretend you are going to Las Vegas. Make a top ten list of activities you would want to do. (Not gambling!) Create a new post titled: Chapter 16 Las Vegas Trip. Begin the activity with an explanation of the reason you have compiled a top ten list of Vegas attractions for kids.

Part 2

Here are the question you need to answer as You Read:

1.What’s in the backpack Ares gives Percy? If you were him, would you have accepted this gift?

2.What news does Ares give Percy about his mom?

3.Annabeth says Percy wasn’t smart to anger Ares. Was Percy right to talk back to him? Why or why not?

4.What do the beads mean on Annabeth’s necklace?

5.Percy says that Annabeth should write her father a letter. What would you advise her to do?

6.Percy’s dream has three different parts – what does he see in each scene?

7.How does Grover make sure the animals will be safe after they are released?

8.Percy, Grover and Annabeth are attracted to different types of games at the Lotus Casino. What does each one like, and what does this tell you about their personality?

9.When does Percy start to realize the casino is a trap?

10.How does Percy snap Annabeth out of her trance?






Bonus Blog Entries: Each additional entry is worth 25 extra credit points.

1.The Perfect Trap. The Lotus Casino is designed to make kids never want to leave. Do you think it would keep you entranced? Write a description of a place that would be a “perfect trap” to keep you there forever. What would such a place look like? What activities would be available? What kind of food?

2.Time Travel. Time travels slowly in the Lotus Casino. Darrin has been there since the 1970s but he’s still a kid, and it seems to him that he’s only been there a few days. Would you like to spend some time in the Lotus Casino? How far ahead in time would you like to travel before you stepped outside? Remember, though, you could never go back.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Chapter 15: A god Buy Us Cheeseburgers - LT#17


Warm-up Activities:
    1. Journal questions for anticipatory discussion
a.           In this chapter, Annabeth says, “Even strength has to bow to wisdom.” Do you think that’s true? Would you rather be exceptionally strong or exceptionally wise?
b.           Has someone ever tried to convince you to do something you didn’t want to do? How did you handle it? Have you ever convinced someone else to do something for you? How did you do it?


As You Read:

1.     What is Iris-messaging? How does it work?
2.     Why does Annabeth want to leave as soon as Luke appears in the mist?
3.     Luke says: “Tell Grover it’ll be better this time! Nobody will get turned into a pine tree . . .” What does this tell you about Grover’s past?
4.     What does Ares say that convinces Percy to help him?
5.     According to Annabeth, how does Hephaestus deal with his wife and Ares having an affair?
6.     Grover doesn’t smell any monsters at the Thrill Ride O’ Love, even though it’s a trap. Why is that?
7.     Why can’t Annabeth help Percy when they get trapped in the pool?
8.     How does Annabeth put her knowledge of physics to work on the water ride?
9.     How does Grover save the day?
10.  At the end of the chapter, whom do you think Percy is angrier with – Hephaestus or Ares? Why?
 Follow-up Activity

  1. The Modernized Gods. In this chapter you met Ares, who in modern times wears biker clothes and rides a Harley Davison with a shotgun holster. How might the other gods or goddesses look in modern times? Pick one god or goddess you know about. Look up information about them (a good place to start is www.mythweb.com). Check for pictures of them on the internet. Then write a description of what they might look like today. What clothes would they wear? Hairstyle? Favorite car?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

CoverItLive! Living Blogging With Chapter 15

Welcome to your first CoverItLive broadcast for the Lightning Thief. We will try a new collaborative discussing tool as we listen to the audio of chapter 15. Don't worry about becoming a master on the first day, but make sure you leave a comment about your experience at the end of the session

Chapter 14: I Become a Known Fugitive - LT#16

This is a short chapter, therefore only 5 questions. However, think carefully before you answer and be sure to use your text to infer your response.

1. When he lands in the Mississippi River, what does Percy realize that amazes him?
2. Why does Percy feel ashamed that Poseidon saved him?
3. What message does the woman in the water bring to Percy? What is her warning?
4. What does Percy learn by overhearing the reporters outside the Arch?
5. What happened to the family that was in the Arch with Percy?

Chapter 13: I Plunge To My Death Questions - LT#15

While We Read


Cut and paste the following questions into a new post Titled: Chapter 13 Questions and answer them as we go along in the reading. This is a very exciting chapter, so you may want to pay close attention.


1. Why does Percy try to keep a low profile on the train?


2. What new information does Annabeth tell us about her father in this chapter?


3. Annabeth says a couple of unexpected friends took care of her when she ran away from home. Any guesses who these might be? Why?


4. Why does Percy laugh when Annabeth tells him what she wants to be?


5. What magic item does Hades have? What are its powers?


6. Describe the Chimera.


7. Echidna says Percy should feel honored to be killed by her. Why?


8. What is Percy’s “fatal mistake” while battling the Chimera?


9. Why does Percy decide he has no choice but to jump? What would you have done in his place?


10. How would the battle have been different if there were no mortal spectators in the Arch?

Monday, February 13, 2012

Chapter 12: We Get Advice From A Poodle- LT#14


  1. Why does Grover want a searcher’s license?
  2. Why does Grover’s dream sound so hopeless to Percy?
  3. What new information do you learn about Grover’s past and how it relates to Annabeth?
  4. According to Grover, why did Percy mail Medusa’s head to Mount Olympus?
  5. Describe the place Percy sees in his dream.
  6. What terrible realization does Percy make toward the end of the dream? What does the voice want from him?
  7. Who do think is talking to Percy in the dream? Who is this voice from the pit?
  8. Who is Gladiola?
  9. What is Grover’s plan to get money for the trip?
  10. If you were offered the choice in Percy’s dream – to save your own parent’s life or complete your quest and prevent a terrible war – what would you choose?

