Sign of the Beaver Hunt

The Sign of the Beaver Internet Hunt
Based on the novel The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Directions: Use the linked words in each question to go to the web site to find the answer to the question. Use your browser's Back button to return to the hunt page.

1. According to Beverly Slapin and Doris Seale, this novel does a very poor job of portraying the Native people of Penobscot. List 4 of the shortcomings and/or prejudices in the book.

a. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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d. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Matt and his father build a log cabin. They use an axe and an adze. Which kind of notch do you think they made?

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3. In the story, Matt carefully observes the basket making. What tree did Penobscots use to make their baskets?

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In what habitat should he look for that tree?

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4. Ms. Spear describes the dwellings in the village. Here is a picture of one. Describe it.

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5. Matt plays a game with several village boys. What is the game called today?

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Read Carefully: What happens if your dice fall on the ground rather than in the bowl?

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6. Matt teaches Attean how to read using the novel Robinson Cursoe. Who wrote that book?
Use the form at the Internet Public Library to find out. Now look for it at an online book store.

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Which was the better resource to use to find the answer? ____________________________________________________

TAI (think about it) If you were going to teach someone to read using a book, which book would you choose? Why?

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7. Students in this school in Alaska made projects based on the novel. Which do you think is the best? Why?

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8. Because of the invasion of the Europeans, Attean's Grandfather decides they should leave their home. Attean asks Matt, "How can you own the land?" Do the Penobscot own the land today?

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9. The author, Elizabeth George Speare, spent many lonely summers at the shore. How did she spend that time?

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10. Use this web site's information to choose four things you would like to see if you could visit Maine.

a. _________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________________________________________

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d._________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Today the Penobscot Nation has joined with others to work to restore the Penobscot River.
List 3 things they are doing.

a._________________________________________________________________________________________________

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b._________________________________________________________________________________________________

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c._________________________________________________________________________________________________

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TAI (Think about it) - How could the local school kids contribute to the efforts to restore the river?

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Done Already?
Take the Sign of the Beaver quiz - ThinkQuest web site	Explore the Crooked Knives exhibit.
Tackle this Sign of the Beaver webquest	Read a Penobscot story

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©2004 Cindy O'Hora All Rights Reserved. posted 4/2004 Updated 11/05. Educators may print a hunt, exactly as it appears, for use in a classroom setting. Use of these materials constitutes an agreement with these terms of use