Red Parka Mary

Red Parka Mary

By Peter Eyvindson

Whenever he passes by his neighbour Mary’s house, a young boy can't help but stare at the elderly woman with the missing teeth and layers of sweaters. Although he is afraid at first, he soon realizes that even though Mary is different, she is a wise and wonderful friend who has much to teach him.

pdfView lesson plan in PDF
 Wits Connection WITS Connection: Talk it out, Seek help  

Learning Outcomes

pdf Click here to view a summary of the most common Provincial and Territorial Learning Outcomes associated with this lesson.

Questions and Activities

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES

PRE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. How old do you think the lady on the cover of the book is?
  2. What other stories do you know that include elderly women as characters?
  3. Where is the parka on the cover? Why is it missing?
  4. Where do you think the story takes place?

POST-READING QUESTIONS

  1. Why was the young boy afraid of Mary? Somewhere at sometime someone told him to be afraid of her brown eyes.
  2. The boy was unsure what to do when Mary gave him a bucket of chokecherries. How did he seek help? He brought them home and watched his Mom’s reaction
  3. How was Mary different? She was older, dressed differently and was alone.
  4. What did Mary teach the boy? To sew, catch rabbits and line moccasins with fur.
  5. What did Mary learn from the boy? She learned how to give in many ways.
  6. What would you have guessed to be the biggest gift in the world?
  7. How do you think the young boy felt when he received Mary’s gift? How would feel if you opened Mary’s gift?

POST-READING ACTIVITIES