5
Post-reading Questions:
1. After reading the chapter, does the title make sense?
2. A theory is defined as, “A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment.” What theory
did Rachel present to Ben?
3. How do you think Ben felt about Rachel’s theory? How do you know?
4. Rachel expresses her feelings about Joe Pastore dying in the fire he set. Do you believe it “served him right?”
Why or why not?
Activities:
1. Rachel presents a theory on people in chapter six. What is your own theory about people? Write a paragraph that describes
your theory. Then, look through today’s newspaper for articles that support your theory about people. Read them and then
write your own article that presents and defends your theory; cite examples from the newspaper to support your theory.
2. As a class discuss the ways Ben has been made to feel at home and made to feel like a stranger at Wind Rider farm.
Would you want to be at the Brennans? How does your school culture treat new students and faculty members? Is
there anything you could change about the culture of your school to make it more comforting/inviting to visitors
and new students/teachers?
CHAPTER 7: FEARLESS, GENEROUS, AND KIND
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
Pre-reading Questions:
1. What disaster occurred years ago at Wind Rider Farms? What were the effects of the disaster?
2. The story summation asks an interesting question, “Was the rider he met in the fog somehow connected to the disaster?”
What do you think?
3. The title of this chapter is “Fearless, Generous, and Kind”. What do you think is being described?
Post-reading Questions:
1. Ben describes Rachel as “She was fearless. She was generous. She was kind.” Discuss how you think Rachel would
describe Ben.
2. In this chapter, we realize that the Brennans care greatly for animals and will not get rid of an animal just because
it is old. What does this tell us about the Brennans and why they may have taken in Ben?
3. If Joe Pastore did not have any children, who might the boy in the fog be?
4. Ben believes he has fallen in love with Rachel. What qualities of Rachel’s is he attracted to? What qualities might
he look out for? Do you think Ben could have fallen in love with Rachel already?
Activities:
1. Choose someone you admire – how would you describe her/him in three sentences?
2. The author uses pictures in the Brennans house as a way to draw us into the story. How can Ben be talking with
a kid who looks just like Joe Pastore and yet, Joe is dead? The Seattle Times uses photographs to attract us
to a story. Look through the newspaper and find a picture that entices you to read the corresponding article.
Before you read the article, examine the photograph. What do you think the article is about? Then, after you read it,
did the photograph reflect the main idea of the article? Discuss the purpose of photographs in a newspaper. Are
they used for the same purpose as photographs in our house?
