Credits

Story written by:
Bob Rouse

Activities written by:
Reta Broadway & Teresa Moore

Illustrated by:
Chris Ware

Titling by:
Amicheli Salyer

Chapter 4:
One Mow Time

The problem that characters face and try to resolve in a story is called conflict. In some stories the conflict is inside the character as he or she tries to decide what action to take. Sometimes conflict takes place between characters. And in other stories the conflict is the character against nature or the character against society. What types of conflict have you seen in the first four chapters of "Sand Dollars"?

1. How much money have the Porters made by the beginning of Chapter 4? How far away are they from their goal of $5,000? 1.2, 2.7, 2.8
   
   
2. When Ms. Porter hears the story about the failure of the fishing guide business and first day of lawn care, she tells Brooke and Nate that she is really proud of them. Why do you think she says that? If the children don't make $5,000 during the summer, what do you think their mother will say? 1.2, 2.16, 3.6
   
   
3. How did Nathan and Brooke cooperate in the lawn care business? The story says they are tired but happy at the end of their first day of lawn care. Why do they feel this way? 2.29, 2.37
   
   
4. What conflict do they face in this chapter? Have they faced similar conflicts in earlier chapters? 1.2
   
   

For the advanced reader

1. The writer uses some word play in this chapter. Look at the title. Read it aloud. Can you see the pun here? Nate and Brooke name their latest business Porter Lawn Care and use the slogan, "Every lawn needs a little PLC." Explain the word play here. 1.1, 1.2
   
   
2. How do they decide what to charge for their lawn care services? This is a good example of problem-solving. Can you think of a time when you solved a problem by using information you already knew? 5.1
   
   
3. After one successful day at lawn care, Brooke begins to have daydreams of her own. Where does her daydreaming take her? What are you learning about Brooke's personality as you read the story? 2.26
   
   
4. Profit is the money a business makes after all the costs have been covered. In a group, brainstorm a list of costs that a lawn care service may have. 1.11, 2.18, 5.1
   
   
   

Newspaper-related activities

1. Brooke created a slogan for the lawn care business. Look through today's newspaper to find slogans that are used by businesses in their ads. Do these slogans help you to remember the business? There are other places you may find slogans in the newspaper as well. Sometimes politicians running for office use slogans in their campaigns. Try your hand at writing a slogan for your class, a club you belong to, or even your family. Remember to keep it short and easy for people to remember. 1.11, 1.2, 2.18. 5.1, 5.2
   
   
2. There are businesses of all sizes in our society. Some are huge corporations with offices in many countries and thousands of employees, and some are very small with only one or two people. Watch the business section of your newspaper for several days to find stories about businesses of a variety of sizes. In a small group or with a partner, create a chart of the examples that you find. 1.10, 1.2, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2
   
   
3. Mark the location (city and country) of the business on a world map. Do you see any relationship between the size of the business and size of the city? 2.19
   
   

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