Our Only May Amelia

May Amelia Jackson is the only girl that lives on the Nasel River Settlement.  The book is set in 1899 in the state of Washington.  May Amelia is often referred to as "No Good May" and wants nothing more than a sister.  When tragedy strikes, May realizes her importance in the family, and that she is much more than "No Good May".

Reading Level:
     Lexile: 900

Genre/Theme:
     Historical Fiction

Subject:
     English Language Arts
     Social Studies

Teaching Ideas for a 5th Grade Class:
     Web Resources:  http://www.teachervision.fen.com/adventure-fiction/printable/64897.html offers a summary along with learning suggestions for before, during and after reading.  It also offers Language Arts, Social Studies, and Art ideas to incorporate.  This site ends with a 1 page interview with Jennifer L. Holm.
  
http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Our-Only-May-Amelia-176513.html offers a 15 question quiz.  Students can either take the on-line quiz without the answers and the computer will grade it OR students can review the quiz questions with the answers to check their own understanding.

Suggested Delivery:  Small Groups

Before Reading Activites:
     Vocabulary to Introduce:  abide, dungarees, shanghaied, dysentery, verandah, slovenly, scandalous, bateau, eloped
Ask students if they would like to be the only boy/girl in our classroom?  How about the only boy/girl in our town?  Would you consider yourself to be a "miracle" if you were the only boy/girl or would you wish for a brother/sister?  I would recommend reading the first four paragraphs of the Author's Note (p. 249-250) to introduce this book.  Explain why this book is a historical fiction.  Tell students this book is about a girl named May Amelia who moved here from Finland and is the only girl, not only in her family but on her settlement.  Have student's write in their journals a prediction of what May Amelia's life will be like.  Remind students that the time period is early 1900's.   

During Reading Activies:
Have students read in small groups.  At the end of each chapter have students respond to what they have read in their reading journals.  Students may write something they found to be interesting or how they would respond if they where May Amelia, etc.  Collect their reading journals and respond back to each student by posing a question that will guide their reading for the next chapter.  For example:  After they write a response to Chapter 1, Ask students (in their journal) Do you think May Amelia is a "miracle"? why or why not.  After chapter 2, What do you think a real Chinook Indian Burial would look like?  Would they want us to witness this event?  After chapter 3, How would you feel if somebody lied to you and kept it a secret for a long time?  After chapter 4, What does it mean to have "patience"?  Do you know anyone that has patience?  After chapter 5, What does it mean to act "proper"?  What are some examples?  After chapter 6, Have you ever had bad luck?  What types of things have happened to you that are examples of bad luck?  After chapter 7, Do you think May Amelia will get her wish?  why or why not.  After chapter 8, Have you ever been blamed for something you haven't done?  If so, how did it make you feel.  If not, how do you think it would make you feel?  After chapter 9, If you could visit any relative, who would it be and why.  After chapter 10, How do you feel when you make a new friend?  Do you try to impress your new friend?  After chapter 11, What do you know about scarlet fever?  After chapter 12, Did you like this book?  why or why not.

After Reading Activities:
 Compare and contrast the varieties of English used in the story (e.g. Finnish dialect vs. English dialect)  Ask students if anyone can find an example from the text?  Have students work in small groups to discuss how characters in the story respond to challenges.  Each group will be given a different character in which they are to discuss (as a group) a challenge that character faced and how they overcame their challenge.  Have students (independently) write a narrative piece explaining what they think happened next in May Amelia's life.  Mention there is a sequal:  The Trouble With May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm that student's might want to independently read.

Holm, J. (1999). Our Only May Amelia. NY: HarperCollins.