Dandelions
A Reminder of Home
A Reminder of Home
TITLE: Dandelions
AUTHOR:
Eve Bunting
Illustrated By: Greg Shed
Cyberlesson Prepared by: Presented
Heather Earley
by: Heather Earley
Recommended for grade 5Recommended Grade Level: 5
Picture Courtesy of www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/eve-bunting
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Introduction
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During the 1800’s many Americans grew restless
of their surroundings, and longed for adventure.
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, more than
doubled the size of the United States. These
restless Pioneers jumped at the chance to move to
a new land, and try to make a new life in the new
Western Territories. There were no planes, cars or
even railroads to move these Pioneers. So, they
would buy some horses, or oxen, a wagon and
pack everything they owned and begin their walk
across the country. Imagine that! The physical
hardships they faced were one thing, but these
Pioneers also faced many emotional challenges
along the way. As you read Dandelions you will put
yourself in the shoes of the Pioneers and face
some tough decisions of your own.
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Materials
Computer with Internet Connection
Oregon Trail Explorer Site
Thinkquest Oregon Trail
Map of the Trail and Landmarks
Oregon Trail PBS
Dandelions By Eve Bunting
Pioneer Reader Response Journal
Pencil
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Before Reading Activity
Your parents have made the decision to head West
on the Oregon Trail. Before you leave on your
journey you have to decide what you will take with
you, and what you will leave behind. Use the list on
the next slide to determine what you will bring, and
what you will leave.
There is very little room in your wagon, so you can
only bring 6 items with you.
Create the list of what you will bring in your Pioneer
Journal, along with the list you must explain why
you decided what to bring with you.
In your Pioneer Journal, make a prediction about
how this story will be different from Grasshopper
Summer, based on the cover and the knowledge
that the two children in this story are girls.
Let’s continue
What to bring???
In your pioneer journal make a list of the 6 things that you will bring with you on your journey West.
Remember to write an explanation of why you chose the items you did
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Bed
Extra pair of pants
Extra shirt
Shoes
Favorite toy
Books
Journal
Dishes
Utensils
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Pots
Pans
Beads
Seeds
Blankets
Pillows
Saw
Axe
Matches
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During Reading Activity
Stop at the line, “I’ll get us a window and a canary, too,” he
promised. (This line appears as the family is leaving from
their visit at the Svensons’ house before they stake their
land.
Visit the Map of the Trail and Landmarks website, use the
Timeline in your Pioneer Journal to create a timeline of the
different places the family would have visisted on their
journey West. Be sure to include some of the things they
would have seen each place they passed, and be sure to
include the visit to the Svensons.
Let’s continue
Journey Timeline
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After Reading Activity
Let’s continue
At the end of the story Mama was waiting patiently
for her Dandelions to bloom on the roof of the
house. The flowers were a gift from Zoe, Rachel,
and Papa.
In your Pioneer journal pretend that you are Mama,
and write a journal entry about the morning you
went outside and found the gift from your family.
Make sure you include what your reaction was,
how you felt, and why you think they did this for
you. If you would like you can include a drawing of
what you saw as you left the dugout that morning
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Beyond Reading Activities
Let’s continue
1. You have read about Zoe, Rachel, Mama and Papa’s journey in Dandelions. You are continuing to read
about a families journey in Grasshopper Summer. To extend your thinking about the Westward Journey
that so many people made you are to visit the following websites. Take notes about what Pioneers faced
as they moved West in your Pioneer journal. As your explore the websites, focus on the personal
experiences of the Pioneers.
Oregon Trail Explorer Site
Thinkquest Oregon Trail
Map of the Trail and Landmarks
Oregon Trail PBS
2. Now that you have explored the websites, and researched more about Pioneer life, in your Pioneer journal,
answer the following question: Would you want to journey west in a covered wagon? Be sure to include
information from all of the sources you have looked at in defending your decision
3. Go back to your before reading page of your Pioneer Journal. Look at the list of items you decided to bring with
you. Now that you know more about what the Pioneers faced on their journey, would you change some of the
things that you brought with you and exchange them for things you left behind? Write a short response in your
journal explaining what you would now change to bring with you.
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Rubric
Let’s continue
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3
2
1
Before
Reading
Activity
List of what is being taken
includes 6 items, and a
reason for taking each item
in the written response
List of what is being taken
includes 6 items, and a
general reason for why all
of the items would be taken
in the written response
List of what is being
taken includes fewer
than 6 or more than 6
items. The reason for
taking the items is
general.
List of what is being taken
is fewer than or more than
6 items. No reason for why
these things were chosen is
given.
During
Reading
Activity
Timeline includes 4 major
stops along the trail, as
detailed on the Website,
AND the details from the text
about the families journey.
At least 1 detail about each
stop beyond the basic
information
Timeline includes 4 major
stops along the trail, as
detailed on the Website,
AND the details from the
text about the families
journey. At least 1 specific
detail about 3 stops beyond
the basic information
Timeline includes 2
major stops along the
trail. Includes at least 1
specific detail about 2
stops beyond the basic
information
Timeline includes 1 major
stop along the trail. May
include misinformation or
incorrect details
After
Reading
Activity
Journal entry accurately
reflects how you think Mama
would have reacted to her
surprise. Response includes
specific details to the 3 items
you were asked to consider
Journal entry accurately
reflects how you think
Mama would have reacted
to her surprise. Response
includes specific details to
2 of the items you were
asked to consider
Journal entry reflects
how you think Mama
would have reacted.
General details or no
consideration to the 3
items are included
Journal does not reflect a
reaction appropriate to
what was read in the story,
or it is not written from
Mama’s perspective
Beyond
Reading
Activity_
Web Site
Review
Notes page reflects review of
all 4 websites, and multiple
components of each website.
Decision statement is based
on experiences gained from
the cyberlesson, and
includes specific details
supporting the decision from
each source
Notes page reflects review
of all 4 websites, and
multiple components of
each website.
Decision statement is
based on experiences
gained from the
cyberlesson, and includes
specific details supporting
the decision from each
source
Notes page reflects a
review of the basic
information from all 4
sources.
Notes page reflects the
review of some of the
websites.
Beyond
Reading
ActivityWhat to
bring
review
Review was completed of
your original list, specific
details were given as to what
you would change about your
original list of what to bring
Review was completed of
your original list, general
details were given as to
what you would change
about your original list of
what to bring
A statement was made
about what you would
change from your list,
not real reasons were
given
Decision statement is
based on general
information gained from
the cyberlesson, some
specific but more
general details are
given.
Decision statement is very
general, and could have
been written without any
work being completed on
the cyberlesson.
No statement was made
about what you would
change on your original list.
Or no reason was given as
to why you would not
change what you had
planned to bring.
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Credits
Text Credit:
Dandelions By: Eve Bunting, Illustrated by: Greg Shed. Voyager
Books, Harcourt, inc. 1995
Graphics/Graphic Organizer Credits:
www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/eve-bunting
http://www.gatewayno.com/history/images/la-purchaselarge.jpg
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/graphic/timeline.pdf
Website Credits:
http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/
http://www.42explore2.com/oregon.htm
http://www.historyglobe.com/ot/otmap1.htm
Let’s continue
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Teacher Page
This lesson could be implemented
whole group, small group or
individual students. The intention
was for it to be done by small groups
during guided reading as
independent practice for higher level
groups, and for guided reading with
support for other groups.
The students for whom this lesson
was intended are reading
Grasshopper Summer by Ann Turner.
This lesson can still be done by
students who have not read that
novel. Just remove the prediction
and after reading activities that tie to
the novel.
Let’s continue