Author Ben Mikaelsen

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Lesson Plan 4

SPARROW HAWK RED
by BEN MIKAELSEN
activities by L. Stone

CHAPTER 1

Vocabulary Use a dictionary. Write a short definition for each vocabulary word. (Be sure the definition you chose fits the word in the context of the story.)

disintegrate - page 3

heritage - page 5

maneuver - page 6

1. Why do you suppose Ricky's father was so hard on him?

2. Using a World Almanac, look in the section under "aviation" and write an interesting fact about aviation.

CHAPTER 2

1. What do the initials "DEA" stand for?

2. Why doesn't Benito want to do what the DEA is asking him to do?

CHAPTER 3

billow - page 22

1. Ricky wants his dad to steal the plane from the people who killed his mother, but Benito wants no part of it.
Who do you think is right?

2. Pretend you are the person you chose in question 1. Put yourself in his position and explain why you feel that way.

CHAPTER 4

ominous - page 29

CHAPTER 5

culvert - page 37

nonchalant - page 38

arroyo - page 38

1. This story places a lot of emphasis on not being a quitter. What does it mean if a person is a quitter?

2. What kind of situations might occur where it is okay to "be a quitter?"

CHAPTER 6

rebuff - page 43

foreboding - page 45

1. On page 44 the author says "Flying the Baby was Ricky's greatest passion. His escape." What does the author mean when he says "His escape?"

2. Do you have a hobby or something you like to do so much that it serves as an "escape" for you?
What is that hobby or activity?

CHAPTER 7

1. What could Ricky have done to avoid the conflict with the four boys?

2. Make a prediction about what role the girl will play in the rest of the story.

CHAPTER 8

scrounge - page 63

Do you think Ricky is sorry he decided to steal the plane now?________
Explain your answer.

CHAPTER 9

concede - page 72

Ricky's life in Mexico is completely different than his life in Arizona. List the similarities and differences between his life in Arizona and his life in Mexico.

Similarities	* * * * *	Differences
	* * * * *
	* * * * *
	* * * * *
	* * * * *
	* * * * *
	* * * * *
	* * * * *

CHAPTER 10

Predict what Ricky will do next.

CHAPTER 12

1. Why was Ricky upset that Soledad asked him to help find food?

2. How does Soledad feel about Ricky and his attitude?

CHAPTER 13

chafed - page 103______________________________________________________

meager - page 104______________________________________________________

What do you suppose Ricky is thinking after he sees his own picture in Dexter Crumm's wallet?

CHAPTER 14

How do you think Ricky felt after stealing Dexter Crumm's belongings?

CHAPTER 15

Why was Ricky surprised to learn that Soledad had a family?

CHAPTER 16 & 17

Why can't Soledad understand Ricky's kindness to her?

CHAPTER 18

Why did Ricky keep telling himself he wasn't a quitter?

CHAPTER 19

Knowing what we know about how well the plane is guarded, do you think Ricky's Dad could have stolen the plane any easier than Ricky?_______
Explain your answer.

CHAPTER 20

See if you can find out more about the arrow weed.

CHAPTER 21 & 22

1. In adventure stories such as Sparrow Hawk Red, the main character often experiences tense, suspenseful moments. Pick the situation in this story that made you feel the most tense and write about it.

2. Could this story really happen? Why or why not?

3. Stealing is considered wrong and illegal, yet Ricky stole the plane from Rancho Comacho. Was his behavior wrong or illegal?_______
Explain your answer.

CHAPTER 23

1. Throughout the story, Ricky talks with his mother and she "replies" through his thoughts. While Ricky flew the Skyhawk, he talked to his mama, but she did not "reply." What do you suppose that meant?

2. Predict what kind of relationship Ricky and his father will have from now on?

SPARROW HAWK RED

Vocabulary Key

CHAPTER 1

disintegrate - to break up into parts or fragments
heritage - that which is handed down from previous generations or the past; tradition; legacy
maneuver - physical movement showing or marked by agility or skill

CHAPTER 3

billow - to swell out

CHAPTER 4

ominous - like an evil omen; foreboding evil; threatening

CHAPTER 5

culvert - any structure providing for free flow of water under passages as roads, sidewalks, railroads....
nonchalant - showing a lack of interest or enthusiasm; casually indifferent
arroyo - bed of a stream; gully

CHAPTER 6

rebuff - blunt or sudden rejection
foreboding - a feeling that something evil or bad is going to happen

CHAPTER 8

scrounge - to search, forage, gather with effort or difficulty

CHAPTER 9

concede - to grant or yield, as a right or a privilege

CHAPTER 13

chafed - to make sore by friction or rubbing
meager - scarcely adequate amount, insufficient

SPARROW HAWK RED

Questions: Chapter 4

l. Why did Ricky want to steal the Skyhawk?

2. Why didn't Ricky like looking at pictures of himself and what did the picture from the country fair remind him of?

3. What was Ricky's mother wearing when Ricky won the twenty-five dollars from a pig- wrestling contest and what happened to it?

4. Who was Benito? How come he didn't look like a gringo?

5. Ricky had an idea that snagged his mind. What was that idea?

6. Explain Ricky's reaction toward street children from Mexico. Is this comparison correct?

7. What we Ricky's mother's reaction toward street children from Mexico?

8. What did Ricky have to figure out after stealing the Skyhawk?

9. How did Ricky feel about his father?

10. What happened to Ricky when he tried to prove to the bullies he wasn't a quitter?

11. According to Ricky, how did Mexican rateros dress?

12. Why did Ricky take his photo ID with him?

13. Why did Ricky need his jackknife?

14. What were Ricky's dreams about? (Write a little bit about the dreams.)

15. What did Ricky and his dad keep in a box and where?

16. Why did Ricky think that roadrunners would go "beep, beep!"

17. According to Benito, what happens if you don't take care of the pain and don't let it heal?

18. What did Ricky mean when he told his dad, "I'll get home on my own."?

19. Why did Benito's eyes flicker a pained look?

20. If you had gone to Mexico, give a brief description of the border line.

SPARROW HAWK RED

Chapter 4 Vocabulary Sentences

1. Benito could cross the border and not stand out like a _____________.

2. A young_____________ could get close to the Camacho cattle ranch.

3. For the first time_____________ crept into Ricky's mind.

4. The more he__________________ over the plan, the less simple it all seemed.

5. No matter what got said, Dad was being a___________________ .

6. Nor did he dare to_____________________ Dad.

7. In it he stuffed a____________ old pair of blue jeans and a dirty, ripped T-shirt.

8. A large transport plane released the Bell X-1 rocket plane from the bay, and Ricky reached forward and___________________ the rocket.

9. Five hundred, five fifty, six hundred, six-fifty, some________________________ shaking, the rocket roared loudly.

10. And then only smooth and______________________ silence.

11. Big_________________ of money made Ricky feel rich....

12. Benito handed the____________________ out the window.

13. How would he ever sneak a_____________________ and airplane out of a drug___________________________ if he couldn't remember a bag of old clothes?

14. A pained look______________________in Benito's eyes.

15. Still breathing hard, Ricky_________________________ with the handle of his gym bag.

16. Skipping school seemed wrong. And so did____________________ an airplane.

17. A line of people_______________ to pass through the check point.