Roll of Thunder
Student Activity
#6
Mapping the Setting
Sometimes authors create imaginary, or
fictional, stories and characters and set them in a time and place
that has actually existed. This type of literature is called
historical fiction. Roll of Thunder,
Hear My Cry is an example of
historical fiction. The novel is set in rural Mississippi during the
Great Depression of the 1930's.
When reading fiction like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, it's helpful to know about the real setting and
time period. Different states, countries, and regions often have
certain characteristics, or features, connected with them. Reading
literature can help give insights into different regions through the
author's portrayal of the setting. In addition, learning about the
region can help readers understand the author's depiction of
setting.
In this activity, you will
* Use the Web to locate a map of the State of
Mississippi
* Use
the Web to gather information about Mississippi
* Locate Mississippi towns portrayed in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Locating a Map of Mississippi Activity
Instructions:
1) Click on this link to locate
a map of the United
States
2) Examine the country map to identify
where Mississippi is located in the country
3) Use your browser to print out the
map
4) Use a marker to outline the State of
Mississippi
Gathering Information About Mississippi
Activity
Instructions:
Use the Fifty
States.com link for Mississippi to
gather and record data about the setting of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. On a separate sheet of paper, record the following
six pieces information about the State of Mississippi:
1) Geographical
Size of Mississippi
2) Climate
3) Major Agricultural Products
4) Major Industries
5) Historic Landmarks & Special
Attractions
6) Capital city of Mississippi
Imagining the Setting's Location Activity
In Roll of
Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mr. Logan
drives a horse-drawn cart from the family farm to buy supplies in
Vicksburg. He leaves before dawn and gets back late at night.
If we estimate his rate of travel by
horsepower at 5 miles per hour, his eight-hour, one-way trip would
suggest that the Logans' hometown is approximately 40-miles from
Vicksburg.
Instructions:
1) Click here to access a
worksheet with a map of Mississippi and print it out
2) First, complete the questions listed on
the worksheet
3) Next, draw a circle around the capital
city and a square around Vicksburg
4) Now, click below to access a more
detailed map of Mississippi, print it out, then use the map's scale
to determine the distance between the capital city and
Vicksburg
5) On the Mississippi map, draw a circle
centered at Vicksburg with a radius of 40 miles (note that nearly
half of the circle falls into Louisiana)
6) Examine the area near the edge of your
circle, the likely setting for the novel
7) Choose the region where you think the
fictional town of Strawberry would be located and draw a star
there
8) Explain to the class your reasons for
selecting this location
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