Sarah, Plain and Tall
Sarah Plain and Tall
Using a novel study guide to help you plan your lessons for Sarah Plain and Tall gives
you a wealth of materials to use. The state and provincial curriculum for all grades
includes a list of novels that teachers can choose from. Using a novel as part of the
Language Arts curriculum helps you to achieve most of the course objectives a lot easier
than individual lessons.
Set in the late 19th century, Sarah Plain and tall explores a family theme. Anna and Caleb
live with their father on the prairies. Their mother died when Caleb was just a baby.
Jacob, the father, begins corresponding with a lady from the East, Sarah, who agrees to
marry him. She misses the sea and the cliffs of Maine, but she does love the children and
they grow to love her, as does Jacob.
A novel study guide such as Sarah Plain and Tall helps you to use reading material with a
theme and content consistent with the student's age group. Sample pages from this novel
study guide include:
Page 8
Chapter 1
1. What did Caleb ask Anna about his mother?
2. Who sat beside him on the warm hearthstones?
3. Why did Anna tell Caleb not to get too close to the fire?
4. What did she say Caleb looked like when he was born?
5. What would Anna have called Caleb?
6. What did she think of Caleb when he was born?
7. What was the worst thing about Caleb being born?
8. What did Anna notice outside?
9. What happened to her mother after she died?
10. How long did it take Anna to get to love Caleb?
11. What did Caleb ask about his mama's songs?
12. What did he say might happen if Anna could remember them?
13. Who was Jack? What did Papa say about him?
14. What did Anna say about her father and Jack?
15. Why didn't Papa sing anymore?
16. What did Papa put in the newspaper?
17. Who answered the ad?
18. What did Anna want Papa to ask her?
Page 11
Creative Writing
Activity 1
Pretend that you are Sarah. Write a letter home to your brother
William describing Papa, Anna and Caleb.
Describe the house and the plains as you think she might have
seen them.
Work through the writing process to produce a published piece.
Creative Writing
Activity 2
Pretend that you are a widow or widower living on a pioneer farm
with your children.
Write an ad that you would place in a newspaper if you were looking
for a spouse.
What qualities would you want those answering the ad to have.
Page 16
Word Study
Activity 2
Unscramble each of the following groups of letters to make
words found in the novel - Sarah, Plain and Tall.
1. tehcf
6. reheacrp
2. kdeinib 7. secorh
3. knlabtse 8. enertparc
4. dbnuel 9. kdsu
5. mopeisr 10. snier
Page 24
Integrated Studies
Activity 2
List the eight most important events in the story in the order in
which they happened.
Use this list to write a summary of the novel , Sarah Plain and Tall.
Draw a picture to accompany your summary.
Page 36
Research
Activity 1
Research seashells to make a list of the different kinds of shells
that exist.
Choose two shells from your list and illustrate two features
about each one.
Tell where these shells are found.
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