Chapter 11: We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium - LT# 13


As You Read:

  1. Why is Annabeth upset with Percy for risking his life on the bus?
  2. What does Aunty Em look like when she opens the door?
  3. How does Percy explain why he went into the garden gnome emporium? Does this explanation make sense to you?
  4. Why does Grover start to get nervous at the emporium? (There are several reasons)
  5. How can you tell that Percy isn’t thinking straight after he eats his meal?
  6. Did you guess Aunty Em’s true identity before Percy did? If so, what clues gave her away?
  7. Why does Annabeth say they have to kill Medusa? Why can’t they just run away?
  8. Medusa’s head doesn’t disintegrate along with the rest of her. Why not?
  9. What important information does Percy find in Medusa’s office?
  10. Why do you think Percy sends Medusa’s head to Mount Olympus? Do you think this is a good idea?

Friday, February 10, 2012

Chapter 10: I Ruin A Perfectly Good Busz - LT #12

Before you get started on answering questions about Percy's quest, let's stop for a moment and do some writing. Create a blog entry for both, yes I said both writing prompts.

1. Many of the campers at Camp Half-Blood have their own magic item. Clarisse has an electric spear. Annabeth has a baseball cap that turns her invisible. What magic item would make sense for Percy, as the son of the Sea God? Design your own magic item.

2. Percy gets to try his hand at driving a bus in this chapter. Defend or attack this proposition: “The national driving age should be lowered to 13.” Can you think of any reasons that might actually convince Congress to pass such a law?

Remember these are short responses, but be clear and visual, remembering your audience as you write. Please put both response in one (1) post. Title your post: Chapter 10 Writing Prompt

Next, answer the following questions as we read. Go ahead and copy and paste the questions into your blog, but make sure you use a new post and not the entry with for the writing post. Please keep them separate. Here are the questions:

1. Who is Argus and why can he never be surprised?
2. What gift does Luke give to Percy? Why can’t Percy use them?
3. What special properties does Riptide have?
4. What is Mist?
5. What are some of the reasons Annabeth gives for why Poseidon and Athena don’t get along?
6. According to Grover, why did Percy’s mom marry Gabe?
7. Percy says he’s not going on the quest to retrieve the lightning bolt. What’s his real reason for going?
8. How does Percy sneak to the front of the bus?
9. Why doesn’t Percy leave the bus when he has the chance?
10. How do Percy, Grover and Annabeth lose their luggage?

Post #3

Follow-up Activities


After answering the questions from chapter 10, let's try these activities to bring some connection to what Percy and crew are going through.

1. Draw your own Fury. The pictures below are how ancient greeks viewed the furies. Take a look and then draw your own updated version. Use a plain white sheet of paper, apply color and scan to your flash drive. Then upload your picture on your blog post.








2. Olympian Travel Agency. Percy Jackson has ten days to from New York to Los Angeles and back again, and he can’t use air travel. Is this possible? Try to use internet sources to “book” and trip for Percy and his friends using buses or trains. How much would the trip cost? How long would it take? Try these sources to start:

www.amtrak.com (for trains)
www.greyhound.com (for busses)

This assignment will be another separate post. Title your post: After Reading Chapter 10

Happy Blogging!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Chapter 9: I Am Offered A Quest - LT#11

Intro/Post Activity
Wow! Great job on your Section 1 test. The average score was 91%. I'm very proud of the attention you have given this novel, especially as we discuss the various story elements. Speaking of story elements, many events in our story that have come to fruition were foreshadowed earlier on in section 1. Leave a comment below indicating at least one of the signs that the author has given about the events that are just now taking place.


While I'm Reading Chapter 9


1.Why does Percy feel miserable once he gets his own cabin?
2.Based on the newspaper article Percy finds under his door, what is happening in the real world while Percy is in camp?
3.What is the master bolt?
4.Why does Zeus think Percy stole the bolt?
5.Why can’t the gods retrieve the bolt themselves?
6.What bothers Percy about the Oracle’s prophecy?
7.According to Chiron, what evidence suggests that Hades stole the lightning bolt?
8.Why does Percy have to travel overland?
9.What will happen on the summer solstice if the lightning bolt is not returned?
10.What is unusual about the storm that moves in over camp?

Have Fun!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Chapter 8: We Capture A Flag - LT#10

For chapter 8, you will not have a writing activity, however, I would like you to make a comment on this post after pondering this situation:

Choose your “dream team” for the camp capture-the-flag game. Since you have already read the chapter, pretend you are Annabeth, the leader of Athena’s cabin. You will be fighting the Ares cabin. Using what you know about the gods, make a list of your top picks for the other cabins you’d like to have on your side. Rank them from first to last. Place your list as a comment to this post  discuss why you ranked them the way you did, and be prepared to explain to the class.

Questions from the Chapter:


1. Why are the counselors having a hard time deciding who Percy’s Olympian parent is?
2. How does Percy surprise everyone during his first sword class? How do you think he was able to do this?
3. According to Grover, why did the “Big Three” gods swear never to have any more children?
4. Why does the story about Thalia make Percy feel “hollow and guilty”?
5. In capture-the-flag, why does Percy feel like he’s being left out of the action?
6. How does Percy manage to overcome the kids from Ares’s cabin?
7. What was Annabeth’s plan to win the flag?
8. Why does Annabeth make Percy stand in the water?
9. What does Chiron say about how the hellhound got into camp?
10. When you find out Percy’s true identity, are you surprised or did you see it coming? What clues were given earlier in the book?