Out of the Dust
Section 1 (pages 1-29)

Discussion Director 

Instructions: Your job is to write five questions for section one of your book.Your questions should include MCEOG, Setting, Point of View and opinion.Be sure to include the page and paragraph number with your answer.
MCEOG
    All of the following describe Billie Jo except which one?
    1. Piano player pg. 3, par 3
    2. Restless pg. 4, par 1
    3. Lazy
    4. Honest pgs. 18, 19
                Answer: c. lazy
 
Setting
    Where does this story take place?
    Answer:In the Mid-West, 50 miles north of Amarillo, TX pg. 20
Point of View
    From whose point of view is this story told?
    Answer:  Billie Jo is telling the story.  Pg. 1 par. 1
Opinion
    Why did Billie Jo’s mom make her go back to Mr. Hardly’s store?
    Answer: Billie Jo had to return the extra change that Mr. Hardly had given her in error. Pgs. 18/19
Opinion
    Why did Billie Jo have to set the table with all the dishes upside down until right before they ate?
    Answer:  So that the dust would not settle on them.  Pg. 21

Passage Picker

Instructions:Your job is to find 4 passages from section one that interest you.
These sections should be:
*Funny/Amusing
*Descriptive
*Figurative Language
*Entertaining.
For each passage:
    1.  Write down the page and paragraph number.
    2.  Write the first two and last two words of your passage.
    3.  Why did you choose this passage?
    4.  Ask a question about your passage.
    5.  Say why you think the author wrote this passage (to describe, to entertain, to inform or to persuade).
 
Examples:
1.  Page 3, par 3
2.  "Daddy named . . . fierce piano."
3.  This passage describes exactly what Billie Jo looks like, in a colorful way.
4.  What part of this description of Billie Jo uses figurative language?
       Answer:  When the author states that she has "cheekbones like bicycle handles"
5.  The author's purpose was to describe.
 
1.  Page 13, Par 1-2
2.  "When I . . . can be."
3.  I can almost see Billie Jo sitting at the piano, playing a fast, crazy jazz song.  The author uses great personification and imagery.
4.  Do you think that Billie Jo is probably a very good piano player?
    Answer:  Yes, I think that by the description she gave of the people dancing and swaying to the music, she is probably as good as or better than the adults.
5.  The author's purpose is to both entertain and describe.
 
1.  Page 21, Par. 3-4
2.  "We shake . . . but dust."
3.  This is the first really descriptive image of how the dust settles all over everything.
4.  When Daddy says that the potatoes are peppered and the milk is chocolate milk, what is really true?
    Answer:  Everything is covered in dust and they are trying not to think about it.
5.  The author's purpose is to describe.
 
1.  Page 22, Par. 2
2.  "At least . . . chew it."
3.  This sentence shows just how much dust can settle on everything.  It's disgusting to think of chewing milk!
4.  Why does Billie Jo say she has to chew her milk?  Is it spoiled?
    Answer: There is so much dust in it that it is thick; no it's not spoiled.
5.  The author's purpose is to describe.

Word Wizard

Instructions:Find the following words in the section that we read for today:
Wagering p. 6, par. 1
Riled p.11, par. 1
Parlor p.25, par. 1
Feuding p. 27, par. 1

For each word:

1.Write the word and the page on which you found it.

2.Write the sentence from the book that used the word.

3.Look up the word in a dictionary and write to formal definition.

4.Write the correct part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)

5.Write an original sentence using the word.

6.Make a Word Wizard Card for the word.Each card should have:

a.The word in BIG print

b.The page and paragraph number where you found the word

c.On the other side of the card: a picture, the word and the definition of the word.

  1. Wagering. Page 6, paragraph 1.
  2. “They pledged revenge on the rabbit population; wagering who could kill more.”
  3. To make a bet.
  4. Verb
  5. They were wagering as to who would win the ACC tournament.
  6. Word card:
 
 
  1. Feuding. Page 27, par. 1
  2. “He takes that red face of his out to the barn, to keep from feuding with my pregnant ma.”
  3. A mutual enmity or quarrel that is often prolonged or inveterate; especially : a lasting state of hostilities between families or clans marked by violent attacks for revenge (the act of participating in the above)
  4. Verb (when the –ing is added;)
  5. The two armies were feuding over who would claim the land as their own.
  6. Word card:
 

Character Sketcher

Instructions:You will make a character map of Billie Jo by writing the following about her:
  1. Three character traits, an example of each of these traits and the page & paragraph number where you found proof for these traits. 
  2. One of Billie Jo’s goals in this section.
  3. One of Billie Jo’s problems in this section.
  4. The solution to Billie Jo’s problem. If no solution has been found yet, predict what might happen.
  5. Draw a picture of Billie Jo.
Character Traits
1.  Caring for animals.  “ They ought . . .to do?”Billie Jo expresses her anger at how the men are betting on how many rabbits they can kill.She realizes that they eat what they shouldn’t, but if the farmers continue to plow over the rabbits’ homes, what should they be expected to eat?Page 6, par. 2.
     2.   Sly.  Billie Jo is sly in the way she says she catches ma off guard when she asks for something she wants.  Page 12, par. 2.
     3.   Honest.   Billie Jo shows her honesty when she returns Mr. Hardly’s overpayment to him and doesn’t buy sheet music instead.Page 19, par. 2.
            Goal:
                 Billie Jo’s goal is to play piano as much as possible.This sometimes gets in the way of her schoolwork, though.
            Problem:
                 Billie Jo’s problem in this section is to trying convince her ma to let her play a piano solo at the Palace Theater.  Page 10.
            Solution:
                 Billie Jo got her ma to let her play piano by asking her while she was distracted making biscuits.  Page 12.

 
 

Connector

Instructions: Choose a passage from this section and tell how it relates to your own life.
In your paragraph, be sure to include who or what your connection is about, and where and when it happened and how it relates to the part of the story you chose.
For example:
Page 21 “Ma has . . .says, ‘Now.’”
This passage reminds me of rituals that practically every family has.In my family, everyone helps to set the table and gets their own drinks.We were often assigned items to set on the table.When you visit someone else’s home, their rituals might be different.The way that Billie Jo’s family sets the table is different because of the dust that would settle on the dishes if they set them out like everyone else does.