Teachers Guide

Companion Teaching Activities to
the Newspaper Serialized Story
Teaching Activities written by
JENNIFER WIRTHWEIN
School District of Washington,
Washington, Mo.
Serial Story by Carolyn Mueller, www.carolynelizabethmueller.com
Illustrations by Christopher Grant, www.timidlion.com
Design by Beth Sharpe, www.bethsharpe.com
Produced by the Missouri Press Foundation, www.mopress.com. ©2016
January2016
DearEducator,
Thankyouforchoosingtoembarkonthisreadingjourneywithyourstudents!Ourgoalinthisproject
istohavechildrenreadingandlearninginsidetheircommunitynewspapers.
Missourinewspaperswillpublish“NightattheCapitol”inprintandelectroniceditionsthroughoutthe
winterandspringof2016.Ifyouaren’tsureifyournewspaperhasplanstopublishthestory,contact
thepublisheroreditor.ThestoryisavailabletoallMissourinewspapersatnocost.
ThequestionsinthisguidearealignedtoMissouri’sLearningStandards.Thestandardsarewrittenina
studentfriendlywaytoallowyoungreaderstoclearlyunderstandandstatethepurposeofthe
learningactivities.
Wehopeyourstudentsenjoytheir“NightattheCapitol,”andthatthiscompanionteacherguide
servesasavaluableresourceforexpandingthelearningopportunitieswhilehelpingyoumeetyour
educationalgoals.
HappyReading!
DawnKitchell
MissouriPressFoundation&Association
ChapterOne:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionsforthefollowingwords.
Rotunda:
Depictions:
Miniscule:
Replica:
*Impression:
*Star:
MultipleMeaningWords*Thesevocabularywordsaremultiplemeaningwords
Impression-a.)Myfirstimpressionisthatshewasshy.b.)Herbootsleftanimpressionintheleaves.Which
definitionofimpressionisusedinthefirstparagraphofchapterone?AorB
Start-a.)Thesmalltwigswereusedtostartthefire.b.)Hewokefromhisnightmarewithastart.Which
definitionofstartisusedinthispassagefromchapterone,“Charliegaveastart.”AorB
Comprehension
1. WhyisCharliedisinterestedinthefieldtriptotheMissouriStateCapitol?Whatwordsdoesheuseto
describethefieldtrip?
2. CharliedoesnotfeellikeaMissourian.Findtwoquotesfromthetextthatsupportthisbelief.
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3. Mr.Priddyisdescribedashavingatwinkleinhiseye.Whatdoesthatexpressionmean?
4. HowdidMr.PriddytrytogetCharlieinterestedinthefieldtrip?
5. Makeaprediction:WillCharlieenjoyhisfieldtrip?Supportyourpredictionwithtextevidence.
ResearchExtension
ToseeThomasHartBenton’smural,visit:benton.truman.edu.Thinkaboutthefollowingquestionsasyouview
themural:Whatwordswoulddescribethepainting?Whichobjectsseemclosertoyouandfurtheraway?What
colorisusedthemostinthispainting?Whatinterestsyouthemostaboutthisworkofart?Whatquestions
wouldyouasktheartistiftheywerehere?Describethetoneandthemoodofthepainting.Writeaone
paragraphreflectionthatdescribesyourreactiontothemural.
TolearnabouttheMissouriStateCapitol,visit:https://mostateparks.com/page/55186/missouri-state-capitol
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icananalyzeanddrawconclusions.Icanusetext
evidencetosupportmyanswer.
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ChapterTwo:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofthefollowingwords.
Outlaw:
Depict:
Contributions:
Whimsy:
Inundated:
WordChoice
“Charlieshuffledovertoabustnearthestaircase.”Theauthorusestheword“shuffled”tohelpthereader
visualizehowCharliemoved.ShuffledshowsCharlie’sattitude,aswell.Forexample,ifCharlie“skipped”overto
thebust,itwouldshowaneagernessandenthusiasm.Rewritetheoriginalsentenceusingadifferentverbfor
shuffled.Howdoesthisnewverbchangethesentence?
