copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
Novel Information and Resources:
Reading Activities compiled by Katie Reese
|During Reading | After Reading |Before Connections
1. Greentown, Illinois: A Home for Ray Bradbury. Dreamhost.com. Drew Dir. 24 January
2006. <http://redwood.stormloader.com/bradbury/>• A site containing biographical information on the author, as well as information on the real town that the imaginary Greentown was modeled after. This website could be helpful for a teacher beginning to introduce her students to Bradbury.
2. Meet the Writers: Ray Bradbury. 2003. Barnes and Noble. 25 January 2006.
<http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?cid=89682>.• This interview with Ray Bradbury will give students a personal connection to Ray Bradbury. It will help them understand him as a person, and grant them an understanding of why he wrote the way he did, as well as why he wrote about what he did.
3. InfoPlease. 2005. Pearson Education. 26 January 2006.
<http://www.infoplease.com/year/1928.html>.• This website contains historical information about the year the events of Dandelion Wine take place in. The information contained on this site could be used in order to orient students historically before they begin reading the text.
4. Ray Bradbury. 2001. Harper Collins Publishers/Authors on the Web.com. 23 January 2006.
<http://www.raybradbury.com/index.html>.• This website provides links to more than biographical information on the author. More importantly it contains information on Bradbury’s intentions as an author. Information on this site could be used to introduce students to what Bradbury was really all about as a writer.
5. Ray Bradbury Online. 8 October 2005. Kevin Unangst. 25 January 2006
<http://raybradburyonline.com>.• A site containing a link to Bradbury’s biography, images, as well as lists of awards the author has won. This site contains links to information any teacher could use when introducing the author of Dandelion Wine.
6. Reese, Katie J. “Connecting With the Past.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• Dandelion wine is a book that connects generations in various parts of the text. As an activity, students will visit a retirement home and interview an elderly person. The activity will provide them with an opportunity to connect to an older generation, just as characters do in Bradbury’s story. This activity will introduce students to a theme that they will later experience in the story.
7. Reese, Katie J. “Childhood Summer Revisited.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.
• In a writer’s notebook have students free-write about a summer experience from their childhood. Explain that the experience should be something they clearly remember and that the assignment will be graded on content, not mechanics. Encourage students to use vivid imagery. This exercise will prepare students for reading of the novel. As they reminisce about their past it will directly tie into Bradbury’s story.8. Reese, Katie J. “The Introduction Connection.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• Before students read a single chapter of the actual story, read the introduction to the novel as a class. Discuss Bradbury’s motivation for writing the novel, as well as the autobiographical elements they should expect. This exercise will make the reading of the novel more real to students.
9. Reese, Katie J. “The Circle of Life.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• Have students watch a clip from Disney’s “The Lion King” or play the song “Circle of Life” while displaying the lyrics on an overhead. Have students write about what they think “the circle of life” means to them, or have them discuss this in small groups/as a class. It will be important for students to examine these themes prior to starting a reading of the novel.
10. Waukegan at the Top of Illinois. 26 January 2006. City of Waukegan’s Office of Public
Relations and Marketing. 27 January 2006. <http://www.waukeganweb.net/>.• A site containing information about Ray Bradbury’s hometown. Because Dandelion Wine is somewhat autobiographical, it is important that students understand where Bradbury experienced childhood in order to understand the novel.
1. Beyond the Core: Dandelion Wine. Exxon Mobile Masterpiece Theatre’s American
Collection Educator’s Site. 5 February 2006.
<http://www.ncteamericancollection.org/beyondthecore/dandelion_wine.htm>• A wonderful idea to get students interested in the curriculum. Students will create a folder collaged with images they feel represent summer. They will include a descriptive essay of their summer memories in the folder (in imitation of Douglas Spaulding). The folder could also be used to house a portfolio of all of their class work during the Dandelion Wine unit.
2. Bookrags.com 2006. Bookrags, Inc. 30 January 2006.
<http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-dandelion-wine/>.• This site contains free excerpts from a unit kit an educator can purchase on Dandelion Wine. The excerpts are actually quite helpful in understanding the text. They include teaching ideas, study guide starters, biography information on the author, and other applicable information.
3. Common Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale). Steve Brill. 3 February 2006.
<http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Dandelion.html>.• Can you really eat and drink dandelions? It turns out Bradbury wasn’t making it up! The summer-time weeds that plague every yard are, in actuality, entirely edible. This excerpt from a nature expert’s book explains the multiple uses of dandelions, and is a great supplementary source for explaining this concept to students.
4. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. 8 January 2006. The Best Notes. 5 February 2006.
<http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Dandelion_Wine/Dandelion_Wine01.html>.• Contains helpful links for students and teachers. A ready to give quiz, with answer key is provided on the site, as well as chapter summaries, historical information, and much more.
5. Dandelion Wine Vocabulary. Quia. 5 February 2006.
<http://www.quia.com/mc/138954.html>.• An interactive vocabulary matching game. The site also provides a list of words and definitions used in the activity. The main page also provides a way to make interactive flashcards online with vocabulary words. The information used on the site could be reproduced in a worksheet format for classroom use, or if students have access to a computer lab the activity could actually be completed online.
6. Mengeling, Marvin E. “Ray Bradbury's ‘Dandelion Wine’: Themes, Sources, and Style.”
The English Journal. 60.7. (October 1971): 877-887. JSTOR 4 February 2006 <http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=00138274%28197110%2960%3A7%3C877%3ARB%22WTS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7>.• An article analyzing the Bradbury’s text. This would make a great supplementary source for any educator teaching Dandelion Wine. Students could either read the entire article or sections of the article. Students could then discuss them as a class/write personal responses.
