Sarah, Plain

and Tall
Preview
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Links to Digital Vocabulary Comprehension Constructed
Version Activities Skill Practice
Resources Practice Questions Writing Prompts

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On the following pages, you will see snapshot examples for
Sarah, Plain and Tall Digital + Printable Novel Study.
Be sure to look closely to see which version works best for your needs.
VOCABULARY RESOURCES VOCABULARY
BOOKMARKS

WORD LIST
Students practice with two
focus words for each reading
selection. A wordlist with
definitions, synonyms, and
sample sentences from the
story is included.

WORD CARDS PRACTICE BOOK TEST WITH ANSWER KEY

DIGITAL VOCABULARY
Digital vocabulary
practice is provided
though Boom Learning
Decks.
9 COMPREHENSION CHECKS

With Full Page

Answer Keys
   
My students loved using this resource I have loved using I highly recommend this
to guide them through the book. I this resource. It is resource! This resource has
great practice for been particularly helpful to
loved the writing portions, really got the kids and it has me in home schooling my
them thinking. We are testing on the made the book daughter! She has some
book today and I can't wait to see more enjoyable learning deficits and anxiety
how they do. They really enjoyed the for them. I love her surrounding school and I
book. stuff and use it a have found these resources
-Lisa S. lot! Thank you! to be the very BEST out there
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 deficits and anxiety EXACTLY
 what they need to know
Love this resource!!! So many great activities
I am a huge fan of regarding the Virginia ELA
to gauge student understanding and keeps
your work - very SOL tests. Thank you for a
them engaged.
rigorous WONDERFUL resource!
— Georgette V
comprehension -Reading in Rm 212
 questions, and
I am a huge fan of your work - very rigorous extremely
comprehension questions, and extremely thorough packet.
thorough packet. I'll keep purchasing your I'll keep purchasing
products! your products!
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11 CONSTRUCTED WRITING PROMPTS

Full Page
Answer
Keys

with and
without
CCSS
 SAMPLE
SAMPLE SKILL SKILL LESSON
LESSON
What are Boom Cards?
Boom Cards are digital task cards that students play on the Boom
Learning Website.

They…
 are fully digital – require no printing, paper, ink, etc.
 may be used on all modern browsers
 are played on devices connected to the Internet
 can be used for student practice at no cost to you

When you purchase this novel study from TPT, you will receive
special links to these Boom Cards. When you click on one of these
links, you will be asked to sign into your account or create a free
account at the Boom Learning Website. The special links in the paid
resource let the Boom Learning site know you have purchased the
deck. When you click the link, Boom Learning sends the Boom Deck
to your Boom Library, so your students can access them. Students
can play for free or data will be tracked for you with the Boom
Learning Paid Subscription.

Click here for a playable

preview on Boom Learning.
Boom Learning Card Examples

I have just begun to use this
material as we study Sarah, Plain
and Tall. The materials are
outstanding! Talk about integrating
curriculum! I am loving it!
-Brenda C


We are using this resource to
increase reading comprehension
and other reading or lang. arts skills.
The student loves to complete the
activities that are not just answering
questions about the story. They
struggle to sometimes think outside
the box and this makes them use
inferences and be creative.
- Tammy M.
Sarah, Plain
Created by
and Tall
Gay Miller
Novel Study Samples

Created by Gay Miller

 Thank you for
downloading this novel
study sample.

On the next pages, you will find the following pages

from the unit including:

• Table of Contents for the Digital + Printable Version

• Lesson Plans at a Glance for the Full Unit

FREE SAMPLE PAGES

The First Reading Selection plus Answer Keys

(These pages are found in all versions of this unit.)
• Vocabulary Practice
• Comprehension Questions
• Constructed Response Writing Prompt
(with and without the Common Core
Standards)

