Johnny Tremain Internet Hunt
based on the novel Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Directions: Use the links provided to find the answers to the questions. Harness the Go Menu or the Back arrow, of your web browser, to return to this hunt page. Printer version

1. In the opening paragraphs of the tale, the Forbes writes, " Boston slowly opened its eyes, stretched, and woke."
Is this a simile or a metaphor?

How do you tell the difference?

2. Vocabulary - Use these web resources to glean the answers: M-W online / Cambridge Dictionaries / The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

Provide synonyms for these words:

Flaccid ____________________________________________________________

Factious ___________________________________________________________

Give a definition for each of these words.

inundated

Describe the last time you felt you were inundated.

impartially

Name a profession where making decisions impartially is critical.

Which of the 2 words you just defined is an adverb? _____________________________

Use these vocabulary words in a sentence.

parasitic

treasonous oratory

The word "desert" is a homonym. Which meaning of the word is definitely not relevant to the story?

3. Johnny purchases a fur lined surtout in the story. What is that article of clothing called today?
(Helpful hint. Use the Find command to scan the text rather than read the whole page. To do this using Netscape or Internet Explorer,
go Edit ... Find. Enter the word "surtout" and click Find. The text will be highlighted. Edit ... Find again will take you to the next occurrence of the word.)

4. Two trades were mentioned extensively in the story. Silversmith and Printer
Use these resources to write two facts about each trade. Printer / Silversmith

5. Ms. Forbes tells of the events the night the British marched from Boston. How accurate was she?
List three things described in the story which are true.

6. Dove is caught stealing tea during the tea party raid. Who really did try to steal tea that night?

7. The rebels adopted the song Yankee Doodle as their own. Actually, the British were mocking the
colonists by calling them Yankee Doodles. Explain....

8. Your class is exploring the Freedom Trail of Boston. List the places mentioned in the story that are on the tour.

9. What role did Samuel Adams play in sparking the revolution?

Do some digging:

10. Many of the characters in the story are real people. Was James Otis a real person?

Did Ms. Forbes paint an accurate picture of him?

11. Johnny is an apprentice. Consider some of the Jobs, Trades and Occupations of Colonial America.
Which occupation would you prefer to do? Explain.

Think About It:

* Clothing is repeatedly mentioned in the story. The red coat uniforms, the farmer's smock disguise for Pumpkin, the flashy metal buttons and special fabrics. You conclude that, in Colonial times, specific trades were identified by the clothes they wore.

Is this still true today? Can you tell a person's job by the clothes they wear? Support your answer with examples.

* Watch Declaring Independence

Done already?

Write a Personal Narrative Essay about an injury or illness	Complete this activity to learn about Patriot James Otis
Colonial & Revolutionary Americans Activity	Explore the April 19th exhibit at the LOC
Revolutionary War Spies Project	Johnny Tremain WebQuest
April Morning Hunt based on the novel by Howard Fast	Tell the story of Polly Cooper at Valley Forge
History Mystery Message Challenge - decode the message	A Note for Freedom project
American Athenas: Founding Mothers & Daughters of Liberty project	Make a Book Trailer with Photo Story 3 free software and free tutorial

According to the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, who fired the shot heard round the world? (Well worth the loading time.)

Paul Revere is a character in the story. Explore his home. http://www.paulreverehouse.org/

Embark on this electronic field trip - Freedom In America: Some Assembly Required

Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Problem & Project based Learning / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Civics & History / Site map / Home

Educators may print this hunt for use in a classroom setting. posted 2/7/03 Updated & augmented 10/20

Save a tree - use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid , or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Or perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it. Make your own answer sheet

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets worck.