Sarah, Plain and Tall This is the story of a pioneer family struggling to make a living on the windswept plains. After the mother dies during childbirth, the father places an ad in the newspaper for a new wife. Sarah, from Maine, answers his letter and agrees to visit him and his children, Anna and Caleb. Will curiosity turn into love? Will the children have a new mother who will love them and sing to them as their real mother did? Will strong minded, independent Sarah be able to give up her life by the sea and join this family on the plains? Click here to go to the next slide >

Table of Contents 1.Who is the Author? (reading)Who is the Author? (reading) 2. Picture This (viewing)Picture This (viewing) 3. What Would You Miss? (drawing)What Would You Miss? (drawing) 4. Sarah’s Song (listening)Sarah’s Song (listening) 5. Give Yourself a Title (writing)Give Yourself a Title (writing) 6. Introduce Yourself (speaking)Introduce Yourself (speaking) Sources

1. Who is the Author? Use one of the following websites to find three interesting facts about the Patricia MacLachlan (the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall)

2. Picture This How would Sarah say these two pictures are different? How would Sarah say these two pictures are similar?

3. What Would You Miss? Sarah created sketches of the things she missed from Maine. Using a pencil, draw a picture of what you would miss if you left home.

4. Sarah’s Song Listen to the two songs below. Would Sarah sing either of these songs? Explain why you think she would or wouldn’t sing these songs. Song 1.Song 2.

5. Give Yourself a Title The Witting family was able to tell a great deal about Sarah from her first letter. Use your name and two adjectives to make a title that describes you ( Like Sarah, Plain and Tall or Tom, Quiet and Funny ). Use your new title to write a short paragraph about yourself. Don’t forget to use your two adjectives. Be prepared to read your paragraph out loud when you return to the classroom.

6. Introduce Yourself Practice reading your paragraph from activity 5 silently. We will read these aloud in the classroom later today.

Sources MacLachlan, Patricia. (1985) Sarah, Plain and Tall. Scholastic Inc. New York