Tinkers Farm

pearsonenglishreaders.com © Pearson Education Limited 2016 Tinkers Farm - Teacher’s notes 1 of 1

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SummaryTinkers Farm is a sequel of Tinkers Island. The story is set in 1800; the Tinkers – Sam Tinkers and his teenage daughter Jenny – started their new life in America.

Pages 1–7: It was June, 1800. Sam and Jenny arrived in New York. Both Sam and Jenny got work at Jack Crane’s farm. Jenny started to work in a farmhouse with an Indian girl called Blue Sky. One day Blue Sky took Jenny to the Indian village, and after that Jenny became a regular visitor there.

Pages 8–15: Jenny and Sam were not happy working at the farm as Jack Crane treated them badly. They started to dream of having their own farm. One Sunday Sam fell out with Jack, and he decided to leave the farm. Jenny visited the Indian village, thinking it would be the last visit. Blue Sky and Jenny found the Indian Chief’s son drowning in the river, and Jenny saved his life. The Chief was so thankful that he gave Jenny some land. At last Sam and Jenny can start their own farm – Tinkers Farm.

Background and themes

Late 18th–early 19th century U.S. agriculture: It was before the revolution in agricultural technology, and American farmers relied heavily on horses and farm labour. The life of a worker was not easy; wages were low, hours long and working condition hazardous.

Indians: These people are the first inhabitants of American continent. They are also referred to as American Indians or Native Americans. They comprise hundreds of different tribes.

Discussion activities

Pages 1–7Before reading1 Discuss: Talk about a ‘farm.’ Have students brainstorm. Then write a mind-map on

the board. What do you know about a ‘farm’? Do you know any

farm animals or products?

While reading2 Read carefully: Stop reading at the end of page 1. Jenny says, ‘We are here. We are really here.’ What does

she mean? What do you think she’s thinking?3 Role play: Stop reading at the end of page 3. Have

students work in groups and act out the conversation beside the Red Rose.

Imagine you are Sam, a man with a green coat, and Jack Crane. Before acting out the conversation, discuss what Sam is going to say to Jack.

After reading4 Discuss: Talk about ‘Indians’. What do you know about Indians? Do you know what

they look like? Clothes? Hairstyle?

Pages 8–15 While reading5 Imagine: Stop reading at the end of page 11. Imagine that you see someone in the river. This person

cannot swim and asks for help. What do you do?

After reading6 Discuss: Talk about the characters. Have students work in pairs. See the example below: What do you think of the characters? Do you like (Jenny)? Why?

like dislike not sure Why?Jenny ✓

Sam ✓

Jack Crane ✓

Blue Sky ✓

Silver Cloud ✓

7 Imagine: Have students work in pairs. Imagine you have your own farm. What do you want to do? Have each pair share their ideas with the rest of the class.

Stephen Rabley