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Children of the Dust Bowl by Jerry Stanley
Guided Reading
Directions: Answer the following questions in your journal. Write only your answers, you do not need to
rewrite the questions. Use examples from the book to support your answers. Label each journal entry
with the chapter and the page numbers.
Chapter 1: p. 3-10
1. How were the depression and the stock market crash related to the economy of the farmers in
Oklahoma (e.g., price of wheat and corn)?
2. What is a “dry farmer”?
3. Why were dust storms so devastating for farmers in 1936 to 1940?
4. How did dust storms change life for the farm families of the dust bowl?
5. Where does the phrase “Tracked out” come from?
Chapter 2: p. 11 - 20
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What did “California” mean to the Okies before they set off to find it?
What lead to the largest migration in U.S. history?
Explain what this means: p13 “Moving day consisted of callin’ the dog and spittin’ on the fire”.
Why did the Okies call Route 66 “Mother Road”?
What were some of the “threats” facing Okies on their trip west to California? P15
Of all the hardships faced by the migrant Okies, which was the hardest and WHY?
How did the Okies keep their spirits high?
Chapter 3: p. 22 – 34
1. Why were Patsy and her family crying on page 22 on the bluff?
2. How did the farm growers drive the price of labor down? (p23)
3. Explain why Okie children were starving when they were surrounded by fields filled with food in
California.
4. Why did the growers burn the surplus crops instead of giving the food to the Okies? P26
5. Why did the Hospital not admit Donald on page 28?
6. How did the Farm Security Administration help the Okies?
7. Compare life in the Weedpatch Camp (p30) with life in an Okieville (p25-29).
8. What does it mean: “Every cloud has a silver lining” p 31.
Chapter 4: p. 34 -39
1. Give three reasons why the Okies faced ridicule, rejection and shame (p34) outside the camps?
2. Describe the ridicule the Okie adult and children faced from the Native Californians – give at
least two details for each, the adults and children.
Chapter 5: p. 40-44
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What made Leo Hart someone who could sympathize with the Okies?
Why did Leo Hart avoid talking about helping Okies when trying to be elected?
Why did the Bum Brigades attack the families at Weedpatch Camp?
Why did Hart’s school have to teach self-confidence?
Chapter 6
1.
Use other sources (e.g., internet, encyclopedias, and books) to research The Little Rock Nine,
and President Eisenhower’s role in their situation. What are the similarities and differences
between Eisenhower’s response to the discrimination against the African American students
and Mr. Hart’s response to the discrimination against Okies and their schooling? Use evidence
Chapter 7: p. 50-59
1. How did building the school help the Okie children?
2. Describe how the teachers at the Okie school went “above and beyond” their normal duties to
help the Okie children.
Chapter 8: p. 60-70
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Why were there no “normal” days at Weedpatch School?
Why couldn’t the Weedpatch kids eat the turkey for Thanksgiving?
Is it ever Okay to punch someone in the nose if they make fun of you? Explain.
Why did building the school give the parents hope?
Explain what Bob meant when he said, “It was a part of all of us, what we were and where we
were going” (p70).
Chapter 9: p. 71-76
1. Why were there no disciplinary problems at the Weedpatch School?
2. Why do you think the district attorney for Kern County asked for a legal opinion about the status
of the school?
3. Was the school a success? Why or why not – please explain.