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CHAPTER 1: WELCOME TO THE WIND RIDER FARMS
EALRS
Reading:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2
Writing:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
Communication:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; Art: 2.1, 3.1, 3.2
Pre-reading questions:
1. The title of the story is “The Winner’s Circle.” What does the title tell you about the story?
2. How would you define a “winner”?
3. Have you ever won something? If so, how did you feel?
Post-reading questions:
1. Why is Ben Quigley at Wind Rider Farms?
2. Where are Ben’s parents?
3. How does Ben feel about being at the farm?
4. After reading the first chapter, what do you think the story is about?
Activities:
1. Ben arrives at Wind Rider Farms and meets the Brennans and their horses. Draw a picture that represents the meeting
between Ben and Gogo, the horse.
2. It seems that Ben is feeling inadequate. Write Ben a letter introducing him to the Brennans and give him some
suggestions for feeling comfortable at his new home.
CHAPTER 2: HOOFBEATS IN THE FOG
EALRS
Reading:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2
Writing:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Communication:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Pre-reading questions:
1. How did Ben arrive at the Brennans?
2. What occurred in chapter one that made Ben feel uncomfortable? Did anything happen that made him feel good
about being at Wind Rider Farms?
3. Look at the picture in this chapter, what do you think will happen in this chapter?
4. Before reading the chapter, look up the definition of the following words: disoriented, fragrant and grimace.
After looking them up, write a sentence using the word correctly.
Post-reading questions:
1. In this chapter, Ben wakens and feels disoriented by the “countryside silence.” What does this mean?
Share an experience you had where you felt out of place. How did you react?
2. What happened in this chapter?
3. How did Ben react to his fears?
4. How do you respond to fear?
Activities:
1. Ben is afraid in this chapter. As a group, list reasons why people are afraid. The newspaper is filled with stories of
people who overcome their fears. Find an article about someone who is afraid. Read the article and identify the
reason for the person’s fear. How did s/he overcome it? Write a newspaper article about Ben; in it, explain why
you think Ben is afraid and how he might overcome it. Think beyond the physical fear he might be encountering
and his fears of being a foster child or his fears of being in a new place and a new culture.
