ESL Lesson: Camp Somerset Part 7

Objective:

Students will continue to improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills through the story “Camp Somerset.”

Duration:

45 minutes

Photo by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash

Prereading Activity (10 minutes)

Key Vocabulary:

Ethereal (adjective): Delicate and airy, otherworldly. * "The Northern Lights cast an ethereal glow on the snowy landscape."
Mesmerized (verb): Captivated or spellbound. * "The children were mesmerized by the magician's tricks."
Quaint (adjective): Charmingly old-fashioned or unusual. * "We stayed in a quaint little cottage in the countryside."
Palpable (adjective): Tangible, able to be felt or touched. * "The tension in the room was palpable."
Unveiled (verb): Revealed or disclosed. * "The archaeologists unveiled the ancient tomb to the public."
Banishing (verb): Expelling or sending away. * "The villagers tried banishing the evil spirit from their town."
Resolution (noun): The act of resolving a conflict or problem. * "The two countries reached a peaceful resolution to their dispute."
Reconciliation (noun): The act of restoring friendly relations. * "After years of feuding, the sisters finally had a reconciliation."

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

Reading Activity (20 minutes)

Chapter 7: Resolution and Reconciliation

As the group hiked deeper into the mountains, the air grew colder, and the wind picked up. But the chill was nothing compared to the excitement that pulsed through them. They had come this far, drawn by the promise of the mysterious lights. And now, as darkness enveloped the forest, the sky above began to light up.

A breathtaking display of color danced across the heavens. Green, blue, and purple hues swirled and shimmered, casting an ethereal glow on the snow-covered landscape. Molly, Charles, and their friends were mesmerized. They had never seen anything so beautiful, so awe-inspiring.

"It's like magic," Mindy whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

The mystery of the black sedan, once a source of fear and speculation, now seemed almost quaint. The strange lights were merely a natural phenomenon, a testament to the beauty and power of the universe.

Back at camp, Max, Joey, and Jaime were facing the consequences of their misguided investigation. Caught red-handed while spying on the counselors, they were forced to apologize to the camp director. The humiliation was palpable, but it also served as a valuable lesson.

"We were wrong," Max admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "We got carried away."

The director nodded, his expression understanding. "It's important to trust people, Max. And to think before you act."

Meanwhile, Mindy and her friends were busy with their own form of resolution. They had crafted a voodoo doll of the man in the black sedan, complete with a beard scribbled on with marker. As they prepared to perform their banishing ritual, they noticed the man standing nearby, talking to Max.

"Now's the time," Mindy declared, raising the doll high above her head. "We must banish the evil warlock!"

With a dramatic flourish, she tossed the doll into the campfire. As the flames consumed the doll, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. Mindy and her friends cheered, convinced that they had saved the day.

As the final days of Camp Somerset drew nearer the atmosphere of the camp shifted. They had grown and changed in countless ways. Molly and Charles had deepened their friendship, sharing secrets, laughter, and dreams. Max had learned the importance of humility and the dangers of unchecked curiosity. And Mindy, though still a dreamer, had gained a newfound appreciation for the power of friendship and the magic of the natural world.

Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash

Post Reading Activity (15 minutes)

Warm-Up (True or False):

True or False? The mysterious lights in the sky turned out to be a natural phenomenon.
True or Fale? Max, Joey, and Jaime were rewarded for their investigation of the counselors.

Short Answer:

What lesson did Max learn from his experience?
How did Mindy and her friends try to "banish" the man in the black sedan?
In what ways did the atmosphere at Camp Somerset change as the session neared its end?

Discussion:

How did the characters' initial fear of the unknown transform into wonder and acceptance by the end of the chapter? Discuss the role of discovery and understanding in this transformation.
Explore the theme of friendship in this chapter. How did the relationships between Molly and Charles, and among Mindy and her friends, evolve? What did they learn from each other?

Answer Key:

True or False?

True
False

Short Answer (suggested):

Max learned the importance of trust, thinking before acting, and the dangers of unchecked curiosity.
They made a voodoo doll of the man and threw it into the campfire as part of a banishing ritual.
The atmosphere shifted as campers grew and changed, friendships deepened, and there was a greater appreciation for the magic of the natural world.

Discussion Answers (Suggested):

The initial fear of the unknown was fueled by mystery and suspicion. As the characters discovered the truth behind the lights and the man in the black sedan, their fear turned into wonder and acceptance. This transformation highlights the importance of knowledge and understanding in overcoming fear and embracing the unknown.
The friendships between Molly and Charles, and among Mindy and her friends, deepened through shared experiences, laughter, secrets, and dreams. They learned the value of trust, support, and accepting each other's quirks and differences. The chapter emphasizes the power of friendship in navigating challenges and fostering personal growth.

Credits:

Story and lesson material by… Tyler Golec

Mandarin Translations by… Rosy Lien

Media Contributions by… Jonatan Pie, Joshua Earle, Aditya Vyas and Wesley Tingey.

ESL Lesson: Camp Somerset Part 7