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GRASSHOPPER SUMMER

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR

Effect/Cause
QUESTION:
Sam and Billy’s father, Walter, is moving the family to the Dakota Territory. What factors may have caused this to happen? (give at least 3)
ANSWER:

1. Walter’s involvement in the Civil War caused him to have bad memories that are connected with the land. (page 15, paragraph 10)

2. The Northern Army took most of the family farmland and the rest was burned. There isn’t enough land left to farm to raise enough money to support the family. (page 14, paragraph 1 and page 15, paragraph 10)

3. The land has been farmed too much and lost its nourishment. (page 22, paragraph 12)

MCEOG (Multiple Choice End Of Grade Question)

QUESTION:
All of the following describes Billy except

a) honest
b) calm
c) loyal
d) bully
e) intelligent
ANSWER:
d) bully – Billy was not a bully nor did he bully anyone else. Instead of fighting, he avoided the conflict or talked it out. Often he left Sam to fight himself (page 19, paragraph 10).

Fact/Opinion

QUESTION:
Are the following fact or opinion? Remember that a fact is true and can be proven and an opinion is something you think or feel but cannot be proven.
a) Billy is a pest.
Opinion – Billy may be a "pest" to Sam but he is a well-behaved child to his parents and grandparents.
b) Sam is prejudice against Harold.
Fact – Sam often makes harmful remarks about Billy helping Harold, an ex-slave. On page 3, paragraph 1, Sam tells Billy that he is too old to be friends with a “slave” and when he finds out Billy is teaching Harold to read, he says that it is “stupid” and “You might as well just pour water into a river for all the good it’ll do him!”

Compare and Contrast

QUESTION:
Give ways that Grandpa and Pa (Walter) are alike and different. Be sure to explain using examples.
ANSWER:

ALIKE DIFFERENT

Both love land. Pa wants new land to love (page 22, paragraph 7) but Grandpa loves his “old” land (page 22, paragraph 8).

They were involved in the war. Pa fought in the war, was injured, and has horrible memories of the battles (page 15, paragraph 10). Grandpa also fought but only remembers how his side should have won (page 14, paragraph 1).

Both are passionate men. Pa is passionate about starting a new life, while Grandpa is passionate about maintaining the old one (page 22, paragraphs 7 and 8).

They love their families very much. Pa loves the family but he is doing what he thinks is best for them (page 22, paragraph 10). Grandpa loves his son-in-law but feels that they are deserting the family (page 22, paragraph 12).

Character Goals

QUESTION:
What is Sam’s goal in the first section? What does he accomplish?
ANSWER:
Sam’s goal is to refuse to see the signs around him that say his family will be moving. He is resisting what he knows is going to happen. He does accomplish these goals somewhat. He doesn’t believe anything that anyone tells him until he actually asks his father, to which he replies, “Yes, Sam, we’re going West.” (page 22, paragraph 2)

Return to Grasshopper Summer Lesson One Return to Level 6 Literature Unit Index

ALIKE	DIFFERENT
Both love land.	Pa wants new land to love (page 22, paragraph 7) but Grandpa loves his “old” land (page 22, paragraph 8).
They were involved in the war.	Pa fought in the war, was injured, and has horrible memories of the battles (page 15, paragraph 10). Grandpa also fought but only remembers how his side should have won (page 14, paragraph 1).
Both are passionate men.	Pa is passionate about starting a new life, while Grandpa is passionate about maintaining the old one (page 22, paragraphs 7 and 8).
They love their families very much.	Pa loves the family but he is doing what he thinks is best for them (page 22, paragraph 10). Grandpa loves his son-in-law but feels that they are deserting the family (page 22, paragraph 12).