Teacher Guides
|
Classroom discussions of Lea Wait's books might include questions like these:
Re: Stopping to Home
How was Abbie's and Seth's daily life different from ours today?
What expectations were there for children's contributions to family life in the early 19th century? And now?
What would happen to Abbie and Seth today if their mother died and their father could not be contacted?
How would Abbie's and Seth's lives have changed if they had had modern communications tools such as telephones?
When did Abbie touch the carved eider duck, and what did it mean to her?
What do you think happened to Abbie? To Seth? To Noah? after Stopping to Home ended?
Would you have liked to have been Abbie or Seth? Why, or why not?
Talk to your parents, your grandparents, or someone else you know who is older, and ask them what their world was like when they were your age. Did they watch TV? Did they help out at home? Do they know any stories about THEIR parents or grandparents?
What did the town of Wiscasset look like in 1806? Draw a map of the town based on the information in Stopping to Home.
Making quilts was a way women used up scraps of material and demonstrated their artistic abilities, at the same time they were making something that was useful for the home. No time wasted! Why don't you design a quilt square based on one of the scenes in Stopping to Home?
Do you wear hats? When, and what kinds? Look at a book on the history of clothing, or costumes, and see what hats Widow Chase, Mr. Bowman, Abbie, and Seth would have worn.
|
|
|
 |
St. Michael's Church, Charleston, South Carolina
|
|
|
| |
Re: Seaward Born
Why did Michael want to change his name? If you were going to choose a new name, what name would you choose? Why?
Many African Americans in Charleston had come from (or their parents or grandparents had come from) Gambia, in Africa. What did they bring from their Gambian heritage that became part of the culture of South Carolina?
People who were slaves worked for their masters, and did what they were told, without being paid. But the masters had responsibility to their slaves, too. What did masters provide for slaves?
In Seaward Born Michael/Noah lived in Charleston, in Boston, and then in the Maine seaport of Wiscasset. What was different about each of these places? What did the people do there? What was the relationship between African Americans and whites in each of these communities?
Michael/Noah's mama wanted him to do as he was told; his papa wanted him to be free. Why do you think they gave him different advice? Was one right and one wrong?
Can you think of something you would like to do today that might involve great risk ... but, if it were successful, would result in great rewards? How would your parents feel about your attempting it?
At first Michael can't decide whether to run away or stay in Charleston. Why should he run away? Why should he stay?
Michael has to leave many of his friends as his journey continues. What do you think happened to Cudjoe? To Jim? To Sarah? To Beck?
What are three new words you learned in Seaward Born? Draw a picture to illustrate one of them.
What are three new words you learned in Seaward Born? Draw a picture to illustrate one of them.
|
|
|
| |
 |
| Middle Street, Wiscasset, Maine |
|
| |
Re: Wintering Well
Why didn't Will's father want to call the doctor? What would a father do today if his son were injured?
What is gangrene? Could someone get gangrene today? If so, how would it be treated?
What choices did Will make after his accident? What choices did Cassie make? What, if anything, did they not have choices about?
Do you know anyone who is missing an arm or a leg? What happened to them? What sorts of jobs are available for them today?
Why is there a drawing of a feather at the beginning of each chapter in Wintering Well?
Some of the boys in Wiscasset made fun of Will because he was disabled. Do people in your town or school do that? What has changed and what has not changed about treatment of people with disabilities since 1820?
Cassie tries to meet the expectations her family has for her. Do you think she is happy? If Cassie were living today, what do you think she would choose to do?
Will, Cassie, Alice and Nathan all made different choices about their futures. Who do you think made the best choice? Why?
Maine became a state in 1820. What difference did that make in the lives of the characters in Wintering Well?
Do you feel sorry for anyone in Wintering Well? If so -- who do you feel sorry for? And why?
What does "wintering well" mean?
If you had lived in Maine in 1819, what would you have chosen to do? Continue in school? Work with your family on their farm or in their business? Be an apprentice?
What were the differences in choices girls and boys had? Are there any differences in choices girls and boys have today?
|
|
|
|
Re: Finest Kind
How does the relationship between Jake and Frankie change as the story continues? Why?
Jake's family has a secret. Does Nabby's family have a secret, too? What is it?
Do you think Simon should have been put in jail? Why, or why not?
Jake would like Tom to be his friend. Why do you think Tom is often mean to him?
What does "finest kind" mean?
No one, not even Dr. Theobold, can make Frankie's fits stop. Are there any physical problems or diseases today that no one can cure? Do you think that some day they will be curable?
What does it mean when Father gives Mother a mirror for Christmas?
In Finest Kind the people of Wiscasset celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. How are their celebrations different from those we have today?
Granny McPherson lives by herself, far away from other people. Why doesn't she live closer to the village of Wiscasset? Are there any people today who choose to live by themselves? Who? And why?
Granny is an old woman. Do you think people would have thought she was a witch if she was young and pretty?
Jake must learn many new things in Maine. What are some of those things? Which things do you think were the hardest for him to do?
How are people like Simon treated today?
There are people judged "insane" in the Wiscasset jail. What kinds of illnesses do we now know these people had, and how do we care for them?
|
|
|
|
|
|