“Verygood,Ben!”Charlie’steachergushed.Whatdoesgushedmean?HowdoesitportrayCharlie’steacher’s
attitude?
Comprehension
1. CharliestatesthatMr.Priddy’senthusiasmwascontagious.Findtextevidencethatsupportsthis
statement.
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2. Makeaprediction.DoyouthinkCharliewillbreakawayfromthegroupandexploreonhisown?Why?
3. WhatdidthestudentsseeintheHallofFamousMissourians?
ResearchExtension
IntheHallofFamousMissourians,thestudentssawLauraIngallsWilder,MarkTwain,WaltDisneyand
StanMusial.Chooseoneofthoseindividualstoresearch.Find5-10factsabouttheirlifeandtheir
contributions.WhydoyouthinktheywerechosentobehonoredattheMissouriStateCapitalbuilding?
ToseeaninteractivemapoftheHallofFamousMissourians,visit:
http://www.house.mo.gov/famous.aspx
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanusewordchoicetosetatone.Ican
analyzeanddrawconclusions.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.
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ChapterThree:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionsofthefollowingwords.
Flanked:
Pillars:
Proceedings:
Relevance:
MultipleMeaningWords
TheauthorstatestheCharliewasstirredbythesuddensensationofquiet.Stirredcanhavemorethanone
meaning.Writeasentencethatusestheverbstirredinadifferentway.
WordChoice
“…andhisstomachrumbledwithhunger.”Theuseoftheword“rumbled”createsamoredramaticpicture
thansimplysaying“growled.”RewritethesentencewithadifferentverbthatportraysCharlie’shunger.
“…theywouldn’tnoticethecurious11-year-oldboytrailingthem.”Theuseofthewordtrailingexplainshow
Charliewasfollowingthegroup.Whatotherverbscouldyouuseinsteadoftrailing?
Comprehension
1. WhydoesCharlieleavehisfieldtriptoexploreonhisown?
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2. Whydoeshechoosetofollowaparticulargroupofpeople?Whatwasheexpectingtosee?
3. WhatcausedCharlietofallasleepintheSenateChamber?
4. FindtextevidencethatsupportsthefactthatCharlieispanickedwhenhewakesup.
5. WhatvoicesdoesCharliehearattheendofthischapter?
LiteraryTechniques:Imagery
Imageryistheuseofverydescriptivewriting(usuallyinvolvingthefivesenses)thathelpsthereaderhaveaclear
imageintheirmind.Theauthorusesalotofimageryinthischapter.Findanexampleandwriteitbelow.
ResearchExtension
UseasearchenginetolocateimagesoftheMissouriSenateChamber.Howwouldyoudescribethisroomto
someonewhocouldn’tseeit?Remembertobeverydescriptive.
FormoreinformationabouttheMissouriSenate,visit:http://www.senate.mo.gov/
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanusewordchoicetosetatone.Icananalyze
anddrawconclusions.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.Icanidentifyandutilizeliterary
techniques.
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ChapterFour:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionsofthefollowingwords.
Secession:
Preserve:
Dignity:
Fitful:
Mannequins:
MultipleMeaningWords
Charliesurveyedthescene.Inthissentence,surveyedisusedasaverb.Surveycanalsobeusedasanoun.Write
asentencethatuses“survey”asanoun.
WordChoice
Theauthorstatesthe“minersheavedandhauledtheircoal.”Heaveandhaularestrongverbsthatpaintavivid
image,insteadofsimplysayingtheminers“moved”theircoal.Findanotherexampleofastrongverbinthis
chapter.
LiteraryTechnique:Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeiaistheuseof“sound”words,suchasbuzz,bang,pop.Inthischapter,theauthoruses
onomatopoeia,suchastheword,“Whack!”Whatotherexamplesofonomatopoeiacanyoulist?Whydo
authorsuseonomatopoeia?
