Dandelions

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Dandelions A Reminder of Home
A Reminder of Home
TITLE Dandelions
AUTHOR Eve Bunting Illustrated By Greg Shed
Cyberlesson Prepared by Heather
Earley Recommended for grade 5
Presented by Heather Earley Recommended Grade
Level 5
Picture Courtesy of www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ev
e-bunting
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Introduction

During the 1800s many Americans grew restless of
their surroundings, and longed for adventure.
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, more than doubled
the size of the United States. These restless
Pioneers jumped at the chance to move to a new
land, and try to make a new life in the new
Western Territories. There were no planes, cars
or even railroads to move these Pioneers. So,
they would buy some horses, or oxen, a wagon and
pack everything they owned and begin their walk
across the country. Imagine that! The physical
hardships they faced were one thing, but these
Pioneers also faced many emotional challenges
along the way. As you read Dandelions you will
put yourself in the shoes of the Pioneers and
face some tough decisions of your own.

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Materials
Computer with Internet Connection Oregon Trail
Explorer Site Thinkquest Oregon Trail Map of the
Trail and Landmarks Oregon Trail PBS
Dandelions By Eve Bunting Pioneer Reader
Response Journal Pencil


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Before Reading Activity
Your parents have made the decision to head West
on the Oregon Trail. Before you leave on your
journey you have to decide what you will take
with you, and what you will leave behind. Use
the list on the next slide to determine what you
will bring, and what you will leave. There is
very little room in your wagon, so you can only
bring 6 items with you. Create the list of what
you will bring in your Pioneer Journal, along
with the list you must explain why you decided
what to bring with you. In your Pioneer Journal,
make a prediction about how this story will be
different from Grasshopper Summer, based on the
cover and the knowledge that the two children in
this story are girls.


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What to bring???In your pioneer journal make a
list of the 6 things that you will bring with you
on your journey West. Remember to write an
explanation of why you chose the items you did

• Bed
• Extra pair of pants
• Extra shirt
• Shoes
• Favorite toy
• Books
• Journal
• Dishes
• Utensils

• Pots
• Pans
• Beads
• Seeds
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Saw
• Axe
• Matches

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During Reading Activity

Stop at the line, Ill get us a window and a
canary, too, he promised. (This line appears as
the family is leaving from their visit at the
Svensons house before they stake their
land. Visit the Map of the Trail and Landmarks
website, use the Timeline in your Pioneer Journal
to create a timeline of the different places the
family would have visisted on their journey West.
Be sure to include some of the things they would
have seen each place they passed, and be sure to
include the visit to the Svensons.

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Journey Timeline
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After Reading Activity

At the end of the story Mama was waiting
patiently for her Dandelions to bloom on the roof
of the house. The flowers were a gift from Zoe,
Rachel, and Papa. In your Pioneer journal
pretend that you are Mama, and write a journal
entry about the morning you went outside and
found the gift from your family. Make sure you
include what your reaction was, how you felt, and
why you think they did this for you. If you
would like you can include a drawing of what you
saw as you left the dugout that morning

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Beyond Reading Activities

1. You have read about Zoe, Rachel, Mama and
Papas journey in Dandelions. You are continuing
to read about a families journey in Grasshopper
Summer. To extend your thinking about the
Westward Journey that so many people made you are
to visit the following websites. Take notes
about what Pioneers faced as they moved West in
your Pioneer journal. As your explore the
websites, focus on the personal experiences of
the Pioneers.
Oregon Trail Explorer Site Thinkquest Oregon
Trail Map of the Trail and Landmarks Oregon
Trail PBS

• Now that you have explored the websites, and
  researched more about Pioneer life, in your
  Pioneer journal, answer the following question
  Would you want to journey west in a covered
  wagon? Be sure to include information from all
  of the sources you have looked at in defending
  your decision
• Go back to your before reading page of your
  Pioneer Journal. Look at the list of items you
  decided to bring with you. Now that you know
  more about what the Pioneers faced on their
  journey, would you change some of the things that
  you brought with you and exchange them for things
  you left behind? Write a short response in your
  journal explaining what you would now change to
  bring with you.

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Rubric
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Credits
Text Credit Dandelions By Eve Bunting,
Illustrated by Greg Shed. Voyager Books,
Harcourt, inc. 1995

Graphics/Graphic Organizer Credits www.fantasticf
iction.co.uk/eve-bunting http//www.gatewayno.com/
history/images/la-purchase-large.jpg http//www.ne
trover.com/kingskid/graphic/timeline.pdf

Website Credits
http//www.isu.edu/trinmich/Oregontrail.html
http//library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/
http//www.42explore2.com/oregon.htm
http//www.historyglobe.com/ot/otmap1.htm
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Teacher Page
This lesson could be implemented whole group,
small group or individual students. The
intention was for it to be done by small groups
during guided reading as independent practice for
higher level groups, and for guided reading with
support for other groups. The students for whom
this lesson was intended are reading Grasshopper
Summer by Ann Turner. This lesson can still be
done by students who have not read that novel.
Just remove the prediction and after reading
activities that tie to the novel.