Days 132, 133 Basket Days

March 8 & 9, 2012 Days 132 & 133

LA Book: 2 pages

Math: 4 Pages—History *

Book Report: Silent Rain

By Cornelia Cornelissen

Introduction Soft Rain is a nine year old Cherokee Native American girl who was forced to survive on the Trail of Tears in the 1830’s.

Summary of Story

Soft Rain and her family were living in the Cherokee Nation in what is now Georgia next to the other 4 civilized tribes. Soft Rain lived in a wigwam house with her mother, her father, her grandmother, and her 7 year old younger brother Hawk Boy. Soft Rain and her family carried on most of the Cherokee traditions with a few modern luxuries such as an indoor fireplace and stove. One Day, Soft Rain and Hawk boy went out to plant corn with their father, Soft Rains grandmother had made her a new doll that Soft Rain brought to help her plant corn, Part of the doll ripped and Soft Rain ran back to the house to have grandmother fix it. While Grandmother was fixing the doll The American soldiers invaded Soft Rains house and took Soft Rain and her mother, Soft Rain was so surprised and bother her and her mother started screaming and yelping. The Americans put Soft Rain and her mother with some other Cherokee Indians in an American house, the next day the Indians were forced to move out on the trail of tears. Soft Rain was horrified, she saw her Aunt Kee was being forced along the trail as well; Soft Rain ran and gave her a hug. Aunt Kee was dragged away from her husband and daughter who were still in Georgia. Soft Rain and her mother comforted Aunt Kee who was crying. The Americans kept pushing all of the Indians along the trail; none of them understood what was happening. There were about 15 people who died everyday and the Americans didn’t like that they had to stop and have a ceremony every time a person died, they were very impatient. Soft Rain and her mother met a woman on the trail who was none stop crying, bother of her little children had died that day and there wasn’t a burial session for either of them. They were just thrown to the side of the trail. Soft Rain felt bad for the mother with the dead children, Soft Rain’s mother told the woman that she could stay with them. Soft Rain missed her father and brother and grandmother a lot, she asked her mother where they were, her mother started to cry again and she said she didn’t know and Soft Rain realized she made a mistake. Soft Rain heard a bell, the leader of the trail had died and a new leader has taken his place, it was Soft Rain’s father! Soft Rain ran to him and she called her mother. Then immediately she asked where Hawk Boy was, both nervous and excited. Soft Rain’s father told her that Hawk Boy was in the wagon; Soft Rain ran over to him and gave him great big hug. Hawk Boy gave Soft Rain the doll that she left behind, and then she asked where grandmother was. Hawk Boy said she was fine; she was staying with some white people who were back in Georgia. The next day Soft Rain got really sick, she went to sleep and her family thought she had died, but 2 weeks later she woke up in a real bed, in a real home. They had survived the trail of tears, and Soft Rain would be able to start a new life.

Favorite Character(s)

Soft Rain, Hawk Boy, and grandmother

Why is this book important to learning about the Trail of Tears and Indian Removal Act?

This book told the story from the point of view of a nine year old Cherokee Indian. She was living in Georgia at the time of the Indian Removal act and was forced to go on the Trail of tears, this book is basically 95 percent all about the trail of tears and the Indian Removal Act.

Plan & Start Volcano Project

History Diorama intro: The US Map from 1820-1850

Farm

Amanda’s New Life summary: Amanda has just gotten married to Matthew William Ritter. The Next year she gave birth to her first child, her son John Nathan. The next year she gave birth to twins, Jennie and Jeremiah. Amanda raised her children to be little cowboys and cowgirls in Texas. Amanda was about 35 years old now 

Amanda’s Home on the Range summary: Amanda has gotten to be the age of 47. Her daughter Jennie has just gotten married; she used Amanda silk wedding dress. John Nathan and Jeremiah also got married. They decided to make a triple wedding and Amanda cried through the whole thing. Her first granddaughter, Mary Megan was born and she grew up to get married when Amanda was 65. Amanda had a wonderful life In Texas.