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Comprehension
1. WhatwerethevoicesthatCharlieheard?
2. WhydidCharlieaskthesoldiertopinchhim?
3. DoyouthinkCharlieisdreaming?Whyorwhynot?Usespecificdetails.
Researchextension
CharlieencounterssoldiersfromtheCivilWar,WorldWarIandWorldWarII.CreateaKWL(know,wantto
know,learned)chartforoneofthesewars.ListatleastfivefactsfortheWcolumn.Findareliablesourceand
completetheLcolumn.
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanusewordchoicetocreateanimage.Ican
locatereliablesourcesforresearch.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.Icanidentifyandutilize
literarytechniques.
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ChapterFive:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionforeachvocabularyword.
Sheathed:
Shroud:
Confound:
Abolish:
Rations:
Traitorous:
Commiserated:
Grit:
Reverie:
MultipleMeaningWords
Theauthorusesthephrase“gravedanger.”Inthisexample,graveisusedasanadjective.Itcanalsobe
usedasanoun.Writeasentencethatusesgraveasanoun.
WordChoice
Theauthorusesstrongverbs,suchas“trudging”and“devoured”inthischapter.Devouredshowshow
hungryCharliewas.Listsynonymsandantonymsfordevoured.
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Comprehension
1. Whatallowsthepaintingsanddioramastocomealiveatnight?
2. WhatdoesJebmeanwhenhesays,“Idon’tthinkyouquitegotallyourbiscuitsinthefryer?”How
doyouknow?
3. WhatisthepurposeofMorseCode?
4. WhydidCharliebegintothinkthatMissouriansweretougherthanhethought?
ResearchExtension
TolearnmoreaboutMorsecode,visit:http://nrich.maths.org/2198
Summarizethefivemostimportantfactsinthearticle.
Next,createamessageforaclassmateusingMorsecode.Didtheydecipheryourmessagecorrectly?
ForaMorsecodegame,visit:https://www.nsa.gov/kids/games/gameMorse.htm.
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanusesynonymsandantonyms.Icansummarize
keydetailsinresearch.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.Icanidentifyandutilizeliterary
techniques.
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ChapterSix:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofeachvocabularyword.
Bartering:
Hefty:
Transcribing:
WordChoice
Adverbs:Theauthorstatestheironsmith“dutifully”swung.Dutifullydescribeshowheswung.Whatother
adverbscouldbeused?Howwouldtheychangethemeaningofthesentence?
Comprehension
1. HowdidCharliefeelaboutseeingthemuralcometolife?Howdoyouknow?
2. HowdidCharliecomparethewomanatthetypewritertothewomanbakingbread?
3. WhydoyouthinkthesoldierswerelookingforJesseJames?
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4. IfyouwereCharlie,whatwouldyouaskthesoldiers?Why?
ResearchExtension:
AsCharlieistouringwithJeb(aConfederatesoldier)andWill(aUnionsoldier),heexperiencessomearguing
andtensionastheydiscusstheCivilWar.IntheCivilWar,whichstateswereUnionandwhichwere
Confederate?WhatwerethegoalsfortheUnionandtheConfederatearmies?
TolearnmoreabouttheCivilWar,visit:https://kidskonnect.com/history/civil-war/
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanuseadverbsinmywriting.Icanresearchfor
mainideasandsupportingdetails.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.Icanmaketext-to-self
connections.
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ChapterSeven:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionforeachvocabularywordbelow.
Resides:
Depicts:
Jabber:
Manifested:
Collectively:
LiteraryTechnique:Imagery
Imageryistheuseofdescriptivewritingthatcreatesanimageinthereader’smind.Itusuallyinvolvesthefive
senses.Thephrase,“dimbuzzofexitlights”isanexampleofimageryinthischapter.Writeanotherexampleof
imageryusedinthischapter.