Are you wondering what other novel

studies I have available? You can see
the complete list here.
Table of Contents
Teacher Information 3
Section 1 – Links to Digital Resources 6
Materials Needed for Creating the Foldable Graphic Organizers 14
Section 2 - Vocabulary 15
Teacher Information 16
Vocabulary List 19
Vocabulary Bookmarks 23
Vocabulary Word Cards 25
Vocabulary Practice Booklet 29
Additional Vocabulary Practice Printables 47
Vocabulary Test (covers words from booklet) 58
Section 3 – Comprehension and Writing 62
Teacher Information 63
Chapter 1 Comprehension 68
Chapter 1 Constructed Response – Character Traits 70
Chapter 2 Comprehension 71
Chapter 2 Constructed Response – Summary in Letter Format 73
Chapter 3 Comprehension 74
Chapter 3 Constructed Response – Comparing Characters 76
Chapter 3 Constructed Response - Setting 77
Chapter 4 Comprehension 78
Chapter 4 Constructed Response - Inference 80
Chapter 5 Comprehension 81
Chapter 5 Constructed Response – Compare and Contrast 83
Chapter 6 Comprehension 85
Chapter 6 Constructed Response – Descriptive Writing 87
A Pioneer School 89
Chapter 7 Comprehension 90
Chapter 7 Constructed Response – Figurative Language 91
Chapter 8 Comprehension 92
Chapter 8 Constructed Response - Summarizing 94

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 Chapter 9 Comprehension 96
Chapter 9 Constructed Response – Importance of Setting 98
Favorite Things 99
Point of View 100
Comparing the Book to the Movie 102
Section 4 – Answer Keys for Section 3 104
Section 5 – Comprehension and Writing without CCSS 138
Section 6 – Activities 176
Wanted Ad for Newspaper 178
Adjectives Describing You 178
Sarah’s Wildflowers 180
Bird Craft 183
Sarah’s Garden Flowers 184
Seashells 186
Drawing the Sea 189
Seashell Puzzle 190
Section 7 - Language Arts Skills 192
Prefix and Suffix Cards and Pockets 193
Prefix and Suffix Practice Puzzles 205
Root Word Organizer Hexagon Fold 214
Spoons Card Game with Root Words 218
Figurative Language Response Cards 228
Figurative Language Organizer 235
Figurative Language Flowers ~ Craftivity 238
Homonyms and Homographs Graphic Organizer 247
Homograph and Homophone Mini Posters 251
Spoons Homograph Activity 253
Homophone Activities (Printable & Board Game) 259
Credits 263

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Lesson Plans at a Glance
Read Word of the Vocabulary Comprehension Activities Language Arts Skill
Day Practice Book & Constructed Practice
Vocabulary Response
Question

Chapter 1 homely Page 1 Chapter 1 ~ Wanted Ad Prefix and Suffix Cards

cruel Characters ~ for
Sarah Newspaper

fogbound Page 2 Chapter 2 ~ Prefix and Suffix Puzzles

Chapter 2 bedding Letter

Chapter 3 suspenders Page 3 Chapter 3 ~ Root Word Organizer

windmill Comparing
Characters Root Word Spoons
Game
Chapter 3 ~
Comparing
Settings
Chapter 4 conch Page 4 Chapter 4 ~ Sarah’s Figurative Language
velvet Inference Wildflowers Response Cards with
Lines from the Text

Chapter 5 buzzard Page 5 Chapter 5 ~ Bird Craft Figurative Language

mound Maine Then Organizer
and Now

Chapter 6 chant Page 6 Chapter 6 ~ Flower Crafitivity with Figurative

petticoat Descriptive Language
Writing

Chapter 7 kettle Page 7 Chapter 7 ~ Sarah’s Homonym/

streak Figurative Garden Homograph Organizer
Language Flowers

Chapter 8 portion Page 8 Chapter 8 ~ Seashells Homograph Spoons

carpenter Summarizing Game

Chapter 9 hailstone Page 9 Chapter 9 ~ Drawing the Homophone Printable

squint Setting Sea
Homophone Board
Game
Vocabulary Favorite Things Seashell Printable Practice
Test Point of View Puzzle
Comparing the
Book to the
Movie

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 Review Chapter 1 [homely & cruel]
Write a synonym for each of the following words:
Read the two definitions of homely.
a. not pretty or handsome; plain
1. bedding __________________ b. not fancy or special; simple
Determine which definition is used in each of the sentences
below. Write a or b in the blank to show your answer.
2. streak __________________
1. ______ The girl dressed in a homely dress.

3. cruel __________________
2. ______The homely man worried that his looks would
keep him from getting a job.
4. squint __________________
3. ______ This mutt sure is a homely-looking dog.


