Chapter One : America!

Vocabulary

rigging
hold (ship)
gangplank

Questions

 1. What country was Kirsten from?
 2. Who was Kirsten's friend on the ship?
 3. What was the name of the ship Kirsten was on?
 4. Who was Sari?
 5. How old is Kirsten?
 6. What state is her family moving to?
 7. Who lives there?
 8. What is the health inspector looking for on the ship?
 9. Where does their ship land?
10. The phrase "flapped like a seagull's wings" is a simile.  Find at least one other simile in chapter one.
11. What is cholera and why was it so dangerous (use the web to research)?

Project

Kristen's special friend is Sari, her rag doll.  Make a rag doll that looks like Sari from the book (requires some sewing) or make a no-sew version using rag strips (I have made these using old sheets and they turn out really well.

Chapter Two: Lost

Vocabulary

petticoat
tattered
babble

Questions

 1. In what month did Kirsten's family land in New York?
 2. What fine thing did Kirsten's grandmother give her before she left Sweden?
 3. What fruit did Papa and Lars bring back with them?
 4. When is Kirsten's family leaving on the trip west?
 5. Where does Kirsten go with her father and Peter?
 6. What does she bring with her?
 7. What kinds of shops does she see?
 8. Why would no one answer Kirsten when she asked for  help?
 9. What did the kind woman give to Kirsten?
10. How did Kirsten explain to the woman where she needed to go?

Project

Kirsten gets lost when she is seperated from her father.  She found help by drawing a picture to show where she wanted to go.  Maps also help us by showing pictures of where things are.  Draw a map of your neighborhood.  Use symbols to show houses, schools, parks, churches and other intersting features.

Chapter Three: Across the New Land

Vocabulary

fierce
lurched
pioneers

Questions

 1. Where were Kirsten and her family headed to from New York?
 2. How were they going to get there?
 3. Why are Kirsten and Marta sad at the beginning of the chapter?
 4. What is the hardest thing for Kirsten to do?
 5. Who is Mormor?
 6. What does Kirsten do when she misses her?
 7. Was the train a fun place to be?  Why?
 8. What does the boarding house remind Kirsten of?
 9. Who does she meet there?
10. What is "home" to Kirsten?
11. Mark New Youk and Chicago on a map, then connect the two to show the Larson family's route.  Keep the map and mark the route the family takes to Minnesota.

Project

Kirsten's family eats roat pork and potatoes with Marta's family at the boarding house.  Try making Swedish potatoes to try.

Swedish Potatoes (serves 6)

Ingredients
1 medium onion
6 medum potatoes
2 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 3/4 cups heavy cream or half-and-half

Peel and chop the onion into small pieces and set aside.  Peel the potatoes and cut them into small cubes.  Melt the shortening in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the potatoes and the onion.  Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.  Sprink them with salt and pepper and stir a few times.  Stir while you add the cream a little at a time.  When the liquid bubbles, turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Test the potatoes with a fork to see if they are cooked.  If the fork goes into the potatoes easily, they are done.

Chapter Four: A Sad Journey

Vocabulary

Questions

Project