Running Out of Time

Background Questions

• What is the Homestead Act of 1862?

• The Homestead Act of 1862 was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. government (including freed slaves and women), was 21 years or older, or the head of a family, could file an application to claim a federal land grant.

Utopia?

• an imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect

Background Questions

• What is diphtheria?

• Diphtheria is a potentially fatal, contagious disease that usually involves the nose, throat, and air passages, but may also infect the skin. Its most striking feature is the formation of a grayish membrane covering the tonsils and upper part of the throat.

Diphtheria• Like many other upper respiratory diseases, diphtheria is

most likely to break out during the winter months. At one time it was a major childhood killer, but it is now rare in developed countries because of widespread immunization. Since 1988, all confirmed cases in the United States have involved visitors or immigrants. In countries that do not have routine immunization against this infection, the mortality rate varies from 1.5-25%.

• Persons who have not been immunized may get diphtheria at any age. The disease is spread most often by droplets from the coughing or sneezing of an infected person or carrier. The incubation period is two to seven days, with an average of three days. It is vital to seek medical help at once when diphtheria is suspected because treatment requires emergency measures for adults as well as children.

• http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/diphtheria

Group #1 Vocabulary

1. abolitionist

2. authentic

3. chaperone

4. coarse

5. corridor

6. diphtheria

7. epidemic

8. heirloom

9. illuminate

10.implore

11.ornate

12.poultice

13.quarantine

14.recitation

15.reprimand

16.scandalous

• What hints are there in chapters 1-3 that this is not a normal pioneer town but a historical preserve?

• How does the author build suspense in the first few chapters so the reader will want to continue reading?

• Explain why you would or would not enjoy living on a historical preserve for a short time.

• Was it fair to Jessie and the other children not to tell them the secret when they turned 12?

• List Jessie’s feelings when Ma reveals the truth and sends Jessie out of Clifton.

• What is the irony is Hannah’s statement, “There’s no such thing as a woman doctor”? Pg. 6. What opportunities have changed for women since 1840?

• What do you think Jessie finds on the other side of the door?

• What is the name of the town where Jessie and her family live?

• What wakes Jessie in Ch. 1? (the glow of Mom’s light)

• What is Jessie’s mother’s role in the village? (midwife)

• Why does Jessie say people waited until night to get sick in her village? (to avoid seeing the doctor)

• Why won’t Jessie’s mother let her see Betsy? (Betsy is sick)

• Why does Jessie say she is glad to not be a grown-up? (the clothing)

• What does Jessie’s mom say her other children could sleep through? (blizzard)

• How does Jessie describe her village at night? (spooky)

• What does Jessie’s dad do for a living? (blacksmith)

• When does Jessie say her family came to Clifton in ch.1? (1828)

• How many children are in Jessie’s family? (6)

• Why does Hannah think Pa won’t build a new house? (he likes the log cabin)

• Where does Jessie say her family lived before Clifton? (PA)

• Why does Ma tell Jessie to be careful? (she trips)

• Why does Jessie leave her oil lamp lit when she waits outside the Benton’s cabin? (for comfort)

• How does Jessie describe herself as compared to the other Clifton children? (she’s braver)

• What does Jessie say is haunted in Clifton? ( the trees)

• Why does Jessie say Mr. Steward once spanked her? (for climbing a tree)

• What does Ma do before leaving the Bentons’ house? (nails a sign to the door)

• Where does Ma take Jessie to talk about a dangerous task in Ch. 1? (to a hidden rock)

• What does Ma tell Jessie to say she is doing after school at the end of Ch. 1? (looking for herbs)

• In Ch. 2, about what is Hannah most worried?(chores)

• Why doesn’t Jessie throw her hairbrush at Hannah? (she doesn’t want to get into trouble)

• While living in Clifton, how does Jessie style her hair each day? (braids)

• Who says wives must be obedient to their husbands? (the minister)

• When does Jessie realize Katie is ill? (on their way home from school)

• What does Jessie do before meeting her mother at the forbidden rock for the second time? (she puts Katie to bed)

• What year does Ma tell Jessie it really is? (1996)

• Why does Ma say Clifton was created? (as a place for people to live simply)

• What does Ma say Miles Clifton is most concerned about in the village? (authenticity)

• Who does Ma say Miles Clifton wanted to visit his village? (tourists)

• What did Ma do for a living before moving to Clifton? (nurse)

• Why does Ma say she moved to Clifton? (she was trying to make Pa happy)

• How does Miles Clifton keep Clifton residents from escaping? (the village is guarded)

