Chapter 11: The Story of a Barrel

It is hard to write down the steps in making something so another person can understand them.

Choose something you know how to make. Write the process step by step, as simply as you can. You might want to make several drafts. You will be surprised how much clearer your writing becomes on the third try.

Chapter 12: Pity

In 1904 children worked hard in factories like the "rope walk" in St. John's.

In 1996 a British newscast reported several thousand twelve-year-old girls were working twelve-hour shifts for low pay in British offices. The report said the girls were punished and humiliated if their work slowed down.

The newscast said there was no law against child labour in Britain.

Is there a law against it in Newfoundland? Check the laws for Newfoundland and Canada to find out if this sort of thing could legally happen here.

Chapter 13: Lettie's Story

This chapter tells a story. Read the story aloud in your group. Try to imagine how each character felt: Lettie, Mr. O'Neill, and the two women from the charity.

As a group rewrite this story as a scene from a play. Imagine and write down dialogue for each character. Then perform the scene in your class.

Discuss: In 1904 charities like St. Vincent de Paul were one of the main sources of "poor relief". In what ways do we still "help" people like Mr. O'Neill today? Do these methods work?

Chapter 14: Cold Storage

In 1905 Newfoundlanders could make money skinning seals. If you go to Newfoundland beaches in spring now, you see seal heads, guts and skins washing up on the beach. Sealers say it's not worth skinning a seal for what you'd get paid for a skin today.

Find out what other parts of Newfoundland's natural resources are discarded or wasted. Make a poster that describes this.

Find out if anyone in Newfoundland is doing anything to try and use these products. Make a poster that describes this.

Invite one of those people to your class to discuss how they are succeeding.