Section 4: pp. 15-28

Discussion Director

   Today your job will be Discussion Director. You will read this section of the book, and choose questions for your group to discuss. The question you select should be interesting and important to the story. Please choose one compare question, one contrast question, one cause and effect question, and two describing questions.

1. Compare Molly and Bannaky. How are their lives the same?
Answer: Molly and Bannaky are both in foreign lands, and they both have, at some time, been workers for some body more powerful than them.

2. Why did Molly pick Bannaky out of all the other slaves?
Answer: Molly thought that Bannaky looked proud and respectable, despite the shame that he was feeling. I think that he reminded Molly of herself in a way.

3. What problem did Molly and Bannaky have to face together?
Answer: During those times, it was very unusual for a white person and black person to be married. They did not care, though. Molly and Bannaky’s love was strong enough that it did not matter what others thought.

4. Contrast Molly’s life after marrying Bannaky to the one she lived in England.
Answer: In England, Molly was under the rule and scrutiny and the lord. She did not own much, and did not seem too happy with her life. After marrying Bannaky, Molly was happy and successful. She owned her own home and land, and had a family of her own.
 
 

Passage Picker

 Your job today will be Passage Picker. You will read this section of the book, and select passages that you find especially interesting, descriptive, important, or surprising. Select four passages to discuss with the class. Be sure to include: page and paragraph number; first two words and last two words of the passage; why you chose this passage; a question about the passage; and what was the author's purpose for this passage ( to describe, inform, entertain, persuade).
 

1. p. 15, para. 1, “She saw…every bidder.”
I picked this passage because it is a great description of the men from the slave ship. It describes the emotion of the other passengers, but it also describes Bannaky’s personality.
The author's purpose for this passage is to describe the appearance and feelings of the slaves.
Question: What does your own appearance say about you?
Answer: I usually dress in casual and comfortable clothes, with my hair down. I think this probably tells people that I am laid back and fairly easy to get along with.
 

2. p. 18, para. 1, “He smiled…a melon.”
I picked this passage because I like the way it describes Molly. I can see her much more clearly now.
The author's purpose for this passage was to use a metaphor to describe Molly in the terms of items Bannaky would be familiar with.
Question: Write your own metaphor about one of your parents.
Answer: My Mom has caramel brown skin and eyes like Hershey's Kisses.

3. p. 28, para. 1, “In time…in England.”
I picked this passage because it lets me know what happens to Molly and her family after Bannaky dies. He was a prince before he came to America!
The author's purpose for this passage is to inform the reader that Molly continues to have a good life.
Question: Read page 29 and find out what happens to Molly's grandson, Benjamin. Record your answer on paper, and be prepared to share with your group.
 

Word Wizard

    Your job today is the Word Wizard. You will read this section of the book. Then you will look up the following words in the section. Find the sentence from the book that contains the word, including the page and paragraph number. Then, find the definition of the word (this book has a glossary at the end). Next, write your own sentence using that word. Put this information on an index card, and draw a picture that describes or explains the word.

Vowed
p.15, para. 1, “Molly bought him and vowed to treat him well and set him free just as soon as her land was cleared.”
Definition: to declare or assert; to promise
Sentence: I vowed to Sampson that I would come home right after class to let him outside.

Irrigation
p.22, para. 1, “In times of drought he shared his knowledge of irrigation and crop rotation, learned at an early age in his native country.”
Definition: supplying water to dry land through the use of ditches, pipes or streams.
Sentence: Many farmers use irrigation systems to make sure their crops get enough water.
 
 

Character Sketcher

   Your job today is the Character Sketcher. Read this section of the book, and pick an interesting character. On your own, choose three words that describe your character. For each word, you must provide proof that the character is really like that. Next, decide what your character's goals are in this story. Then, find a problem that your character faces. Is this problem resolved, how? Also, draw a picture of your character, being as creative as you wish.

Bannaky
Proud because he holds his head high, despite being a slave.
Modest because he does not brag about being a prince.
Helpful because he lends a hand to his neighbors when they are in need.
Goal: to gain his freedom from slavery.
Problem: he is a black slave that has just arrived in America.
Solution: Pays no mind to the negativity that might have been around him, he married Molly anyway.

Artful Artist
 
    Your job today will be the Artful Artist. You will pick a scene from this section that interests you. Create a visual depiction of the scene using materials in the classroom. Be prepared to explain your creation to the group.