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Links related to the study of "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse
Dust Bowl. Read about the Dust Bowl period. Was the book an accurate depiction of the time period? In four small groups, examine the Song Text, Audio Titles, Photographs, and Performers/Interviewees sections at the Voices from the Dust Bowl site. Pick examples that remind you of a particular story in the book.
Depression. Although Oklahoma was hit particularly hard by the depression, the rest of the country also suffered. How did the depression impact people in different parts of the United States? Using the Timelines page, create charts showing radical changes and prices.
Oral History. Interview a person who remembers The Great Depression and compare their memories with Billie Jo's experiences. Select a picture from the time period. Write a story that includes Billie Jo or the person you interviewed.
Geoff Cunfer sets out to answer the question “What is the dust bowl?” His article includes where it was, what contributed to the creation of the dust bowl, and the New Deal response to drought and dust. He includes a list of sources and additional reading.
2. The History Place: Dorothea Lange. 2000. The History Place. 27 Jan. 2006.
This site contains Dorothea Lange’s photographs of migrant farm families with their original captions. The photographs here can be used to help provide a historical context for the novel and give students a visual representation of what life was like during this time period.
3. The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. All About Wheat. 1 July 2003. 28 Jan. 2006.
The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers sponsors a website all about wheat. The site menu contains links to information on the wheat growing process, harvesting wheat, and products derived from wheat.
4. Karen Hesse: 1998 Newbery Speech for Out of the Dust. 2003. Scholastic. 28 Jan. 2006.
The full transcript from Hesse’s Newbery Award acceptance speech is contained in this website. Hesse speaks of writing in general, the idea for Out of the Dust, and the process of writing it, especially her research.
This site contains a short autobiography of Karen Hesse. She talks about her desire to be a writer and the patience and persistence being published required. She loves writing, especially for kids. Hesse says there is no one else she would rather write for.
6. King, Jan and Rena Nesbit. Visions in the Dust: A Child’s Perspective of the Dust Bowl. 26 Sep. 2002. 28 Jan. 2006.
King and Nesbit have designed a lesson plan for reading Out of the Dust in 5-7 class periods. It is geared toward middle school classes—grades 6-8. The plan includes a historical background, guided reading journal, visual project, and ideas for evaluation and extension.
7. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. 31 Aug. 2004. 27 Jan. 2006.
This website contains a photograph from a dust storm in Kansas in 1935. The approaching dust wall is twice the size of the houses it is about to consume.
Wikipedia provides an extensive article on FDR’s New Deal. It contains a summary of the New Deal and its origins. Photos and sound clips about the New Deal are included. There is also an interesting list of notable New Deal programs.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt plays an important role in the lives of Billie Jo and her family and is referred to often. This site contains a short biography of the president and a summary of his time in office.
During Connections
11. Banks, Drusilla and Ron Wolford. Apples ∧ More. 27 Sep. 2005. University of Illinois Extension. 4 Feb. 2006.
Apples and More is an educational and enjoyable website all about apples. Billie Jo’s mother loves her apple trees and they become a symbol of her mother’s life. The University of Illinois has connected pages with information about growing apples, apple festivities, the history of apples, apple education, and more. The site also provides ideas for activities involving apples.
This webpage contains information on skin burns and is sponsored by the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital. The three major types of skin burns are described along with photographs of each. Billie Jo and her mother are both badly burned in an accident; the burns become, for Billie Jo, a symbol of her guilt.
13. CNN. The Dionne Quintuplets: A Depression-Era Freak Show. 19 Nov. 1997. 4 Feb. 2006.
A poem titled “Dionne Quintuplets” appears in the Summer 1934 section of Out of the Dust. This article from CNN explains about the Dionne quintuplets and how they were a sensation during the depression era.
This website is compiled of ideas from Middle School teachers for activities to accompany the novel. They suggest assigning the students to write in the style of Karen Hesse, to use their research skills to find photographs of the dust bowl, and to present one of Hesse’s poems as a dramatic reading.
