The Prairie Thief

by Melissa Wiley

Machias Family Read-Aloud, January 2018

Week Four: January 22-26

This week’s Parent Participation Assignment:

After reading on Tuesday, January 23 and discussing the story with your family, parents should write the answer to question #3 on the form on the back of this page. Send the answer slip to school with your child on Wednesday, January 24, for your child to turn in to the answer box in the library. One winner with the correct answer will be drawn from the box and announced on Thursday, January 25. All the children from the winning family will win a free book as a prize!

Discussion Questions

Monday, January 22Read pages 136-140.

  1. Why wouldn’t Louisa save her pa by telling the judge that the brownie wass the thief? What would you do if you were Louisa?
  2. How did the brownie feel about Louisa’s decision to not tell about him? How do you know?
  3. What did the brownie provide to give Louisa a ride to town?

Tuesday, January 23Read pages 141-151.

  1. Describe what it was like for Louisa to ride the pronghorn antelope. If you could have a ride on any animal, what would it be, and why?
  2. Why did Louisa feel hopeless for her pa? Why did she also feel a little hopeful?
  3. How far away was the town from the place where the antelope stopped so Louisa could dismount?

*Grown-ups: With your child(ren), answer this question on the form on the back of this page, and return it to the library Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, January 24Read pages 152-162.

  1. How did Louisa feel when the wolves surrounded her? If you were Louisa, what would you have done when the wolves appeared?
  2. What gift did the wolves give to Louisa? What was this gift’s special meaning?
  3. Describe the reunion between Pa and Louisa. How did they feel when they saw each other?

Thursday, January 25Read pages 163-174.

  1. Irony means being funny by using words that mean the opposite of what you want to say. On page 168, it says, “One of the perils of a classical education, he often reflected, was predilection for vocabulary of an obfuscating nature.” What does this mean? Why is it ironic or funny?
  2. After Mr. Brody spoke in court, who did the judge think was the real thief?
  3. What did Louisa say in court that surprised the judge? Why was her statement surprising?

Friday, January 26Read pages 175-190.

  1. Who did Louisa meet in the judge’s house?
  2. Who was Mrs. Mack? How did Mrs. Mack and the judge help each other?
  3. Louisa thought she knew how to save her father. What do you think she will do? What would you do?

Parent Participation Assignment

Question of the Day

Due Wednesday, January 24 by 3:15 p.m.

Answer the question and fill out the form. Return this form to the answer box in the library.

Question: How far away was the town from the place where the antelope stopped so Louisa could dismount?

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Name(s) of your children at Machias: (include last names, please)

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Parent/guardian signature

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