About Heather Lang Page 2 Contact the Author Page 2 Before You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 2-3) Page 3 While You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 2-3) Page 3 After You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 2-3) Page 3 Before You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 4-5) Page 4 While You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 4-5) Page 4 After You Read Discussion Questions (Grades 4-5) Page 4 Comprehension Questions (Grades 2-3) Page 5 CCSS: Grade 2 Reading: Informational Text 2.3 Grade 2 Reading: Informational Text 3.3 True or False Questions (Grades 2-3) Page 6 CCSS: Grade 3 Reading: Informational Text 3.1 Grade 3 Reading: Informational Text 3.3 Vocabulary Cloze Activity (Grades 2-3) Page 6 CCSS: Grade 2 Reading: Informational Text 2.4 CCSS: Grade 2 Reading: Informational Text 3.4 Comprehension, True or False and Vocabulary Cloze Answers (Grades 2-3) Page 7 Comprehension Questions (Grades 4-5) Page 8 CCSS: Grade 4 Reading Informational Text 4.1 Grade 5 Reading Informational Text 5.3 Multiple Choice Questions (Grades 4-5) Page 9 CCSS: Grade 4 Reading Informational Text 4.5 CCSS: Grade 5 Reading Informational Text 5.5 Plot Arc Matching Questions Page 10 CCSS: Grade 4 Reading Informational Text 4.5 CCSS: Grade 5 Reading Informational Text 5.5 Comprehension and Multiple Choice Answers (Grades 4-5) Page 11 Fearless Flyer Story Problems (Grades 2-3) Page 12

CCSS: Grade 2 Operations and Algebraic Thinking A.1 Grade 3 Numbers and Operations in Base Ten A.2 Fearless Flyer Story Problems (Grades 4-5) Page 13 CCSS: Grade 4 Measurement and Data A. 1 and A. 2 Grade 4 Operations and Algebraic Thinking A. 2 and A. 3 Fearless Flyer Story Problem Answers (All Grades) Page 14 Suggested Extension Activities Page 15 CCSS: Grade 4 Reading: Informational Text 4.9

CCSS: Grade 4 Writing: 4.2 D

Discussion &

Activity Guide DevelopedbyKateNarita,fourthgradeteacheratCenterSchoolinStow,MA

About the Author: Heather Lang

Heather Lang loves to research and write about real women who overcame

extraordinary obstacles and never gave up on their dreams. Her pictures book

biographies include, QUEEN OF THE TRACK: Alice Coachman, Olympic High-

Jump Champion (Boyds Mills Press, 2012), THE ORIGINAL COWGIRL: The

Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall (Albert Whitman, 2015), and FEARLESS

FLYER: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine (Calkins Creek, 2016). Heather also

volunteers for the SCBWI and writes web articles for the National Children’s Book

and Literacy Alliance. When she is not writing, she loves to go on adventures with

her husband and four children. Visit Heather at www.heatherlangbooks.com.

Contact Heather Lang by email: heatherlangbooks@gmail.com

★ “Lang builds suspense with comparisons and questions . . . this title underscores the pilot’s achievement and conveys her exhilaration.” —School Library Journal, starred review ★ “(A) magnificent, long overdue flight from history straight into the present.” —Booklist, starred review

Grades 2-3 BeforeYouReadDiscussionQuestions

1. Whoknowswhatanaviatoris?Mentionsynonymssuchaspilotandflyer2. MakeanairplaneT-chartandlabelitPlanesThenandPlanesNow.3. Havestudentsdoathink,pair,shareaboutplanesandrecordtheiranswersonthechart4. Canwomenbeaviators?Whyorwhynot?5. Wouldsomeonereadthetitleplease?6. Lookatthispictureofoneofthefirstairplanes.Isthereanyotherinformationweneedto

addtoourT-chart?Besuretocompareandcontrastanopen-aircockpitandanenclosedcockpitaswellasleversversuscomputerizedcontrols

WhileYouReadDiscussionQuestions

1. DoyouthinkitwasfairthatMr.Curtisswouldn’tsellRuthLawhislatestflyingmachine?Whyorwhynot?

2. WhatdidRuthLawdotoprepareherbiplanefortheflightfromChicagotoNewYorkCity?WhatdoesthistellyouaboutRuth?

3. Whendidthiseventhappen?Abouthowmanyyearsagowasthat?4. “Tobecomeanaviatoronehastodismissallfear.”Whatdoesthisquotetellyouabout

