Tree of Hope
by Amy Littlesugar
3rd grade level (below grade level)
Section 5: pages 1-18 (pages are not labeled)

Discussion Director:
Your job is to write down 5 questions your group will talk about:
 

Setting:
When and where does the story take place? If it took place somewhere else or in a different time, how would it be changed?

The setting took place in Harlem in the 1930's during the Great Depression. If the story took place somewhere else, there would probably be no mention of the Harlem Renaissance. If the story took place in a different time period, then Florrie and her family might not had such hard times. (whole book)


Passage Picker:
Your job is to pick passages from this book that you and your group can talk about. Choose passages that satisfy these four reasons:
  1. Figurative Language
a. p. 12 par. 3
b. So Florrie wished even harder. And one night, looking up into a sky full of stars, she imagined her
    wish.  Like a leaf. Twirling and fluttering past those peddler's wagons and empty buildings. All the
    way up to Seventh Avenue---to the Tree of Hope.
c. Figurative Language. I choose the passage because it gave a great simile. It is great to like an abstract thing, like a leaf, could twirl
    and flutter.
d. What do you think the author used a leaf to describe her wish?
    A- Because in the story they wished on the Tree of Hope, and it was like the leaf (wish) was returning
    to the right place.
e. The Author's purpose: To describe.


Word Wizard:
Your job is to choose four words from the following:
  1. Toppers p. 2 par. 2
a. For he was an actor himself in the old days, those golden days when the Lafayette Theatre up in Harlem was a glittering palace and
    the ladies in their cutaway shoes and the men in their silk toppers came to catch a show.
b. Dictionary: a hat with a tall cylindrical crown and a silk plush finish worn by men as a dress hat.
    My own: A fancy hat made of silk
c. noun
d. What is another name for this hat that is more common to us?
    A- Top Hat


Character Sketcher:
Your job is to find a interesting character from this section you read today. You will find three words that describe the character.  For each word, or character trait, you will give the proof or example (including page # and paragraph).
    The next thing you will do is to tell one of your character's goals, or what the character wants to do in this section.
    Then you will find one of the character's problems in the section and the solution or possible solution to the problem.
    Finally, you get to have fun and illustrate your character!

Character: Florrie

Character's Goal:
Florrie wants her father to get his job back working as an actor. p. 9 par. 5

Character's Traits:
a. Caring- Florrie cares about her dad having to work long hours at a job he doesn't like. p. 12
b. Wishful- Florrie  wishes on the tree of hope for her dad to find work. p. 9
c. Excited- Florrie was excited when her father got the acting job p. 18 par. 4

Character's Problem:
Florrie's problem is that her father got fired from his acting job and had to work in a bakery which he hates. p. 6

Character's Solution:
Florrie wished on the tree of hope for her father to find a job and her wish came true. Florrie's father found a job as an actor in a play called Macbeth.


Investigator:
Your job is to investigate the Harlem Renaissance, since this happened before this book was written. Also in this book there is mention of this time period. Answer the following questions using the Internet sites listed.

What time period was the Harlem Renaissance in?

What exactly is the Harlem Renaissance?

Who were some authors that became famous during the Renaissance?

Why do you think the Harlem Renaissance is important to the African American culture?

Great Days in Harlem: Briefly describes the Harlem Renaissance including info about literary roots.

Harlem Renaissance: A very informative site about the Harlem Renaissance including poetry, prose and painters of the Harlem Renaissance.