The setting in a story includes where and when the story takes place. There are usually several settings in a novel. In historical fiction novels such as Calico Girl, when the story takes place is extremely important, as it is centered around an important time in the past. This story takes place in the 1860s, when some states had seceded, or withdrawn from the Union, meaning slavery was still allowed. Callie and her family live in Virginia. Part of the story takes place on Belle Hill Farm, owned by Henry Warren, and the other part takes place at Fort Monroe, where the family goes to escape and be protected by the Union Army. For this activity, students will describe and illustrate the both of the settings where the story takes place. They may also choose to compare and contrast the two locations and how they influenced the characters.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that describes and illustrates the setting of Calico Girl. You must incorporate where and when in your storyboards
Student Instructions:
Engage students in a discussion about how the story’s setting impacts what characters can and cannot do. Encouraging students to connect the historical context to the characters’ actions builds critical thinking.
Ask students to list specific ways the setting (time and place) affects Callie’s decisions. Working together helps students see how environment shapes story events.
Divide the class into small groups and have each group make an anchor chart showing differences between Belle Hill Farm and Fort Monroe. Visuals help make abstract differences concrete for younger learners.
Invite students to share how their own settings (home, school, neighborhood) influence their choices. This personal connection deepens understanding and makes historical fiction more relatable.
The setting of Calico Girl is Virginia during the 1860s, focusing on Belle Hill Farm and Fort Monroe. The story takes place during the Civil War, when slavery was still legal in some states.
Belle Hill Farm represents danger and oppression for Callie and her family, while Fort Monroe offers hope and protection under the Union Army. These contrasting settings shape the family's choices and experiences.
A setting map activity asks students to describe and illustrate both main locations in Calico Girl, showing where and when the story happens and how each place affects the story's events and characters.
Use storyboards to help students visualize Belle Hill Farm and Fort Monroe. Encourage comparison of the two settings and discuss how each impacts the characters. Let students illustrate and summarize each location for deeper understanding.
Students can create a Venn diagram or storyboard to compare Belle Hill Farm and Fort Monroe, noting differences in safety, freedom, and daily life, and analyzing how each setting influences the family's journey.