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A Really Famous Fort!

A SnowyChristmas

Storm!

One MissingAunt!

A SecretStash of Cargo!

A Pile ofStolen

Cannonballs!

Teacher’s Guideby

Carole Marsh

Editorial Assistant: Paige Muh • Art & Design: Randolyn Friedlander

©2010 Carole Marsh/Gallopade International/Peachtree City, GA

Permission is hereby granted to the individual purchaser or classroom teacher to reproduce worksheets, quizzes,and activity pages (only) for individual or classroom use only.

Reproduction of these materials for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited.No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without

written permission from the publisher.

FortSumter

The Mystery at

Page # Subject EXPLORE!

9 Culture The Gullah people were descendants of plantation slaves who lived on isolated islands off the coast of South Carolina. They had a culture and language all their own, traces of which can still be seen along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts today.

9 Historical Figures

The Talmadge Bridge that spans the Savannah River is named after former Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge. What are some other landmarks named for important people?

9 Science The moon goes through a full lunar phase approximately every 29.5 days. Can you name the phases of the moon? If Christina notices a full moon on December 24th, what would be the approximate date of the next full moon?

10 Vocabulary The coastal areas of South Carolina and Georgia are referred to as “lowcountry.” Why is that name appropriate for those areas?

10 Geography Christina reads some unusual names on the road signs between Savannah and Charleston. What is the origin of those town names?

10 Plants Spanish moss is a living plant. Why is Spanish moss so plentiful in the areas around Charleston?

12 Vocabulary Cobblestone is naturally rounded stone used in paving. It was one of the first natural stone materials used for roadways. Is it surprising that Charleston has cobblestone streets? Why or why not?

14 Vocabulary An edifice is a building of large size or imposing appearance. The hotel is in a building that was originally built as a fort, then used as South Carolina’s military arsenal before becoming the first site of The Citadel Military College. It looks like a fortress!

15 Military A drill sergeant is the training instructor for soldiers in the military.

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15 Figure of Speech

What is a figure of speech? Mimi says that she can “backseat drive” Papa from the front seat. What does that mean? Name some other figures of speech.

16 Vocabulary A waif is a person, usually a child, who has no home, family, or friends. What type of emotion was Grant trying to stir in Mimi and Papa by trying to look like a starving waif?

17 Superstition Superstition is the belief that a certain thing or certain circumstance is ominous or unlucky. Why is the number 13 thought to be an unlucky number? What are some other things that are considered unlucky? Are you superstitious?

19 Heritage Mimi says that Aunt Lulu is the aunt of her mother’s third cousin once removed. What does it mean when a cousin is “once removed?” It means that the two cousins are from different generations.

19 Legal A will is a legal document that determines who will receive a person’s material possessions when they die. Anyone can be named as a recipient of a person’s possessions as long as it is declared in a legal document. There are cases where people have left their money to their pets!

20 Vocabulary If something is sentimental it means someone has tender feelings or emotions about it. Why would Aunt Lulu leave something sentimental to Mimi?

21 Feelings Christina is conflicted. She wants to go home for the holidays but she also wants to stay and explore Charleston while they are there. Talk about some times when you have wanted two opposite things. How did you decide which to choose?

24 Landmark The parade grounds of the old Citadel is the open area in the center of the former college where the soldiers and college cadets practiced marching maneuvers and held formal military parades.

25 Landmark The Citadel Military College of South Carolina was founded in 1842. Students who attend The Citadel are called cadets. They live and study under a classical military system, where leadership and character are extremely important. What do you think it would be like to attend The Citadel?

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26 State Symbol

The palmetto tree grows abundantly along South Carolina’s coast, and it is the most recognized symbol of the state. Its image is on the state’s flag. What is the purpose of a state symbol? What are other symbols of the state of South Carolina?

28 Vocabulary What happens when plans go awry? It means that the plans will not happen as originally expected.

29 Vocabulary Mimi says that Christina is very observant, meaning that she is alert and quick to notice things. This is a good quality to have while solving mysteries!

30 Vocabulary If you are reluctant to do something, it means that you are hesitant or unwilling to do it. Why would the bellman be reluctant to close the door to Papa’s SUV?

32 Landmark The Battery of historic Charleston is a public garden area that overlooks Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers meet and continue into the Atlantic Ocean. Why do you think The Battery was an important place during the Civil War?

33 Landmark Rainbow Row is a row of historic Charleston houses on East Bay Street, north of Tradd Street. The houses are each painted in pastel colors and are a popular spot for tourists.

33 Vocabulary Bleak means desolate, bare, and raw. Fort Sumter on a cold winter day is a very bleak-looking place.

33 History The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. Why was Fort Sumter a strategic location in the battle? What are some other strategic locations that were important in the Battle Between the States?

34 Adage When describing the Civil War, Mimi says it was a war with “brother fighting against brother.” What does that mean?

34 Medical To amputate means to cut off a part of the body in surgery. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a limb amputated? Can you imagine it with no anesthesia? What would it have been like to be a doctor during the Civil War?

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