Comprehension
1. DescribeMissouri’sStateSeal.
2. Whatdothebearsandcrescentmoonsymbolize?
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3. WhatisthemottoofthestateofMissouri?
4. Howdidthesealbecomecursed?
5. Whatdoyouthinkhappenedtothesealinthisstory?Whyisitmissing?
ResearchExtension
TheMissouriSealisveryimportantandsymbolic.Ifyouweregoingtocreateanofficialsealforyourclass,what
symbolswouldyouchoose?Whatmottowouldyouchoose?Why?Howdoesyoursealandmottocompareto
yourclassmates’andyourteacher’sideas?Drawyoursealbelow.
ToviewtheMissouriseal,visit:http://www.sos.mo.gov/symbol/seal
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifyimagery.Icanunderstandanduse
symbols.Icanusetextevidencetosupportmyanswer.Icanmaketext-to-selfconnections.
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ChapterEight:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofeachvocabularywordbelow.
Remnants:
Banter:
Tentatively:
LiteraryTechnique:Idioms
Idiomsareexpressionsthatdon’ttranslateliterallywordforword,suchas“rainingcatsanddogs.”Listthree
idiomsbelow.
Inthischapter,theidiom“upacreek”isused.Whatdoesitmean?
Comprehension
1. WhatcluedoesCharliehaveaboutwhostoletheseal?Wheredidhefindit?
2. Charlieissupposedtomeetthesoldiersat0300.Theyareusingmilitarytime.Whattimeis0300?
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3. WhodidCharliemeetwhilelookingforthethief?
4. HowisCharlie’sopinionofMissouribeginningtochange?
5. ListtwofactsyouhavelearnedaboutMissourihistorywhilereadingthisstory.
ResearchExtension
TolearnmoreaboutJackBuck,visit:http://shs.umsystem.edu/historicmissourians/name/b/buck/index.htmlIf
youwereMr.Priddy,howwouldyoudescribeBuckandhisaccomplishmentstoatourgroup?Writeyourscript
below.
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifyanddecipheridioms.Icanwritefora
specificpurposeandaudience.
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ChapterNine:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofeachvocabularywordbelow.
Uproariously:
Frontier:
Incredulously:
Trackers:
Comprehension
1. WhatwasScottJoplinbusydoingwhenCharlietriedtoquestionhim?
2. WhatcluesdidWaltDisneygive?
3. WhywasLauraIngallsWilderusedtobeingobservant?Whatdetailsdidsheobservethathelped
Charlie?
4. WhatadvicedidWildergiveCharlie?
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5. Specifically,whydidWilderbelievetheNativeAmericanscouldhelpCharliefindtheseal?
ResearchExtension
ScottJoplinwasafamousmusicianknownforragtimemusic.Youcanlistentohismusichere:
http://www.last.fm/music/Scott+JoplinFormoreinformationaboutScottJoplin,visit:
http://www.classicsforkids.com/activitysheets/February2013.pdf
Whattypesofmusicarecurrentlypopular?Howdotheycompareandcontrastwithragtimemusic?
LearningStandards:Icanunderstandvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifymainideaandsupportingdetails.
Icancompareandcontrast.Icanmaketext-to-worldconnections.
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ChapterTen:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofeachvocabularywordbelow.
Placard:
Rudimentary:
Miniscule:
Convened:
LiteraryTechniques
Findanexampleofonomatopoeiaandimageryusedinthischapter.Writethembelow.
Comprehension
1. WhyweretheNativeAmericansfighting?
2. HowdoesCharlieconvincetheNativeAmericanstohelphimcatchthethief?
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3. HowdoesMachkdecidewhichwaythethiefwent?
4. DoyouthinkCharlieandMachkwillfindthethief?Whyorwhynot?
ResearchExtension
Inthischapter,theNativeAmericansarereenactingtheIndianAttackontheVillageofSt.Louisin1780.Toread
moreaboutthisbattle,visit:http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/03/25/revolutionary-war-battlefield-lies-beneathfuture-ballpark-village-site/
Afteryoureadthearticle,summarizetheeventsofthebattle.HowisthisbattleconnectedtoBallparkVillage?
