A Long Way From Chicago - Lancaster High School



A Long Way from Chicago

By Richard Peck

Story Questions and Activities

Introduction: Look at the pictures that your teacher has shown you from the Great Depression.

What do you see?

How do you feel when you look at these pictures?

What can you infer about what is happening?

Can you make any predictions about what the time period is?

Chapter 1 Vocabulary

1. annual -happening every year

2. cauldron a large kettle or boiler

3. dispersed-to send off in various directions

4. glowered -to look or stare at with disgust or anger

5. peculiar-strange or odd

6. savoring-to greatly enjoy

7. penitentiary- prison

Complete the following sentences with one of the vocabulary words from the previous page.

1. The town held a (n)___________________festival, except for the year when a terrible thunderstorm kept people indoors.

2. Because Mike was _____________________his new video game, he did not want to stop to eat dinner with the family.

3. My little brother ______________at me when I told him it was time to stop playing and go to bed.

4. I tried not to stare at the woman wearing the _____________hat.

5. The cook prepared gallons of soup in her old iron _______________.

6. When the street musicians packed up their instruments, the crowd soon_____________________.

Answer the following questions after you finish reading Shotgun Cheatham’s Last Night Above Ground.

1. Why did Mary Alice dislike visiting Grandma Dowdel?____________

___________________________________________________________

2. Why did Grandma tell a fib to the newspaper reporter?_______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Why did the newpaper reporter make a rapid exit through Grandma’s parlor window?_______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Based on what you have read so far, how did life in the country in 1929 differ from life in the country today?________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

4. Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Complete your Character log for any character that you have been introduced to in this chapter.

Chapter 2- The Mouse in the Milk

Vocabulary

1. privy-an outhouse

2.

1. How did Grandma explain the mischief done to her mailbox and Effie Wilcox’s privy?_____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. Why did Grandma Dowdel tell Ernie Cowgill that she and her grandchildren would be out of town for a day?_________________

_______________________________________________________

3. Why did Grandma put a mouse in the milk bottle?______________

_______________________________________________________

4. Based on her actions, what can you infer about the kind of person

Grandma D. is?__________________________________________

5. Do you think the Cowgill children received a fair punishment? Explain

Answer._________________________________________________

6. Would you enjoy spending a weekend with Grandma D.? Explain using the graphic organizer below.

|Things I like about Grandma D. |Things I dislike about Grandma D. |

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7. Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate._____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Extra:

1.Pretend you are Joey. Write a letter to your parents describing to them what is going on at Grandma’s house. You may use the next blank page in the packet if you choose to do this assignment.

2.The narrator mentions some of the notorious gangs that disrupted Chicago life during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Two of the most notorious were Al Capone and Bugsy Moran. Who were these people and why were they so powerful? Find 3-4 facts about each of these men and write them on the lines below.

|Al Capone |Bugsy Moran |

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July 1929

Dear Mom and Dad,

_________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

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Love,

Joey

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Chapter 3- A One Woman Crime Wave

Vocabulary

1. mirage-something that appears to be there but in reality, is not

2. contraption-a mechanical gadget

3. morsel- a small amount of food

4. douse—to plunge or drench into water or a liquid

5. linger-to remain or stay in a place longer than expected

Use the context to determine the meaning of the underlined word in each of the following sentences. Write in your own words ( or draw a picture of what you think the word means.

1. The thirsty travelers thought they spied a lake but it was only a mirage created by the bright sun and heat.____________________________

2. My uncle invented a car that could turn into a boat, but nobody wanted to purchase such a contraption._______________________

3. Mary left a morsel of cheese in the corner for the mouse and put the rest in the refrigerator._______________________________________

4. Remember to douse the fire before you go to sleep or you might start a forest fire._____________________________________________

5. The children always seem to linger at the toy store window filled with wonderful dolls and games.___________________________________

Chapter questions

1. What was the purpose of the sign on the train platform in Grandma’s town?_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

2. How did Grandma know Aunt Puss Chapman?__________________

___________________________________________________________

3. How did Grandma outwit Sheriff Dickerson when he accused her of running an illegal soup kitchen?________________________________

__________________________________________________________

4. Do you think Grandma should have cared for Aunt Puss Chapman?_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think Grandma had become such a generous person?__________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

6. Why does Grandma hide her kindness with such a tough exterior?________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

8. Who is telling the story? (Point of View)_____________________

________________________________________________________

9.Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Learn about Imagery!