• In Ch. 5, what does Jessie say she wants to do after learning the truth about Clifton? (think about it for a day or so)

• In Ch. 5, what does Ma show Jessie in her bag? (a pair of jeans)

• What makes Jessie dizzy? (thinking about leaving Clifton)

• Who does Ma say forced the quarantine signs to be taken off of the doors in Clifton? (Clifton and his men)

• What does Ma say Mr. Clifton would miss too much if he lived in Clifton? (his limos)

Vocabulary Group #2

• communicable

• compartment

• counterfeit

• dehydrate

• delusion

• disorient

• herbicide

• hypocritical

• impersonate

• liniment

• luxurious

• pesticide

• preposterous

• pretentious

• substantiate

• vague

• To what historical town does Ma compare Clifton? (Williamsburg)

• What confuses Ma as she explains Clifton to Jessie? (the lack of medical supplies)

• What disease is affecting the children of Clifton? (diphtheria)

• Why does Ma suggest Jessie meet with Mr. Neely in Ch. 5? (so she can help the residents of Clifton)

• How does Ma describe Mr. Neely? (as being against the village of Clifton)

• What does Ma give Jessie before she leaves Clifton? (food)

• Whose phone number does Jessie put in her pocket in Ch. 5? (Mr. Neely’s)

• How does Ma help Jessie escape Clifton at the end of Ch. 5? (She digs in the dirt)

• How does Jessie end up escaping from Clifton? (through a manhole cover)

• What happens at the very end of Ch. 5? (everything goes black)

Quick Write #1-Use POWTIDE

• In 15 sentences or more, explain how the mysteries Jessie mentions help to create the image of Clifton in Ch. 1.

• OR

• In 15 sentences or more, explain how Jessie is defined as the main character of this novel.

• OR

• In 15 sentences or more, describe how tension is created between Jessie and other characters in the novel.

Chapter 6

• Jessie’s first introduction to the year 1996 is a bathroom. She is amazed with the toilets and other technology. What surprised you most about Jessie’s reaction to the 1996 bathroom?

• How does Jessie find the bathroom? How did Jessie’s mom describe the bathroom before Jessie left Clifton? How does she first feel when walking into the bathroom? What does she think of the lights?

• Before After

• What are some words that would describe Jessie BEFORE the bathroom visit and AFTER the visit. Share with a partner.

Chapter 7

• What does Jessie do when she first sees the students visiting Clifton? Why does she decide to blend in with the visiting students? What does Jessie overhear the students saying?

• What sounds confuse Jessie?

Chapter 8

• How do tourists visiting Clifton see life in Clifton? What does Jessie realize about the mirrors? What does she see happening through the mirrors? How does this make her feel? When does Jessie see what the cameras capture? What does Jessie see her father doing? In what ways does Jessie feel like she still belongs in Clifton?

• How does Jessie feel about the tour guide’s descriptions of Clifton? When does Jessie leave the middle school group? Why does she decide to leave? How does she feel about escaping on her own? Why can’t Jessie walk out of Clifton? How do the cameras make her feel? How does Jessie end up leaving the tourist area of Clifton?

Group

• Brainstorm a list of descriptive words and phrases used to describe and define the scenery and Jessie herself as she tries to escape Clifton from the parking area. (take notes)

• In pairs, choose 3 of the descriptive words/phrases from the activity and create a poster that shows how each selected quote affects the readers’ emotions and feelings toward the scene. Share with the class.

Quick Write #2-Use POWTIDE

• In 15 sentences or more, analyze the title of the novel. What makes the title appropriate? How is the title symbolic?

• OR

• In 15 sentences or more, analyze Jessie as a protagonist. How does she match the description of a protagonist? In what ways is she effective at anchoring this novel? In what ways is she not?

Chapter 9

• Why does the tour guide say people moved to Clifton?

• So they could live how they wanted to live

• Why do the middle school visitors to Clifton make fun of Clifton’s children?

• They make fun of what they are learning.

Chapter 9

• What does the tour guide say about the lack of students in the Clifton School?

• She says there are germs going around.

• What does Jessie do when Nicole asks her to visit the gift shop in Ch. 9?

• She says she has to go.

Chapter 10

• What amazes Jessie about the ground?

• She’s amazed that it is gray.

• What does Jessie think the “large yellow carriages” are?

• Jessie thinks they are limousines.

• What startles Jessie?

• The car horn.

Chapter 10

• How does Jessie decide where to walk?

• She follows the exit signs

• Why does Jessie walk on the grass while leaving Clifton?

