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After they got the seal, Doctor Kane and his men traveled on. Sometimes they were on the ice. Sometimes they were in the boats. The men were so weak, that they could hardly row the boats. They were so hungry, that they could not sleep well at night.

One day they were rowing, when they heard a sound. It came to them across the water. It did not sound like the cry of sea birds. It sounded like people's voices.

"Listen!" Doctor Kane said to Petersen.

Petersen spoke the same language as the people of Greenland. He listened. The sound came again. Petersen was so glad, that he could hardly speak. He told Kane in a half whisper, that it was the voice of someone speaking his own language. It was some Greenland men in a boat.

The next day they got to a Greenland town. Then they got into a little ship going to England. They knew that they could get home from England. But the ship stopped at another Greenland town. While they were there, a steamer was seen. It came nearer. They could see the stars and stripes flying from her mast. It was an American steamer sent to find Doctor Kane.

Doctor Kane and his men were full of joy. They pushed their little boat into the water once more. This little boat was called the "Faith." It had carried Kane and his men hundreds of miles in icy seas.

Once more the men took their oars, and rowed. This time they rowed with all their might. They held up the little flag that they had carried farther north than anybody had ever been before. They rowed straight to the steamer.

In the bow of the boat was a little man with a tattered red shirt. He could see that the captain of the boat was looking at him through a spyglass.

The captain shouted to the little man, "Is that Doctor Kane?"

The little man in the red shirt shouted back, "Yes!"

Doctor Kane and his men had been gone more than two years. People had begun to think that they had all died. This steamer had been sent to find out what had become of them. When the men on the steamer heard that this little man in the red shirt was Doctor Kane himself, they sent up cheer after cheer. In a few minutes more, Doctor Kane and his men were on the steamer. They were now safe among friends. They were sailing away toward their homes.

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Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

After the seal, Doctor Kane and his men traveled on. When they became so hungry that they could hardly row their boats, they heard the voices of men in another boat. The next day, they reached a Greenland town. Later, they saw a steamer flying an American flag. It was a steamer sent to find Doctor Kane. People had begun to think Doctor Kane and his men had died. Doctor Kane and his men got on their little boat, named 'Faith', and rowed toward the steamer. They boarded the steamer and were finally safe. When the men on the steamer found out it was Doctor Kane, they cheered.

Vocabulary

Weak: Lacking physical strength and energy.
Steamer: A ship, boat, or locomotive powered by steam.
Might: Power or strength.
Safe: Protected from danger, not likely to be hurt.

Concepts

In the story, Doctor Kane and his men named their ship 'Faith.' Having faith means to put your trust or confidence in something, even if it means taking a risk.

  1. Doctor Kane and his men had faith that if they left their ship in the ice and traveled by sled and boat toward Greenland, that they would make it home.
  2. Can you think of some things you have faith in? For example, you might have faith that your family members will always be there for you and love you.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 48 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 3: Draw the Story

See below a picture of a steamer.

  • Find the American flags in the picture.
  • Draw Doctor Kane's little boat 'Faith' rowing toward the steamer in the water. Don't forget to draw the American Flag flying from the steamer.

Review

Question 1

Why was it hard for Doctor Kane and his men to row their boats?
1 / 4

Answer 1

Doctor Kane and his men were so hungry, it was hard for the men to row.
1 / 4

Question 2

What was the first sign of other humans that Doctor Kane and his men encountered?
2 / 4

Answer 2

Doctor Kane and his men heard the voices of men on another ship.
2 / 4

Question 3

Why did Doctor Kane and his men row toward the steamer?
3 / 4

Answer 3

The steamer was American and could take them home.
3 / 4

Question 4

Why did the men on the steamer cheer when they saw Doctor Kane?
4 / 4

Answer 4

The steamer was sent to look for Doctor Kane. People thought Doctor Kane and his men might be dead. The searchers were happy to find Doctor Kane and his men alive.
4 / 4

  1. Why was it hard for Doctor Kane and his men to row their boats? Doctor Kane and his men were so hungry, it was hard for the men to row.
  2. What was the first sign of other humans that Doctor Kane and his men encountered? