My Brother Sam is Dead
Table of Contents
Novel Study Title Page for Students................................................................................................... 3
Before Reading............................................................................................................................................ 4
Who is C. Collier and J. L. Collier?........................................................................................................ 5
My Character Chart................................................................................................................................... 6
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 1 – 2.................................................................................................. 8
Vocabulary Study Chapters 1 – 2......................................................................................................... 9
Understanding the Story Chapters 1 – 2.......................................................................................... 10
Chapter Summary Chapters 1 – 2....................................................................................................... 11
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 3 – 4.................................................................................................. 12
Vocabulary Study Chapters 3 – 4......................................................................................................... 13
Understanding the Story Chapters 3 – 4.......................................................................................... 14
Chapter Summary Chapters 3 – 4....................................................................................................... 15
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 5 – 6.................................................................................................. 16
Vocabulary Study Chapters 5 – 6......................................................................................................... 17
Understanding the Story Chapters 5 – 6.......................................................................................... 18
Chapter Summary Chapters 5 – 6....................................................................................................... 19
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 7 – 8.................................................................................................. 20
Vocabulary Study Chapters 7 – 8......................................................................................................... 21
Understanding the Story Chapters 7 – 8.......................................................................................... 22
Chapter Summary Chapters 7 – 8....................................................................................................... 23
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 9 – 10............................................................................................... 24
Vocabulary Study Chapters 9 – 10...................................................................................................... 25
Understanding the Story Chapters 9 – 10........................................................................................ 26
Chapter Summary Chapters 9 – 10..................................................................................................... 27
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 11 – 12............................................................................................. 28
Vocabulary Study Chapters 11 – 12.................................................................................................... 29
Understanding the Story Chapters 11 – 12..................................................................................... 30
Chapter Summary Chapters 11 – 12.................................................................................................. 31
Dictionary Detective! Chapters 13 – Epilogue................................................................................ 32
Vocabulary Study Chapters 13 – Epilogue....................................................................................... 33
Understanding the Story Chapters 13 – Epilogue......................................................................... 34
Chapter Summary Chapters 13 – Epilogue...................................................................................... 35
Time for a Test!............................................................................................................................................ 36
Reading Log................................................................................................................................................. 38
Answer Key................................................................................................................................................... 39
Common Core State Standards............................................................................................................ 55
© The Book Umbrella
My Brother Sam
is Dead
by C. Collier and J. L. Collier
A Novel Study by:
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________
Before Reading
Title of Book:
Author of Book:
Have you read anything by this author before? If so, what was it?
Look at the front cover. What hints do you think it gives about the story?
Read the back cover. What do you learn about the story from the back cover?
Based on the front and back covers, do you want to read this book? Why or why not?
My Brother Sam is Dead
4
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Who are C. Collier and J. L. Collier?
Use the internet and other resources to research the authors of My Brother Sam is Dead, C. Collier and J. L. Collier.
Before Researching
1. What do you already know about the Colliers?
2. What do you want to find out about C. Collier and J. L. Collier?
After Researching
3. What have you learned from your research?
4. Where did you get your information?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_____________________________________
My Character Chart
Draw a picture and record important information about each important character as you read the text.
My Brother Sam is Dead
6
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_____________________________________________
My Character Chart (Cont’d)
My Brother Sam is Dead
7
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 1 - 2
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
tavern
Definition:
constitutes
Definition:
sloth
Definition:
subversion
Definition:
Papist
Definition:
commission
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
8
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 1 - 2
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
tavern •
• associated with the Roman Catholic Church
constitutes •
• reluctance to work; laziness
sloth •
• a document which grants one’s military rank
subversion •
• an establishment that serves drinks and food
Papist •
• rebellion against authority and social order
commission •
• is equivalent to something; the same as
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
tavern
constitutes
sloth
subversion
Papist
commission
1. I once held _______________________________________ beliefs, but I no longer belong to the Church.
2. The weary travelers stopped at a ___________________________________________ for a meal.
3. I will aim to clean my room tonight but I expect __________________________________________ will
get the better of me and I will just watch T.V. instead.
4. In court, the judge explained what __________________________________________ self-defense.
5. The dictator viewed __________________________________________ as a threat to his power.
6. Charles has just received a ________________________________________ to be an officer in the navy!
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 1, Tim, the narrator says that his mother believes children
should “keep a civil tongue in their heads”. What does he mean by this?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
9
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 1 - 2
Multiple Choice
1. When Sam, Tim’s brother, returns home
who does he say has beaten the British?
2. Tim’s father’s name is Eliphalet.
What nickname is he known by?
(a) The Tories.
(a) Liffy.
(b) The Minutemen.
(b) Let.
(c) New York Rebels.
(c) Eller.
(d) The Lobsterbacks.
(d) Life.
Short Answer
3. How does Eliphalet Meeker react when Sam returns home from Boston?
Long Answer
4. What did you learn about Tim and his family by reading Chapters 1 and 2?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Do you think real families during the Revolution disagreed about the
conflict? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
10
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 1 - 2
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
11
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 3 - 4
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
almanacs
Definition:
idling
Definition:
wavering
Definition:
dismounted
Definition:
fend
Definition:
disarm
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
12
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 3 - 4
Which Word?
On the provided lines, write the matching vocabulary word for each definition.
almanacs
idling
wavering
dismounted
fend
disarm
1. To take away weapons._____________________________
2. Wasting time away._____________________________
3. Got off of what one was riding. _____________________________
4. Look after; provide. _____________________________
5. Books published yearly, often about farming.
_____________________________
6. Moving back and forth; unsteady.
_____________________________
Making Sentences
Make a sentence for each word below.
1. Almanacs: ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Idling: ________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Wavering: ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Dismounted: _________________________________________________________________________________
5. Fend: ________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Disarm: ______________________________________________________________________________________
In Chapter 3, Tim’s mother says “Idle hands make the Devil’s work”. What do you
think this old saying means?
A Little _______________________________________________________________________________
Extra! _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
My Brother Sam is Dead
13
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 3 - 4
Multiple Choice
1. How does Tim’s father react when a customer
calls King George a “great hairy fool”?
2. What is a Brown Bess?
(a) He laughs and agrees with him.
(a) A kind of cow.
(b) A gun.
(c) A powderhorn.
(d) A style of military jacket.
(b) He throws the man’s mug at him.
(c) He pushes him out of the door
and into the street.
(d) He tells Tim to give him a free meal.
Short Answer
3. In Chapter 3, how does Tim describe his life as the son of a tavern-keeper?
Long Answer
4. A group of Rebels show up at the tavern. What do they want and what does Tim do?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Tim thinks the Rebels showed up in Redding for a particular reason.
What is it?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
14
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 3 - 4
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
15
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 5 - 6
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
petition
Definition:
skirmishes
Definition:
modest
Definition:
speculating
Definition:
ambush
Definition:
reliable
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
16
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 5 - 6
Match Up
A synonym is a word that means the same as another word. For example, happy and joyful are synonyms.
Match the vocabulary words with their synonyms!
petition •
• humble
skirmishes •
• trap
modest •
• trustworthy
speculating •
• investing
ambush •
• fights
reliable •
• appeal
Best Word
Circle the word which works best in each sentence.
1. Jennifer was very ( modest / ambush ) about her perfect test score. She didn’t brag at all.
2. Chipmunks that meet in the woods have ( speculating / skirmishes ) over acorns.
3. My class started a ( reliable / petition ) to change our school dress code.
4. Mrs. Gordon spent a lot of money ( speculating / skirmishes ) on a large piece of land.
5. My grampa had a good, ( petition / reliable ) car but traded it in for a flashy convertible.
6. We planned to ( ambush / modest ) our friends with our water guns.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 5, Tim expresses that he is angry by saying he is “plain boiling”.
What are some other figures of speech that express anger?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
17
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 5 - 6
Multiple Choice
1. What happens in January of 1776
that makes running the tavern difficult?
2. Where does Tim secure the item he
is supposed to deliver to Fairfield?
(a) Rebels are stealing livestock.
(a) Inside his shirt.
(b) Mrs. Meeker’s health begins to fail.
(c) Mr. Meeker goes off to fight the Rebels.
(d) They have to pay more for the
things they sell.
(b) In his back pants pocket.
(c) In his empty canteen.
(d) In his hat.
Short Answer
3. What are the Rebels doing around the Redding area that upsets the farmers?
Long Answer
4. Mr. Heron asks Tim to deliver something to Fairfield. What is the plan and how does it go wrong?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Who does Tim go fishing with in Chapter 3?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
18
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 5 - 6
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
19
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 7 - 8
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
rations
Definition:
recalcitrance
Definition:
canteen
Definition:
sedition
Definition:
moored
Definition:
balking
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
20
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 7 - 8
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
rations •
• a vessel for carrying water
recalcitrance •
• anchored; held securely in place
canteen •
• allowances of food and other supplies
sedition •
• speech or actions designed to start a rebellion
moored •
• being uncooperative, resisting
balking •
• rebelliousness; defiance
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
rations
recalcitrance
canteen
sedition
moored
balking
1. The canoe was _________________________________________ on the shore.
2. Mia regretted her _________________________________________ when she was given detention.
3. During the war, every family had limited food _________________________________________.
4. Our principal considered it _________________________________________ when my classmates
protested our cafeteria’s gross food with signs and loud chanting.
5. The dogs are _________________________________________ at my efforts to teach them tricks.
6. The hiker refilled his _________________________________________ in a stream.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 7, Tim’s father describes Sam as being “headstrong”. In your
own words, explain what “headstrong” means.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
21
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 7 - 8
Multiple Choice
1. What are Tim and his father
taking to Verplancks Point?
2. Who travels with Tim and his
father to Verplancks Point?
(a) Chickens.
(a) Tom Warrups.
(b) Cut beef and pork for the British soldiers.
(b) A scout.
(c) A supply of grain for the Rebels.
(c) An escort.
(d) Live cattle.
(d) A fur trapper.
Short Answer
3. Explain what happens when Tim and his father are stopped in the road by six cow-boys on the
way to Verplancks Point.
Long Answer
4. Who are the Platts and what did you learn about them in Chapter 8?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Where is the town of Peekskill located?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
22
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 7 - 8
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
23
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 9 - 10
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
livelihood
Definition:
plowshares
Definition:
depreciation
Definition:
vanguard
Definition:
fusillade
Definition:
furrows
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
24
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 9 - 10
Which Word?
On the provided lines, write the matching vocabulary word for each definition.
livelihood
plowshares
depreciation
vanguard
1. A way to support oneself and acquire what is needed.
fusillade
furrows
_____________________________
2. Losing monetary value._____________________________
3. Cutting blades for plows._____________________________
4. Soldiers sent ahead of the main army.
_____________________________
5. A short but heavy discharge of firearms.
_____________________________
6. Long, narrow trenches made for planting.
_____________________________
Making Sentences
Make a sentence for each word below.
1. Livelihood: ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Plowshares: __________________________________________________________________________________
3. Depreciation: ________________________________________________________________________________
4. Vanguard: ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Fusillade: ____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Furrows: _____________________________________________________________________________________
At the beginning of Chapter 9 Tim says returning to Redding in the snow will be
“miserable” work. List three synonyms for “miserable” that the author could have
used instead.
A Little _______________________________________________________________________________
Extra! _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
My Brother Sam is Dead
25
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 9 - 10
Multiple Choice
1. In Chapter 9, why does Mr. Meeker ride ahead
and then come back to see if Tim is alright?
2. What crime do the people of Redding
commit if they pray for the King in church?
(a) Tim was feeling sick and his
father wants to check on him.
(b) He is looking for Sam but doesn’t
want to lose track of Tim.
(c) He has lost their way and is looking
for another cattle drive ahead.
(d) He is looking for cow-boys.
(a) Treason.
(b) Arson.
(c) Perjury.
(d) Conspiracy.
Short Answer
3. Give a specific example from Chapter 9 or 10 that shows how ordinary people might have grown
tired of the war.
Long Answer
4. How does life change for Tim and his mother after Mr. Meeker disappears?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Who is killed by British soldiers at the end of Chapter 10?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
26
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 9 - 10
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
27
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 11 - 12
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
winced
Definition:
liable
Definition:
hewing
Definition:
hovel
Definition:
unscrupulous
Definition:
compunction
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
28
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 11 - 12
Match Up
Match the vocabulary words with their synonyms!
winced •
• chopping
liable •
• deceitful
hewing •
• likely
hovel •
• uneasiness
unscrupulous •
• grimaced
compunction •
• shack
Best Word
Circle the word which works best in each sentence.
1. My brother has no ( liable / compunction ) about taking things from my bedroom.
2. The rat infested ( hovel / compunction ) was not fit for human occupation.
3. Dakota ( winced / hovel ) when I accidentally stepped on her foot.
4. The store owner was ( hewing / unscrupulous ) and often shortchanged customers.
5. We should take an umbrella today as it is ( liable / unscrupulous ) to rain.
6. The lumberjacks passed the time with ( winced / hewing ) competitions.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
At the beginning of Chapter 12, Tim explains that his father has died.
Which word better describes his reaction: stoical or emotional? How do
you know?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
29
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 11 - 12
Multiple Choice
1. According to Tim, why was
his father taken prisoner?
2. What was the ultimate
fate of Tim’s father?
(a) He attacked a Rebel soldier.
(a) He got lost and died in a
snowstorm trying to get home.
(b) He was selling beef to the British.
(b) He was shot and killed by a Rebel captain.
(c) He was spying for the Tories.
(c) He died of starvation in a prison in Canada.
(d) He betrayed Mr. Heron to the Rebels.
(d) He died of disease on a British prison ship.
Short Answer
3. Mrs. Meeker does not let Tim ring the church bells to call the Rebels together to go after the
British. Do you think her actions are right or wrong? Why?
Long Answer
4. In Chapter 12, how do we know that Tim is turning against the war and against both sides?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Why does Sam tell his mother, “a starving man will steal food from babies”?
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30
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 11 - 12
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
31
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:_______________________________________________
Dictionary Detective!
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
Using a dictionary, find the definitions for the words below.
foreboding
Definition:
defection
Definition:
curt
Definition:
presiding
Definition:
clemency
Definition:
mallet
Definition:
My Brother Sam is Dead
32
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Vocabulary Study
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
foreboding •
• mercy or forgiveness
defection •
• a hammer-like tool with a heavy head
curt •
• a desertion, to abandon one side to join the opposition
presiding •
• in charge; holding authority
clemency •
• to be clipped or cold in one’s manner of speaking
mallet •
• a feeling that something bad will happen
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
foreboding
defection
curt
presiding
clemency
mallet
1. The sculptor uses a _________________________________________ and chisel to chip away at stone.
2. I had a feeling of _________________________________________ as I entered the dentist’s office.
3. The student body president will be _________________________________________ at the student
council meeting.
