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What is it about the chickens that most scares
Saba?
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Who rules the courtyard at the beginning of the
story? Who rules it at the end?
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How do Saba’s feelings for her Nani (grandmother)
allow her to overcome her fear of the snake?
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How would you describe the behavior of the
chickens towards Saba?
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At the beginning of the story, where do you think
Saba spends most of her time?
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At the end of the story, where do you think she’ll
be spending most of her time?
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How often do you think Saba has to face the
chickens? Is being afraid of them a big problem for her?
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Would this story be the same if it took place
where you live? Why or why not?
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How would the story be different if told through
one of the chicken’s eyes?
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How has Saba’s opinion of chickens changed by the
end of the story?
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If you wrote a story about fear how would it be
different?
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Do you think Saba will get afraid easily after the
story?
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Do you think that it is convincing that Saba is no
longer afraid of the chickens after she’s dealt with the snake? Explain
why.
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Why do Saba’s sentences get so short and choppy
after she sees the snake?
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How do you think the drawstring got in the bath
house?
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Why can’t Saba just sneak past the snake?
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In the illustrations sometimes the snake appears
very close and sometimes it appears very far. Why do think the artist
played with perspective in this way?
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Discuss other fears and ways in which people can
overcome them.
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What kind of snakes live in Pakistan? (cobras and
other venomous snakes) What would you do if you saw a snake? (Social
Studies/Science)
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Find Pakistan, and then Lahore on a map. (Social
Studies)
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What is the climate like? How hot does it get in
the daytime in summer? In winter? How cool does it get at night?
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What kind of clothes do people in Pakistan wear? (shalwar
kameez) In Ruler of the Courtyard the
women are wearing shalwar kameez. Men wear them too.
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Colour the picture of a shalwar kameez included
below. Remember to add in some decorations especially at the neck and
sleeves. Where does the ‘nala’ go? What does the nala do? (The ‘nala’ is
a drawstring that is used to gather up the many folds of the shalwar.)
(Social Studies /Visual Art)
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If there are South Asian children in the class
maybe one of them could bring in a shalwar kameez and nala to show the
others.
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Write a story where you deal with something you’re
afraid of.
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Act out the story.
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The illustrations of each page really convey the
emotions Saba is feeling. Using a mirror, turn each page and try to imitate
the expression on Saba’s face. Check the mirror and see if you’re
successful. How many different expressions of fear can you see?
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After Saba sees the snake, notice how the
sentences change. Clap out the rhythm of the sentences while someone reads
them out loud. What does the rhythm remind you of?
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Write a song or chant that the chickens might
compose about Saba.
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Tell family stories where you or a family member
faced a danger. Were you able to overcome your fear?
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Play some music and have the children move like a
snake. Then challenge them to do it at different levels, speeds and
directions. Do the same for chickens.
