Sign of the Beaver

Author: Elizabeth George Speare
ISBN: 0440228301
Summary: When his father returns East to collect the rest of the family, 13-year-old Matt is left alone to guard his family's newly built homestead. One day, Matt is brutally stung when he robs a bee tree for honey. He returns to consciousness to discover that his many stings have been treated by an old Native American and his grandson. Matt offers his only book as thanks, but the old man instead asks Matt to teach his grandson Attean to read. Both boys are suspicious, but Attean comes each day for his lesson. In the mornings, Matt tries to entice Attean with tales from Robinson Crusoe, while in the afternoons, Attean teaches Matt about wilderness survival and Native American culture. The boys become friends in spite of themselves, and their inevitable parting is a moving tribute to the ability of shared experience to overcome prejudice.

SOCIAL STUDIES

History: Log Cabins
Matt and his dad had built a log cabin to live in. Research log cabins. How were they made? What did they place between the logs? Why? Make a miniature log cabin from sticks outside. Make the roof removable if you want so you can make things for the inside like chairs and tables, or beds, a cook stove, clay food, however detailed you would like.

History/Geography
Mark the year 1768 on your timeline.
Find Maine on the map; find Massachusetts (Quincy) on a map. Try to locate the Penobscot River.

Discussion: Heirlooms
Discuss the significance of the watch. Do you have anything that has been passed down? Now is a good time to talk about that.

History: Guns
Dad said there was plenty of powder if you do not waste it. Talk about how guns had the powder separate from the lead. Show a bullet now and how it is together. Show where the powder is and the lead. Shoot a gun with the above bullet. Show the empty casing. You can also discuss the fact that BB guns and pellet guns use air not gun powder. A good go along book is The Matchlock Gun.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Genre: Fiction vs. Non-fiction
Is this book fiction or non-fiction? Who is telling the story? (Discuss point of view)
Maybe an older student would like to rewrite a part of this chapter and tell it from Dad's point of view.

Descriptive Language
“It coiled around Matt and reached into his stomach to settle there in a hard knot.” This is very descriptive language. She could have just said, "Matt was nervous and scared." Try describing a feeling you once had, or even a place you like to be using descriptive language. Remember to use your thesaurus.

Try writing the following sentences with descriptive language:

    1. She was sad.
    2. The puppy was excited.
    3. This made his father very angry.
    4. His mother was overwhelmed with her fussy baby.

SCIENCE

Oiled paper- explain that historically they could not always afford glass so they used oiled paper. Put oil over a piece of white paper- what happens? Does this paper let more light through? Now sprinkle it with water. What happens to the water?

You could use this as a springboard to discuss finances and how they did not/could not simply go to the store and use a credit card. They had to learn to make due. If they did not have the cash, they usually just did without an item (although sometimes a storeowner would give you credit).

MATH

Keeping track of days- why did he put 7 notches on a stick? How many days were on 7 sticks? On 8? On 10? If 7 sticks would be August what month was it then?

SOCIAL STUDIES
Talk about him having to depend on his gun to keep his stomach filled (pg 8). Do we have to do that today? Why not? Could your family do that if needed? Do you know how to field dress an animal? Cut up a whole chicken? If your family has a way, try going on a hunting trip. Do not forget about the cleaning and skinning (field dressing) aspect of the hunt. If hunting is not possible, you may have a local place where you can buy a chicken to pluck dress and eat, or try catching fish for dinner.

SCIENCE
Try making a fire the way Matt did. Even using matches with no starter can be tricky. Learn to make a fire- if possible try to keep it going overnight.

Discussion: Instincts
Matt had an uneasy feeling about his visitor, but he ignored it. Was this wise? God gave us the warning/instincts and we should follow them when we feel people or situations are “not right” even if we are unsure why we feel that way.

French and Indian War
Ben mentions “the war” (pg 15) Do you know which war he is referring to? Mark it on your timeline. Do a little research on the French and Indian war. Have older students write a report on it.