4. The wrongly convicted man received _______________________________________ after a year in jail.
5. Anna was very _________________________________________ when I asked her for help with my
assignment. She simply said, ‘No’.
6. The politician’s _________________________________________ from his political party was a big
news story.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 14 Tim approaches the stockade, planning to kill the guard
there. List two emotions you think he might be experiencing at this time.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
33
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
Multiple Choice
1. Who does Tim have to see to
get permission to visit with Sam?
2. Where does Tim and his mother
move to after the Revolutionary War?
(a) Captain Betts.
(a) Canada.
(b) Colonel Parsons.
(b) Pennsylvania.
(c) General Putnam.
(c) New York.
(d) Mr. Heron.
(d) Ohio.
Short Answer
3. Why did few of the Revolutionary War battles take place in winter?
Long Answer
4. What did you learn about Tim by reading the Epilogue? What does he say about the
Revolutionary War?
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
How do the British execute Sam?
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34
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Chapter Summary
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
1. If you were to give a title to this section of the book, what would it be?
2. What happens in these chapters?
3. What is your favorite part of this section of the book?
4. What new words did you learn
in these chapters?
My Brother Sam is Dead
5. Draw a picture of something you think
represents these chapters.
35
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:___________________________________________
Time for a Test!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Part A – Multiple Choice
1. What has just happened at
the beginning of Chapter 1?
2. What kind of businesses
do the Meekers run?
3. What is the nickname
the Rebels have for a
British soldier?
(a) Rebels have set fire to
a church in Redding.
(b) Tim and Sam have joined
the British forces.
(c) Sam has left Yale to
join the Rebel forces.
(d) Tim’s father has agreed
to sell beef to the British.
(a) A tavern and a store.
(b) A tavern and a mill.
(a) Squarehead.
(b) Lobsterback.
4. What is the official name
of the Rebel soldiers?
5. Who is Betsy Read?
6. In Chapter 9, why does
Tim have the feeling his father
has been ambushed?
(a) The Continentals.
(b) The Corps.
(c) The Unity Regiment.
(d) The United Empire Loyalists.
(a) The Meekers’ servant girl.
(b) Tim’s cousin.
(c) Tim’s teacher.
(d) Sam’s girlfriend.
(a) He has left him a secret
signal on a tree trunk.
(b) He sees his father in the
distance surrounded by men.
(c) He comes across a lot
of hoof marks in the snow
and mud.
(d) He finds his father’s boots
thrown behind a bush.
7. What is stored in Danbury
that the British would like
to seize?
8. What does Tim’s
father die of?
9. What profession did Tim
follow when he was an adult?
(a) Large supplies of food.
(b) Maps that detail the
Rebels’ military plans.
(c) Strong and healthy horses.
(d) Munitions.
(a) Cholera.
(b) Tuberculosis.
(c) Infection from an injury.
(d) Malaria.
(a) Teacher.
(b) Surveyor.
(c) Doctor.
(d) Lawyer.
My Brother Sam is Dead
(c) A tailoring shop.
(d) A mill and a store.
36
(c) Whig.
(d) Union Jack.
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________
Time for a Test!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Part B – Short Answer
1. Characters are an important part of a story because they move the action along and can be used
to create conflict. Choose a character (other than Tim) and describe him or her in a few sentences.
2. Briefly compare and contrast Tim’s life during the Revolution and his life afterwards.
Part C – Long Answer
1. Choose and discuss three major challenges that the people of New England in Revolutionary
War times faced. Discuss if and how these challenges were different than those faced by the people
of modern America.
2. What is the authors’ main message in their novel My Brother Sam is Dead? Give some examples
from the novel to support your answer.
My Brother Sam is Dead
37
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Reading Log
Record information about the books you read on this chart.
© The Book Umbrella
Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 1 - 2
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
tavern •
• associated with the Roman Catholic Church
constitutes •
• reluctance to work; laziness
sloth •
• a document which grants one’s military rank
subversion •
• an establishment that serves drinks and food
Papist •
• rebellion against authority and social order
commission •
• is equivalent to something; the same as
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
tavern
constitutes
sloth
subversion
Papist
commission
1. I once held Papist beliefs, but I no longer belong to the Church.
2. The weary travelers stopped at a tavern for a meal.
3. I will aim to clean my room tonight but I expect sloth will get the better of me and I will just
watch T.V. instead.
4. In court, the judge explained what constitutes self-defense.
5. The dictator viewed subversion as a threat to his power.
6. Charles has just received a commission to be an officer in the navy!
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 1, Tim, the narrator says that his mother believes children
should “keep a civil tongue in their heads”. What does he mean by this?
Answers will vary. Example - Children should be polite and respectful,
especially with their parents.
39
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 1 - 2
Multiple Choice
1. When Sam, Tim’s brother, returns home
who does he say has beaten the British?
2. Tim’s father’s name is Eliphalet.
What nickname is he known by?
(a) The Tories.
(a) Liffy.
(b) The Minutemen.