Ruth?5. WhatlandmarksdidRuthhuntfor?Whydidsheneedtofindthoselandmarks?Doyouthink

it’sasimportantforaviatorstodaytofindlandmarks?Whyorwhynot?6. WhywasRuthabletokeepflyingeventhoughheroilgaugereadzeropressure?Whatdoes

thattellyouaboutRuth?7. “Whenyourenginesuddenlystopswhileyour2,000feetintheair,it’ssomecomfortto

knowifanythingcanbedone,youcandoit.”WhatdoesthisquotetellyouaboutRuth?8. DoyouthinkRuthwillstayinHornell?Whyorwhynot?9. Whatdoeslibertymean?DidRuthLawwantliberty?10. “AtthatmomentRuthrealizedshehaddonesomethingmoreimportantthanbreakinga

nonstoprecord.”Whathadshedone?

AfterYouReadDiscussionQuestions

1. Doesanyoneknowwhattheworddiscriminationmeans?Definediscrimination-theunfairtreatmentofdifferentcategoriesofpeoplebasedonreligiousbeliefs,skincolororgender.

2. Doesanyoneknowwhattheworddeterminationmeans?Definedetermination-“aqualitythatmakesyoucontinuetryingtodoorachievesomethingthatisdifficult”Merriam-Websterdefinition

3. Think-pair-shareaboutallthewaysRuthLawshowedshehadthedeterminationtoovercomediscrimination.

Grades4-5BeforeYouReadDiscussionQuestions1. Whatdoyounoticeaboutthetitle?2. WhydoyouthinktheauthorchosethealliterativetitleFearlessFlyerinsteadofFantasticFlyeror

FabulousFlyer?3. Basedonthetitle,predictthreefearsthatmostpilotsmighthavehadaboutflyingbackin1916that

wouldbedifferentfromfearspilotsfacetoday.-Havestudentswritethreepredictionsintheirnotebooks

WhileYouReadDiscussionQuestions1. Afterreadingthefirstpage,askifanyonepredictedpilotsfearedlosingcontroloftheirplanesmore

in1916thantheydotoday.FollowupbyaskingiftheythinkthatwasoneofRuthLaw’sfearsbasedontheinformationonthefirstpage,andhavethemexplainwhyorwhynot.

2. WhatwasRuth’ssecretweapon?WhatfeardoyouthinkotherpilotsmighthavehadthatRuthLawlackedbecauseofhersecretweapon?

3. Mr.Curtissdidn’tthinkRuthLawcouldhandlehispowerfulflyingmachineonsuchalongflightbecauseshewasawoman.Whatisthiscalled?Howelsedidsocietydiscriminateagainstwomenatthattime?

4. Makeatext-to-selfconnectionaboutatimeyouthoughtyoucoulddosomething,butsomeoneelsedoubtedyou.Didyouachieveyourgoalanyway?DoyouthinkRuthwillachievehergoal?Explainwhyorwhynot.

5. WhatadjustmentsdidRuthLawdotoherbiplanetohelpherachievehergoal?WhatobstaclesdidRuthLawhavetoovercomethatmostpilotsdonothavetofacetoday?

6. DidRuthLawthinkamanwasmorequalifiedthanhertobethefirstpersontoflyfromChicagotoNewYork?WhichRuthLawquotebestsupportsyouranswer?

7. DoesRuthLawthinkfearisadeterrentoramotivator?WhichRuthLawquotebestsupportsyouranswer?

8. “Whenyourenginesuddenlystopswhileyour2,000feetintheair,it’ssomecomforttoknowifanythingcanbedone,youcandoit.”WhatpersonalitytraitscanyouinferaboutRuthfromthisquote?

9. Theauthorwrites,“Thesundropslower,paintingthesky.”WhatliterarytoolisMrs.Langusing?(personification)10. WhatdoyouthinkRuthLawmeantwhenshesaidthatsheandtheStatueofLiberty,“bothfeel

alikeaboutthings?11. HowdoyouthinkMr.CurtissfeltwhenhelearnedthatRuthLawhadflowntoGovernor’sIsland,

NewYork?