5. chant __________________
4. Circle five words in the box that are synonyms or closely
related to the word cruel.
6. kettle __________________
unkind amusing

7. portion __________________ thoughtful brutal

pleasant likeable
8. mound __________________
nasty heartless

9. petticoat __________________ lovely mean

10. homely __________________

Page 12 Page 1
Page | 6 Unit Created by Gay Miller
 Review Chapter 1 [homely & cruel]
Write a synonym for each of the following words:
Read the two definitions of homely.
a. not pretty or handsome; plain
1. bedding __________________ b. not fancy or special; simple
Determine which definition is used in each of the sentences
below. Write a or b in the blank to show your answer.
2. streak __________________
1. ___b___ The girl dressed in a homely dress.

3. cruel __________________ 2. ___a ___ The homely man worried that his looks
would keep him from getting a job.

4. squint __________________ 3. ___a___ This mutt sure is a homely-looking dog.


5. chant __________________
4. Circle five words in the box that are synonyms or closely
related to the word cruel.
6. kettle __________________
unkind amusing

7. portion __________________ thoughtful brutal

pleasant likeable
8. mound __________________
nasty heartless

9. petticoat __________________ lovely mean

10. homely __________________

Page 12 Page 1

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Sarah, Plain and Tall Chapter 1

1. From which point of view is Sarah, Plain and Tall told?

________________________________________________________

Who is telling the story?

________________________________________________________

2. Read this passage from Chapter 1.

“Did Mama sing every day?” asked Caleb. . . .

“Every-single-day,” I told him for the second time this week. For the twentieth time
this month. The hundredth time this year? And the past few years?

You can infer from this passage that Caleb ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________.
Why do you think he does this?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. What does Anna think is the worst thing about Caleb?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4. Why does Sarah say in her letter that she feels a move is necessary?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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5. Read this passage from Chapter 1.

“You don’t sing anymore,” he said. He said it harshly. Not because he meant to,
but because he had been thinking of it for so long. “Why?” he asked more gently.
Slowly Papa straightened up. There was a long silence, and the dogs looked up,
wondering at it.
“I’ve forgotten the old songs,” said Papa quietly.
Why do you think Papa said he has forgotten the old songs?
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

6. Why had Papa placed an ad in the newspaper?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

7. Number the following events in order.

_______ Papa reads the letter he received from Sarah.
_______ Caleb asked Anna if Mama sang.
_______ Papa tells Anna and Caleb he might remember the old songs again.
_______ Papa comes back from town.

8. Which would make the best title for Chapter 1?

a) Remembering Mama’s Songs
b) Baby Caleb
c) The Mail Order Bride
d) Maine by the Sea

Page | 9 Unit Created by Gay Miller

 Constructed Response – Character Traits of Sarah
List details you have learned about Sarah in Chapter 1. Use these details from Chapter 1 to write a paragraph explaining how Sarah’s
character traits could hurt and/or help her in leaving her home in Maine to travel to the prairie.

___________________________
___________________________
___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ Sarah ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

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 Answer Keys for
Comprehension and Writing

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 Sarah, Plain and Tall Chapter 1

1. From which point of view is Sarah, Plain and Tall told?

First Person Point of View
Who is telling the story?
Anna’s Viewpoint
2. Read this passage from Chapter 1.
“Did Mama sing every day?” asked Caleb. . . .
“Every-single-day,” I told him for the second time this week. For the twentieth
time this month. The hundredth time this year? And the past few years?
You can infer from this passage that Caleb….
Caleb was only 1 day old when Mama died, so he has never experienced having a
mother.
3. Why do you think he does this?
He is probably trying to imagine what having a mother would feel like.
4. What does Anna think is the worst thing about Caleb?
(Page 5) He was homely and plain, and he had a terrible holler and a horrid smell. But
these were not the worst of him. Mama died the next morning. That was the worst
thing about Caleb.
5. Why does Sarah say in her letter that she feels a move is necessary?

(Page 9) Sarah’s brother William is about to get married. Sarah feels his new
wife will want to have a home to run on her own.

