Literature Activities for "My Brother Abe" by Harry Mazer With Printable Worksheet

Literature Activities for "My Brother Abe" by Harry Mazer With Printable Worksheet
Page content

_

My Brother Abe, Sally Lincoln’s Story is an appealing historical fiction novel for middle school students. It is narrated by Sarah Lincoln, better known as Sally, and tells the story of the Lincoln family when Sally and Abe were young. Through the eyes of this young girl we understand the hardships the Lincolns endured as they were forced from their home in Kentucky and tried to build a new life in Indiana.

Remind your students that this is historical fiction. Little is known about Sarah Lincoln so the author states, “I have imagined the life and personality of Sarah Lincoln.” This literature unit will include a vocabulary activity, character analysis, a map and math activity and a friendly letter writing assignment.

Objectives

1. Use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words.

2. Determine word meanings and pronunciations by using a dictionary.

3. Use graphic organizers to interpret textual information.

4. Make inferences based on implied text regarding characters.

5. Compare and contrast characters.

6. Demonstrate active listening skills.

7. Use a variety of communication techniques to present information.

8. Practice map-reading skills.

9. Use available information to solve math word problems.

Vocabulary Activity

Here is a list of twenty-five vocabulary words. We’ve included the page number showing where the word appears in the book. Put the words on slips of paper and place them in a basket. Each student will choose a word from the basket and research it. To do that, each student will look the word up in the book to see how it is used and then will look it up in a dictionary. Finally each student will decide how to present the word to the class: using a poster, a role-play or other means to teach the word to the class. The goal is to get the students to remember the words!

  1. p.8-sassing
  2. p.13-tumpline
  3. p.15-drovers
  4. p.15-merriment
  5. p.16- hemlock
  6. p.23-hobbled
  7. p.32-insolent
  8. p.32-cress
  9. p.33-grouse
  10. p.34-chastisement
  11. p.42-lollygag
  12. p.43-trencher
  13. p.59-pawpaws
  14. p.61-mauls
  15. p.68-morose
  16. p.92-inscrutable
  17. p.97-foraging
  18. p.140-debts
  19. p.150-lintel
  20. p.150-mortification
  21. p.151-commenced
  22. p.154-curtsy
  23. p.157-penitent
  24. p.164-daft
  25. p.177-carcass

Math and Maps

Using a map, atlas or Internet find Knob Creek, Kentucky (Hodgenville) and Little Pigeon Springs, Indiana (Lincoln City). Calculate the miles between the towns (132 miles). If the Lincoln’s traveled five miles a day how many days would it take? Draw the map. Include the Ohio River.

Characterization

Before your students read or listen to My Brother Abe tell them to pay particular attention to the personalities of Sally and Abe. How are they alike and how are they different? Suggest that they jot down words about the characters as the book goes along. Then have them use this printable characterization worksheet to fill out comparing Sally and Abe. Use this for a class discussion or as an assessment tool.

Friendly Letter

The assignment is to write a friendly letter. Students may choose between Abe or Sally as the letter writer. Then students may select one of these characters to be the recipient of the letter: Mama (the first Mrs. Lincoln), Pa, Aaron Grigsby, Stepmother (Mrs. Johnston), Elizabeth or Matilda. Encourage the proper friendly letter format, legible handwriting and correct capitalization and punctuation.

The appealing thing about this book is that it depicts the difficult lives of young settlers in a realistic way. Sally had to do much of the work especially when her mother died but she did not always do it happily. Often she was reprimanded for her sassy behavior. Use this literature unit for My Brother Abe by Harry Mazer to have discussions about how the activities of today’s children compared to Sally Lincoln’s life. Challenge your students to learn more about Abraham Lincoln!

Resources

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace

Lincoln’s boyhood home in Indiana

References

Diocese of Toledo, Ohio: Language Arts Course of Study

Image Source: www.amazon.com