The firefly emerged as their clear choice. After weighing the merits of each, a class vote settled the matter. The students explored the pros and cons of such bugs as the praying mantis, dragonfly, ladybug, and grasshopper. Several insects were nominated each nominee became the subject of careful study. Holzwarth explained that it was a state matter, they directed their efforts to their district legislator in Harrisburg (the state capital).īefore they did so, however, the children decided to conduct their own democratic election to determine what the state insect should be. The students began the process by looking up information about Pennsylvania in various books and pamphlets they learned that Pennsylvania had a state flower, a state song, a state tree, a state nickname, and various other official state symbols, but no official "state bug." At first they wanted to write to the President of the United States to have him declare a state bug. Holzwarth's class on one of the most rewarding social studies learning adventures it had ever tackled. The idea of a state insect captured the students' interest and provoked them to ask whether Pennsylvania also had a state insect. Holzwarth's 4th-graders in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, were about to wind up a thematic unit on their state when Naisha brought in a newspaper story about the state of Maryland having recently adopted the monarch butterfly as the state insect. Armed with this new self-confidence, Charley prepares to leave the mountains but vows that he'll someday return.Mrs. Charley helps her home and nurses her back to health.īefore it's time for him to leave the mountains in front of the invading Confederate Army, Charley learns that bravery is doing what's necessary even when there's no one around to witness the act. He then has to go find Granny who has fallen and hurt her leg. The next morning he kills the animal as it springs to attack him. That night, Charley hears the cat on the roof. When Granny is called away to assist with a birth, a panther attacks, killing most of the chickens. She begins to teach Charley about farming and herbs and he begins to take pride in his abilities. She's a healer though some think she's a witch. Granny Bent catches him trying to steal eggs from her hen house and takes him in. A Confederate officer tells Charley that he doesn't belong in prison and advises that he go west.Ĭharley escapes to the Blue Ridge Mountains but is hungry. As he runs, some men call him "Charley Skedaddle." Some try to stop him but he gets away and is taken prisoner by the Confederates. The elation he'd expected is replaced by horror that he has taken a man's life and Charley runs away. He sees a man who had befriended him lying dead and picks up the man's weapon, firing on an enemy soldier. But when the fighting starts, Charley discovers that he's afraid. He plans to take the first opportunity to avenge Johnny's death. When they arrive at their destination, Charley is taken on as a drummer boy. Though he's only twelve, Con encourages the decision and helps him sneak aboard a military transport ship. As he pours out his troubles to Con, Charley decides that he wants to run away and join the army. He recognizes Con Sullivan, a man he believes to have been Johnny's friend. At the end of that conversation, Noreen agrees that if Charley can't stay out of trouble she'll send him to a school for incorrigible boys.Ĭharley is furious and goes out where he encounters a military parade. While Charley is changing, he hears Noreen talking with her fiancé. Noreen is angry that he has ruined his good clothes and that he had been fighting. A police officer breaks it up and takes Charley home. As Charley is returning home one day with a hatbox, he encounters a member of the rival gang and gets into a fight. Charley is a member of the street gang known as the Bowery Boys. He picks up supplies and hats for her sewing business and delivers them when Noreen is finished with them. Meanwhile, he works as an errand boy for his older sister, Noreen. Charley can't wait for the opportunity to avenge Johnny's death by killing off some Rebel soldiers. Charley Quinn is twelve years old the summer after his older brother, Johnny, is killed at Gettysburg.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |