ACTIVITIES Before Reading 1.

- Read the story introduction on the first page of the book, and the back cover. How much do you know now about the story? Complete each sentence with the right name.

Meg / Jo / Beth / Amy 1. __Beth__ is afraid of talking to people she doesnt know. 2. ___Jo___ sometimes gets into fights when she is angry. 3. ___Meg _ is unhappy because she hasnt got any nice clothes. 4. __Amy__ is often selfish. 5. _Meg___ will try in future to enjoy her work. 6. __Jo___ would rather be a boy than a girl. 7. ___Amy_ is the youngest of the March girls. 8. _Beth__ is a quiet girl who likes being by herself. 2. - What are the troubles and difficulties that are waiting for the girls Can you guess? Choose some of these ideas. 1. One the girls get a dangerous illness and nearly die. 2. Two of the girls have a fight and one of them is hurt. 3. Their father dies in the war and never comes home. 4. Their mother has to go away to look after their father. 5. One of the girls burns something belonging to her sister. 6. Two of the girls fall in love with the boy next door. 7. One of the girls makes some very unsuitable friends. 8. One of the girls wants to stop her sister getting married.

ACTIVITIES

While reading Read Chapters 1 to 3. Choose the best question- word for these questions, and answer them. How / What / Where

1. .Where. . Was the girls father? R= He was away at the war in the South 2. . How.. Had the family become poor? R= Their father had lost his money when the girls were little. 3. . What. Did the girls decide to do about Christmas presents? R= buy a present for their mother, and they would not buy presents for themselves. 4. . How . . Did the girls help the Hummel family? R= They gave them their breakfast as a Christmas present. 5. . What . happened in the middle of the Christmas play? R= The paper and wood castle fell down just as Roderigo and Zara were escaping from it 6. .What . did old Mr. Laurence do for the girls, and why? 7. .What. disasters happened to Jo and Meg on New Years Eve? R= Meg s hair was burnt, and she hurt her ankle. Jo dropped coffee on her dress. 8. .How . . . . did the party end for Jo and Meg? R= Meg couldn t walk home because of her ankle, and Laurie took her, Jo, and Hannah home in his grandfather s carriage. Read Chapters 4 to 6. Here are some untrue sentences about these chapters. Change them into true sentences. 1. Meg and Jo had jobs because they wanted money to spend. Meg and Jo had jobs because they wanted to earn moneyfor the family. 2. Jo visited Laurie because he was ill and needed nursing. Jo visited Laurie because he had been ill and needed cheering up. 3. Mr. Laurence was annoyed by Lauries friendship with Marches, and thought he should work hard at his studies.

Mr Laurence was pleased by Laurie s friendship with the Marches, and thought he could catch up with his studieslater. 4. Mr. Laurence gave Beth a piano because he liked her playing so much. Mr Laurence gave Beth a piano because he liked the slippers that she made him. 5. Amy was so angry with Jo that she threw Jos skates away. Amy was so angry with Jo that she burnt Jo s notebook of stories. 6. When Amy begged for forgiveness, Jo forgave her. Although Amy begged for forgiveness, Jo wouldn t forgive her. 7. Jo warned Amy about the thin ice, but Amy didnt listen Laurie warned Jo about the thin ice, but Amy didn t hear. Read Chapters 7 and 8. Who said this, and to whom? Who, or what, were they talking about? 1. We didnt know you had a young man . Annie and Sallie (and perhaps Belle and Clara), to Meg, about the letter and flowers that arrived for Meg before the party, and which they thought came from Meg s young man . 2. It would be an excellent thing for one of those girls . One of Mrs Moffat s friends, to Mrs Moffat, about the chance of one of the arch girls marrying Laurie. 3. I didnt know you, because you look so unlike yourself. Laurie, to Meg, about the way the Moffat girls have 4. Im a doll who does crazy things . Meg, to Laurie, about the way she looked and behaved at the party. 5. She says we must look after ourselves today . Meg, to her sisters, reporting that their mother was staying in her room to have a rest that day, and so the girls had to look after themselves. dressed her up for the party.

6. Isnt it better to have time for play and time for work? Mrs March, to her daughters, about their week of all play and no work. 7. We would all be sorry if anything happened to you. Meg, to Mr Brooke, Laurie s tutor, about what could happen if he went off to fight in the war.

Before you read Chapter 9, can you guess what happens Circle the names and words that you think correct. Mr. Brooke / Laurie falls in love with Jo / Meg. Soon after, Amy / Jo Laurie finds out and tells the secret to Mrs. March / Beth / Jo, who is not very happy / surprised / worried about it.

Read Charters 9 to 12, and then answer these questions.

