The Stranger

1. KNOWLEDGE - What are the first few clues that tell you that something is unusual about the stranger?

2. ANALYZING - What is the Bailey family like? Use details from the story to support your description.

3. GENERATING - The stranger feel something is "terribly wrong" when he sees green leaves on the trees. What do you think is wrong?

4. GENERATING - Who do you think the stranger is? List three clues that help you guess his identity.

5. INTEGRATING - If the stranger stayed for a while where you live, what effect might he have on the climate?

6. CONNECTIONS - What does Chris Van Allsburg do to make this story mysterious and amazing?

Focus on Plays/Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

1. ORGANIZING How is the play different from a fictional story, such as the ones you have already read in Journeys or American Stories? What features do they share?

2. ANALYZING In what ways does a play remind you of movies you of movies or television shows?

3. GENERATING How would the play have been different if a character other than Peter had narrated it. Explain.

4. INTEGRATING Why are stage directions so important in a play? Give examples of how stage directions helped you better understand "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing."

5. EVALUATING If you could play a character in "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" who would you choose? Why?

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride/Duke Ellington

1. ORGANIZING - Compare the different ways the authors of "Amelia and Elenor Go for a Ride" and "Duke Ellington" tell their stories.

2. ANALYZING - What qualities do Duke Ellington and Amelia Earhart have in common? How do they each show these qualities in what they love to do?

3. ANALYZING - How are Duke Ellington and John Stetson alike? What qualities helped each man reach his goals?

4. GENERATING - Why do you think "Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride" and "Duke Ellington" are included in this theme?

5. EVALUATING - Which selection in this theme best describes your idea of what it means to be an American? Explain your answer.

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.