The Call of the Wild

Grades: 7-12, adaptable Subject: Language Arts Associated: Social Studies Time: 4-6 weeks, adjustable

Learning Objectives

Improve close reading and comprehension.
Develop vocabulary through meaningful context.
Analyze character, setting, sequence, cause and effect, mood, and theme.
Support interpretations with textual evidence.
Write clearly about a literary work.

Core Reading Routine

Before reading: Introduce the Yukon setting, historical period, and selected vocabulary such as primordial, gaunt, aurora borealis, adapt, and frigid.
During reading: Students annotate important events, unfamiliar words, character changes, questions, and evidence of themes.
Comprehension checks: After short sections, students state the gist, answer text-dependent questions, and identify evidence.
Plot map: Create a visual timeline of major events and turning points.
Vocabulary: Students define words from context, verify meanings with reference sources, and use selected words in original sentences.
Drama or media: Teams may create a short radio-style scene or modern video adaptation using a script. The goal is interpretation and communication, not elaborate production equipment.
Analysis: Discuss Buck's challenges, relationships, choices, setting, and development. Students support claims with quotations or precise references to the text.

Assessment

Reading annotations
Vocabulary application
Plot/timeline work
Text-dependent comprehension responses
Literary analysis essay or presentation

Teacher Note

Its useful functions-background information, vocabulary, comprehension questions, and graduated analysis-can be accomplished through current classroom materials. Current reading guidance emphasizes purposeful comprehension routines, word and world knowledge, questions, gist, and monitoring comprehension.