Bears
A bear had gotten into the cabin. Can you determine what kind of bear it was? Fill out the Prepared Bear Sheet
You could also write a short report on bears including information on there habitat, foods, care of young, lifespan, etc… The Biography of a Grizzly is a good go-along book to read.

Chapter 5

HISTORY/SCIENCE

Bees
Pa said there were no bees in America till colonists brought them here. Is that true? Research and find out. Read a book about bees.
Fill in this Prepared Bee Sheet

Honey Bee Lapbook at HSS

Has your student ever tasted honey? Maybe re-read The Bee Tree (from FIAR Vol. 3) for fun. If you think it is appropriate, discuss bee attacks and appropriate health/safety measure that need taken when one is stung by a bee.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Indian Culture
Buy a kit from the craft store and make moccasins together. They are about $8 a kit. If that would not work for you try getting a book from the library that shows you how and buying the leather cloths you use to dry your car (in automotive section) with for the material.

Gift Giving
Matt knew that the man had given him much and wanted to give him something in return. He was willing to give him the only book he owned. The fact that he did not have much and was willing to give it was quite a sacrifice. While doing this my son mentioned that it reminded him of the Bible verse, John 3:16.

SCIENCE

Consumer Science
Corn was a very important part of Colonial American diet. Research to find out why. Is corn still an important part of our diet? How much corn is grown in the United States? How many products are made from corn? Try making corn cakes or hasty pudding.

Hasty Pudding- This dish was an absolute staple in Colonial times. It was called hasty because it takes only about 40 minutes to make . . . and in terms of early cooking techniques that was a very short time. It could be prepared quickly and served just with gravy. That was often the whole meal. Or it could be served as a side vegetable dish. The colonists would even sprinkle it with sugar and top with milk for dessert . . . or breakfast. Finally, it could be fried.

Recipe for Hasty Pudding
6 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup yellow cornmeal

Bring the water to a rapid boil in a heavy covered pot. Add the salt and slowly add the meal to the boiling water, stirring all the time. I use a wire whisk for this. Continue stirring until the cornmeal thickens, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat down low and cover the pot. Continue to simmer lightly, stirring the pudding several times, for 30 minutes more.

SCIENCE

Mosquitoes
Indians used grease to keep mosquitoes off. What do we use? Read up on mosquitoes and complete this Prepared Mosquito Form.

Matt’s only book is Robinson Crusoe. Have you ever read that book? Maybe now is a good time to introduce it. There is also a version called The Robinson Crusoe Reader for your younger student. See what you can find out about this book. Mark the year it was written on your timeline.

Learning to Read- Discussion
Why do you think Matt skipped the reading lesson and went on to reading the book? What do you think is more important- loving to read or learning to read? Sometimes parents kill the love of reading trying to teach reading. If it takes someone else longer to learn to read then you does that make you smarter?

Listmaking/Vocabulary
Try keeping a list from now on of all the Indian words you encounter in the text (and their meanings). You may even want to create a small Indian Vocabulary book. Using brown paper sacks (like grocery bags), wrinkle and crease and rub the material against each other until you have what looks like faux leather. Use two pieces of this for your cover. Place white paper inside (to write your words and definitions on). Punch three holes through the covers and the paper with a small hole punch. Use pieces of leather strung with pony beads to bind the end of the book-- stringing them through each hole. You may want to decorate your cover with feathers or smaller beads. Write My Indian Word Dictionary on the front.

Abenaki-Penobscot is an Algonkian language once spoken by two related tribes, the Abenaki (Abnaki) and the Penobscot. Today only a handful of Canadian Abenakis still speak the Western Abenaki language. The last fully fluent speaker of Eastern Abnaki/Penobscot has passed on, but several Penobscot elders still speak some of the language and are working to revive its use in the Penobscot Nation today.

