Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wonder - Pages 158-185

Photoshop is a computer program that allows users to easily edit photos, including removing someone completely from an image. The name of the program has become a verb - to Photoshop is to edit a digital image. Here are some example of what can be done with Photoshop.






In an email to Mr. Tushman, Julian's mom reminds him that Beecher Prep is not an inclusion school. An inclusion school allows and encourages students with special educational needs to be included in the general education classrooms. What Julian's mom is saying is that Auggie has special education needs. Does Auggie have a disability, or does he just look different from other students? Here are some images that illustrate ways students with disabilities can be included with all students.



Charlotte tells Jack about Julian's plan and shares a list of the students in the class and what group they fall into. One of the groups is the "Neutrals." To be neutral simply means to not take sides in a dispute. Many times it is used to describe countries that refuse to take sides in a war.


When Jack goes to Auggie's house to work on their science project, he's not to enthusiastic about getting to work. The first thing he notices when looking around Auggie's room is the Xbox 360 and asks if they can play Halo. According to Wikipedia, there have been nine Halo game releases. Since Wonder was published in 2012, and assuming Auggie had the latest version, it would probably had been Halo Reach.


During that visit, Jack comments that Auggie has a cool iMac. He also says that his family has an "ancient Dell that's practically dead."





The title "Darth" in Star Wars is given to Sith Lords. The Sith are the people who use the dark side of the force, and Sith Lords are their leaders. Or, as quoted on Wookieepedia,
"The Darth title was more than just a symbol of power; it was a claim of supremacy. It was used by those Dark Lords who have sought to enforce their will on the other Masters. It was a challenge — a warning to bow down or be destroyed."
In the simplest terms, in the Star Wars world, people named "Darth Someone" are bad, bad dudes.

So now, think about Daisy the dog's official name: Darth Daisy. This evil Sith Lord was a shabby mutt bought from a homeless person. I actually Googled "Darth Daisy" and this is what I found.


Jack and Auggie are partners for their science project. After suggesting a sun clock, a volcano, and growing crystal spikes, the partners settle on an organic battery made out of potatoes. Auggie reads that they can power a lamp with it and says, "We could call it the Spud Lamp or something."



Continue to Part Five: Justin.

26 comments:

  1. Thank you for these references! It is very helpful and makes it easier to picture in my head. You forgot the 'Halo' reference, though.

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  2. Ah, good point. I remember Halo in there, but never thought to include it. Thanks for the tip. I plan to add it sometime in the future.

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    1. I added the opening scenes from Halo: Reach. This is that you see when you start the game on the XBox 360.

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  3. It would be an interesting connection for science whenever they talk about the potato battery! I have found this video of a boy doing the experiment.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufoOJfzro2c

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    1. Since I already have a picture up above, I won't add the video, but I'm glad you added it in the comments. Thanks for taking the time to share!

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  4. Halo Reach first ever Halo and Halo 5 just came out so its probably not Reach

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    1. Thanks, Henry. If you read Wonder as happening right now, you could be right. But remember, the book was published in 2012 (and that's when I wrote all these resources). What would have been the latest Halo game at that time? Would it have been Reach?

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  5. Hello thanks for the reply but the latest on that came out was in fact HALO 4 in November 6, 2012

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    1. Okay, I love digging into research like this. Now, Wonder was published on February 14, 2012, so HALO 4 wouldn't have been out yet. What would have been the latest version of the game on that date? Or in the year before that as RJ Palacio was writing the book, what is the most likely version Jack and Auggie would have been playing?

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  6. The version Jack and Auggie if the latest version of Halo it would be HALO 3
    Released in September 25, 2007

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  7. I'm going to take your word on it. You are much more of a gamer than me. Thanks for digging in to it!

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  8. Hi Mr W reads really good job on the work this week

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  9. i play halo 4 😛🔫

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  10. I am confused on why Jack Will said bad stuff on Halloween in the first place though?

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    1. I think it's just easier for Jack to say bad things to the other boys about Auggie than try to defend Auggie to them. Fitting in can be a hard thing in fifth grade, and unfortunately, Jack made a bad choice in order to try and fit in with Julian and the other boys.

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  11. I don't get why HALO is significant to this section. Please enlighten me.

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  12. Really nothing more than helping people fill in gaps in their prior knowledge. Jack asked Auggie about Halo. Some readers might not know what it is.

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  13. love this book

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  14. Is everyone else missing the first picture on this page? I don't know how to fix it.

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    1. It should be fixed along with some other missing images. If you find any more, please continue to let me know. Thanks!

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  15. This is wonderful Mr. W! Thank you! I use it every year! One suggestion: Can you add 2 things- #1 being a fiddle case that looks like a machine gun case and the other #2 a Zydeco and Creole link to that kind of music? Thank you for all your efforts!

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    1. The Zydeco link is in the next section for Justin, pages 186-204. I'll look for an image of a violin case and see what I can find. Thanks for the suggestion.

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    2. Done! I added the violin case pictures to Justin's section.

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