(b) Let.
(c) New York Rebels.
(c) Eller.
(d) The Lobsterbacks.
(d) Life.
Short Answer
3. How does Eliphalet Meeker react when Sam returns home from Boston?
Example - Eliphalet Meeker is not happy with his son Sam because his own sympathies lie with
the British. He believes the Revolutionaries are disloyal to the King and will surely be beaten
by the stronger British army. He makes fun of Sam’s uniform, calling it gaudy and vile.
Long Answer
4. What did you learn about Tim and his family by reading Chapters 1 and 2?
Example - Tim is the younger son of Eliphalet and Susannah Meeker and has one older brother,
Sam. The family runs a tavern and store in Redding, Connecticut, which is hard work but
not as difficult as farming, as they do a good business there. Tim had to take on more
responsibilities when his brother went to Yale. The Meekers, except for Sam, are Loyalist
sympathizers, as are most people in Redding. They belong to the Anglican (“English”) church.
Sam is a bit headstrong, often arguing with his father. Tim looks up to his brother but is not
sure Sam is right about the war.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Do you think real families during the Revolution disagreed about the
conflict? Why or why not?
Answers will vary.
40
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Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 3 - 4
Which Word?
On the provided lines, write the matching vocabulary word for each definition.
almanacs
idling
wavering
dismounted
fend
disarm
1. To take away weapons.disarm
2. Wasting time away.idling
3. Got off of what one was riding. dismounted
4. Look after; provide. fend
5. Books published yearly, often about farming.
almanacs
6. Moving back and forth; unsteady.
wavering
Making Sentences
Make a sentence for each word below. - Answers will vary.
1. Almanacs: ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Idling: ________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Wavering: ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Dismounted: _________________________________________________________________________________
5. Fend: ________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Disarm: ______________________________________________________________________________________
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 3, Tim’s mother says “Idle hands make the Devil’s work”. What do you
think this old saying means?
Answers will vary. Example - If you do not keep busy doing useful things,
you will get into trouble or be led astray.
41
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 3 - 4
Multiple Choice
1. How does Tim’s father react when a customer
calls King George a “great hairy fool”?
2. What is a Brown Bess?
(a) He laughs and agrees with him.
(a) A kind of cow.
(b) A gun.
(c) A powderhorn.
(d) A style of military jacket.
(b) He throws the man’s mug at him.
(c) He pushes him out of the door
and into the street.
(d) He tells Tim to give him a free meal.
Short Answer
3. In Chapter 3, how does Tim describe his life as the son of a tavern-keeper?
Example - Tim enjoys being the son of a tavern-keeper most of the time. He says that farm
work is much harder and he gets to meet lots of people as the tavern is usually busy. There is
some hard work to be done: wood to be chopped to keep the fireplaces going, fetching water,
and keeping the place very clean.
Long Answer
4. A group of Rebels show up at the tavern. What do they want and what does Tim do?
Example - The rebels show up at the tavern demanding the Meekers’ gun. Mr. Meeker explains
that his son Sam took it. The Rebels are not satisfied with his answer and threaten him with
a sword. Tim runs off to where he knows Sam is hiding to get the gun.
He has a confrontation with his brother and threatens to shoot him. He convinces his brother
to go back to the tavern with him. Their father has a cut on his face but otherwise no one is
hurt. Sam turns and runs, taking the gun with him.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Tim thinks the Rebels showed up in Redding for a particular reason.
What is it?
Example - He believes they know it is a Tory area and are trying to scare
the people who are still loyal to the King.
42
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Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 5 - 6
Match Up
A synonym is a word that means the same as another word. For example, happy and joyful are synonyms.
Match the vocabulary words with their synonyms!
petition •
• humble
skirmishes •
• trap
modest •
• trustworthy
speculating •
• investing
ambush •
• fights
reliable •
• appeal
Best Word
Circle the word which works best in each sentence.
1. Jennifer was very ( modest / ambush ) about her perfect test score. She didn’t brag at all.
2. Chipmunks that meet in the woods have ( speculating / skirmishes ) over acorns.
3. My class started a ( reliable / petition ) to change our school dress code.
4. Mrs. Gordon spent a lot of money ( speculating / skirmishes ) on a large piece of land.
5. My grampa had a good, ( petition / reliable ) car but traded it in for a flashy convertible.
6. We planned to ( ambush / modest ) our friends with our water guns.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 5, Tim expresses that he is angry by saying he is “plain boiling”.
What are some other figures of speech that express anger?
Answers will vary. Examples - hopping mad, stirred up, seeing red,
about to explode.
43
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 5 - 6
Multiple Choice
1. What happens in January of 1776
that makes running the tavern difficult?
2. Where does Tim secure the item he
is supposed to deliver to Fairfield?
(a) Rebels are stealing livestock.
(b) Mrs. Meeker’s health begins to fail.
(c) Mr. Meeker goes off to fight the Rebels.
(d) They have to pay more for the
things they sell.
(a) Inside his shirt.
(b) In his back pants pocket.
(c) In his empty canteen.
