sarah plain and tall jeff cole bishop elementary

Sarah Plain and Tall

Jeff Cole

Bishop Elementary

Linguistic Considerations

All questions have question marks ?, use the correct upward inflection at the end of a question when you ask it.

Question words are followed by verbs: Who the girl? Who is the girl? Where you live? Where do you live? What he say? What did he say? Or What did he

say? Past tense of sing is sang. I like to sing. I am singing. I sang yesterday I will

sing tommorow.

Adapted by Mr.Cole Bishop

Selection Background

The family in this story lived on the prairie more than 100 years ago. There were no big cities or hospitals on the prairie. Most people lived on farms far away from one another. Woman often died during or shortly after childbirth because it was difficult to get medical care in such an isolated place. It was also difficult for men to meet new woman to marry. So men often placed advertisements in newspapers to find a new wife. The men would describe themselves and their families in the ads. Then woman would answer the ads by letter. Examples of classified ads or job listings:


Day 1 Asking Questions (Read 48-51): praire, hearthstone, remember, died, born, sing

I’ll give you an answer. You ask me the question it answers Anna is telling the story. Who is telling the story? The story begins in the winter. When does the story begin? The family lives on the praire. Where does the family live? Anna is making bread and talking to Caleb. What is Anna doing? Caleb feels sad. How does Caleb feel? Caleb cannot remember his Mama because she died when he was

born? Why can’t Caleb remember his Mama?


Day 1 Comprehension

How did Anna and Caleb’s mother die?

What kind of pets do Anna and Caleb have?

Why do you think Papa does not sing anymore?


Vocabulary Quiz Sarah Day 2

Fiesty Energetic Pesky Mild mannered Troublesome

causing problems causing problems or difficultiesor difficulties

annoyingannoying gentle in naturegentle in nature full of energyfull of energy having energy; having energy;

spiritedspirited

Day 2 Asking Questions (read 52-55) Maine, wife, place, advertisement, married, sea, letter, worried

Day 1 praire, hearthstone, remember, died, born, sing I’ll give you an answer. You ask me the question it answers Jacob places an advertisement because he want to find a new

wife. Why does Jacob place an advertisement? Sarah lives by the sea in Maine. Where does Sarah live? Sarah lives with her brother. Who does Sarah live with? Sarah wants to move because her brother is getting married. Why does Sarah want to move?


Day 2 Comprehension

She writes a letter. Who gets the first letter back from

Sarah? Anna How can you tell that Anna asked Sarah

a lot of questions in her letter? Sarah’s letter seems to be answering a

lot of specific questions.Adapted by Mr.Cole Bishop

Vocabulary Quiz Sarah Day 3

Fiesty Energetic Pesky Mild mannered Troublesome

annoyingannoying gentle in naturegentle in nature full of energyfull of energy having energy; having energy;

spiritedspirited causing problems causing problems

or difficultiesor difficulties

Day 3 Ask Questions (56-59) month, visit, by train, train station, plain, chore, porch, wait, bonnet

Day 2 Maine, wife, place, advertisement, married, sea, letter, worried

I’ll give you an answer. You ask me the question it answers. Sara will come visit the family by train. How will Sarah come to visit the family? Sarah will wear a yellow bonnet. What will Sarah wear? The family will know who Sarah is because she is plain and

tall. How will the family know who Sarah is? Sarah will come in the spring. When will Sarah come?


Comprehension Day 3

How long will Sarah visit the family? A month Where does Papa go to get Sarah/ The train station Where do Anna and Caleb wait for Sarah to come? The porch Why do you think Caleb is so worried about Sarah’s

visit? He wants a mother, and he wants Sarah to like

hime and his family.


Anything Goes Vocabulary Quiz: Sarah Day 4 Fiesty, Energetic, Pesky, Mild mannered, Troublesome

What is the meaning of this word? Mild mannered-_______________________________________________ Can you use the word in a sentence? __________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________ What are some aimilarities and differences between these two words? pesky fiesty __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ Can you use this word and another word in a sentence? troublesome & energetic Can you spell the past tense form of this word? mild manner What is the part of speech (or two parts of speech) of this word? (Noun-person, place or thing; Adjective-describing word; Verb-action word)

Mild mannered energetic

Think of a synonym and antonym of this word. Fiesty _____________ ____________ SYNONYM ANTONYM

Day 4 Daily Vocabulary Review

Day 1 praire, hearthstone, remember, died, born, sing

Day 2 Maine, wife, place, advertisement, married, sea, letter, worried

Day 3 month, visit, by train, train station, plain, chore, porch, wait, bonnet

Day 4 dust, verb, wagon, stone, shell, change your mind, perfect, wish


Day 4 Ask Questions (Read 60-63)

I’ll give you an answer. You ask me the question it answers

Yes, Anna and Caleb see Anna in the wagon. Do Anna and Caleb see Sarah in the wagon. No, Sarah does not bring the sea with her, but she

brings a shell and stone from the sea. Does Sarah bring the sea with her? Yes, Anna thinks that Sarah is plain and tall. Does Anna think that Sarah is plain and tall? Yes, Anne is worried that Sarah will change her

mind and leave. Is Anna worried that Sarah will change her mind and

leave?


Day 4 Comprehension

What pet does Sarah bring with her? Her cat, Seal What does Sarah bring from the sea

for Anna and Caleb? A stone and shell What does Anna wish to be for Sarah? Perfect


Answering Questions Test Day 5

I’ll give you an answer. You ask me the question it answers. Anna, Caleb, and Papa are the family in the story.

They live on the prairie.

The father placed an advertisement because he wanted a wife.

The family got to know Sarah by reading and writing letters.

Yes, Anna and Caleb wanted Sarah to visit.

Sarah came to visit the family during the spring.

Sarah gave them a stone and shell from the sea.

Yes, Anna wished to be perfect like the stone.


Comprehension Test Day 5

Papa places an advertisement to find a wife. Why is this taking a risk?

Sarah leaves her home and visits the family on the prairie. How is this taking a risk?

Anna and Caleb let Sarah become part of the family. How is this taking a risk?


sarah plain and tall jeff cole bishop elementary

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