Are you planning to use Elizabeth George Speare’s wonderful book? Your students are in for a real treat! Enhance your unit with these The Sign of the Beaver activities.
⭐ About the Book: The Sign of the Beaver
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare is a powerful coming‑of‑age story set in the Maine wilderness during the 18th century. When twelve‑year‑old Matt is left alone to guard his family’s new cabin while his father returns to Quincy to bring back the rest of the family, he must learn to survive with limited supplies, no protection, and no experience living in the wild.
Matt faces a series of challenges — a trapper who steals his gun, a bear that destroys his food, and a painful encounter with a beehive. Just when survival seems impossible, Matt meets Attean, a young Penobscot boy. Their friendship grows slowly as Matt learns wilderness skills, confronts his own prejudices, and begins to understand Attean’s world. Through their shared experiences, Matt discovers courage, responsibility, and what it truly means to earn someone’s respect.
This Newbery Honor novel is an excellent choice for teaching theme, character development, historical context, and cultural understanding. Students connect deeply with Matt’s struggles and growth, making it a memorable and meaningful classroom read.
⭐ Book Details
- Publication Date: February 1983
- Reading Level: Lexile 770L • Guided Reading Level T
- Interest Level: Grades 3–5
- Awards: Newbery Honor (1984)
- Length: 148 pages
- Estimated Word Count: Approx. 41,175 words
- Estimated Reading Time: About 2 hours and 44 minutes
- Audiobook Length: 3 hours and 11 minutes
- Genre: Young Adult Literature • Coming‑of‑Age • Historical Fiction
- Setting: 18th‑century Maine wilderness near the Penobscot River
- Themes: Coming of Age, Isolation, Prejudice, Man and the Natural World, Friendship, Fear, Family
- Point of View: Third‑person limited (Matt Hollowell)
- Memorable Quote: “The two boys stood and looked at each other. There was no amusement and no scorn in Attean’s eyes. How very strange, Matt thought. After all the brave deeds he had dreamed of doing to win this boy’s respect, he had gained it at last by doing nothing, just by staying here and refusing to leave.”
- First Line: “Matt stood at the edge of the clearing for some time after his father had gone out of sight among the trees.”
The Sign of the Beaver Activities
Book Unit Samples
Check out The Sign of the Beaver Book Unit free samples including:
- Vocabulary Practice for Chapters 1-2
- Comprehension Questions for Chapters 1-2
- Constructed Response Question – Setting
You can get the free book unit sample by clicking the button.
Teaching Idea #1 – The Sign of the Beaver Pop-Up Characters
Students will enjoy creating this interactive notebook page while reading The Sign of the Beaver. Not only is it a fun activity, but a great way to reinforce character traits. In the space provided, students create a character sketch using details that describe the character’s physical appearance, personality traits, and behavior.
The handout includes eight character pop-ups in both black line and full color. An answer key is also provided.
Teaching Idea #2 – Discussion Questions
- What do you know about the 1700s? What was life like during this time period? How did it differ from life today?
- Name some customs or traditions unique to Native American culture.
- What were some of the challenges colonists faced in the wilderness?
- What was the fur trade? Why was it important during this time period? Who was involved in the fur trade?
- What did you learn about the relationship between the colonists and the Native Americans in The Sign of the Beaver? How did this relationship change throughout the story?
- What were some of the conflicts that arose between the colonists and the Native Americans in the story? How were these conflicts resolved?
- How did Matt and Attean’s friendship develop over the course of the story? What were some of the challenges they faced?
- What did you think about the ending of the novel? Was it a satisfying conclusion? Why or why not?
- What did you learn about wilderness survival from the novel? Would you be able to survive in the wilderness as Matt did?
- If you could ask Elizabeth George Speare one question about the novel, what would it be?
Teaching Idea #3 –The Sign of the Beaver Movie
A movie version of The Sign of the Beaver was created in 1997 starring Keith Carradine, Annette O’Toole, Brendan Fletcher runs for 1 hour and 35 minutes. The film has excellent reviews and is a great addition to teaching compare and contrast skills.
The film adaptation of The Sign of the Beaver is not a direct representation of the book. It follows the general plot and characters of the novel, but there are some differences between the two.
Pacing and plot:
The film condenses the plot of the novel to fit within a shorter running time. As a result, some events and details from the book are left out or altered for the movie.
Characters:
While the main characters of the novel, Matt and Attean, are still present in the film, some of the secondary characters are given more or less prominence than they have in the book.
Setting:
The film was shot on location in Canada. This gives it a more authentic wilderness feel than the book.
Dialogues:
Some conversations in the book are not present in the film. Some new conversations were added to the movie.
Ending:
While the general ending of the book is preserved in the film. there are some differences in the way that events play out.
See the product that inspired this post.
The Sign of the Beaver includes vocabulary practice, comprehension questions, constructed response writing, and skill practice.