(d) In his hat.
Short Answer
3. What are the Rebels doing around the Redding area that upsets the farmers?
Example - They are stealing their livestock; going into the fields and slaughtering the dairy
cows and cutting them up on the spot. This means no more milk, butter, or cheese.
Long Answer
4. Mr. Heron asks Tim to deliver something to Fairfield. What is the plan and how does it go wrong?
Example - Mr. Heron gives Tim a letter to take to Fairfield, which is about a five hour walk
each way. He is to take it to Mr. Burr who lives near the dock. Tim’s plan is to tell his parents
he is going fishing for that day and he has to be home before dark. He sets off and soon
encounters Betsy Read, his brother’s girlfriend, who demands to know what he is doing.
Eventually she physically attacks him and manages to get the letter way from him and then
crumples it up and throws it aside. The message inside was simply “If this message was
received, we will know the messenger is reliable.”
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Who does Tim go fishing with in Chapter 3?
Example - He goes fishing with his friend Jerry (Sanford).
44
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Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 7 - 8
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
rations •
• a vessel for carrying water
recalcitrance •
• anchored; held securely in place
canteen •
• allowances of food and other supplies
sedition •
• speech or actions designed to start a rebellion
moored •
• being uncooperative, resisting
balking •
• rebelliousness; defiance
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
rations
recalcitrance
canteen
sedition
moored
balking
1. The canoe was moored on the shore.
2. Mia regretted her recalcitrance when she was given detention.
3. During the war, every family had limited food rations.
4. Our principal considered it sedition when my classmates protested our cafeteria’s gross
food with signs and loud chanting.
5. The dogs are balking at my efforts to teach them tricks.
6. The hiker refilled his canteen in a stream.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 7, Tim’s father describes Sam as being “headstrong”. In your
own words, explain what “headstrong” means.
Answers will vary. Example - Doing something before thinking,
being stubborn.
45
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Name:____________________________________________
Date:____________________________________________
Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 7 - 8
Multiple Choice
1. What are Tim and his father
taking to Verplancks Point?
2. Who travels with Tim and his
father to Verplancks Point?
(a) Chickens.
(a) Tom Warrups.
(b) Cut beef and pork for the British soldiers.
(b) A scout.
(c) A supply of grain for the Rebels.
(c) An escort.
(d) Live cattle.
(d) A fur trapper.
Short Answer
3. Explain what happens when Tim and his father are stopped in the road by six cow-boys on the
way to Verplancks Point.
Example - The cow-boys are carrying weapons such as old muskets, pistols, and swords. They
want to know where the Meekers are going and if they are Tories. They send Tim off into a
field and attack his father. Tim is worried his father is seriously hurt or that they will shoot
him. A group of men ride up and the cow-boys turn and run. Tim’s father is not seriously hurt.
This new group are Loyalists and offer to go with the Meekers to Verplancks Point.
Long Answer
4. Who are the Platts and what did you learn about them in Chapter 8?
Example - The Platts are Tim’s cousins; his uncle Platt is his mother’s brother (this is
mentioned in an earlier chapter) who was a farmer. They live in North Salem, New York in a
clapboard house off the Ridgefield Road. The family consists of the mother, father, aunt, and
six children (four girls and two boys). Their farmhouse is not very big. The Platts have never
seen Tim before although they have heard all about him. Mr. Platt supports the Loyalists and
later Tim finds out his cousin Ezekiel is also a Loyalist when they go out to sleep in the barn.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Where is the town of Peekskill located?
Example - Peekskill is located on the Hudson River in New York.
46
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Name:____________________________________________
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Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 9 - 10
Which Word?
On the provided lines, write the matching vocabulary word for each definition.
livelihood
plowshares
depreciation
vanguard
1. A way to support oneself and acquire what is needed.
fusillade
furrows
livelihood
2. Losing monetary value.depreciation
3. Cutting blades for plows.
plowshares
4. Soldiers sent ahead of the main army.
vanguard
5. A short but heavy discharge of firearms.
fusillade
6. Long, narrow trenches made for planting.
furrows
Making Sentences
Make a sentence for each word below. - Answers will vary.
1. Livelihood: ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Plowshares: __________________________________________________________________________________
3. Depreciation: ________________________________________________________________________________
4. Vanguard: ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Fusillade: ____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Furrows: _____________________________________________________________________________________
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
At the beginning of Chapter 9 Tim says returning to Redding in the snow will be
“miserable” work. List three synonyms for “miserable” that the author could have
used instead.
Answers will vary. Examples - backbreaking, difficult, exhausting.
47
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Name:____________________________________________
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 9 - 10
Multiple Choice
1. In Chapter 9, why does Mr. Meeker ride ahead
and then come back to see if Tim is alright?
2. What crime do the people of Redding
commit if they pray for the King in church?
(a) Tim was feeling sick and his
father wants to check on him.
(b) He is looking for Sam but doesn’t
want to lose track of Tim.
(c) He has lost their way and is looking
for another cattle drive ahead.
(d) He is looking for cow-boys.
(a) Treason.
