Book-Based Skill Builders

The Prophecy of Nanuak
based on Wolf Brother
by Michelle Paver
Grades: 6–8

View and print the student activity sheet (PDF)

About the Book
Six thousand years ago, twelve year old Torak, of the Wolf clan, lived an isolated life with his father, hunting and gathering in the forest. Torak is faced with a difficult situation when his father is attacked by a bear possessed by an evil spirit. Torak promises his dying father that he will travel to a distant mountain to kill the bear so that the forest will be safe. As his journey begins, he meets his guide, a wolf cub, and a girl of the Raven clan named Renn. According to prophecy, only Torak can defeat the evil bear. Torak, the wolf cub and Renn face dangerous obstacles as they gather three pieces of the Nanuak which are required for Torak to conquer the bear.

Set the Stage
Use the following to get the students ready to read:

• Discuss the cover and title. Allow students to predict what they think the book will be about.
• The story takes place six thousand years ago in what is now modern day Northern Europe. Locate and discuss that area on a world map.
• Find out what students know about the time period, the Mesolithic era, where the story takes place. Discuss how the area and the people of that time might be different today.

Review
After reading the book, discuss the following:

• Define the terms clans and hunter-gather
• Why did Torak and his father live alone rather than with the clan?
• Discuss how Torak and wolf were alike and how they were different.
• How would the prophecy be remembered if there was no written language at the time?
• How did the following people�s beliefs guide their actions? Torak�s father, Torak, Fin-Kedinn, Renn, and Hord. Why were all the clans named after animals? Why did the people live in these groups?
• Why did the people believe that Torak was the Listener? Why do you think they used this term?
• Why was wolf so important to Torak�s journey?
• Why did Torak and Renn need protection from the Nanuak?
• Why was the bear attracted to the Nanuak?
• When the bear died, so did Hord. Why do you think that was significant?
• This book is the first in a series. Torak will be faced with other challenges. What do you think they will be?

Student Activity
Students will chart the actions and settings that took place in the book.

Related Activities
To extend the students� enjoyment of the book, try these:

• Fact is Stranger Than Fiction: Although Wolf Brother is fiction, it is set in the Mesolithic era. The author studied the archaeology of this era to give the reader a feeling of what life might have been like at the time. Have students prepare a chart listing information that could be true of this time period and information that would be fiction. Have students use the internet to verify their charts.
• Not in a Book: People of Torak�s time had no written language, yet the prophecy had been remembered. Discuss how people of that time might have passed information down from one generation to another - through songs, oral stories, or cave drawings. Have students choose an event in history and prepare a song or drawing to convey the important information.
• From Another Angle: Parts of the book are written from the wolf cub�s perspective. Discuss with students other books, stories or movies from different points of view. Have students write a short story from the point of view of an animal. Also suggest students read Jack London�s Call of the Wild for an entire novel from an animal�s perspective.
• The Culture of Clans: The people of Torak�s time lived in clans. Discuss why the clans were important to the survival of the people. What are some of the various roles people played in the clan such as the leader, spiritual guide, etc. Clans are also very much a part of other cultures. Have students research a Scottish clan. How did they function long ago, and what is their function now? Why do you think they might still be important to people today? Have students prepare a poster of what they have learned.
• Wolf Pack: The wolf cub was very important to Torak. His instincts were invaluable in their journey to the mountain. Have students use various resources such as the internet, nonfiction books or encyclopedias to find out more about wolves and their habits. Discuss how wolf was like normal wolves and how he was different.

(PDF)
View and print using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or higher. Get Adobe Acrobat for Free.

 

Featured Books

Check out our great selection of titles for Fall!

You'll find more activities like Booktalks and Read Alouds for many of the titles on your Book Fair this Fall.