Across Five Aprils Discussion Guide

Enrichment activities and Internet resources to enhance teaching Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt.
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Across Five Aprils Discussion Guide

by Irene Hunt
Across Five Aprils

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
Books by Irene Hunt



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.

  • 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.

Books by Irene Hunt

Across Five Aprils
Claws of a Century
Everlasting Hills
The Lottery Rose
No Promises in the Wind
Trail of Apple Blossoms
Up a Road Slowly
William
About the author

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