PBL: Call of the Wild Overview

The Call of the Wild

Project-Based Learning Assignment

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to:

• Students will analyze The Call of the Wild by identifying key events and textual evidence that illustrate Buck’s transformation from domesticated to wild.
• Students will create visual and written representations of Buck’s journey, synthesizing textual analysis with personal reflection and creativity.
• Students will draw connections between Buck’s experiences and their own lives, reflecting on themes of survival, resilience, and adaptation.
• Students will present their findings and creative work effectively, demonstrating clear communication, organization, and engagement with the text’s themes.
• Students will evaluate the theme of survival as portrayed in literature, articulating how environment and experience shape character and identity.

Essential Questions:

• How do individuals adapt to new environments and challenges?
• What transformations occur within Buck as he embraces the wilderness?
• How does Jack London convey the theme of survival through Buck's experiences?

Overview: Project-Based Learning Assignment: "Survival and Transformation in The Call of the Wild"

Objective: Students will explore themes of survival, adaptation, and transformation in The Call of the Wild by Jack London through a project that encourages analysis, creativity, and synthesis of knowledge.

Project Overview: Students will create a multimedia presentation that traces Buck’s transformation from a domesticated pet to a creature of the wild, using textual evidence, illustrations, and personal reflections. The presentation should showcase Buck’s journey as an allegory for personal growth, resilience, and the instinct to survive.

Steps and Components:

Step 1: Research and Analysis

• Students will read and annotate key chapters that highlight Buck’s journey and character changes.
• Identify significant turning points in Buck's transformation (e.g., the call of the wild, his survival instincts, the influence of other characters).
• Note down quotes and instances that show Buck’s changing nature and how he responds to various challenges.

Steps and Components:

Step 2: Creative Expression: Visual Timeline

• Create a timeline of Buck’s journey with visual representations of his transformation.
• Include quotes from the book for each key event and illustrate (drawings, digital art, or collage) to depict Buck’s evolving appearance, demeanor, and emotional state.

Steps and Components:

Step 3: Comparative Journal Entries: Buck vs. Student Reflection

• Write journal entries from Buck’s perspective at different points in the story.
• For each entry, write a reflective entry from their own perspective, comparing how they would react if placed in similar situations or challenges.
• Create a "Survival Guide" that includes lessons learned from Buck’s journey, with tips on resilience and adaptability for students facing challenges in their own lives.

Steps and Components:

Step 4: Multimedia Presentation

• Compile the visual timeline, journal entries, survival guide and any other creative elements (such as music that captures Buck’s journey or short videos that symbolize survival).
• Present how each element demonstrates Buck’s survival instincts and his ultimate transformation.

Steps and Components:

Step 5: Reflection and Presentation

• Conclude the project with a written or recorded reflection answering the essential questions.