No Tall Tale: Just the Plain and Simple Truth.

An Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic, Standards-based Unit of the Westward Movement through the novel "Sarah Plain and Tall. Pioneer life defined how western U.S. developed the "Pioneer Spirit" as it still defines Americans today. Sarah Plain and Tall is a depiction of how one woman's choice affects a family's life forever. Themes of loss, love, fear and hope intertwine this poignant story of the human spirit. This interdisciplinary unit was designed for fourth graders to understand and evaluate how influences such as historical events, environmental settings, and economic conditions affect not only characters within the story but affect the reader as well.