AfterYouReadDiscussionQuestions1. WhydoyouthinkPresidentWilsonaskedRuthLawtohelphimlighttheStatueofLibertyforthe

firsttime?2. Althoughthereislessdiscriminationtodaythantherewas100yearsago,itstillexists.Think-pair-

shareaboutanexampleofdiscriminationthatexiststoday.Rememberthatdiscriminationoccursformanyreasonssuchassomeone’sgender,theirreligion,theirskincolor,ortheircountryoforigin.

Name:________________________Date:______________Time:__________

ComprehensionQuestions

Readeachquestionandwriteyouranswersincompletesentences.Eachquestionisworthtwopoints.Youwillearnapointforthecorrectanswerandapointforcorrectcapitalizationandpunctuation.1. WhatwasRuthLaw’soccupation?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Wasthisatypicaloccupationforwomenin1916?Explainwhyorwhynot._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. WhatwasRuthLaw’ssecretweapon?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Didhersecretweaponhelpherreachhergoal?Explainwhyorwhynot.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. RuthLawwantedthefreedomtoflywherevershewanted.Whatdoyou

wantthelibertytodo?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name:________________________________Date:______________Time:_________TrueorFalse

Readeachstatementbelow.Writea“T”fortruenexttoeachcorrectstatement.Writea“F”forfalsenexttoeachincorrectstatement.

1. RuthLawflewfromChicagotoNewYorkCitywithoutstopping. ____

2. SinceMr.Curtisswouldn’tsellherhisnewestplane,Ruthmadeadjustmentstoherbiplanetoreachhergoal.____

3. Whenheroilgaugeread:zeropressure,Ruthkeptflying.____

4. InNovemberof1916,RuthLawflew512miles,settinganewAmericannonstopflyingrecord.____

5. PresidentRooseveltaskedRuthLawtohelphimlight

theStatueofLiberty. ____

VocabularyClozeActivity

Writetheboldedwordthatbestcompleteseachsentenceintheblank.altitude aviator engulfedfrigid perched

1. RuthLawwasafearless____________________.

2. ThemetalguardRuthLawinstalledprotectedherfromthe____________________wind.

3. AsRuthLawtookofffromGrantPark,shegained____________________.

4. She____________________onthefrontofherplane.

5. WhenRuthLawtookofffromBinghamton,athickfog____________________her.

Comprehension,TrueorFalse,VocabularyClozeAnswers

Grades2-3

ComprehensionQuestionAnswers

1. RuthLawwasanaviatorwhoentertainedpeoplewithherdaredeviltricks.

2. Anaviatorwasn’tatypicaloccupationforanyonein1916becausetheWrightBrothersfirstflightonlytookplacethirteenyearsearlier.Furthermore,flyingwasconsidereddangerousandpeopledidn’tthinkwomenwerestrongenoughtodoit.

3. RuthLawkneweverynutandboltonhermachine.Sinceshewasaknowledgeablemechanic,shecouldpredictandtroubleshootproblemsbetterthanaviatorswhodidn’tunderstandhowtheirplanesworked.

4. Hersecretweaponhelpedherreachhergoalbecauseshedidn’tlandwhenshesawheroilgaugereadzeropressure.Instead,shedecidedtokeepflyingbasedonthesoundofherengine.

5. Answerswillvary.

TrueorFalseAnswers

1. False2. True3. True4. True5. False

VocabularyClozeAnswers

1. aviator2. frigid3. altitude4. perched5. engulfed

Name:______________________________________Date:____________________Time:__________

ComprehensionQuestions

Readeachquestionandwriteyouranswersincompletesentences.Eachquestionisworthtwopoints.Youwillearnapointforthecorrectanswerandapointforcorrectcapitalizationandpunctuation.

1. HowwasRuthLawdiscriminatedagainst?_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

2. Wasitunusualforpeopletodiscriminateagainstwomenin1916?Explainwhyorwhynot.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. In1916,thesuffragistmovementwasfightingforaconstitutionalamendmenttogivewomen

therighttovote.Imagineyouareasuffragist.HowwouldyoufeelaboutRuthLawhelping

WoodrowWilsonlighttheStatueofLibertyforthefirsttime?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

4. RuthLawtookmanystepstohelpherreachhergoalofsettingthelongestnonstopflightrecord

includingbutnotlimitedtoaddinggastanks,installingaguardandchartingherowncourse.

