I sat on my bed and looked out at the quiet woods, black and silver in snow and moonlight, and serene. There was nothing watchful or brooding about that stillness; whatever secrets were hidden in that forest were so perfectly kept that their existence could not be suspected nor even imagined by any rational faculty.’ ‘Beauty’ is a retelling of the classic fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Written in 1978 and widely considered to be a classic, the novel is an excellent choice for readers in the 12-13 age group. Written in an easy, polished style, it is the sort of book that one reads more than once to relish the vivid characters, tantalizing details and satisfying plot. The carefully-crafted embellishments are all solidly founded on European history and folktale ‘magic’. In this file you will find plenty of material to make the novel into an enjoyable literature unit! Included here are: · Detailed instructions for how to proceed · Thoughtful written response questions, one for each of the ten chapters. Some of these include additional materials such as a painting or poem, which are included (Please note: this portion of the file is identical to the ‘Reading Comprehension: Beauty’ resource) · ‘History and Culture’ Topics. Choose from four topics to explore with further reading and writing assignments (all materials are included): ‘Griffins’, ‘Enchanted Forests’, ‘The Rose’ and ‘The Great Horse’. · Simple versions of the original folktale in English and in French · Bonus assignments (essay writing, further research, Beauty’s Reading List, cake-baking, etc.) Please note, the novel must be purchased separately.

Mr. Pollexfen was at one and the same time right and wrong – a condition much more common than is generally supposed. ‘Captain Blood’ by Rafael Sabatini, first published in 1922, is a classic rip-roaring adventure novel that explores themes of justice, true love, individual courage, and right versus wrong. It influenced many pirate novels and movies that followed it, including ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The language is flowing and elaborate, a real thrill to read. Here you will find resources to make a full Unit Study for the novel. A close look at characters and settings, the real history behind the tale (Sabatini loved to set his stories amidst real historical events), and the nature of and motivation behind Captain Blood’s decisions are examined thoroughly, with four short complementary texts included (a first-hand account of slavery by the man who inspired Captain Blood’s character; a letter from the real pirate-turned-privateer-turned-lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, Sir Henry Morgan; a brief history of the colonial Caribbean; and a 17th century document describing elements of the British justice system – each with a short assignment linking it to the novel) . Included are: · Before and After You Read Assignment · Written Response and Discussion Questions · As You Read Assignments · Essay Writing Topics · ‘Historical Accounts’ assignment · A portrait – representing Captain Blood, or not? · Four complementary texts (see description above) with short assignments · Three music assignments, exploring the themes and mood of the story (instructions and links to free performances included) (The novel must be procured separately.) Note to teachers and parents: Most of the descriptions in the book are suggestive without going into great detail, however the first third of the book contains some disturbing violence (though not worse than any history novel with details about topics like ‘blood-letting’ or the beating of slaves). There is good reason for its presence in the story, and should not discourage readers from continuing.

Here is a fully black and white version of the book, with a more mature format for older students. This humorous book will give any student a thorough understanding of the three main types of subordinate clauses: adjectival, adverbial and noun clauses. In 35 pages of definitions and explanations, examples, exercises and assignments, you will learn about and practise using these clauses in your own writing. Also included is a 16 page answer key. (Exercises and assignments are to be completed in a separate notebook.) In this book you will: • Learn about main clauses and subordinate clauses • Learn to identify and write your own adjectival, adverbial and noun clauses • Complete 31 exercises and 20 assignments • Hone your skills with extra review exercises and assignments at the end of the book • Enjoy whimsical (and ridiculous) references to moose . . . In each section: • Adjectival Clauses: Learn to identify relative pronouns; know when to use ‘who’ and ‘whom’; determine whether the relative pronoun acts as a subject or direct object within the clause; learn when to use ‘which’ and ‘that’; learn when to use ‘who’ or ‘which/that’; learn about possessive adjectival clauses; understand the difference between a question and an adjectival clause; learn about relative pronouns preceded by prepositions • Adverbial Clauses: Learn about subordinating conjunctions; understand the difference between an adjectival and adverbial clause; learn to identify and use clauses of time, place, manner, condition, concession, and cause; learn to differentiate between clauses of various types; learn to identify sentences containing different types of clauses • Noun Clauses: learn to identify and use noun clauses; learn about noun clauses that behave as direct objects or complements; learn about noun clauses that behave as subjects; noun clauses in reported speech • Extra Review: combine all your new knowledge and skills in several exercises and assignments • Answer Key: contains answers for all exercises. Answers to assignments will be unique to each individual. Knowing how sentences can be constructed is an invaluable tool for any student or writer. Improve your English Grammar, and learn how to protect your wool socks from an intrepid moose, all in one book!

Many people know the story of Cinderella from children’s books and movies. This unit study invites you to take a more mature, in-depth look at the fairytale, by examining its origins (both French and German) and some of its many possible interpretations. The tale offers timeless relevance, amazing fuel for creativity and a tremendous amount of food for thought. You will discover why a classic fairytale such as this one is, well, a classic! First, gain a solid familiarity with the story by reading about its history and examining basic plot variations. Continue by reading highly personal interpretations of the underlying themes of the story. Learn how the prince’s character has been reinterpreted and updated, and what a ‘Cinderella story’ is, for any gender. Artistic interpretations of any story allow for added emotional content and subtle variations: listen to a song by Stephen Sondheim (from the hit musical Into The Woods) and contemplate what Cinderella might have been feeling as she fled the ball. Explore other interpretations in movies, opera and ballet. Psychology and symbolism topics such as the ‘wicked stepmother’ and the symbol of the shoe finish the unit. If you are feeling especially motivated, you can complete two bonus reading selections: Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (included) – how and why do its themes of social justice feature so prominently in the 1998 Cinderella movie, ‘Ever After’? – and Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper(included) – is it a Cinderella story, or not? Each short piece of writing in the unit (12 in total) has an assigned question for discussion or written response. For every themed section (7 in total) there are also one or two longer assignments. Teachers may choose which materials to use and in what order (or begin at the beginning, once upon a time . . . and continue in the order the texts and assignments are presented). Free online movies and media resources are listed.