Small Differences Make Big Impacts

Wonder Work Pg 41-80

1. Star Wars is one of Auggie’s passions. Why do you think this is? Do you see any reasons for Auggie to identify with these characters, or to aspire to be like them?
   Like the characters in Star Wars, Auggie isn't exactly normal and has deformities that set him aside from other people around him. I believe Auggie aspires to be like them because despite their differences they can still accomplish great things.
2. What questions did Julian ask August and why did August want to slide under the desk? Explain why Julian asked those questions?
   Julian asked August about Star Wars, specifically about Darth Sidious. Julian asked this question because, like Auggie, Darth Sidious has a deformed face.
3. Mr Browne’s September Precept was 'When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind'. Do you agree with this precept? Explain.
   Generally, yes, I guess it depends on the situation that you're in. If it's a matter of opinion, definitely choose kind. But there is nothing to tell you that you can't do both. Personally, when given the choice, why not be right in a kind way?
4. In the chapter One to Ten, August is feeling mad with his mother but he's not sure why. Explain why you think he was mad?
   Maybe because she was babying him quite a bit, which, subconsciously, Auggie didn't like, he probably wanted to feel grown up.
5. August invited his whole class to his birthday party but not many kids came. Why do you think they didn't go?
   Maybe they were scared to be around him, or afraid something might happen while there. It's mentioned that no one around Auggie wanted to touch him and being at his birthday party would be a huge violation of that.
6. August says he has an 'Aversion' to getting his picture taken. What is an aversion? Why does Auggie have an aversion to having his picture taken?
   An aversion is a hatred, or strong disliking, towards something. He has an aversion towards having pictures taken of him because he is self-conscious about the way he looks
7. Why does no one want to touch August? How do you think this makes him feel?
   They believed he was contagious and weird, that he was some sort of being that should be in quarantine and they didn't want to be apart of that.
8. Did your opinion of Jack Will change after August overheard him talking to Julian? Explain.
   At first, yes, but later on, no. I believe Jack said those things about Auggie because of society's pressures to be a popular kid, I understand that he was just trying his best to fit in and seem "cool."
9. Do you think August will go back to school? Predict what will happen next?
   Having read this story before, I know what happens, but if I were to read this for the first time, I would think he would go back to school, though he may have trouble fitting in again.

Can Do Tasks

Vocabulary - 

Contagious - "Spread from one person or organism to another, typically by direct contact." Something contagious is something that is easily spread between two living things.

Exception - "A person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule." If you are the exception to something, you are the only thing that doesn't have to follow a specific thing.

Recital -  "A performance of a programme of music by a soloist or small group" For example, a dance recital is a group of different performances by different groups.

Aversion - "A strong dislike or disinclination." As stated in question 6, an aversion towards something is a strong disliking towards it.

Mortality - "The state of being subject to death." Being able to die, the opposite of immortality, which is the inability to die.

Research -

Treacher Collins Syndrome
Treacher Collins syndrome is the syndrome August has in the story 'Wonder', or at least what it's based on. The condition affects the development of bones and tissue in the face. The effects of this condition range in severity, anywhere from unnoticeable to very severe. Most people affected have underdeveloped facial bones, most commonly the cheekbones, jaw, and chin. Some affected have a small opening at the roof of their mouths called a cleft palate. Some people with the condition often have slanted down eyes and sparse eyelashes. Treacher Collins affects around 1 in 50,000 people, though it seems a bit rarer than this number because of the detailed genetics involved in the syndrome.