Description
Young Sam Gribley has always heard "The land is no place for a Gribley." He knows his great-grandfather built a farmstead in the Catskill Mountains and then left to become a sailor, so he sets off (with his Dad's permission) on his own to find the remains of his great-grandfather's farm with just $40, a ball of cord, a penknife, an ax, some flint and steel, and determination to live off the land.
Arriving at the old Gribley farmstead, Sam hollows out a tree for his home and learns to hunt, fish, trap, and forage for edible plants. When he captures a young falcon, Frightful, and trains her to hunt, she becomes a good friend and great help in supplying food. After months of carving out a life for himself on the side of a Catskill Mountain, Sam is sure that the land is the perfect place for a Gribley!
My Side of the Mountain Digital Download Literature Study Guide
Formatted with your Middle School grade student in mind, Progeny Press language arts study guides divide the book into writing assignments and lessons that strengthen their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and refine their critical analysis and writing skills. Each Progeny Press novel study accomplishes all of this without busy work that can drain the fun out of reading and literature! Kids have loved using Progeny Press ELA curriculum in homeschool, co-ops, and private schools around the world for over 30 years!
What Progeny Press' My Side of the Mountain Literature Curriculum Digital Study Guide provides your Middle School student:
ELA Built for Ages 10–14 • Grades 5–8
Our faith-based literature study guide helps students strengthen their reading and comprehension skills through engaging, age-appropriate activities.
Author Biography: Learn about the life story of the prolific author, Jean Craighead George, and uncover the inspirations behind her compelling narratives.
Vocabulary: Engage in a variety of activities carefully designed to stimulate the retention and growth of your vocabulary skills.
Literary Techniques: Focus on the techniques that bring the narrative to life. Explore various elements such as point of view, the dynamic use of verbs, anthropomorphism, irony, flashback, the power of adjectives, the beauty of similes, the art of recapitulation, paraphrasing prowess, distinguishing fact from opinion, the charm of onomatopoeia, the relief of comic interludes, the creation of mood, the elegance of metaphors, the subtle use of allusions, organizing information alphabetically, the art of idioms, the paradoxical beauty of oxymorons, the musicality of alliteration, assonance, and consonance, the beauty of extended metaphors, the willingness to suspend disbelief, the intricacies of conflict, the heroic quest, the dramatic structure, the full-circle ending, and the transformative journey of a bildungsroman/coming of age story.
Moral Lessons and Character Values: Contemplate the understanding of God, facing solitude, the impact of superstitions, conquering fear and worry, the virtue of patience, recognizing divine provision, embracing acceptance, practicing hospitality, standing against bullying, experiencing God’s care, honoring parents, grappling with the complexities of lying, and navigating the intricacies of daily life.
Activities and Writing Assignments: Enrich your ELA study with activities and writing assignments that extend beyond the pages of the novel. Go on field trips, delve into plant research, unleash your creativity in writing, participate in safety discussions, explore the art of letter writing, connect math concepts, unravel the mysteries of superstitions and legends, express yourself through a poster project, engage in cooking centers, delve into research writing, bring stories to life through drama projects, express yourself through journal writing, explore the world of rock climbing, craft wooden toys, connect with science, solve crossword puzzles, engage in Christmas wreath projects, explore the world of peregrine falcons, explore health and nutrition, create parodies, explore various essay choices, unleash your creativity in powerpoint projects, express yourself through art and design, and celebrate learning with a class party and journalism newspaper.
Suggestions for Further Reading: Continue your reading adventures with an in-depth reading list of more books by the Jean Craighead George and other books that tie in with, or are similar to, My Side of the Mountain.
What Will You Need?
A Complete Language Arts Experience with Progeny Press
- A copy of My Side of the Mountain
- A Bible (digital or physical)
- A dictionary (child-friendly or online)
This flexible homeschool resource includes open-ended discussions and optional writing activities that support foundational ELA skills without overwhelming growing learners.
Designed for YOU
- Homeschool families looking for Christian literature curriculum
- Schools looking for high quality ELA materials
- Parents wanting to build reading comprehension and character
- Co-ops and small group instruction
These guides work well on their own or alongside your preferred grammar and phonics program.
Features and Benefits FAQ - Progeny Press ELA PDF Study Guide:
Why Schools & Families Love Our Study Guides:
- Easy to follow and open-and-go
- Encourages family discussions and biblical connections
- Engaging activities that support reading comprehension
- Grows with your child’s ability and interest
- No busywork—just meaningful, faith-filled learning
Digital Format Details:
- Download instantly—no shipping required
- Works on Mac, PC, and most tablets
- Fillable form fields allow on-screen answers or easy printing
- No costly software purchases necessary. PDF files open in the FREE Adobe Reader program.
Note: Mobile devices may require an alternative app that supports and saves fillable form fields and interactive features. - Conveniently print what you need, when you need it
- Print the whole ELA study guide at once
- Print single literature lessons or pages as the student completes them
- Print multiple copies of the entire curriculum study guide for classroom sets
All of Progeny Press' language arts PDF download unit lessons are written from a Christian worldview!
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