LearningStandards:Icanidentifyvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifyimageryandonomatopoeia.Icanusetext
evidenceandsummarizekeydetails.Icanmaketext-to-textconnections.
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ChapterEleven:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionofthevocabularywordslistedbelow.
Muffled:
Ambush:
Bravado:
Proceeds:
*Whichofthesevocabularywordsisamultiplemeaningword?
Comprehension
1. WhatsignsofastruggledidCharlienotice?
2. Whatisthe#1ruleoftracking?Why?
3. Whowasthethief?Howdidtheauthorforeshadowthisresult?
4. DescribeJesseJames’attitude.Usespecifictextevidence.
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5. Makeaprediction:DoyouthinkJesseJameswillsurrendertheseal?Why?
ResearchExtension:
VisitthefollowingsitetolearnabouttherequirementsforMissouri’sgovernor:
http://www.mo.gov/government/guide-to-missouris-government/office-of-the-governor/Whatarethe
responsibilitiesofagovernor?WhoisthecurrentgovernorofMissouri?Howcanyoucontactthem?
LearningStandards:Icanidentifyvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifymultiplemeaningwords.Icanusetext
evidenceandsummarizekeydetails.Icanmaketext-to-textandtext-to-worldconnections.
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ChapterTwelve:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionsofthevocabularywordslistedbelow.
Infamous:
Standstill:
Guerilla:
Ricocheted:
Stockade:
Commend:
LiteraryTechnique:Homophones
Homophonesarewordsthatsoundthesame,butarespelleddifferently.“Guerilla”isahomophonefor
“gorilla.”Listthreeadditionalhomonyms:
Comprehension
1. ExplainhowThomasJeffersonsavedtheseal.
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2. WhatcomplimentdidJeffersongiveCharlie?
3. WhydidCharliefeelluckytobeaMissourian?
4. WhywasMr.Priddynotsurprisedtoseethesoldiersalive?Howdidtheauthorforeshadowthiswould
happen?
ResearchExtension
ThomasJeffersonisoneofthemostquotedpresidents.Visitthefollowingsitetoreadmorequotes:
http://www.notable-quotes.com/j/jefferson_thomas.htmlWhichquotedoyoulikethebest?Why?
LearningStandards:Icanidentifyvocabularyincontext.Icanidentifyhomophones.Icanusetextevidenceand
summarizekeydetails.Icanmaketext-to-selfconnections.
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ChapterThirteen:NightattheCapitol
Vocabulary
Writethedefinitionforeachwordlistedbelow.
Authenticate
Fortitude
Utmost
Comprehension
1. Whyisthestatesealsoimportant?Whatpurposedoesitserve?
2. Charliereturnedthesealgentlytoitshome.WhatdoesthisactionrevealaboutCharlie?Howdoes
Charliefeelabouttheseal?
3. WhatcomplimentsdidCharliereceivefromMachkandthesoldiers?
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4. FindaquotethatsupportsthefactthatCharliehaschangedhisattitudeaboutMissouri.
5. AfterspendinganightintheCapitol,doyouthinkCharliewouldmakeagoodtourguide?Whyorwhy
not?
ResearchExtension:
CreateanagendaforaclassfieldtriptotheMissouriCapitolbuilding.Writeascriptforoneoftheexhibitsinthe
building,explainingitshistoryandimportancetoMissouri.Howwouldyoumakethefieldtripexcitingfor
reluctantstudents,likeCharlie?WhatotherfieldtripscouldyoutaketolearnaboutMissourihistory?
LearningStandards:Icanidentifyvocabularywords.Icanusetextevidence.Icanwriteforaspecificpurpose
andaudience.Icanmaketext-to-worldandtext-to-selfconnections.
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