A VERY IMPORTANT DAY

1. KNOWLEDGE - How do you know that becoming American citizens means a lot to these families?

2. ANALYZING - Why do you think the people in the story react differently to snow? Use details from the story.

3. GENERATING - Why do you think the author waits until the end of the story to show the importance of this day?

4. INTEGRATING - Why does the author write about so many different families, instead of focusing on just one?

5. EVALUATING - Why was Bailong's gift to Yujin (Page 266) a good choice on this particular day?

6. CONNECTIONS - Tanya's family reunion is an important day for her. If she and Yujin could discuss their very important days, what do you think they would say?

Boss of the Plain

1. KNOWLEDGE - How did Stetson's poor health change his life?

2. ANALYZING - What character traits made John Stetson a good inventor? What made him a good businessman?

3. GENERTING - What were some of John Stetson's failures? What do yoiu think he learned from them?

4. GENERATING - Why do you think John Stetson named his hat Boss of the Plains? What would you have named it?

5. INTEGRATING - The Boss of the Plains hat is still being made today. Why do you think it was a success in the Old West? Why do you think it's still popular?

6. CONNECTIONS - John Stetson and Tomas Rivera used their imaginations in different ways. How is imagination important to each of them?

Tomas and the Library Lady

1. ORGANIZING Before Tomas meets the library lady, his grandfather is the storyteller. Why does this change after Tomas starts visiting the library?

2. ANALYZING How would you describe the library lady? What kind of person is she?

3. GENERATING How do you think Tomas feels when he first sees the library? Use details from the story.

4. INTEGRATING Tomas and the library lady become friends. What do you think they learn from each other?

5. EVALUATING What does Tomas enjoy most about reading books? Tell about your favorite books and why you like it.

6. CONNECTIONS Tomas Rivera grew up to be a successful educator and writer. Why do you think the author of this book chose to write about this time in Tomas Rivera's life?

By the Shores of Silver Lake

1. KNOWLEDGE Laura "sees out loud" for Mary, but Mary also notices on her own. Give examples of how Mary observes her surroundings.

2. ANALYZING How is Ma feeling about the family's trip?

3. GENERATING How do you think Laura and Mary feel about each other? What clues does the story give?

4. INTEGRATING Summarize Laura's train ride.

5. EVALUATING If you were traveling during Laura's time, would you rather go by horse and wagon, or by train? Why?

6. CONNECTIONS Laura is excited and nervous before her train trip. Compare her feelings with the way another character in this theme feels at the beginning of a journey.

Finding the Titanic

1. ORGANIZING In this selection, Ballard tells two stories that take place at different times. How does he keep the two stories separate?

2. GENERATING What conditions made the TITANIC especially hard to find? Use details from the story.

3. INTEGRATING Summarize why Robert Ballard was so determined to find the TITANIC.

4. INTEGRATING Why do you think people are still fascinated today by the TITANIC?

5. EVALUATING How would you feel if you were on the TITANIC like Ruth Becker, or with Ballard's crew? Explain your answer.

6. CONNECTION Both Ruth Becker and Grandfather in Grandfather's Journey took trips that changed their lives. Compare how they felt as they looked back on their journeys.

Grandfather's Journey

1. KNOWLEDGE Why was Allen Say's grandfather so impressed by what he saw on his first trip to North America? Use details from the story.

2. ANALYZING How are the journeys that Allen Say and his grandfather take similar? How are they different?

3. ANALYZING Why do you think Allen Say wanted to tell the story of his grandfather's journey?

4. GENERATING If you were seeing North America for the first time, what would impress you the most? Why?

5. INTEGRATING Why did Grandfather keep songbirds in North America and in Japan? Why did he stop?

6. CONNECTIONS How do the settings in Grandfather's Journey and Akiak play an important part in each journey? Be sure to give examples.

AKIAK

Think About the Selection:
1.KNOWLEDGE What qualities make Akiak such a good lead dog? Give reasons for your answer.
2. ANALYZING The author tells the story by breaking it down into days. Why do you think he chose to do that?
3. GENERATING How do you think Mick feels when she sends Akiak home on Day Four? Would you have made the same decision?
4. GENERATING One man helps Akiak by opening a door for her. Why do you think he did that?
5. EVALUATING Did Akiak really win the race? Give reasons for your answer.
6. CONNECTIONS Why is this particular journey so important to Akiak and Mick?