Story Notes and Extras
The Prairie
written and presented by Sean Hunter
with the music of
Country Music Hall of Fame Member
Charlie McCoy
Talk and Discover
for parents, teachers and families to enjoy with all children
How would you like to be a pioneer?
Why were the pioneers celebrating Thanksgiving?
What did the pioneers have to be grateful for?
What are some of the ways the prairie families probably
spent their long winter days?
Name three reasons you would you like to meet
the O’Rourke family?
More Talk and Discover
How do you celebrate a day of Thanksgiving?
What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving Day traditions?
What are some of the traditions that the pioneers
may have brought to the prairie?
What do you have to be thankful for?
Who is someone that has been good to you?
What do you consider to be a sacrifice?
What are some of the sacrifices that the O’Rourke’s probably made?
What are some of the sacrifices that your parents have made?
What sacrifices did your grandparents have to make?
How can helping others make you grateful?
Learning With Art
Draw a picture of a pioneer’s wagon.
Something the pioneers would need to take with them on their journey
An animal the pioneers might see as they traveled.
More Talk Talk and Discover
In what ways is life on the prairie today much the same?
In what ways has life on the prairie changed?
More Talk Talk and Discover – part 02
What states make up the American Prairies?
Why are the prairies important?
Why were the railroads important to the prairies?
Where are the Canadian Prairies?
Extra Credit
What is grown on the Canadian Prairies?
From what nations did the people of the Canadian prairie come?
Extra Extra Credit
What major river did the pioneers usually needed to cross
to get to the prairie?
What were some of the animals that were dangerous to the pioneers?
How long could it take for the pioneers to reach the prairies?
A Question For Everyone
How did the American tradition of Thanksgiving begin?
Enjoy the music and joy of Charlie McCoy
The Song Shenandoah
The melody of the song Shenandoah is one of the most memorable in
Western Folk Music. The song is American Traditional, by an
unknown composer from the romantic period of the 19th century,
and certainly was known to and traveled with the prairie pioneers
