The Talking Earth
by Jean Craighead George

Section 1 (Chapter 1  pages 1 - 16)

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR

Your job is to write down questions your group can discuss.

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Narrative
1.  From what author's point of view is this story told/
        (Third person)

Cause/Effect
2. Cause:  Billie Wind was a doubter.
    Effect:  Billie Wind was sent into the Everglades (pa-hay-okee) to stay until she hears animals talk, sees the serpent, and meets little people who live underground.  (pages 2 and 3)
3.  Cause:  Spider lilies reminded Billie Wind of lightning bolts which she was sent to find...the way they folded back.
    Effect:  Billie Wind took two spider lilies to Charlie Wind. (p. 9)

Setting
4.  Where does this story take place?
        (Florida Everglades - p. 2 par.2  OR p.3 par.5)

Problem/Solution
5.  Problem:  The council had to decide on a punishment suitable for Billie Wind.
    Solution:  They asked Billie Wind for her opinion and did as she suggested.
            (p. 3 par. 3-7)
 
 

PASSAGE PICKER

Your job is to pick passages from this chapter that you and your group can discuss.
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1.    -
2.    p. 11 par. 1
3.    Sit in...her sister.
4.    I chose this passage because it is descriptive.  The author describes the
       skirt so the reader can visualize it.
5.    Q:    What metaphor is used in the description?
       A.    Mary's (skirt) was a blue, green, yellow, and black mosaic and
               was startingly beautiful.
6.    Author's Purpose:  To describe
 

1.    -
2.    p.12 par.1
3.    Billie Wind...Hitchiti language.
4.    This passage is historical because it tells about the Creeks being driven
        from Georgia and going into the Everglades.
5.    Q:  In what ways was the "unholy swamp" good to the white men?
       A.  It provided game, fruit, and plants for them to build their own
            society.
6.    Author's Purpose:  To inform
 

1.    -
2.    p. 14 par.3
3.    Water lilies...mosquito fish.
4.    This passage is scientific in that it lists a food chain.
5.    Q:  Name the sequence of the food chain in the passage.
       A:  mosquito larva; mosquito fish; long-nosed garfish
6.    Author's Purpose:  To inform
 
 

WORD WIZARD

Choose four words from the following:

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1.    cauldron (p.7 par.2)
2.    "On the far side of the open common another uncle was stirring the
        ceremonial cauldron as he brewed red willow, lizard's-tail plants
        and ginseng."
3.    Look the word up in a dictionary.
4.    cauldron - a large kettle
5.    noun
6.    A strange smell came from the witch's cauldron.
7.    (see word wizard card)

1.    reprimand (p.4. par.1)
2.    "Crossing his feet, he sat down among the councilmen, who were
        meeting, as they did once a year, on the tribal island of Panther Paw in
        the Everglades to settle arguments and reprimand the offenders of the
        Seminole laws."
3.    Look up the word in the dictionary.
4.    reprimand - to criticize severely especially from a position of
       authority.
5.    verb
6.    My mother will reprimand me for breaking her vase.
7.    (word wizard card)

1.    shriveling (p.5 par.6)
2.    "Our gardens are shriveling."
3.    Look the word up in the dictionary.
4.    shriveling - shrinking and becoming dry and wrinkled.
5.    verb
6.    The old oranges are shriveling.
7.    (See word wizard card.)

1.    gestured (p.5 par.1)
2.    "Instead he had reached for a feather broom, swept the ground, sat
        down and gestured for her to sit beside him."
3.    Look up the word in the dictionary.
4.    gestured - to make or direct with a movement of the body that
        expresses an idea or a feeling.
5.    verb
6.    The teacher gestured for the class to be quiet.
7.    (word wizard card)

 
 

CHARACTER SKETCHER

    Your job is to find an interesting character from this section.  List the trait, then list the actions that prove this trait.  List page and paragraph numbers.
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Billie Wind

Trait - Curious (p. 4 par.2)
Action - She'd peeked through the cane screen at the sacred, medicine bundle.  She'd suggested a long voyage. (p. 10 par. 4)

Trait - Realistic (p. 11 par. 3)
Action - She wanted answers, not legends.

Trait - Stubborn (p.14 par.1)
Action - Billie Wind said she would stay there until she heard or saw something - even if she had to miss all of the Green Corn Dance.

Mamau Whispering Wind

Trait - Practical (p.6 par. 6)
Action - She dealt with problems settling arguments, encouraging leadership and giving self-confidence.  She gave tools and food for a safe journey (fish spear, smoked venison, corn bread, coconut meat, machete   p.15 par.2)
 
 

OTHER JOBS

Investigator

    Your job is to investigate the Everglades ecosystem.  The information you find will help your group understand Billie Wind's struggle to survive alone.  Find information about these specific topics:

    1.  Where are the Everglades located?
    2.  What is the climate?
    3.  What vegetation is there?
    4.  What is the animal life there?

This website shows a map of the location of the Everglades.  It includes plants and animal life of this ecosystem.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/exploring_ecosystems/index.html

This website gives the average temperatures of the Everglades climate.
http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/grid.pl?gr=N25W081
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Artful Artist

    Your job is to draw and color a map of Florida and its surrounding waters and specifically locate and label the Everglades.
 
 
 
 

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