7. Ray Bradbury. 1 October 2005. Phil Nichols. 28 January 2006.
<http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~in5379/index.htm >.• This site contains some great supplementary material, particularly in the audio and film & TV sections. The site contains an audio clip of Ray Bradbury discussing his main character Douglas. It also provides information on a documentary that contains film interpretation of Dandelion Wine.
8. Reese, Katie J. “Awakened Senses.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• In the novel, Douglas begins to recognize moments in his life in a new light. His senses are awakened, and in a sense, he feels “alive” for the first time. Assign students a free-write/writer’s notebook entry in which they describe their own “revelation” in the same style as Douglas. Have them explore an ordinary moment from their day with “new” and “descriptive” eyes. You could also share examples from other authors who have had this same sense of wonder and awakening. Helen Keller and Thoreau would be great examples. Musical artists could also provide a fun way to do this, and you could play a song exploring this theme in class.
9. Research Project: Dandelion Wine. 15 May 2000. The Literary Link. 2 February 2006.
<http://theliterarylink.com/dandelion.html>.• A valuable list of short answer questions and answers produced by English professors. These could also be used as a set of thought-provoking discussion questions. An excellent tool for anyone teaching Dandelion Wine.
10. Sparknotes. 2006. Barnes and Noble. 26 January 2006.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dandelion/>.• This site contains links to valuable information. A character list, plot summary, major theme analysis, and study guides are just a few. A very valuable site for both teachers and students.
1. Author Profile: Ray Bradbury. 2004. Random House for High School Teachers. 11
February 2006
<http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/author.pperl?authorid=2990>.• This site contains a list of every work by Ray Bradbury, with brief descriptions of each (and a way to buy them). This provides a great way to decide what work to head into next if doing an entire Bradbury unit.
2. C., Jessica. “Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.” Rev. of Dandelion Wine, by Ray
Bradbury. Teen Ink: Book Reviews Written by Teens. 2006. 11 February 2006 <http://www.teenink.com/Past/1993/4032.html>.• A book review of Dandelion Wine written by a teen! After discussing this teen’s review of the story, students can produce their own book reviews. Their understanding of the book’s themes can be assessed through the project, and a new writing style can be explored at the same time!
3. Cather, Willa. My Ántonia. Toronto: Broadview, 2003.
• This novel will provide students with another great nostalgic read. This work also reflects on the 20s, and is also semi-autobiographical. If a teacher wants to continue similar themes with a different author, this novel by Willa Cather will prove a great transitional piece. This particular edition of the novel provides great appendixes with excellent supplementary material.
4. Dodds, Georges T. “Dandelion Wine: Ray Bradbury.” Rev. of Dandelion Wine, by
Ray Bradbury. SF Site Reviews. 1999. 12 February 2006. <http://www.sfsite.com/03a/dan52.htm>.• A review of Ray Bradbury’s novel Dandelion Wine, the site also offers insight into some of Bradbury’s other works. If a teacher decides to do an entire Bradbury unit, this review offers some ways to bridge into other stories by this author.
5. Reader’s Choice: Summer Reading. East Haven Public Schools: Joseph Melillo
Middle School. 11 February 2006 <http://www.easthaven.k12.ct.us/jmms/summerreading.html>.• Although this is a reader-response form used for a summer reading program, the questions can easily be used for an after reading exercise. Have students fill out this sheet prior to discussion on the text. This way they will all have ideas to bring to an open discussion about the same questions.
6. Reese, Katie J. “Memories Become More.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young
University. <http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• To tie in with an earlier project, have students use the results of their interview with an elderly person to create a story. Have them mimic Bradbury’s vivid, descriptive style in telling the story. This assignment will bring the person’s memories to life in the way Bradbury rejuvenates the tale of his childhood. As an added bonus, the students could even share their stories with the person they interviewed on another day trip.
7. Reese, Katie J. “Mimicking a Master.” 2006. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.
<http://english.byu.edu/Novelinks/default.html>.• Have students re-vamp their earlier writer’s notebook entry. As a before connection, students were asked to describe a memory from their childhood in vivid detail. Now, have them mimic the style of Ray Bradbury, by changing this entry into a short story about a character. Just as Dandelion Wine is semi-autobiographical, their short story will follow this same pattern.
8. Sample Some Wine. AKF Studios. 7 February 2006
<http://www.artbeco.com/dandelionwine/SampleWineMain.htm>.• Yes, there really is a band called Dandelion Wine. And they even have a song called Dandelion Wine. This could be a way to show students how Ray Bradbury has inspired people through his novel. You could listen to the song (which from the sample online relates to the themes in the story) as a class, or just discuss how Bradbury’s literature inspires.
9. Study Questions and Essay Topics: Sparknotes. 2006. Barnes and Noble. 11 February
2006. <http://cgi.sparknotes.com/hlite.mpl?words=dandelion,wine&pd=0&page=study.html&nfs=0&guide=%2flit%2fdandelion>.• Essay topics/short answer study questions on Dandelion Wine.
10. The Bradbury Chronicles. Harper Collins Publishers. 2005. 10 February 2006
<http://www.bradburychronicles.com/index.htm>.• This site contains information on a new, authorized biography of Ray Bradbury. This book may offer insights for teachers as they decide where to take their students following a reading of Dandelion Wine.
Back to Bradbury's page
Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel