Sarah Plain and Tall Literature Study

Recently we have completed reading a short novel called Sarah, Plain and Tall. This book is set in the pioneer days of American history and is told from Anna’s (the daughters) point of view. It is a simple story about a family who needed a mother and how a new woman was able to gradually fit in. While reading it, you will also find out lots of information about life on the American prairie. The Sarah Plain and Tall Literature Study is a great way to learn more about the characters in this amazing story.

Sarah Plain and Tall Activities

History / Geography

Create a bulletin board of life in the frontier times (1900s)
Research mail-order brides and grooms that was common in remote territories
Use a blank map to find the prairie states which include Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Language Arts

Research the author, Patricia MacLachlan, and write a biography for her.
Make your own Prairie Journals.

Math

Work out the distance (km or miles) from Maine to your place.
Work out how much it would cost for you to fly and/or drive there.
Find out the cost of chickens. How much would it cost you to purchase 3 chickens?
In the book they made their own bread. Work out how much time it takes to make a loaf of bread from scratch and then in a bread maker. Which one is quicker? Compare.

Science

Research Prairies and complete a poster with what you have learnt.
Sarah lived by the sea and had a collection of shells. Collect some shells and identify them.
Plant your own garden, adding flowers from the book such as marigolds and zinnias. Observe the plants growing.
Research and study flowers. Write a paragraph about your favourite ones. Are any of them edible?
Classify the animals in the book. Which ones are mammals, vertebrates, amphibians etc.
Discuss weather patterns and what causes storms, hurricanes, squalls etc.
Read books about sea birds. What kind of birds do you think Sarah would have seen at the sea?
The family scattered their hair clippings around the prairie for the birds to use in their nests. Research the different types of nests that are build by birds.

Kitchen

In the story, they talk of making bread. Make your own bread in a bag.
Also, they talk of making stew. Make your own stew.
Back in the Pioneer days, they would also have made their own butter. Try making some butter.

Art

Collect some shells and use them to make creatures.
Sarah liked to draw. She also loved the colours of the sea. Create a drawing using the colours that Sarah loved – green, grey and blue.
There were lots of flowers on the prairie. Try drying some flowers and using them to make a picture.
Sarah also created drawings using charcoal. Research charcoal drawings and then create your own.

Bible

Read and memorise – Psalm 128:2
The two children in the book are hardworking and helpful, just as the Bible teaches. Read and memorise – Lamentations 3:27.

Reading for Kids