Blogging

Did you enjoy blogging to respond to the book? Would you like to do this again for another book? Why or why not?

Billie Jo's Journey

How does Billie Jo change throughout the novel? What causes those changes? Describe her journey.

Did you like the book?

Did you like the book? Why or why not? Did you like it more or less than Walk Two Moons?

The End

Did you like the end of the novel? Why or why not? What would you change about the ending?

In the End

If you have not already read the end, what do you think will happen? Why? What things in the book might give us clues about the ending of the story?

Favorite Characters

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

Be specific! Use ideas and examples from the book

If you could...

If you could ask Billie Jo any question, what would you ask? What do you think she would say back?

Bad Example (don't do this!):
Me: Do you like apples?
Billie Jo: Yes.

Vocabulary

There are many new words in "Out of the Dust." Find 15 of them. Write the page number and use it in a strong example sentence (one that shows you understand the word). You may not use the same words that another person has used OR the same sentence that is in the book.

Good Example:
(page 135) parched- After walking through the desert for two days without water, I was parched.

Bad Example:
(page 135) piano- I like pianos.
(page 135) chord- I like chords.

Black Sunday (April 14, 1935)

April 14, 1935, is known as Black Sunday. In the next section (Spring 1935), we will read what happens to Billie Jo in this time.

Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/peopleevents/pandeAMEX07.html

Read about Black Sunday. Then write what you think will happen in the next section of the book. If you have already read ahead, write how we see the effects from Black Sunday throughout the section.

Changing Relationships

How does the relationship between Billie Jo and her father change? Why?

The Piano

In this section of the novel, describe Billie Jo's relationship with the piano. How does she feel about playing? What happens when she plays? Does she enjoy it anymore?

Use ideas from the book to support your opinion.

The Ball

Why is the ball (pgs. 115-116) so important for the story? What does it mean?

Figurative Language

For this thread, find 10 examples of figurative language in Out of the Dust. Write the page number and what kind of figurative language it is (hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphor).

Example: 1. page 55: "She was bare as a pear" (simile)

Characters...again.

For Winter 1934, we had a thread about the characters. After finishing Summer and Autumn 1934, how have the characters changed? For this blog, look at what your classmates wrote for the first characters thread. Pick what one person wrote and respond to them. Do you still agree with what they wrote? Why or why not?

Please tell us who's post you are responding to and the character he/she writes about. REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL!!!

(If you would like to, you may copy and paste the old post above yours. Put the other person's post in " ")

Important Things in Your Life

On page 80, Billie Jo talks about the important things in her life that are in the boxes. Many of these things were not worth a lot of money, but they were very valuable in memories.

If you had a box like this, what would you have in it? Why?

FDR

Everyone must do this thread!!!


Franklin Delano Roosevelt is very important during the 1930s and in the book. Talk about the importance of him and how he relates to the book.

You will need to research FDR. You may go to these sites or use your own:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/

Relationships

Describe the relationships between either:
A.Billie Jo and her mother
B. Billie Jo and her father
C. her father and mother

Use examples or quotes from the book to support your ideas.

The Accident

What happened during "The Accident"? Were you surprised? How did you feel? How do you think this will change Billie Jo's life?

Pictures

Look at the pictures below and write about them. What is happening? How does the picture go with the book? What does the picture mean? How do you feel?

Choose as many pictures as you want to write about. Tell what picture you are writing about in your response.

#1: "Tractored Out", 1938. Dorthea Lange, photographer. (Library of Congress)


#2 Arthur Rothstein, photographer, 1936. (Library of Congress)


#3 A black blizzard over Prowers Co., Colorado, 1937. (Western History Collection, University of Oklahoma)


#4 The Dust Bowl and drought devastated some farm families in the early 1930's, such as this 32 year old mother of seven. "Migrant Mother", black and white photograph by Dorthea Lange, Nipomo, California, February, 1936. (Library of Congress)

Billie Jo...is she like you?

Look at Billie Jo's character. Do you think she is like you? Talk about the similarities and differences. Think about her family, home, school, friends, job, etc.

Yes, you MAY say she is pathetic. You just need to explain why. :)

The Setting

Describe the setting of the book. How does the setting of the book become its own character?

The Characters

Pick one or two characters and describe them. How do they act? What do they do? How do you feel about them? Why?

Use examples from the book to support your ideas.

Winter 1934- Surviving the Dust Bowl

To understand the book, the first thing we need to do is understand why people were so poor and what was happening in America. To do this, we will start by going to the website:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/

When you go to this page, look on the left. Click on "People and Events." Read the first two articles under events:
- The Great Depression
- The Drought

Think about these questions:
- What happened during the Depression?
- Why did the Depression happen?
- What did the presidents do to respond to these problems?
- Why was the drought so terrible for farmers?
- How did people cause the problems of the drought?
- How did government try to solve these problems?

Now, please post a response to these articles. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS (OR ANY!). THESE ARE JUST TO GET YOU THINKING. The main points of your response should be to:
a. Connect the article to "Out of the Dust"
b. Connect the article to today
c. Connect the article to your personal life.

You may do any or all of these, as long as you do your part well!

Welcome to the Blog!

Greetings, dear students! I am so glad that you were able to find the blog. I hope that you enjoy posting exciting and interesting responses. Let's go!