Introduction

In chapters one and two of The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr the reader is introduced to a lot of different characters.  The main character is Simon. He is 15 years old, he is strapping and people say he is not very smart. He repeated third grade four times! His teacher Miss Rogers, tells him he has graduated and he should spread his wings. He decides to buy 1000 turkeys and walk them to Denver to make a lot of money. Miss Rogers helps him by giving him money to buy the turkeys. He hires Mr. Peece to work for him and to drive the wagon full of corn. At the end of chapter two they set out for Denver from Union City, Missouri.                                                   by Ms. D

A picture of Union, Missouri

Vocabulary

1. strapping - big and strong
   
2. two bits - fifty cents (2 quarters)
   
3. aforementioned- refers to something already mentioned
   
4. suspicioned - thought it might be
   
5. betwixt- between
   
6. projectile - something through forward
   
7. skittish - easily frightened
   
8. ministering - to give aid to; to help
   
9. enterprise - business 
   
10. gulled - to take advantage of or deceive
    
11. capital - the money needed to start a business
    

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Reading Comprehension

1. How old is Simon?
2. What was Miss Rogers advice to Simon? What was it time for him to do?
3. Simon smashed his thumb when he realized he had forgotten something in his plan and he had a problem. What was his problem and what did he do to solove it?
4. Why did Simon want to pay Mr. Peace a percentage instead of a daily wage?

Could this be Sparky and Snowball or Brown Boy and Rocky?

Fast Facts

1. Union, Missouri is in Franklin County. The city was founded in 1825.  In 2010 it had a population of 10,204.  If you want to know more about the town go here: www.ci.union.mo.us/history.asp

2. Want to know what the rules were for students in 1860? Look here for a link to class rules: http://www.jbit.org/guide/student-rules.gif

3. On page 25 it mentions John Brown. John Brown was a man who hated slavery and he moved with is sons to the territory of Kansas to try to end slavery. He believed it was alright to try to end slavery even through violence. 

4. Want to know more about turkeys?  Here is a story about a man who became the mother of a group of babies! There is a video on this site which shows his turkeys on a grasshopper run!
http://magblog.audubon.org/nature-documentary-shows-one-mans-journey-becoming-mother-hen


 

Can you trace the route of Simon on his birds on this map?