1. What were Jo, and Lauries secret? Jo s secret was that she had left two stories with a newspaper man, but she didn t know yet if they were going to be printed. Laurie s secret was that he knew where Meg s lost glove was. Mr Brooke had it, so Laurie knew that he was in love with Meg. 2. How did the family feel when Jos story was printed? They were all happy and proud. 3. How did everyone help Mrs. March when she heard then news about herhusband? Laurie sent a telegram to the hospital and took a note to Aunt March, who lent Mrs March the money for the journey. Amy and Meg helped their mother get ready, and Beth went to ask Mr Laurence for some wine. Mr Laurence sent Mr Brooke to travel with Mrs March, and Jo had her hair cut off to get some money for her mother. 4. How did Beth become ill? She caught scarlet fever from Mrs Hummel s baby, who died of the disease. 5. Why did Amy have to stay at Aunt Marchs house? Because she had not had the disease, and she could catch it from Beth. 6. Why didnt Meg tell her mother the truth about Beth? Because Hannah said that the news would only worry Mrs March, who couldnt leave her husband, and also that Beth s illness would not last long, and Hannah knew what to do. 7. What did Beths illness teach Meg, Jo, and Amy? Meg realized that she was rich in the important things love, peace, and good health. Jo realized how unselfish Beth always was. Amy realized that people loved Beth because she wasn t selfish, and decided to try and be more like her. 8. How did Mrs. March feel about Meg marrying John?

She thought that John was an excellent young man, but that Meg was too young to marry yet.

Before you read Chapter 13 (Laurie makes trouble and Jo makes peace), can you guess what happens? Choose some of these ideas. Laurie writes love letters. . . 1. To Mr. Brooke, pretending they are from Meg. 2. To Meg, pretending they are from Mr. Brooke. 3. To Meg, from himself. Jo finds out about these letters and. . . . 4. Is very angry about them. 5. Thinks they are very funny. Read Chapters 13 and 14. Now fill in the correct names. 1. __Meg__thought that _John___ had written the two letters, but in fac_Laurie _ wrote them. 2. MrsMarch made __Laurie_____promise not to tell anyone what he had done, but then tried to shake the truth out of ___Laurie___. 3. ___MrsLurence___ and had a big argument about this, but came and made peace between them, by persuading to apologize to ____Laurie____. 4. ____JohnBrooke____ brought ____MrMarch____ home on Christmas Day. 5. ___JohnBrooke___, ____Laurie ___, and ___MrsLaurience___ joined the March family for Christmas dinner. 6. When ___AuntMarch___ told __Meg__ not to marry ___JohnBrooke___, ___Meg____ realized that she did in fact love him. 7. ___Beth___, and __Amy___ were delighted about their sister and ___JohnBrooke__, but ___Jo__ felt sad and ___Laurie____ tried to cheer her up.

ACTIVITIES After reading

1. What do you think Mrs. March said to Laurie about the love letters (page 61)? Complete Lauries side of the conversation.

Mrs. March: now, Laurie, did you write these letters? Laurie: __ Yes, I did, Mrs March. But it wasn t serious it was just a game. ____________________________________________________________

__ Mrs. March: Well, its a game thats hurt Meg, and made Jo angry. Who else knows about these letters? Mr. Brooke? Lauries: Well, it s a game that s hurt Meg, and made Jo angry. Who else knows about these letters? Mr Brooke? _________________________ __________________________________ Mrs. March: Thats one good thing, I suppose. But Im very disappointed in you, Laurie. Youve been very unkind. Laurie: I m sorry, Mrs March, really sorry. I didn t mean to be unkind please believe me.

____________________________________________________________

___ Mrs. March: I accept that you didnt mean to. But its not really me you should apologize to, is it, Laurie? Laurie: _ I ll go and find Meg now and ask her to forgive me. _________________________________ ___________________________

____ Mrs. March: Good. Ill call her in presently, but first, will you promise me never to talk about this to anyone. Laurie: _ Good. I ll call her in presently, but first, will you promise me never to talk about this to ____________________________________________________________

____

2. When Mrs. March came home, Meg wrote to her father (see page 57). Complete her letter, using as many words as you like. Dear Father We were all very happy to hear that you_________Are getting better_________. We have had a very difficult time here, because Beth_____________Has been very ill with scarelet fever______________. I wanted to write to Mother about it, but Hannah said _________That mother would ounly worry , and in any case Hannah knew wath to do ________. Amy went _________To stay with Aunt March _______________ and Jo _________________nursed Beth night and day _____________________. Yesterday the doctor told us _________That we should send for moher __________, and we all felt ______Terribly worried ____. But just before Mother arrived, the fever _____Went away____________________ and Beth_______________. Now we are all very tired, of course, but we are so happy that Beth _________is going to get better _______________ andthat Mother is Back home ._________. We all send you our love, and hope _________That you will be able to come home soon , too __________. Your loving Meg P.S. Mother has asked me to ____________________Add that she sends her love to john__________________________. 3. Can you find the twenty-four words hidden in this word search? Words go from left to right, and top to bottom.

