Across Five Aprils Discussion Guide

by Irene Hunt

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Jethro Creighton is nine years old in April 1861, when the Civil War begins. His southern Illinois farming family is torn apart when his brothers, cousin, and a close family friend leave to fight in the war. Jethro is forced to grow up quickly and tracks the progress of the war through letters and newspapers. Finally, four years later, the war is over and all are relieved. But then President Lincoln is assassinated. Suddenly, the future becomes frightening and uncertain once again.

Enrichment Activities
Internet Resources
Books by Irene Hunt

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Enrichment Activities

• Compare and Contrast
  Use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast Jethro's life before and after his relatives leave to fight in the Civil War.
  
  
• Comprehension Checks
  Check your students' comprehension of Across Five Aprils with Test A, Test B, and Test C. Use the Answer Keys for correcting.
  
  
• Culminating Projects
  Have students choose from a selection of six motivating and thought-provoking projects. Project types include report writing, creating a timeline, and model building. Use the Across Five Aprils Project Ideas sheet.
  
  
• Emancipation Proclamation
  On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves. Read and analyze the entire speech with your students, as a whole class or small group activity.
  
  
• The Gettysburg Address
  Read this famous speech with your students. Then, on the blackboard, create a list of instances in Across Five Aprils that relate directly to the words of President Lincoln.
  
  
• Integrate Art
  Contact your school's art teacher and brainstorm ideas that would integrate art and the book Across Five Aprils. Some suggested materials include clay, pastels, or paper collage.
  
  
• The Underground Railroad
  Students take a cyber-journey on the Underground Railroad – the path to freedom for slaves in the 1850s.