• So she is harder to see

• How does Jessie feel about the birds?

• Birds make her happy.

Chapter 10

• Why can’t Jessie escape over the fence?

• The cameras are following her.

Chapter 11

• What does the family in the car say to upset Jessie?

• They say the guard’s clothing is weird.

• How does Jessie finally escape the grounds of Clifton?

• She escapes in the back of a bread truck.

• Why does the driver stop the bread truck?

• He stops the truck because he hears Jessie in the back.

Chapter 11

• What does Jessie remember about her mother’s advice? How did Jessie’s mother help her escape Clifton? How did her mother’s advice not help Jessie escape? How does Jessie decide what to do? What does Jessie worry about at the end of Chapter 11? How does she feel about finding a solution to this problem?

Chapter 12

• At the end of Chapter 12, what does Jessie find? After Jessie leaves the bread truck, how does she feel about the driver?

Chapter 13

• What is Jessie thinking as she jumps from the bread truck? How does she describe her fears & worries? How does Jessie find the note from her mother? What else does she find with it? What does she think of this? Why does she kiss it? Why does Jessie visit the store?

Vocabulary Group #3

• pungent

• sarcastic

• raucous

• stammered

• calculated

• atrocious

• stifle

• murmured

• raspy

• allegations

• admiration

• emerged

• conferring

• antibiotics

• preoccupied

• nonsensical

Chapter 14

• Who is the first person Jessie encounters outside of Clifton that she fears has a connection to Clifton? Why does she think this? How does she get over her fears? Why does Jessie worry that the “fat man” may have connections? Who does Jessie run into while trying to use the pay phone for the first time?

Chapter 15

• Who do you think the mystery man is that bumps into Jessie at the pay phone? What do you think he wrote down?

Chapter 16

• Describe the boy who stopped to pick up Jessie.

• Why did Jessie say she was walking?

• What was his response to her?

• Where does Jessie end up after escaping this?

Chapter 17

• What does Mr. Neely agree to do the first time he speaks to Jessie on the phone?

• How does Jessie feel after speaking with Mr. Neely?

• How does Jessie feel when she first sees Mr. Neely’s apartment?

• What does Jessie do with the water Mr. Neely gives her?

• Why doesn’t Jessie lie down in bed?

• Why does Mr. Neely tell the stranger on the phone that he may have to kill Jessie?

Chapter 18

• What does Mr. Neely say Miles does not want?

• How many people come to Mr. Neely’s apartment?

• What does Jessie overhear Mr. Neely say will continue?

• How does Jessie bump her head in Ch. 18?

• “Then everything went black” What is this called?

Chapter 19

• How does Jessie feel when she wakes up?

• Who does she tell to shut up?

• While escaping from Mr. Neely’s apartment, who does Jessie think of to inspire her?

• Jessie’s crying at the end of this chapter. Why?

Chapter 20

• After jumping from the window, about what does Jessie think?

• What does the old woman tell Jessie at the bus stop?

• Why doesn’t Jessie want to talk to the old woman?

• What does the old woman tell Jessie that’s very helpful?

Vocabulary Group #4

• momentum

• winced

• oblivious

• restitution

• atrocious

• finicky

• outlandish

• hooligans

• voyeuristic

• intricate

• gawked

• preoccupied

• grimaced

• allegations

• brandishing

• gruffly

• Where does Jessie see a news conference in Ch. 20?

• While riding the bus who does Jessie decide she must contact first?

• Why does the woman at the State Health Department hang up on Jessie?

Chapter 21

• For whom is Jessie waiting?

• What does Jessie overhear a cameraman ask?

• How does Bob describe legislators?

• How does this chapter end?

Make a List

• Emotions you felt when you learned of Jessie’s illness.

• Emotions you felt when you learned that Jessie will recover.

• Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting Jessie’s illness as a threat to her character with some other threat she faces in this novel.

Chapter 22

• What is said about Mr. Smythe and Mr. Seward in this chapter?

Chapter 23

• Jessie watches an interview with Miles Clifton and the man she thought was Mr. Neely. They talk about the reasons for infecting the people of Clifton with diseases and try to defend their actions. Miles Clifton says he was trying to benefit the human race by creating a superior gene pool. What does this mean?

• How does Jessie see Miles Clifton in the hospital?

• Why is he on television?

• Who is with him?

• What is Mr. Neely’s true identity?

• Who is Frank Lyle?

• What does Frank Lyle say about the village of Clifton?

• What problems do Miles Clifton and Frank Lyle warn about?

• How does the newscast end?