Story Summary

Lizzie spends every summer at her grandmother's cabin on Rain Lake, but this year is different. Her recently remarried mother and stepfather accompany the family, creating tension among family members. While exploring nearby Rain Island, Lizzie discovers an old pair of spectacles that allow her to see events from the past. Intrigued and frightened, she begins investigating the mysterious history of Frances Rain.

As the summer progresses, Lizzie uncovers a family secret connected to Frances Rain, a woman who once lived alone on the island. Through her discoveries, Lizzie learns about love, loss, forgiveness, and family history. Her investigation ultimately helps her grandmother find peace regarding a painful chapter of her past while helping Lizzie gain a new understanding of her own family.

Learning Expectations

Students will:

• Be introduced to the genre of ghost stories.
• Become familiar with the works of Margaret Buffie.
• Experience literature that encourages imagination and discovery.
• Analyze and report on ideas critically.
• Work through the writing process.
• Dramatize significant events in a novel.

Introduction

Introduction Includes:

• Teachers Guide and Vocabulary Lists
• Objectives
• Author Biography
• Other Works by Margaret Buffie
• Story Summary
• Teacher Suggestions
• Vocabulary Lists by Chapter
• Unit Planner
• Student Tracking Sheet
• Student Evaluation Sheet
• Multiple Intelligences Overview
• Conference Form
• Story Balloon
• Venn Diagram
• Blank Activity Sheets

Comprehension Chapter Questions

Student Workbook Cover

The chapter questions require students to respond in complete sentences and provide evidence from the text when appropriate. A notebook or reading journal should be used to record answers, reflections, and written responses as students progress through the novel.

Prologue

Skills Covered

• Understanding literary elements
• Purpose of a prologue
• Character introduction
• Prediction and analysis

Chapters 1–33

Each chapter contains comprehension questions focusing on:

• Reading comprehension
• Character analysis
• Making predictions
• Drawing conclusions
• Text-to-self connections
• Inference skills
• Critical thinking
• Theme analysis
• Understanding conflict
• Story development
• Evidence from text
• Discussion and reflection

Novel Extension Activities

Creative Writing Activities

Activity 1: Character Journal Entries
Task/Skill: Write journal entries from the perspective of a character. (Character analysis, perspective writing)  

Activity 2: Letters to a Parent
Task/Skill: Write letters from Evan to his father before and after the summer. (Letter writing, character development)  

Activity 3: Wilderness Cabin Planning
Task/Skill: Create a list of supplies needed to live alone in a cabin. (Planning, survival skills, organization)  

Activity 4: Newspaper Report
Task/Skill: Write a newspaper article about the discovery of the sketchbook and cabin remains. (Informational writing, journalism)

Activity 5: Friendship Editorial
Task/Skill: Write an editorial about the qualities of friendship. (Opinion writing, theme analysis)  

Activity 6: Secret Hideaway Description
Task/Skill: Describe a real or imaginary hideaway using vivid details. (Descriptive writing)  

Activity 7: Ten Years Later
Task/Skill: Predict the future lives of major characters. (Prediction, creative writing)  

Activity 8: Ghost Story Writing
Task/Skill: Write an original ghost story using the writing process. (Creative writing, revision skills)  

Activity 9: Discovering Frances Rain's Mine
Task/Skill: Write an additional chapter about finding Frances Rain's mine. (Creative extension writing)  

Activity 10: Memorable Life Events
Task/Skill: Write about important personal experiences and develop one into a narrative. (Personal narrative writing)

Integrated Studies Activities

Activity 1: Chapter Titles and Illustrations
Task/Skill: Create chapter titles and illustrate selected chapters. (Summarizing, artistic interpretation)  

Activity 2: Cabin Model or Drawing
Task/Skill: Build or draw Frances Rain's cabin. (Visualization, design skills)  

Activity 3: Rain Island Illustration
Task/Skill: Draw Rain Island as seen through the spectacles or in reality. (Visualization and artistic expression)  

Activity 4: Character Sketch
Task/Skill: Write a detailed character profile. (Character analysis)  

Activity 5: Venn Diagram Comparison
Task/Skill: Compare and contrast characters. (Comparing and contrasting)  

Activity 6: Novel Conflict Analysis
Task/Skill: Identify examples of conflict types within the novel. (Literary analysis)

Activity 7: Character Growth Analysis
Task/Skill: Examine how Lizzie changes throughout the story. (Character development)

Activity 8: Plot Graph
Task/Skill: Create a plot diagram showing story development. (Story structure)

Activity 9: Rain Lake Route Map
Task/Skill: Create a map using story details. (Mapping skills)

Activity 10: Timeline of Events
Task/Skill: Develop a timeline of major story events. (Sequencing)  

Activity 11: Character/Event/Theme Web
Task/Skill: Create a graphic organizer connecting story elements. (Story analysis)

Grammar Activities

Activities and Answer Key

1. Subjects and predicates
2. Complete and incomplete sentences
3. Common and proper nouns
4. Contractions
5. Pronouns
6. Correct word usage
7. Plurals  

Research Activities

Activity 1: Family Tree Project
Task/Skill: Construct a family tree and explore family history. (Research, genealogy)  

Activity 2: Manitoba Mapping Project
Task/Skill: Research Manitoba and locate Rain Lake. (Geography skills)

Activity 3: Manitoba Travel Brochure
Task/Skill: Create a tourism brochure for Manitoba. (Research, informational writing)

Activity 4: Archaeology Report
Task/Skill: Research archaeology as a career and field of study. (Research and report writing)  

Activity 5: Prospecting Research Project
Task/Skill: Investigate the history and practice of prospecting. (Historical research)

Puzzles

• Word Search and Answer Key
• Word Search Puzzle

Vocabulary Activities

1. Alphabetical Order
2. Matching Word to Definition
3. Meanings of Words
4. Underline word spelled incorrectly
5. Unscramble vocabulary words
6. Use the words in a sentence
7. Write the meaning
8. Synonym and Antonym
9. Anagrams

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