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| John Newbery Medal among many other notable awards |
that all the time
I was trying to get
out of the dust,
the fact is,
what I am,
I am because of
the dust.
And what I am
is good enough.
Even for me."
-Billie Jo
Out of the Dust is: Inspiring, Realistic, Historical, Heart-wrenching, Authentic
Out of the Dust
Written by Karen Hesse
Published by Scholastic, 1997
Reading Level:
Lexile: NP
Grade Level: 5.1
Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud, Guided Reading
Summary: During The Great Depression, fourteen year-old Billy Jo lives in the Dust Bowl with her father and pregnant mother. With the frequent dust storms that destroy her father's crops, her family is left searching for ways to survive the depression and life in Oklahoma. The one activity that takes Billy Jo away from all of the stress is playing the piano. After her world is turned upside down by a horrible accident, Billy Jo is left wounded both mentally and physically. This story is about a young girl's quest for happiness, love, and forgiveness.
Electronic Resources for Educators:
This interactive website is full of great activities for teachers to use to teach students about the Dust Bowl. There are lesson plans and many online activities that give students an idea about what living in the Dust Bowl might have been like during the Great Depression.
This Library of Congress has great activities for teachers to use to help students understand the story as it connects to history. There are fantastic primary sources in this document for teachers to let students read Manuscripts from the Federal Writer's Project about the Dust Bowl. There are also songs that students can listen to that Billy Jo would have heard or played on the piano.
Teaching Suggestions:
Key Vocabulary:
Comprehension Activities for the Classroom Teacher:
Before Reading Activity:
In order for students to best understand the setting and the challenges that the characters face in the story, they need to know about the Dust Bowl. I recommend watching The Dust Bowl a film by Ken Burns. If you do not have access to it then here are some different links that will help your students learn about the Dust Bowl.
Lessons from the Dust Bowl
Uncovering the Dust Bowl
Sting Dust and Forgotten Lives
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/dust/procedure.html
- While your students watch videos or read different articles about the Dust Bowl have them write down some important facts that they learn about it. You can write some questions on the board that you want them to look/listen for as they read informational texts or watch videos on the topic.
During Reading Activity:Generative Reading Activity
- the goal in this activity is to help students to become independent readers. Students read specific chapters and then come up with five discussion questions. The student becomes the leader of classroom/group for the chapter that they are assigned to. This promotes students to learn on own. It is very important that the teacher models for students how to come up with discussion questions. All students will complete all reading but a specific student will come up with the discussion questions for the particular chapter.
In order for students to best understand the setting and the challenges that the characters face in the story, they need to know about the Dust Bowl. I recommend watching The Dust Bowl a film by Ken Burns. If you do not have access to it then here are some different links that will help your students learn about the Dust Bowl.
Lessons from the Dust Bowl
Uncovering the Dust Bowl
Sting Dust and Forgotten Lives
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/dust/procedure.html
- While your students watch videos or read different articles about the Dust Bowl have them write down some important facts that they learn about it. You can write some questions on the board that you want them to look/listen for as they read informational texts or watch videos on the topic.
During Reading Activity:Generative Reading Activity
- the goal in this activity is to help students to become independent readers. Students read specific chapters and then come up with five discussion questions. The student becomes the leader of classroom/group for the chapter that they are assigned to. This promotes students to learn on own. It is very important that the teacher models for students how to come up with discussion questions. All students will complete all reading but a specific student will come up with the discussion questions for the particular chapter.
Post Reading Activity: Readers Theatre-
In groups students should create scripts related to the Dust Bowl or the book. They will then perform the play. The scripts should demonstrate understanding of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, or Billy Jo's life.
Writing Activity:
After Billie Jo meets the man in the boxcar, she decides to return home. Write a few paragraphs explaining why meeting this man influenced Billie Jo to return home to her father and the dust.
