Wise Choices

Being wise and clear-headed in dire situations can be tough, and it most certainly is for the characters in these stories. Sam and Oscar face life-threatening situations in almost every chapter, during which they need to make responsible, wise choices. This can be especially hard when one is only eleven years old and has never had to make these decisions before. Keep a level head as we travel through time and space to learn a thing or two about making wise choices!
 
Day and Time: Thursdays, 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM ET
Class Duration: 4 Weeks
Dates: March 6-27, 2025 
Recommended for: Ages 9+ / Grades 4-5
Teacher: TTK Faculty
Required materials: 
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
On the Blue Comet, by Rosemary Wells
 
Please note: Daylight savings will occur on Sun, Mar 9, 2025, in the U.S., which may differ from other countries’ daylight savings schedules.
 
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
Sam Gribley is terribly unhappy living in New York City with his family, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountains to live in the woods—all by himself. With only a penknife, a ball of cord, forty dollars, and some flint and steel, he intends to survive on his own. Sam learns about courage, danger, and independence during his year in the wilderness, a year that changes his life forever.
 
On the Blue Comet, by Rosemary Wells
In the wake of the Crash of 1929, Oscar Ogilvie’s life is changed forever. His dad has to sell their house and cherished model trains and head west in search of work, leaving Oscar lonely and miserable in the care of his aunt. Then he meets a mysterious drifter and witnesses a crime so stunning it catapults him on an incredible train journey from coast to coast, from one decade to another. Filled with suspense and peppered with witty encounters with Hollywood stars and other bigwigs of history, this captivating novel resonates with warmth, humor, and the true magic of a timeless adventure.
 
See more literature classes: thethinkingkid.org/literature
See more classes for ages 9+ / grades 4-5: thethinkingkid.org/grades-4-5