Posted in Bears of Blue River

Chapter 1 The Big Bear

PREPARING THE LESSON:

Indiana admited to statehood:  December 11, 1816 (the book takes place 1820's)

Big Blue River is in the Southeast part of the state:

 

VOCABULARY:

palisade - a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense.

corruption - debasement or alteration, as of language or a text

parlour - a room for the reception and entertainment of visitors to one's home; living room

sumptuous - luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid: a sumptuous feast

 

COPYWORK:

He was cetainly entitled to feel "big"; for he had got himself out of an ugly scrape in a brave, manly, and cool-headed manner, and had achieved a victory of which a man might have been proud.

 

NARRATION:

Little Balser is a 14 yo pioneer boy growing up in early Indiana.  His family acquired the land from a public sale and purchased their "eighty" from a deed signed by James Monroe.  Little Balser lives in a log cabin with his brother and sister.  His family lives off the land, clearing trees, hunting, and growing wheat and corn that his Father trades for neccessities.  One day his Mother asked Little Balser to go fishing for the family dinner as she thought their Father was tired of eating deer meat.  Little Balser set off, not forgetting his fishing pole and rifle and thought about what he would do if ever he encountered a bear.  That day came sooner than he thought because after he had caught a "mess of redeyes" off the edge of a log in the river, a big hungry bear came walking up to Little Balser.  There wasn't much he could do because his rifle was on the shore.  The big bear slowly walked the log Little Balser was on and Little Balser whacked the bear with the fish he had caught but in doing so he fell in the river.  While the bear ate the fish, Balser ran as fast as he could to the shore and to his rifle.  He knew he would only have one shot and he hit the bear smack in the middle of his heart.  The bear floated a little ways, dead and Little Balser who was now scared out of his wits went screaming home.  Everyone said Little Balser had shot a 600 pound bear, the biggest one around and Little Balser was a hero.  The family now had lots of bear meat to eat and bear oil, and Little Balser had a very warm and cozy coverlit to sleep under.

 

FOR DISCUSSION:

~ Has there ever been a time that you got yourself out of a situation that made you feel "big" or like a hero?

~ What modern day items do you think you need for survival and why?

~ What would you do if you ever encountered a bear?

 

Killing animals for protection or out of necessity is sometimes a difficult decision.  Early pioneers had to often make these choices out of survival.  Bear fat and oil have many uses. Besides culinary and soap making, it is used in crafts, medicine, conditioning leather and hair, oil lamps, as a lubricant.  Important considerations when living in pioneer America.

 

Safety with Bear Encounters:

KEEP CALM!

• Do not run. Most bears can run as fast as a racehorse. A scream or sudden movement can trigger an attack.
• Don't throw anything at a bear; it may provoke an attack.
• Watch the bear for aggressive behavior--snapping its jaws together, making a "whoofing" sound, or keeping its head down with ears laid back. Consider any bear that moves toward you aggressive. If the bear does not seem to be displaying aggressive behavior, talk softly in monotones and slowly back up. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose in the air, it is trying to identify you. Keep still and speak in low tones.
• If a climbable tree is nearby and the bear shows aggressive behavior, speak softly and back slowly toward the tree. At the same time, slowly remove your pack and set it down to distract the bear.  Climb a tree as high as you can. Adult grizzlies don't usually climb trees, but large ones can easily reach well over 4 m. Stay in the tree until you are sure the bear has left the area
• NOTE:  You are more likely to get struck by lightning or killed by a bee sting then being attacked by a bear.

Source: http://www.usscouts.org/safety/safe_bea.html