An image is created in literature by descriptive language that help the reader picture a scene. Notice the author’s use of imagery in the following passage.

Dragonflies skated over the scum on the stagnant water. Grandma made her way along the willows weeping into the water. When she pulled back a tangle of vines, we saw an old, worn-out, snub nosed rowboat. It was pulled up and tied to a tree, and the oars were shipped in the wet bottom, beside along pole with a steel hook at the end.

Underline the words and phrases that help you picture Salt Creek.

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Chapter 4- The Day of Judgement

Vocabulary

1. benediction-a blessing

2. consoled -to comfort someone who is sad

3. heifer -a young cow/ less than one year old

4. lumbered-to become useless

5.

Chapter questions

1. Why was it a challenge to bake a perfect gooseberry pie?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why was the result of the pie contest a joke on Grandma Dowdel?__________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. How did Joey get to ride in the biplane?________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Do you agree with MaryAlice that Grandma Dowdel was not a good influence on the children?_____________________________________

___________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think Grandma was so anxious to win the contest?__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

6.Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Learn about Simile

A simile is a figurative expression in which two unlike objects are compared using the words “like” or “as”. For example:

“Then Grandma sailed like a galleon (large sailing boat) into the front room, striking us dumb.

What is being compared? _______________________________

What mental picture does this create? ___________________

_________________________________________________________

Bonus:

Some of the early pioneers of air transportation were the Wright Brothers and Charles A. Lindbergh. Research 3 facts about each of these men. If you can, include a picture of an early flying machine, such as the biplane that the children saw at the county fair.

|Charles Lindbergh |The Wright Brothers |

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Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Chapter 5 The Phantom Breakman

Vocabulary-Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Draw a line from each word in the first column to its synonym in the second column. Then, use the words in the first column to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

1. clan a. shoved

2. confounded b. a large family

3. phantom c. confused

4. poise d. ghost

5. elbowed e. assurance

6.

As soon as I got on the horse, I ________________the reins tightly.

Once I turned on the light, I realized that the _______________

that had frightened me was merely a shadow.

Feeling very nervous before an audience, I admired your ____________as you spoke.

The eager shoppers________________their way through the crowds in the department store.

Scientists were __________________-by the appearance of aliens on our planet.

Every holiday season, our __________________-gathers for a huge meal and a celebration!

Chapter Questions

1. How did Joey learn that soap did not originate in a package?________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. Why did grandma prevent Mrs. Eubanks from searching her house?___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. Why didn’t Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs want their so to marry Vandalia?_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

4. Do you think it is better to live in a small community where everyone know each other’s business or in a large town where neighbors do not necessarily know one another?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Learn about Personification!!

Personification in literature refers to the granting of human qualities to non human objects. Example: “We took turns stirring this witch’s brew as darkness crawled across the yard.

What is being personified?_________________________________

Why is this better than saying “ It began to get dark?”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Bonus:

At the Coffeepot diner in 1933, the cost of a meal was much less than it would be today. In the chart below, write the cost of a similar meal today.

|Meal |1933 |now |

|Two eggs and bacon |20 cents | |

|Tuna sandwich and glass of coffee |10 cents | |

|Burger, fries, soda | | |

| | | |

Chapter 5- Things with Wings

Vocabulary-

1. Alert-aware- wide awake

2. Bogus-not the real thing, counterfeit

3. Exhausted-extremely tired

4. Merged-to blend together or unite

1. Why was Grandma uncharacteristically at the train station when Joey and his sister arrived for their 1934 visit? _________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Explain why the owners of the movie theater accepted food as well as cash for a movie ticket.________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How did Grandma force Mrs. Weidenbach to restore Effie Wilcox/s house to her?_______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Make a conclusion as to why Grandma was so successful in getting people to do what she wanted them to do.________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Chapter 7- Centennial Summer