List of Penobscot words used in Sign of the Beaver

CHAPTER #6
nda -- no
nkweniss -- grandson
seba -- tomorrow

CHAPTER #11
aremus - dog
piz wat -- good for nothing
kogw -- porcupine
qwa bit -- beaver

CHAPTER #13
ehe -- yes
chakwa -- this morning

CHAPTER #15
sigwan -- the season of spring

CHAPTER #16
kweh -- a greeting
ta ho -- That is the way it should be??? (found on-line)
ye hye hye -- ??? (could not find on-line)

CHAPTER #20
manitou -- dream spirit

CHAPTER #22
medabe -- white brother

Other Abenaki-Penobscot words your student might enjoy learning

Indiana Culture
Attean shows Matt how to make a snare. Learn how to make a snare and try it out. A good book for Indian crafts is the Indian How book

This chapter mentions cannibalism. You may want to discuss this or chose to skip it.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Vocabulary Words
sapling
contemptuous
spliced
mercilessly
stout
cannibal
beckoned
nonchalantly
bewildered
Look these up in a dictionary and write the definitions. Then, try using them in sentences.

Paragraph Writing/Critical Thinking
The last paragraph says he thought it was natural and right for the wild man to be the white man's slave. Discuss this- maybe right a short essay on your opinion of this.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Human Relationships: Pride
Matt’s pride was hurt when they went fishing together. Do you think Attean was doing this to make him feel inferior or to help him learn. Write a short essay on why you believe this.

Resourcefulness
Attean could make all that he needed. Colonists were good at “making do”. How do you think Americans are now at being resourceful? Do you think we are too dependent on stores and outside sources for our own well being?

LANGUAGE ARTS

Vocabulary
solemnly
incomprehensible
lunged
glare
scowl
Look these up in the dictionary. Use them in a sentence.

SCIENCE

Survival Skills
Try making a fire from a stone. Were you successful? Why or why not?
Can you roast a fish you caught (or bought) over a fire outside?

LANGUAGE ARTS

Descriptive Writing
look at the way the author describes Dog. Describe your pet using descriptive language.

SCIENCE

Animals
Dog and Beaver are both mentioned in this chapter- read more on each and fill out the form for them.
Prepared Dog Form
Prepared Beaver Form

SOCIAL STUDIES

Map Skills
Attean taught Matt how to find his way home. Can your student lead the way home from church? The store? What about in the woods? Try going to a state park or nature center and letting your student lead on one of the trails.

Chapter 12

SOCIAL STUDIES
Indiana Culture: Make a bow/arrow
Matt and Attean made a bow and arrows. Does your student have an interest in making things like the Indians did? The Indian How Book is a good source of ideas.

SCIENCE

Think of the possible reasons for rubbing oil on the wood. Do a science experiment to see what happens. Don’t forget to write it up with your hypothesis, method, and conclusion.

Vocabulary
sinew
envious
chagrined
Look these up in the dictionary, then use them in a sentence.

Point of View
Discuss that this story is written in Matt’s point of view. Have your student rewrite this chapter (or just a paragraph) from Attean’s point of view.

Discussion Questions
Do you think it was right or wrong to leave the fox in the trap? Why?

Even today people hunt only for furs or mounts or antlers and do not eat what they kill. This is sometimes called trophy hunting. What are your views on this?

Vocabulary
shrewd
pity
Look these up in the dictionary, then use them in a sentence.

Indian Dictionary of Words
Remember to keep working on this!

SCIENCE

Herbs and Plants
This chapter talks about a small orange flower with milky juice in its stem used for bites or poison ivy- do you know what it is? Find out if you can. Try looking in a encyclopedia of herbs such as Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs.

What about the plant with brownish flowers that thickens stews and makes it more nourishing?

LANGUAGE ARTS

Vocabulary
inspiration

Reading and Storytelling
How we read aloud or tell a story (voice inflection, sound effects, exclamation, drama, etc.) affects how interesting it is. Have your child practice telling a favorite story or poem. You could also have them retell one of the Bible stories mentioned in this chapter.

BIBLE

Story of Noah
See if you can find an Indian (or another culture's) tale of the flood. How does your student think this story has crossed so many cultures?

