The Prairie Thief by Melissa Wiley

1) Discussion time. (30 mintues) 2) Making butter (30 min. total) 3) Prairie Games: Prey and predator game 30 min. 4) Prairie Remnant Scavenger Hunt (send home with kids) 5) “Brownie Hats” for snack

Discuss:

1) Read Melissa’s bio and inspiration for the story (summarize with pictures) : http://melissawiley.com/blog/2012/08/23/plains-conservation-center/

2) This is an historical fiction. Remember what that means? What is the time period of this book? (correct any misunderstandings) Authors who write historical fictions have to do a lot of research. Why would it be important for an historical fiction writer to do research? What if Louisa whipped out her cell phone and called her Dad while he was in jail?

3) Read the intro letter from the Sheriff. Explain the history of circuit judges and why they would have had to call the judge back and find a jury. How does that differ from our courts and jury system now?

4) “The Smirches took Louisa in when her Pa went to jail, but they weren’t happy about it.” When you read the opening line, did you think Pa was innocent or guilty?

5) “…blossomed like a prairie rose after a good rain.pg 51” We talked about similes in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (ex…mad as Mr. Wonka). Here is another example. “Touchier than a porcupine with poison ivy.”pg 20

6) Good writing shows you the story rather than tells you the story. Look at the way Miss Melissa uses interesting verbs to give us an impression of what Mrs. Smirch is really like (Pgs 9-10) fussed, hissed, huffed, snarled, whipped, whirled and eyed. What do these interesting verbs help to understand about Mrs. Smirch’s personality?

7) Pg. 44 “All these people from different ports o’ the world comin’ together here to make a new life, mixin’up their food and songs and ways o’ doing things. Ah tis a fine land you’ve been born to, Louisa Brody. Full o’ possibility.” Do any of you know where your ancestors come from? Any Irish or Scottish ancestors? Italian? Russian? Have you ever heard of your grandparents or great-grandparents talk about the Old Country? Where was that? Do you know why they came here? Ask your parent’s tonight if they know.

8) What did you think of the Brownie when you first met him (after Louisa ran from the scissors and the wolves). He wasn’t what Louisa expected after her first encounter. Was he what you expected?

9) A dugout or dug-out, also known as a pit-house, earth lodge, mud hut, is a shelter for humans or domesticated animals and livestock based on a hole or depression dug into the ground. Dugouts can be fully recessed into the earth, with a flat roof covered by ground, or dug into a hillside. They can also be semi-recessed, with a constructed wood or sod roof standing out. (Show pictures of dug outs from internet)

10) What did you think of the ending? Discuss… 11) Brownies were creatures from Scottish folklore. What other mythical or creatures from

folklore do you know of and do you know where they come from?