15. Hurst, Carol Otis and Rebecca Otis. Out of the Dust. 2005. The Education Website Design Company. 27 Jan. 2006.
Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site contains a summary of the novel and important things to look for as you read. It also contains ideas for activities to accompany the novel, a short list of related books, and links to other pages containing information on Out of the Dust.
This is an article containing basic information about kerosene. It explains what kerosene is, how it is distilled, its common uses, and other names. A bucket of kerosene left by the stove leads to the major conflict in Out of the Dust.
17. The Kidnapping. 4 Feb. 2006. PBS. 4 Feb. 2006.
Among other events of the time period, Billie Jo alludes to the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. This site contains an article about the kidnapping, ransom, and investigation involving Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Anne Lindbergh.
This site contains basic information about skin cancer. Of particular interest to students is the chart with photographs of melanoma. These photographs will help students visualize the skin cancer spots Billie Jo saw on her father.
19. Surviving the Dust Bowl. 1999. PBS. 4 Feb. 2006.
The Surviving the Dust Bowl website is designed to accompany a film of the same title. It contains a teacher’s guide, maps, timeline, and more information about the dust bowl.
Of particular interest in this Wikipedia article on windmills is the section on windmills in the United States. It explains how the windmills were used as pumps and provides a few photographs of windmills: one from modern day California and one from 1939 Kansas.
Map of the Dust Bowl - A map showing the drought area of the Great Plains in the 1930s is found at this site.
Photographs of the Dust Bowl - Black and white photographs of Cimarron County, Oklahoma, the area hardest hit by the Dust Bowl—and the specific setting of Out of the Dust—are presented at this Library of Congress site. In order to access these photographs, use the search key in the upper right-hand corner. Type in key words "Cimarron County". Then choose from listed photos.
Songs about the Dust Bowl - This site provides the words to more than a dozen ballads that tell the stories of Dust Bowl farmers and migrants. All were written in the 1930s by folk-singer and Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt - This biography of the 32nd president includes his personal background and political achievements.
The Dionne Quintuplets - A promotional photograph of the famous Canadian quintuplets is displayed.
Explore the Events of the Novel
Surviving the Dust Bowl - An American Experience presentation from PBS, this film tells "the remarkable story of the determined people who clung to their homes and way of life, enduring drought, dust, disease--even death--for nearly a decade" during the ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. The web site provides teaching ideas, a map and time line for the Dust Bowl, and transcripts of interviews with survivors. The videotape may be ordered through the web site.
Black Sunday - A short description of the most damaging dust storm, which struck on April 14, 1935, is given at this site. This storm is depicted on pages 162-176 of the novel.
Migrating to California -This Library of Congress site offers a detailed account of the experiences of Dust Bowl refugees who pinned their hopes on a better life in California.
Read Theme-related Literature
"Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar - This is one of many web pages that offer the text of Dunbar's famous poem ("I know what the caged bird feels, alas!"). You can use the poem to develop the theme of how people confront hardships and to contrast formal, rhymed poetry with the free verse style of Out of the Dust.
"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden - Again, this is just one of many web pages that have the text of Hayden's poem. The poem, which describes the "austere and lonely offices" of a father's love, has theme connections to Out of the Dust.
Listen to Songs Mentioned in the Novel
My Baby Just Cares for Me - This web site provides lyrics only (no audio) for this song, which is mentioned on page 50 of the novel. Scroll down the page to find the original lyrics; many performers have adapted the song with the names of different celebrities.
Walking My Baby Back Home - This site provides lyrics and plays the song, which is also mentioned on page 50. -- LINK NOT WORKING
Bye-Bye, Blackbird - This song is mentioned on page 131 of the novel. -- LINK NOT WORKING
Stormy Weather - This song is mentioned on page 135 of the novel.
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