Elk's Resolve
Chapters 1 & 2: Lesson Plan and Discussion questions.
Read Chapters 1 and 2.
1. Why did Elk come to the cabin?
2. Why was the family at the brink of starvation?
3. The skill of survival in Colorado differed from farming further east in the United States. In what ways?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. When did the mother of the little family die?
2. What were the names of the mother and father?
3. What were the names of the sister and brothers?
4. Who was Elk?
5. Where did the turkeys go in the night time?
6. What was a deer rub?
Chapters 3 & 4 Lesson plan and discussion questions.
Read chapters 3 & 4.
1. How was life in the Ute village simular to life in our homes today?
2. How was prejudice revealed?
3. Thoughts in Elk's mind tormented him. What were some of those tormenting thoughts?
4. Why did Elk 'take the step'?
5. Why did he regret it?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. What were Elk's parents' names?
2. What were Elk's siblings' names?
3. Who were Elk's enemies?
4. Why didn't Bear fight Elk's enemies with him?
Chapters 5, 6 & 7
Lesson plan and discussion questions:
Read chapters 5, 6, & 7.
1. Why wasn't Miranda's grandmother glad to see her?
2. How was working for David and Betsy a blessing to Miranda?
3. Why did Miranda head back home?
4. Her trip home was interrupted. What happened?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. What were the names of Miranda's grandparents?
2. Who did her grandmother want her to marry?
3. Did Miranda want to marry him? Who did?
4. What was Betsy's health problem?
Chapters 8 & 9
Lesson Plan: Read chapters 8 & 9
Discussion questions:
1. What was the big draw for people going to the Rendezvous?
2. What were some of the activities that took place there?
3. Where was the Rendezvous taking place that Ted and Fred went to?
4. Why did Ted, Elk, and Fred spend their money to free the slaves at the Rendezvous?
Reading comprehension:
1. What was Ted's horse's name?
2. How old is Luke?
3. What kind of work did Ted do as his occupation?
4. What was Fred's occupation?
5. What were the names of the slaves who were rescued?
6. Why did Fred have the group stay at the Rendezvous after he purchased the slaves?
7. What is Elk's adopted father's name?
Chapters 10, 11, & 12
Lesson Plan: Read 10,11, &12
Discussion questions:
1. Describe Helene.
2. How did Miranda keep from doing the work that Helene wanted her to do?
3. Who was Moses?
4. Why did Moses help Miranda?
Reading Comprehension questions:
1. What town was Helene's house in?
2. Why did Miranda run away from Helene's house?
3. Who was Moses?
4. Who found Miranda?
5. What were they doing on the mountain?
6. How did Miranda get them to take a bath?
Chapters 13, 14, & 15
Lesson plan: Read chapters 13, 14, & 15
Discussion questions:
1. Why were some of the slaves sent home and some were to stay with Fred's family?
2. Why did they think they might be followed?
3. Which slave were you most surprised about? Why?
4. What were some of the steps to sheering sheep?
5. What happened to granny?
6. Where was Purdy's mother?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. How many days had Ted known who his brother was?
2. What meal was normal on the trail?
3. What were the ages of the girls?
4. Why did Purdy go with the group to Trinidad?
Chapters 16 & 17
Lesson plan and Discussion questions:
Read chapters 16 & 17.
1. Why was everyone so quiet on the way home?
2. How did the girls decide where they would live?
3. Why did Miranda decide to stay?
4. How did Fred tell Nan about Elk?
5. Did you feel that Strong Bear handled the situation with grace? Why or why not?
6. Who were the men who threatened Nan and Fred?
7. How did Fred get away?
Reading comprehension:
1. Where did Miranda and Purdy live?
2. What were the names of the couple who worked for Ted?
3. What were the names of Nan and Fred's enemies?
4. What were the names of Fred and Elk's brother and sister?
5. What information had Nan and Fred kept from Elk and Ted?
Chapters 18 & 19
Lesson plan and Discussion questions: Read chapters 18 & 19.
1. In what ways did Nan and Fred help the twins accept the new information?
2. Why was Ted more upset than Elk?
3. Do you want Miranda to fall in love with Ted or Elk?
4. What ways were the bad thoughts in Elk's mind influencing him?
5. How did Fred help Elk?
6. Is it easier to talk about difficult issues with grandparents than parents?
Reading comprehension:
1. Who was Elmer?
2. What was the name of Fred's dog that was killed?
3. Where had Elmer been?
4. Why did Purdy tease Miranda?
5. Who were Ted and Elk's grandparents?
6. Why was everyone quiet at the supper table?
Chapter 20 & 21
Lesson plan and discussion questions:
1. Why would Miranda have Elk send a telegram from Montrose instead of Trinidad?
2. What explanation did Elk give to Ted about not going to the Ute camp?
3. Why did Elk think of not telling Miranda about the telegrams her grandmother and father sent to her?
4. The news Red Rock had for Elk was hard. He went with Elk. Why was it important for Elk to not be alone there?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. What town did Elk go to?
2. Who did Elk talk to about Miranda in the general store?Who met Elk at Montrose?
3. What happened to Morning Song?
4. What was the Scripture that comforted Elk?
Chapters 21 & 22
Lesson plan and Discussion questions:
Read chapters 21 & 22.
1. Why did Beth not want her sister to grow up yet?
2. Why was Sara uneasy around Elk?
3. What message did Clem send 'between the lines' in his letter to Miranda?
4. Why do you think that Purdy could comfort Miranda more than anyone else could?
5. Nellie decided to win over Elk. Why?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. Which brother wrote to Miranda?
2. What was the pastor's name?
3. Why did Martha tell Nate that they needed to sit on the porch?
Chapters 23, 24, 25, &26
Lesson plan and discussion questions:
Read chapters 23-26.
1. The people who became engaged were very young. Was this accepted in the 1800s? Why?
2. Where did Purdy get the idea of going to California?
3. Why did Purdy need to be married to go?
4. Why did Nellie's father allow her to see Elk?
5. Why did Elk hit Ted?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. Name the couples who became engaged in one day.
2. Who did Nellie's father say his daughter was going to marry?
3. Elk asked a young lady to marry him. Who?
4. What was her answer?
Chapters 27 - 30
Lesson plan and discussion questions:
Read chapters 27-30
1. What did Fred offer to Elk? Why?
2. How was the offer a good fit for Elk?
3. Men wrestle and joke a lot. Why do you think they do this?
4. How was Elk able to rescue Fred and Ted?
5. Why wasn't Luke in the cabin?
6. In what way have dress codes for women changed since the 1800s?
7. Why did Edna disaprove of what Miranda wore?
8. What are some differences in childbirth in the 1800s from our times?
Reading comprehension questions:
1. Where did the men go?
2. How did Elk finally address Fred?
3. What did Luke drop in the forest?
4. What sound awakened Elk?
5. What did Miranda want to wear?
6. Where were Elk and Sara living?
7. Why were Blue Bird and Little Fawn at Elk and Sara's house?
8. What did Elk and Sara name their baby?