Nameagoalyouhaveanddescribethreestepsyouneedtotaketoreachit.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Name:____________________________________Date:____________________Time:____________

PersonalityTraitMultipleChoiceQuestions

Directions:Readerscaninferpersonalitytraitsbasedonpeople’squotesandactions.ReadeachRuthLawquotebelowandchoosethepersonalitytraitherwordsdepict.It’sagoodideatolookupthedefinitionofeachtraitbeforeyouanswerthequestions.

1. “Whatthosemencandoawomancando.”a. confidentb. egalitarianc. fearlessd. knowledgeablee. resilient

2. “Icouldanticipatewhatwouldhappentothemotorbythesoundofit.”

a. confidentb. egalitarianc. fearlessd. knowledgeablee. resilient

3. “Whenyourenginesuddenlystopswhileyouare2,000feetintheair,it’ssomecomforttoknow

thatifanythingcanbedone,youcandoit.”a. confidentb. egalitarianc. fearlessd. knowledgeablee. resilient

4. “IwassoexcitedthatIhardlyfeltthegrippingpainsgoingthroughmybodyonaccountofthe

cold.”a. confidentb. egalitarianc. fearlessd. knowledgeablee. resilient

5. “Tobecomeanaviatoronehastodismissallfear.”a. confidentb. egalitarianc. fearlessd. knowledgeablee. resilient

Name:_______________________________________Date:____________________Time:_________

PlotArcMatchingQuestionsDirections:FearlessFlyerisanexampleofnarrativenonfictionwhichmeansit’snonfictionthatresemblesafictionalstory.HeatherLangusedaplotarctoconveythefactsaboutRuthLaw’sflightfromChicagotoNewYorkCity.Matcheacheventtotheappropriateplotarccomponentbelow.

1. RuthLawrealizedshedidsomething A.expositionmuchmoreimportantthanbreakinganonstoprecord._______

2. In1916,RuthLawdecidessheisgoing B.risingaction#1toflyfromChicagotoNewYorkCityeventhoughmanypeopledidn’tthinkawomencouldflythatfar.

_______

3. RuthLawcircledtheStatueofLiberty. C.risingaction#2_______

4. Aftermakingnecessaryadjustments D.risingaction#3

toherbiplane,RuthLawtookofffromGrantParkonNovember19,1916._______

5. AftersettinganewAmericannonstop E.climax

flyingrecordof512miles,RuthtakesoffagainfromHornellforNewYorkCity.

________

6. Withiciclesinherhair,RuthLawlanded F.fallingactionherplaneonGovernor’sIsland,NY.________

7. RuthLawtakesofffromBinghamton,NY G.resolution

intoadensefog.________

Comprehension,MultipleChoice,MatchingAnswersGrades4-5

ComprehensionQuestionAnswers

1. GlennCurtissdiscriminatedagainstRuthLawbecauseherefusedtosellRuthLawhislatestflyingmachinebecausehethoughtshecouldn’thandlesuchapowerfulmachineonsuchalongflight.

2. Itwascommonpracticetodiscriminateagainstwomenin1916.Forexample,in1916womencouldn’tvote,theycouldn’tjointhemilitary,andmanyemployersrefusedtohirethem.

3. Answerswillvary.a. AsasuffragistIwouldbefilledwithhopethatmaybewomenwouldhavethesame

libertiesasmen.b. AsasuffragistIwouldhavebeenangryatRuthLawthatshewashelpingtolightthe

StatueofLibertyforthefirsttimewhenourcountrywasdenyingwomenthesamelibertiesasmen.

4. Answerswillvary.MultipleChoiceAnswers

1. egalitarian2. knowledgeable3. confident4. resilient5. fearless

MatchingAnswers

1. G-resolution2. A-exposition3. E-climax4. B-risingaction#15. C-risingaction#26. F-fallingaction7. D-risingaction#3

Name:______________________________________Date:____________________Time:__________

FEARLESSFLYERSTORYPROBLEMS(Grades2-3)Directions:BelowarefactsaboutRuthLaw’sflightfromChicagotoNewYorkCity.Besuretolabelyouranswers.

