AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:
Born in 1928, Robert Newton Peck gleans much of his writings from
his upbringing in rural Vermont during the Depression. Peck was the youngest of
seven children and the first to attend school, a feat highly valued by his parents
who never learned to read. A Day No Pigs Would Die, his first novel, is
based on his childhood memories, steeped in the deep-rooted Shaker tradition that
formed the foundation for his family life. Currently, Peck lives on a ranch in
Florida where he enjoys the outdoors and finds time to answer the nearly one hundred
fan letters he receives each week.
Robert Newton Peck Web Site
http://www.athenet.net/~blahnik/rnpeck/index.htm
A good place to start when considering an author study, the site features
a biographical profile of Robert Newton Peck, an annotated bibliography of his
published works, and links that include A Day No Pigs Would Die and its
classroom application in relation to the California Educational Standards.
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
 As
a young adolescent living in rural Vermont in the 1930s, Rob's daily routine encompassed
chores, food, clothing, and transportation means quite different from those experienced
in contemporary times. The students will assume the role of a time traveler and
compare their present day responsibilities and conveniences with those seen in
Peck's books. Consider the gender differences and the seasonal variations in the
four criteria.
In
The Day No Pigs Would Die and its sequel, the Peck family trades goods
and services without money. The barter system thrives in an economy that allows
for exchange without monetary compensation. Have students design their own barter
economy. They should include services rendered and demonstrate how to make an
equitable exchange. For example, babysitting for car use or car washing for movie
tickets.
When
listening to the audiobooks, ask students to keep a list in their reader response
journals of the colloquial expressions one seldom hears in conversation today.
Have students compose a creative essay incorporating contemporary vernacular expressions
that they imagine may be short-lived or faddish in style.
Known
for their ingenuity, the Shakers are credited with the invention of the circular
saw, the clothespin, box stove, and revolving oven, among other imaginative ideas.
When Rob and his father Haven needed to move the heavy crib to house Rob's new
pig, Haven fashioned a capstan for their oxen to pull the unwieldy structure.
Discuss innovation, improvements, and inventions. Divide the class into groups
and ask them to create a "Problem/Solution" graphic organizer that relates to
the discussion. For example: state the "problem" (who, what, why); develop "solutions"
(one or two attempted solutions); and finish with the "end results."
As
farmers, the Pecks closely aligned their food, work, school, and home activities
based on Vermont's four seasons. Discuss the seasonal cycle and how the seasons
interact to yield a sequence of events that occur again and again. For example,
Rob and his family planted seeds in the spring, tended the crop in the summer,
harvested in the fall, and lived off the bounty in the winter. What meteorological
events interrupt the normal seasonal cycle? Have students draw a cycle graphic
organizer that illustrates the Peck's normal seasonal activities and one that
shows the consequences when the cycle suffers disruption
INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
 Hancock
Shaker Village
http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/
An historic landmark in western Massachusetts, the Hancock Shaker Village
was home to members of the Shaker community between 1790 and 1960. Today the property
functions as an outdoor museum with its original buildings, working farm, and
herb gardens. The Web site presents a fascinating virtual tour of the Hancock
Shaker Village Buildings.
Smithsonian:
Inventors and Innovation
http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/invent.htm
Presents selected links to sites hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum
of American History.
The
State of Vermont Homepage
http://vermont.gov/
General information about the state and links to schools, farming and agricultural
interests, and more. The "Vermont Historical Society" link features educational
opportunities, archival resources, and exhibits.
FOR FURTHER LISTENING AND READING:
  SOUP
by Robert Newton Peck. Young Rob Peck and his best friend, Soup, engage in a series
of comic adventures while growing up in rural Vermont during the 1920s. UNABRIDGED
AUDIO and book available from Audio Bookshelf.
THE
ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN and THE ADENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain.
These classic American adventure stories are based on Mark Twain's childhood experiences
living along the mighty Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri. UNABRIDGED AUDIOS
and books available from Audio Bookshelf.
Boy:
Tales of Childhood (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1984) by Roald Dahl, and its
sequel Going Solo (Viking Press, 1988)
Shaker
Hearts (HarperCollins, 1997) by Ann Turner, illustrated by Wendell Minor
Preacher's
Boy (Clarion, 1999) by Katherine Paterson
BUD,
NOT BUDDY recording and book. This Newbery Award winner looks at the Depression
years from the perspective of a young black boy on the road. Both available
from Audio Bookshelf.
Westminster
West (Greenwillow, 1997) by Jessie Haas
|
