Tribe Challenge: Touching Spirit Bear

Reading Challenge Part 1

Vocabulary
Directions: Choose 6 of the following vocabulary words from
the story and define them in your own words with your tribe
members.

Antibiotics

Reverent

Hypothermia

Dynamic Character

Wince

Static Character

Tousled

Inevitable

Wring

Irked

Relinquish

Wry

Monotonous

Savoring

Reading Challenge Part 2

Question & Answer
Directions: From the list of 20 questions, choose 10 to
answer with your tribe in COMPLETE SENTENCES. Your
responses must have at least 3 complete sentences with
details.

1. Has Cole accepted that he has made some bad choices in his life? Do you think
he is capable of continuing to change?
2. Describe what the monster dream represented to Cole.
3. What does Garvey reveal to Cole about his past? Do you think this is why
Garvey has such a soft spot for Cole?
4. When does Cole show that he understands the cake demonstration that Garvey
gave him in the beginning of the novel?
5. When Cole says whatever happens now, Im done being mad. Who is
immediately skeptical about Coles response? How does he respond to Coles
words?
6. What shocking truth do Garvey and Edwin tell Cole about Spirit Bear? Do you
think he was really there?
7. What type of concrete proof does Cole have to prove he did see Spirit Bear?
Why does he choose not to show them the proof?
8. What happened to Coles father? Do you think he deserved this?
9. What part of the Spirit Bear brought Cole a certain level of peacefulness or
calmness? Why do you think this is?
10.
What realization did Cole have about the bear in regards to the beating it
inflicted on him?
11.
What experiment did Edwin try on Cole? What did this aim to prove about
Cole and his overall attitude towards people?
12.
What tiring activity does Cole perform that allows him to unleash his anger
in a helpful way? Does exercise accomplish this goal for other people
13.
Whose custody is Cole given over to? What are the consequences for those
guardians if Cole messes up?
14.
What did Cole have to do with all of his personal belongings? How did he
respond to this?
15.
How much trust does Edwin put in Cole? Why do you think he does this?
16.
What is Garvey trying to prove to Cole about the hot dog and life?
17.
Cole seems taken back when Edwin and Garvey think of him as a friend.
Do you think Cole had many friends?
18.
What do you think the mini-feast may be symbolizing within the novel
(think about religion)?
19.
What does Garvey want Cole to become one with?
20.
How will Cole deal now that he is back at the island? Do you think the
painful memories be too much?

Reading Challenge Part 3

Make a Connection
Directions: With the members of your tribe, choose 5 of the
following underlying topics from Touching Spirit Bear. You
must make a real life connection between the chosen topics
and your life/real life scenarios. Your answers must be in
COMPLETE SENTENCES.
EXAMPLE: MOTHERS VOICE - When Cole hears his mothers voice when he wakes
up in the hospital, he is a little confused but comforted at the same time. Babies are
often comforted by the sound of their mothers voice when they are first born.

Mirrored Water
Fur drifting away
Mrs. Matthews is
happier
Mr. Matthews past
Coles speaking and
tone of voice
Self-control

Desire to unleash
anger
Accepting his jail
fate
Skif
Hot dog as life
Holy Communion