Misty of Chinoteague
GEOGRAPHY IN LITERATURE by Marguerite Henry
Submitted by Janice Gibson
Based on the legend of ponies swimming to shore after a Spanish galleon wrecked off the Virginia coast, Misty of Chincoteague is the story of two children who want one of the ponies and their adventures during "pony penning day" and the sale which follows. Pony penning day is held once a year when volunteers from the local fire department round up some of the ponies to sale as a fundraiser for the fire department that year.
Lesson ideas
(Some activities may be more suited for group work)
1) Map the setting of the book. Include Assateague and Chincoteague Islands and other places mentioned in the book, such as Tom's Cove, Fishing Point, Snow Goose
Pond,
Assateague Channel, Highway 175, etc.
2) Although the legend of the Spanish galleon wrecking and the ponies aboard swimming to the islands is widely told, some historians doubt it is fact. Research and report on this and other theories of how the wild ponies came to be on these islands.
3) Report on the novel discussing it in relation to the five themes of geography. Tell about the location, human-environment interaction, place, movement, and region.
4) Pretend your family has asked you for suggestions on where you'd like to go for your family's vacation this year. You have just read Misty of Chincoteague and would like to go there. Develop many convincing points. a) The distance four home by car b) An estimate of the price of gas needed for the round trip c) The best route to take and the general direction you will travel d) The likely number of overnight stops on the way and estimated cost e) Interesting things to do and see on the way there f) Things your family could do and see on Chincoteague, Assateague, and in the area
5) Research the islands off the coast of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Tell how they were probably formed, what role they have played in the history of the area, and what problems they deal with today.

6) Wetlands are a special conservation concern. Research and report on wetlands, why they are considered important areas, and the controversy about conserving them. use specific examples from North Carolina. The GAW website will help -- www.nationalgeographic.com/gaw
7) Ocracoke Island off North Carolina also has wild horses. Research and compare and contrast the Assateague and Ocracoke herds. Include a Venn diagram.
8) Gather information about either the Chincoteague and Ocracoke horses. Include their breeds, what they look like, why they are often small, if the foals sold and raised with proper diets are always small, what they normally eat, if they are sold to people why, and what is done to make sure the herds continue.
9) Research some actual stories of ponies who have been bought at Chincoteague.
Write a story, either factual or realistic fiction based on your research.
10) Invite someone who raises and rides horses to speak to your class.
Other resources
Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 258, Chincoteague, VA 23336
Assateague Island National Seashore, 7307 National Seashore Lane, Route 611,
7307, Berlin, MD 21811
Assateague State Park, Route 611, Route 611, 7307 Stephen Decatur Highway,
Berlin, MD 21811
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 62, Chincoteague, VA 23336
Other books
Bullaty, Sonja and Angelo Lomeo. The Little Ponies, 1987, 24 pgs. A photo book of the ponies of Assateague.
Ford, Barbara and Ronald Keiper. The Island Ponies: An Environmental Study of
Their Life on Assateague, 1979. A scientific study of the ponies and their impact on the ecology of the island.
Grosvenor, Donna K. The Wild Ponies of Assateague Island, 1975, 30 pgs. Easy text and clear photographs of the ponies and pony penning day.

Henry, Marguerite. Album of Horses, 1951, 112 pgs. Examines 20 breeds of horses with facts and legends.
Henry, Marguerite. Misty's Twilight, 1992 143 pgs. A Florida family buys one of
Misty's descendants.
Henry, Marguerite. Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague, 1949, 172 pgs. The continuing story of Misty and the Beebe family.
Henry, Marguerite. Stormy, Misty's Foal , 1963, 224 pgs. A storm threatens the
Beebe family, Misty, and her foal.
Holiday House. A Picture Book of Ponies, 1983. Various breeds are shown with pictures and text.
LaBonte, Gail I. The Miniature Horse, 1990, 59 pgs. Information on miniature horses in America with additional sources listed.
Lavine, Sigmund and Brigid Casey. Wonders of Ponies, 1980, 80 pgs. Ponies from ancient times to the present including the cross-breeding which produced the
Chincoteague ponies
Patent, Dorothy H. Miniature Horses, 1991, 48 pgs. Two types of miniature horses are discussed with photographs.
Rand McNally. A Pictorial Life Story of Misty, 1976, 144 pgs. The actual Misty and
Beebe family are shown.
Rodenas, Paula. The Random House Book of Horses and Horsemanship, 1991, 180 pgs. Much informations with photographs, drawings, and charts.
Rood, Ronald. Hundred Acre Welcome: The Story of a Chincoteague Pony, 1967, 132 pgs. A factual account of buying a Chincoteague pony from a naturalist.
Scott, Jack. Island of the Wild Horses, 1978, 61 pgs. Nicely illustrated book describing most aspects of the chincoteague ponies.
Related web sites http://www.mapquest.com -- request Chincoteague, VA map http://www.chincoteaguechamber.com -- about Chincoteague http://www.chincoteague.com -- about Chincoteague http://www.ghostpony.com -- order T-shirts and gifts

http://www.quia.com/t/100058.html -- 10 questions quiz on Misty of Chincoteague http://www.chesapeakebaysampler.com/ys.html -- selling area photos but gives beautiful scenes of area, also links to other Chincoteague site http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/chinco.html -- information on the ponies http://www.sos.state.md.us/sos/kids/html/kidhome.html -- Maryland's kids page with inks to Misty sites http://www.theponycam.com/ -- pictures of the firemen's pony penning day http://www.four.net/~dosdona/ -- webpage of Nick, another Chincoteague pony http://www.ococeancam.com/assatg.html -- pictures of assateague http://www.plainfield.k12.in.hschool/webq/webq21/misty.html -- information and ctivities on Chincoteague http://www.beach-net.com/chincoteague/ponypage1.html -- brief history of ponies and other links http://www.nps.gov/asis/horses.html -- good information on the ponies on assateague