Different Beliefs
Talk about Indian tribes and different beliefs. Prayer Guide for American Indians from Sonlight could be helpful. Maybe you could also find them in Window on the World.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Vocabulary
halted

Descriptive Writing
Use of descriptive words. Notice the author does not use the same words over and over. She chooses interesting verbs and adjectives to describe things. Make a list of adjectives and verbs used on page 71 (or entire chapter) See if you can use them in sentences of your own.

SCIENCE
Why should Matt not have run from the bear? Do you live where your child might meet a dangerous animal? Don’t forget about neighborhood dogs. Talk about what they should do in dangerous circumstances.

SOCIAL STUDIES
It says in Attean’s world everything killed must be used. This was a time of beaver trappers trapping and killing beavers for the fur only. Colonists and Englishman loved beaver fur hats- they were very stylish. Research the ways that Indians used the entire animal as a resource.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Indian Culture: Wigwams
Attean’s people lived in wigwams. Look at a picture of a wigwam and discuss how they are made.
If you are ambitious, you may even want to try to Make a Wigwam.

Indian Culture: Dance
Indians used dances for a lot of ceremonies. Do some research on the different kind of Indian dances (rain dance, hunting dances, wedding dances, feast dances)? Try to find a video that shows an Indian dance. An excerpt from the movie Dances with Wolves may be appropriate to watch here also. I cannot specifically remember anything I do not want my children to see, but it has been along time since I watched this movie so please preview it.

SOCIAL STUDIES

This chapter discusses the trouble between settlers and Indians. Discuss it. Why were the Indians upset? Why were the settlers? You can read a story of Indian Captive. This is an especially good point of view book. If you do not read the whole book just the first three chapters make a good settlers point of view.

MATH

Story Problem
Ten sticks = ten weeks. How many days is that? How many months?

Vocabulary
placid
frenzied
Look these up in the dictionary, then use them in a sentence.

SCIENCE

Attean’s grandmother was afraid that the cut from the trap would “make poison”. What was she talking about? How do we prevent it now? If it does get infected how do we treat it now?

Vocabulary
grim
crouched
awkward
forfeit
ruefully
Look these up in the dictionary, then use them in a sentence.

CONSUMER SCIENCE

Indians ground corn to flour on stones. Try this with popcorn kernels. Is it easy?
If you can get some whole corn kernels (co-op, health food store, whole food store, etc.), see if you can grind enough corn to make something (cornbread or hasty pudding). If your student is interested in Indian culture, try drying some fruit, too.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Indian Culture
In Attean’s tribe the women did not eat until the men were finished. Do you know why?

Find a book about Indian games and try playing a few.

Matt’s father had forbid him to gamble. Discuss why - is it okay in your family? What does the Bible say about gambling?

BIBLE

Discuss how Indians thought if you prepare, go away, and fast (not eat) then a “vision” would come to you. Is this what Christians believe? Disney made a movie that talks about this a little in Brother Bear

SOCIAL STUDIES

Discussion
Why did Matt say no to Sakmis and stay? What would you have done?

He thought about how white men had stayed with the Indians and chosen not to go back to live with the whites. “Moccasin Trail” has this theme as does “Indian Captive” - both of which we have enjoyed this unit.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Vocabulary
boisterous
comrade
Look these up in the dictionary, then use them in a sentence.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Discussion
1. Some people say we took this land and had no right. Others say it was given to us by God (a land of milk and honey) Which do you believe and why?

2. Talk about how much that watch meant to Matt since he may never see his father again. Why did he give it to Attean?

Make a list of all the food listed. How was it to be preserved? Remember, they had no electricity- that means no electric refrigerator.

LIFESKILLS
Matt made many things from wood. Maybe your student wants to try.

Make a Cornhusk Doll

Discuss snow. Why does it snow? What makes a blizzard? How long are the seasons in Maine? Have you ever used snowshoes? Look at a picture of them or if you have them look at the real thing. Discuss how they work to keep you on top of the snow.

SCIENCE

Health: Disease- Typhus
Learn about typhus. Write a short report about what it is, how you get it, and if it is still around.

At the end of this unit, you may want to watch A Promise to Keep. Compare the video to the book (what's the same, what's different).

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