SUSAN KNEIB SCHANK
Curriculum Connections for
TERA'S DAWN
COMMUNICATION ARTS
Vocabulary
Homophones, Homonyms, Homographs
Tera’s Dawn contains many homophones, homonyms, and homographs. The first word in each set in the following lists is from the story.
Homophones- Words pronounced alike but different in meaning or spelling. dawn/don passed/past herd/heard bridle/bridal knew/new ways/weighs not/knot sore/soar made/maid wear/where pain/pane missed/mist would/wood horse/hoarse see/sea mane/main/Maine you/ewe here/hear do/dew/due for/fore weak/week nose/knows needed/kneaded
bit-The bit in Tera’s mouth hurt her.
bit-I got bit by a mosquito.
felt-Tera felt it was better to hide alone.
felt-My hat is made of felt.
hide-Tera thought it was best to hide beneath the willows.
hide-My purse is made of cow hide.
well-Tera remembered well the voices that took her mother.
well-I threw a penny in the wishing well.
fall-Tera didn’t expect a lasso to fall from above.
fall-I love the fall leaves.
lying-Tera dropped the bridle and bit and left it lying in the dirt.
lying-I knew the thief was lying.
saw-Tera saw her family in the meadow.
saw-I used a saw to cut the branch.
Homographs- Words spelled alike but different in meaning or pronunciation.close-Bronc told Tera to stay close to the heard.
close-Please close the door.
wind-Tera like to feel the wind on her face.
wind-Could you wind the ball of yarn?
live-Tera knew no other way to live.
live-I caught a live worm.
SCIENCE
Solar System
Stars and Constellations
One of last illustrations in Tera’s Dawn shows two horse constellations in the night sky. Though Tera and her mother are not real constellations, the stars do boast two horse-like creatures-Pegasus and Monoceros.
Pegasus is a northern constellation, named after the mythological winged horse Pegasus. It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, an ancient mathematician, geographer, astronomer, and astrologer. He lived in Roman Egypt.
Monoceros is a faint constellation in the winter night sky that resembles a unicorn. It is surrounded by Orion to the west, Gemini to the north, Canis Major to the south and Hydra to the east. Monoceros is not very easily seen with the naked eye. Monoceros is a relatively modern constellation. Its first certain appearance was recorded by the Dutch cartographer Petrus Plancius in 1612. HISTORY Slavery/Underground Railroad Read and discuss books about slavery and the Underground Railroad. Compare and contrast Tera’s story to that of African slaves. Some books to read: If You Lived When There Was Slavery in By Anne Kamma and Pamela Johnson 2004, Scholastic Inc. If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad By Ellen Levine and Larry Johnson 1993, Scholastic Inc. Follow the Drinking Gourd By Jeanette Winter 1992, Dragonfly Books Henry's Freedom Box By Ellen Levine 2007 Scholastic Press LITERATURE CONNECTIONS
Free as the Wind
By Jamie Bastedo
2007 Red Deer Press The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses By Paul Goble 2001 Antheneum Where Horses Run Free By Joy Cowley 2003 Boyds Mills Press