The Sign of the Beaver

By Elizabeth George Speare 5th Grade Reading Unit

Project ExpectationsComplete online project and Webquest

Debate your point of view on in-depth discussion questions.

Classify fiction and nonfiction facts into a comparison chart

Research Native American cultureExamine museum artifacts while on a virtual

field tripUse technology as a writing tool and resourceUse online resources to create projectsComplete writing activities

Let’s Recall• Matt has been left in charge of the family

cabin.

• Matt had an encounter that left him missing a very valuable resource.

• Matt had a very foolish adventure that threatened his life.

• Matt was saved, but became involved in an arrangement that will change his life.

Discussion QuestionsBefore beginning this activity,

discuss these questions with your partners.

How would you feel to be left home alone for 7 weeks?

What are some things you would need to do to survive?

What are some things you could do to pass the time?

Would you welcome company or would you be scared?

Lets Get Started!The Beginnings

Elizabeth George Speare got the idea for Sign of the Beaver from an actual story. Read the description of the "real-life" Matt and Attean.

If the above link does not work, go to: http://www.milohistorical.org/history/beaver.php

Use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the fiction with the nonfiction.

Penobscot Indians• The Penobscot tribe is a big part of the book.

• Use the Internet to find at least 5 different things that will help you to better understand this tribe. • Write your answers on your fact sheet.

Things to look for: -Where they lived -What they ate -Things they made -What they hunted -Their family life -Tribe traditions -What they lived in google search• Bonus: Find what the word “Penobscot” stands for!

Hudson Museum/Penobscot Indians

Virtual Field Trip

Hudson Museum- The Sign of the Beaver

The Hudson Museum at the University of Maine has an exhibit on the Penobscot Indians and the novel The Sign of the Beaver. Here you can see pictures of several items mentioned in the novel. 1- Skim the introduction on the Sign of the Beaver page.2- Click on exhibits3- Click on the side bar for specific exhibits.

Create a Character Scrapbook

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/scrapbook/

Go to the address below and follow the directions to create a scrapbook page on both Matt and Attean. You need to design a face and compose 10 things to know on the tablet. You may print your page at the end.

Let The Reading

Continue!Do not advance to the next slide until you have completed reading the novel.

After the end……• Choose one of these activities to write about.• The Ending After the Ending

At the end of Sign of the Beaver, the reader is left wondering what will happen to Attean and his tribe as they set of to settle in a new place. We also think about Matt and his family's survival in the tough wilderness of Maine. Now use your imagination to take the story beyond its ending using the worksheet provided.

• My Crystal Ball SaysPredict what will happen to major characters from the book 20 years after the conclusion of the story.

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