6. Read this passage from Chapter 1.

“You don’t sing anymore,” he said. He said it harshly. Not because he meant to, but
because he had been thinking of it for so long. “Why?” he asked more gently.
Slowly Papa straightened up. There was a long silence, and the dogs looked up,
wondering at it.
“I’ve forgotten the old songs,” said Papa quietly.
Why do you think Papa said he has forgotten the old songs?

The songs were part of Papa’s life when he was happily married to Mama. Now that
she has died, he has no reason to sing. Singing makes Papa sad because the songs
remind him of Mama.
7. Why had Papa placed an ad in the newspaper?
Papa wants a mother for his children, not just a housekeeper as he has had in the past.
Papa is probably lonely as well and wants a wife for companionship.

Page | 12 Unit Created by Gay Miller

8. Number the following events in order.
___4____ Papa reads the letter he received from Sarah.
___1____ Caleb asked Anna if Mama sang.
___3____ Papa tells Anna and Caleb he might remember the old songs again.
___2____ Papa comes back from town.

9. Which would make the best title for Chapter 1?

a) Remembering Mama’s Songs
b) Baby Caleb
c) The Mail Order Bride
d) Maine by the Sea

Page | 13 Unit Created by Gay Miller

 Constructed Response ~ Character Traits of Sarah
List details you have learned about Sarah in Chapter 1. Use these details from Chapter 1 to write a paragraph explaining how Sarah’s
character traits could hurt and/or help her in leaving her home in Maine to travel to the prairie.

lives in Maine with her

older brother William

Answers will vary.

willing to travel has a cat Students might
state that being
strong,
hardworking, and
willing to travel

Sarah never been married

will help Sarah
whereas always
living with a
hard worker although has been asked
brother by the sea
she loves will
hurt.

strong loves living by the sea

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

Page | 14 Unit Created by Gay Miller

 Student Packet without Common Core State Standards
Important Update

Originally 46 states adopted the Common Core State Standards.

Many teachers have commented that they love having the
standards on pages with constructed response writing prompts for
accountability reasons. Now educational trends are changing. Many
states have repealed Common Core and adopted their own state
standards. To meet the needs of teachers both using and not using
Common Core Standards, I have opted to provide the writing
questions both with and without standards. Look at the addendum
at the end of this unit for more details and the printable student
packet without teaching standards.

Page | 15 Unit Created by Gay Miller

To make creating a printable student
packet easier, the comprehension and
constructed response questions are both
included in this section.

Page | 16 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Sarah, Plain and Tall Chapter 1

1. From which point of view is Sarah, Plain and Tall told?

________________________________________________________

Who is telling the story?

________________________________________________________

2. Read this passage from Chapter 1.

“Did Mama sing every day?” asked Caleb. . . .

“Every-single-day,” I told him for the second time this week. For the twentieth time
this month. The hundredth time this year? And the past few years?

You can infer from this passage that Caleb ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________.
Why do you think he does this?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. What does Anna think is the worst thing about Caleb?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4. Why does Sarah say in her letter that she feels a move is necessary?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Page | 17 Unit Created by Gay Miller

5. Read this passage from Chapter 1.

“You don’t sing anymore,” he said. He said it harshly. Not because he meant to,
but because he had been thinking of it for so long. “Why?” he asked more gently.
Slowly Papa straightened up. There was a long silence, and the dogs looked up,
wondering at it.
“I’ve forgotten the old songs,” said Papa quietly.
Why do you think Papa said he has forgotten the old songs?
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

6. Why had Papa placed an ad in the newspaper?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

7. Number the following events in order.

_______ Papa reads the letter he received from Sarah.
_______ Caleb asked Anna if Mama sang.
_______ Papa tells Anna and Caleb he might remember the old songs again.
_______ Papa comes back from town.

8. Which would make the best title for Chapter 1?

a) Remembering Mama’s Songs
b) Baby Caleb
c) The Mail Order Bride
d) Maine by the Sea

Page | 18 Unit Created by Gay Miller

Constructed Response – Character Traits of Sarah
List details you have learned about Sarah in Chapter 1. Use these details from Chapter 1 to write a paragraph explaining how Sarah’s
character traits could hurt and/or help her in leaving her home in Maine to travel to the prairie.

___________________________
___________________________
___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ Sarah ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________

Page | 19 Unit Created by Gay Miller

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