Vocabulary

1. antique-belonging to the past- not modern

2. enlist-to sign up (as in the army)

3. stifled-to suppress, end or withhold (as in a yawn)

4. tradition-something that is handed down or continued over many years (many times having to do with family or culture)

5. procession-moving forward in an orderly manner (ex; as in a parade, or line of people in church

6. perceive-to become aware of through your senses

7.brawl- fight

Analogies are like equations in which the first pair of words has the same relationship as the second pair of words. For example, CRUEL is to KIND as WARM is to COOL. Both pairs of words are opposites. Choose the best word from the Vocabulary words above to complete the analogies below.

QUIT is to RESIGN as ___________________is to JOIN

FRIENDLINESS is to HOSPITALITY as ______________is to CUSTOM.

ELDERLY is to YOUNG as _________________is to MODERN.

CONCEALED is to REVEALED as ALLOWED is to ____________.

PARADE is to _______________as BALLET it to DANCE.

EDUCATE is to TEACH as ______________-is to MISLEAD.

Chapter questions

1. Why were Joey and Mary Alice less excited about visiting Grandma in the summer of 1945 than in previous years?-_____________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why did Grandma go to the Griswold place?___________________

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3. Explain why the Centennial celebration was a triumph for Grandma.__________________________________________________

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4. What evidence shows that Mary Alice had leaned a lot from her grandmother? ________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.How would this story be different if the setting had been during a time when the country was experiencing prosperity? (Great wealth)? How would Grandma Dowdel’s life have been different?________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

9. Explain why you think the name of this chapter is appropriate.______

___________________________________________________________

Be sure to fill in your character log at the end of each chapter. Add any new information about existing characters and any new characters that are introduced in this chapter!

Characterization

Use your completed character logs to help you with this question.

Compare the three major characters in the beginning of the story and then at the end. Who changed the most and who changed the least?

|Character |Beginning of story |End of Story |

|Joey | | |

| | | |

|MaryAlice | | |

| | | |

|Grandma Dowdel | | |

| | | |

BONUS:

Why do you think this book was titled “A Long Way from Chicago?” If you had to choose another title for this book what would it be and why?

Idioms

Idioms are phrases whose meanings cannot be understood from the meaning of words taken one by one. For example: “Cough it up.” (pg 83) does not mean that Miz Eubanks wants her daughter to spit up money, this idiom means that Miz Eubanks wants her daughter to give her the money that she earned. Idioms come from many different origins. For example, we get idioms from the Bible, ancient fables, Native –American customs, slang, and famous authors such as Homer, Shakespeare and Aesop.

Directions: Choose one of the idioms from the list below. After you read it, draw a picture in the box on this page of the literal meaning of the idiom. Then draw a picture in the second box of what the intended meaning of the idiom is. Underneath the box, write what the intended meaning is.

1. “If you’re here for the long haul.” (pg 13)

2. “to pull the wool over the reporter’s eyes” (page 12)

3. “cat had our tongues” (page 66)

4. “dropping like flies” (page 127)

5. “Raining cats and dogs”

Write the literal meaning here Write the intended meaning here

_________________________ ___________________________

________________________ ___________________________

You be the Writer!

Each chapter in “A Long Way From Chicago” has a title that helps you to know a little bit about what is going to happen in the chapter.

For each chapter listed below, write one or two sentences telling me why you think the author chose the title of the chapter.

1. Shotgun Cheathum’s Last Night Above Ground

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. The Mouse in the Milk_______________________________________

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3. A One Woman Crime Wave__________________________________

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4. The Day of Judgement_______________________________________

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5. The Phantom Brakeman____________________________________

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6. Things with Wings__________________________________________

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6. Centennial Summer_________________________________________

7. The Troop Train____________________________________________

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