Elicit non-trivial dialogue from students. Guide students to reflection and analysis of the experience. Encourage students to share their perceptions and beliefs. Summarize and review similarities and differences.

Reflective paragraph: discussion of separation.

Objective: To analyze the experience of separation.

Activity: Students write a reflective paragraph expressing their feelings when separation occurs. They are encouraged to share their paragraphs with the class in discussion. Teacher extends discussion of separation to elicit other examples from students' lives: divorce, death of a loved one (even a pet), moving from elementary school to middle school, examples from current events. Teacher introduces the book, Where the Red Fern Grows, and the theme of separation which runs throughout the story. Focus is on the bond that forms in relationships.

Assessment: Quality of discussion and relevance of student contributions.