(b) Arson.
(c) Perjury.
(d) Conspiracy.
Short Answer
3. Give a specific example from Chapter 9 or 10 that shows how ordinary people might have grown
tired of the war.
Answers will vary. Examples - People are sometimes in danger of being attacked by just
going about their daily business, livestock is being killed and stolen by both sides, people are
being forbidden from doing things by both sides, there are shortages of food and other items
as well as inflation.
Long Answer
4. How does life change for Tim and his mother after Mr. Meeker disappears?
Example - The tavern seems empty without him. His mother cries at first but holds on
the belief that he is still alive. With Sam and Mr. Meeker gone, all the work falls on the
shoulders of Tim and Mrs. Meeker. They have to take care of the animals, planting for food
supplies for the tavern, and all the cooking and cleaning. They also have to do all the serving
in the tavern.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Who is killed by British soldiers at the end of Chapter 10?
Example - Ned, Samuel Smith’s slave.
48
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Date:___________________________________________
Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 11 - 12
Match Up
Match the vocabulary words with their synonyms!
winced •
• chopping
liable •
• deceitful
hewing •
• likely
hovel •
• uneasiness
unscrupulous •
• grimaced
compunction •
• shack
Best Word
Circle the word which works best in each sentence.
1. My brother has no ( liable / compunction ) about taking things from my bedroom.
2. The rat infested ( hovel / compunction ) was not fit for human occupation.
3. Dakota ( winced / hovel ) when I accidentally stepped on her foot.
4. The store owner was ( hewing / unscrupulous ) and often shortchanged customers.
5. We should take an umbrella today as it is ( liable / unscrupulous ) to rain.
6. The lumberjacks passed the time with ( winced / hewing ) competitions.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
At the beginning of Chapter 12, Tim explains that his father has died.
Which word better describes his reaction: stoical or emotional? How do
you know?
Example - Stoical: Tim is very calm and resigned as he relates the facts
of his father’s death.
49
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Name:____________________________________________
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 11 - 12
Multiple Choice
1. According to Tim, why was
his father taken prisoner?
2. What was the ultimate
fate of Tim’s father?
(a) He attacked a Rebel soldier.
(a) He got lost and died in a
snowstorm trying to get home.
(b) He was selling beef to the British.
(b) He was shot and killed by a Rebel captain.
(c) He was spying for the Tories.
(c) He died of starvation in a prison in Canada.
(d) He betrayed Mr. Heron to the Rebels.
(d) He died of disease on a British prison ship.
Short Answer
3. Mrs. Meeker does not let Tim ring the church bells to call the Rebels together to go after the
British. Do you think her actions are right or wrong? Why?
Example - Answers will vary.
Long Answer
4. In Chapter 12, how do we know that Tim is turning against the war and against both sides?
Example - He is fed up with the war and is confused about how it has split families apart,
including his own. His father sided with the British, but died on a British prison ship. Sam
had torn the family apart by fighting with the Rebels. Tim just does not know what is right
anymore; he has seen brutality and theft on both sides and ordinary people who did not
really want to be involved are affected by raids and food shortages and the deaths of men,
some who were not even soldiers.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
Why does Sam tell his mother, “a starving man will steal food from babies”?
Example - He is advising her to slaughter and hide the meat of the
eight cattle they still have because both sides are so hungry they will
steal anything.
50
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Vocabulary Study - Answer Key
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
Match Up
Match the words in the left column to their definitions in the right column.
foreboding •
• mercy or forgiveness
defection •
• a hammer-like tool with a heavy head
curt •
• a desertion, to abandon one side to join the opposition
presiding •
• in charge; holding authority
clemency •
• to be clipped or cold in one’s manner of speaking
mallet •
• a feeling that something bad will happen
Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the provided vocabulary.
foreboding
defection
curt
presiding
clemency
mallet
1. The sculptor uses a mallet and chisel to chip away at stone.
2. I had a feeling of foreboding as I entered the dentist’s office.
3. The student body president will be presiding at the student council meeting.
4. The wrongly convicted man received clemency after a year in jail.
5. Anna was very curt when I asked her for help with my assignment. She simply said, ‘No’.
6. The politician’s defection from his political party was a big news story.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
In Chapter 14 Tim approaches the stockade, planning to kill the guard
there. List two emotions you think he might be experiencing at this time.
Answers will vary. Examples- fear, desperation, determination,
nervousness
51
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Understanding the Story - Answer Key
Chapters 13 - Epilogue
Multiple Choice
1. Who does Tim have to see to
get permission to visit with Sam?
2. Where does Tim and his mother
move to after the Revolutionary War?
(a) Captain Betts.
(a) Canada.
(b) Colonel Parsons.
(b) Pennsylvania.
(c) General Putnam.
(c) New York.
(d) Mr. Heron.
(d) Ohio.
Short Answer
3. Why did few of the Revolutionary War battles take place in winter?
Example - Nobody wanted to fight in the cold, the ground was too cold for marching, food was
harder to come by, and more soldiers would become sick in the winter months.