WORDS DESCRIBING HOW PEOPLE FEEL WORDS DESCRIBING WHAT PEOPLE ARE LIKE Now put the words into two lists, under these headings. Then find another five words for each list from the story.

MeanLazyHelpfulPoliteRoughWarm-heartedCruelWildShySelfishBraveWicked | UncomfortableCrossHappyProudCalmLonelyShockedAnnoyedGrateful

HurtMiserableSad

4. Perhaps some of the characters in the story had these thoughts about the four little women at different times. Which characters are they, which sister were they thinking about, and when?

1) What a terrible breakfast That egg was black Now I hear shes invited Laurie to dinner tonight. Im sure theyll all enjoy themselves whatever the foods like but I think Ill go and have my dinner som Mrs March, thinking about Jo, after breakfast on the last day of the and no work week of all play

2) Oh I do hope she isnt going to be ill too Shes a quiet little thing, but so brave and kind. Ill never forget seeing her sitting there with my poor baby in her arms . . . ? Mrs Hummel, thinking about Beth, on the day when her baby died of fever and Beth went home feeling ill scarlet

3) Silly, silly girl I suppose she think she can live on love Well, she neednt come begging to me when times are hard, because I wont give her a penny, why dont her parents find somebody rich for her and quickly? Aunt March, thinking about Meg, after surprising her and Mr Brooke together and warning Meg

4) There she goes, crossing the hall like a shadow. Ive never know a girl so shy Ah, shes begun playing. Ill just open my study door a bit wider, then Ill hear better. . . Mr Laurence, thinking about Beth, on one of the days when Beth went to his house to play the piano and he was secretly listening to her from his study

5) She s been so lonely, away from her sisters. But shell soon be able to go home. It was wonderful to see her face just now when I told her the good news. Its been a long night, though. Ill just close my eyes for a second or two. . . Laurie, thinking about Amy, on the morning when he went to Aunt March s house to give Amy the good news about Beth getting better

6) That girl I was so angry with the boy, and now shes made me write him an apology I dont know. But Im afraid shes right-I should be more patient. . . Mr Laurence, thinking about Jo, after she managed to make peace between him and Laurie when he tried to shake the truth out of Laurie about the trouble he was in

5. What bad and good things did the girls and Laurie do? Match each prompt to the right character, and write sentences to say what they did, and when or why they did these things.

Meg / Jo / Beth / Amy / Laurie.

1) Looking after a sick baby Beth , looked fter Mrs Hummel s sick baby, and was holding it in her arms when it died. Beth always thought of others and tried to help them 2) Love letters Laurie wrote two love letters to Meg, pretending that they came from Mr Brooke. He did this because he was annoyed that Jo knew a secret and wouldn t tell him what it was.

3) Party dress and wine Meg wore a dress with a low neck and drank wine at the Moffats party. She did it because she felt she couldn t say no to the Moffat girls, and at first she enjoyed it, but later she felt uncomfortable and unhappy.

4) Warning about thin ice Jo knew that Amy hadn t heard Laurie s warning about the thin ice in the middle of the river, but she said nothing, and so allowed Amy to get into danger. She wanted to punish Amy for burning Jo s notebook of Stories

5) Notebook of stories Amy burnt Jo s notebook of stories as a way of getting her revenge on Jo, because Jo had refused to take her to the theatre with Meg and Laurie

6) Selling her hair Jo sold her hair and gave the money to her mother when Mrs March had to go to Washington suddenly to see her sick husband in hospital. Jo wanted to do

something to help her father and make him more comfortable, and was enough to lose her lovely long thick hair for her father s sake.

unselfish

7) Big bottle of perfume Amy was going to buy her mother a small bottle of perfume for Christmas and spend the rest of her money on herself, but she decided not to be selfish and changed the small bottle for a big one.

8) Kind to John Brooke Meg was kind to John Brooke, who had no family and few friends. She spoke to him kindly when they went on a picnic together.

9) Telegram to Mrs. Mar Laurie sent a telegram to ask Mrs March to come home when Beth seemed close to dying. Laurie and his grandfather had decided that the girls needed their mother, and that Mrs March should be told that her daughter was so ill.

10) Pair of mens slippers Beth made a pair of slippers for Mr Laurence to thank him for letting her play his piano.

6. What happens next to the characters in Little Women? Choose one or more things for each character and write a paragraph about what happens next.

MEG: marries John Brooke / marries Belles rich brother / becomes rich when Aunt March dies.

Jo: marries Laurie / marries someone else /becomes a writer

BETH: looks after her parents / dies / becomes a nurse / never marries.

AMY: marries a rich businessman/ becomes a famous painter /marries Laurie

LAURIE: marries Meg / marries Jo / marries Amy / becomes a musician / goes to Europe

7. Which character did you like best en the book, and which did you like least? Why? I think it's Amy, it is the most innocent and least of all her sisters After a time, Jo became great writer of stories also now has more money and a bigger house