Name: __________
Family Under the Bridge
By: Natalie Savage Carlson
Chapter 1 & 2 Vocabulary
The Family Under the Bridge uses many new and old words (words we rarely use in our
language today). Before we read chapters 1 and 2, it will be important to build upon our
background knowledge. Use a dictionary to look up the definition of each word.
1. hobo
2. quay
3. gay
4. beret
5. buttress
6. roguish
7. gargoyles
8. tramp
9. garlanded
10. fledgling
11. Madame
12. Monsieur
Extra Credit!! While you read for your second time, add new words to the list and look them
up in the dictionary!
13.
14.
15.
Chapter 1 & Chapter 2
(pages 1-19)
___ Please make sure you’ve read chapter 1 & 2 two times
___ Inner Conversation:
-
Please record at least 1 connection (t-t, t-s, t-w) and explain how it helps you
understand the book.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
-
Please record at least 1 question you had while reading in your RRL
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
___ Pick one of the following activities:
1. Good readers are able to visualize what they read. Draw a picture of Armand’s
“home” beneath the bridge on the night he spends with the Calcet family. You must
use full color (no scribble). Please use a separate sheet of paper.
or
2. Suppose you were one of the Calcet children and that you kept a diary of what
happened to you each day. What would you write in your diary at the end of this
particular day? First, pick the child you would be and then write the diary entry as you
think that child would write it. (At LEAST 5 sentences)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Chapter 3 & 4
(pages 21-38)
New Words! Look up these words in the dictionary
1. turret
2. coaxed
3. vendors
4. brazier
5. forlorn
6. vagabond
7. haughty
On page 24, find a word that means to guide & protect ______________________
On page 25, look for the word that means respectfully _______________________
On page 31, find the word that means a group of four ______________________
On page 38, find the word that means sorrow ___________________________
Inner conversation: What’s happening inside your head? Any connections or questions? If
so, write them down…. Please, find at least 2 and write them in complete sentences.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________
The Calcet children were able to use their talent of singing to earn enough money to eat.
Imagine if you were without a home and had no money. Can you think of a talent that you
and your family members have that could help you earn money? What would you use the
money for? Think and write about it in complete sentences.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Optional Activity!
1. The Louvre department store, like any large store, probably uses advertisements to
attract customers. Use words and pictures to create a Parisian newspaper ad for the store
on the day Armand and the Calcet children visit the store.
2. On their way through the streets, Armand and the children pass the Hotel de Ville, a
building with fancy towers and turrets. Draw a picture (or you can create a model) of what
you think this building and surrounding area looks like. (page 21 )
Chapter 5
(pages 39-51)
Let’s Think!
Good readers are always thinking when they read. This is true whether they are making
connections, questions or inferences. Remember, reading is thinking and monitor the
conversation in your head!
In each of the passages below, you will find a word that is underlined. Read each sentence
carefully and try to decide what that underlined word means based in its use in the sentence.
First, on the line provided, write what you think the word means. Then, on the second line,
write the actual definition of the word after looking it up in the dictionary.
“They sell the most stuff at wholesale. But a fellow like me can sometimes wangle some food
there. I’ll try my luck.” Page 44
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
They pushed their carts past St. Eustache church and into a street teeming with other
carts. It was as if the great market had spilled into this street in streams of fish and meat
stands along both curbs. Page 46
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
On page 41, it says:
“And he didn’t sleep well that night. He kept wondering about the children. Were they warm
enough? Wouldn’t they be lonely? He tried to pretend to himself that he was fretting about
something else.”
After re-reading that passage, let’s infer how Armand feels about the Calcet children.
What do you think?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
Inner conversation: What’s happening inside your head? Any connections or questions? If
so, write them down…. Please, find at least 2 and write them in complete sentences.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________
Chapter 6 & 7
(pages 53 – 72)
New words!
On page 64, look for a word that means journey or trip _____________________
On page 68, look for a word that means chew or to eat _____________________
Activity time!
Pick one….
1. Life as a gypsy is certainly different that our lives! Compare and contrast your life to a
gypsy child’s life. You may use words, a Venn diagram, or you may use illustrations, your
choice!
2. The feast under the Tournelle Bridge is a colorful scene! Remember, as a reader, you
are able to visualize what you think scenes look like. You may build a model or draw a picture
showing what you think the feast under the bridge looks like. Use color and detail!
3. Imagine you are one of the Calcet children. Write a letter telling someone about your
experience on Christmas Eve. It can be addressed to a relative, a friend, or anyone else you
might know. Try to make the events as interesting and true to the book as possible.
Remember to use complete sentences!
Chapter 8 & 9
(pages 73-97)
Inner conversation: What’s happening inside your head? Any connections or questions? If
so, write them down…. Please, find at least 2 and write them in complete sentences.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________
Activity Time!
Pick one….
1. Imagine that you are Monsieur Brunot and that you need a caretaker for your building.
Write a newspaper ad for the position. Begin by telling what position is being offered.
Then describe what the caretaker’s duties will be, how much he or she will be paid, and what
qualities you want in your employee. You may write this in a paragraph or design it as a
flyer….your choice!
2. Draw a picture of what Armand and his new family’s home might look like after it has been
cleaned up and readied.
Optional Activities!
1. Write a brief play about a night in the life of Armand and the Calcet family once they have
settled into their new home. In your play, include what the family would do and say during the
evening.
2. Imagine you are one of the Calcet children and you are just returning to school after a long
absence. What adventures would you tell your friends about? Choose the child you would
want to portray, select one adventure and share it with the class as if you were that child.
Post-Reading Work
Story Elements
Characters:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
Setting:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
Plot:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
Outcome:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________
Write a summary of the story. Remember, a summary is not a retell. Please use a separate
sheet of binder paper to write your summary. Please double-check your work for complete
sentences and for the proper use of grammar. Remember…less is more!