Horse Escapades

The Good Master, by Kate Seredy:
Jancsi is overjoyed to hear that his cousin from Budapest is coming to spend the summer on his father’s ranch on the Hungarian plains. But their summer proves more adventurous than he had hoped when headstrong Kate arrives, as together they share horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, and a dangerous run-in with the gypsies.
 
Justin Morgan Had A Horse, by Marguerite Henry:
Joel Goss knows that Little Bub is a special colt, even though he's a runt. And when schoolteacher Justin Morgan asks Joel to break the colt in, Joel is thrilled! Soon word about Little Bub has spread throughout the entire Northeast—this spirited colt can pull heavier loads than a pair of oxen and run faster than thoroughbreds!
 
What do Jancsi and Joel have in common? They both have and love horses, and their adventures are in two fantastic books. Students will discover how to break a colt in, the history of gypsies, and several literary skills (without even knowing it). Equally deserving of the title of man’s best friend, horses teach incredible lessons to their riders.
 
Learning objectives:
Use direct quotes from texts to explain and prove ideas about the reading
Use details from the text to summarize it, identify the main idea or theme, compare characters or events, or compare different texts of the same genre
Interpret and understand metaphors and comparisons made in a text
Identify an author or narrator's point of view and explains how this affects the content of a text
Evaluate impact and influence of historical context
 
Recommended for: Ages 9+ / Grades 4-5  
Instructor: Eve Babb
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:45-1:45 PM ET
Duration: 4 classes
Dates: November 9 - December 7 (No class November 23)
Required Materials: 
The Good Master, by Kate Seredy 
Justin Morgan Had A Horse, by Marguerite Henry