1. Originally,RuthLaw’sbiplaneonlyheldsixteen SHOWYOURWORKgallonsofgasoline.Butsheaddedthreegastankssothatherplanecouldholdfifty-threegallonsofgasoline.Howmanygallonsofgasdidsheaddtotheplane?

________________________________________

2. GlennCurtiss’slatestflyingmachineheld205 SHOWYOURWORK

gallonsofgasolinebuttheonehebuiltforRuthonlyheldsixteensgallonsofgasoline.Howmanymoregallonsofgasolinedidhislatestflyingmachinehold?________________________________________

3. RuthLawflewnonstopfromChicagotoHornell.SHOWYOURWORK

WhensheflewoverCleveland,sheknewshehadalreadyflownabout305miles.WhenRuthLandedinHornell,shehadflown512totalmiles.AbouthowmanymilesisitfromClevelandtoHornell?

________________________________________

4. TheWrightbrothersfirstflewin1903,andRuth SHOWYOURWORKLawsetanewAmericannonstopflightrecordin1916.HowmanyyearspassedinbetweentheWrightbrothers’firstflightandMs.Law’srecord?CHALLENGE:Abouthowmanydayswouldthatbe?_______________________________________________

Name:______________________________________Date:____________________Time:__________

FEARLESSFLYERSTORYPROBLEMS(GRADES4-5)

Directions:BelowarefactsaboutRuthLaw’sflightfromChicagotoNewYorkCity.Besuretocalculatetheanswersforbothpartsofeachquestionandincludelabels.

1. Ruthdressedforherflightat4A.M.inthemorning.ShetookofffromGrantParkat8:25A.M.Easterntime,whichwas7:25A.M.inChicago.Howmanyhoursandminutespassedfromthe SHOWYOURWORKtimeshedressedtothetimeshetookoff?______________________________________Howmanyminutespassedfromthetimeshedressedtothetimeshetookoff?______________________________________

2. At2:10shetoucheddowninHornell,NY. SHOWYOURWORKSinceshetookoffat8:25,howmanyhoursandminuteshadshebeeninflight?______________________________________Howmanyminuteshadshebeeninflight?______________________________________

3. RuthLawflew512milesinaboutsixhours. SHOWYOURWORKOnaverage,howmanymilesdidsheflyperhour?

______________________________________

4. Sheusedfifty-threegallonsofgasinaboutsix SHOWYOURWORK

hours.Onaverage,howmanygallonsofgasdidsheconsumeperhour?______________________________________

FEARLESSFLYERSTORYPROBLEMSANSWERSGRADES2-3

1. 37gallons

2. 189gallons

3. 207miles

4. 13years4,745days

FEARLESSFLYERSTORYPROBLEMSANSWERSGRADES4-5

1. 3hoursand25minutes205minutes

2. 5hoursand45minutes345minutes

3. 851/3milesperhour

4. 85/6gallonsofgasperhour

ExtensionActivities

1. HeatherLangincorporatesvividverbsthroughoutherwriting.Givestudentsthefollowinglistof

vividverbsandaskthemtoincorporatethemintheirdailywriting,oraskstudentstorereadthetextandidentifytwentyvividverbs.Then,givethemthislistforthemtochecktheirwork.

appear dismiss grumble scan chart engulf install sputterclaw erase paint squintcoast fizzle peck steependangle glide perch swoop

2. ReadHeatherLang’sotherbiographiesQueenoftheTrackandTheOriginalCowgirl.Discusswithyourclassthatthesebooksarealsonarrativenonfiction.Askthemtoidentifytheexposition,risingactionevents,climax,fallingactionandresolutioninthosebooks.Theycanusetheirplotarcmatchingquestionsworksheetasaguide.

3. RuthLawstrappedasix-inchmaptoherleg.Giveeachchildhalfapapertoweltubeandmultiplesix-inchpapers.HavethemchartRuthLaw’scourseorchartanotherroutethatyou’restudyinginclass.

4. ReadaboutHarrietQuimby.Here’salinktotheMCASselectionaboutMs.Quimby:https://my.triand.com/ncc/production/testbundle/0004/4986/test_booklet/testbooklet.pdf?13403