Long Answer
4. What did you learn about Tim by reading the Epilogue? What does he say about the
Revolutionary War?
Example - The Epilogue was written in 1826, fifty years after the Declaration of Independence.
Tim is now sixty-four years old. He and his mother moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
after the War and Tim trained as a surveyor. He has married and has a family and his life has
been “happy and successful...for the most part”. He says his mother never got over the death
of Sam. Time has passed and the new nation has grown prosperous, but he wonders
if independence could have come about in a less violent way.
A Little
Extra!
My Brother Sam is Dead
How do the British execute Sam?
Example - They covered his head and shot him in front of the gallows.
52
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Time for a Test! - Answer Key
My Brother Sam is Dead
Part A – Multiple Choice
1. What has just happened at
the beginning of Chapter 1?
2. What kind of businesses
do the Meekers run?
3. What is the nickname
the Rebels have for a
British soldier?
(a) Rebels have set fire to
a church in Redding.
(b) Tim and Sam have joined
the British forces.
(c) Sam has left Yale to
join the Rebel forces.
(d) Tim’s father has agreed
to sell beef to the British.
(a) A tavern and a store.
(b) A tavern and a mill.
(a) Squarehead.
(b) Lobsterback.
4. What is the official name
of the Rebel soldiers?
5. Who is Betsy Read?
6. In Chapter 9, why does
Tim have the feeling his father
has been ambushed?
(a) The Continentals.
(b) The Corps.
(c) The Unity Regiment.
(d) The United Empire Loyalists.
(a) The Meekers’ servant girl.
(b) Tim’s cousin.
(c) Tim’s teacher.
(d) Sam’s girlfriend.
(a) He has left him a secret
signal on a tree trunk.
(b) He sees his father in the
distance surrounded by men.
(c) He comes across a lot
of hoof marks in the snow
and mud.
(d) He finds his father’s boots
thrown behind a bush.
7. What is stored in Danbury
that the British would like
to seize?
8. What does Tim’s
father die of?
9. What profession did Tim
follow when he was an adult?
(a) Large supplies of food.
(b) Maps that detail the
Rebels’ military plans.
(c) Strong and healthy horses.
(d) Munitions.
(a) Cholera.
(b) Tuberculosis.
(c) Infection from an injury.
(d) Malaria.
(a) Teacher.
(b) Surveyor.
(c) Doctor.
(d) Lawyer.
My Brother Sam is Dead
(c) A tailoring shop.
(d) A mill and a store.
53
(c) Whig.
(d) Union Jack.
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Time for a Test! - Answer Key
My Brother Sam is Dead
Part B – Short Answer
1. Characters are an important part of a story because they move the action along and can be used
to create conflict. Choose a character (other than Tim) and describe him or her in a few sentences.
Answers will vary.
2. Briefly compare and contrast Tim’s life during the Revolution and his life afterwards.
Example - Tim is an ordinary boy living with his tavern and store-owning parents in
Connecticut. He has one older brother. His family is divided by loyalties to the Crown (his
parents) and his brother (to the Rebels). The War creates a difficult financial situation for the
Meekers. Mr. Meeker disappears and later dies of cholera on a British prison ship. Sam is
executed by the British. After the War, Tim and his mother move to Pennsylvania and he
trains as a surveyor, marries and has children. He is healthy and his life is peaceful but he
will never forget the events of fifty years earlier.
Part C – Long Answer
1. Choose and discuss three major challenges that the people of New England in Revolutionary
War times faced. Discuss if and how these challenges were different than those faced by the people
of modern America.
Answers will vary. Example - There were divided loyalties, food shortages, inflation, battles,
and deaths of loved ones due to the conflict. Today, people might still be divided by beliefs,
and soldier still go off to war; conflict is not on American soil but there is the threat of
terrorism from outside the country.
2. What is the authors’ main message in their novel My Brother Sam is Dead? Give some examples
from the novel to support your answer.
Example - Students should recognize that the authors are trying to portray the nature of most
wars – that it is never black and white, that there are two sides (and even more) to every
conflict and that often it is the ordinary people who suffer more than the officers at the top
giving the orders. Wars tear families apart. The author shows this by telling the story of a
family divided by loyalty to the Crown and loyalty to the Rebel cause. Neither side is entirely
right or entirely wrong. Tim and his mother suffer great losses during the War but their new
country cuts its ties and moves ahead.
My Brother Sam is Dead
54
© The Book Umbrella
Common Core State Standards
This novel study is aligned to the Common Core State Standards (U.S.)
Grade 5
RL5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing
inferences from the text.
RL5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a
story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
RL5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
RL5.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language
such as metaphors and similes.
L5.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade
5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L5.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Grade 6
RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn
from the text.
RL.6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a
summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the
characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and
connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
RL.6.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and
contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Grade 7
RL.7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
RL.7.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text;
provide an objective summary of the text.
RL.7.3 Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (how setting shapes characters or plot).
RL.7.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative
and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on
a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
Novel Study
My Brother Sam is Dead
by C. Collier and J. L. Collier
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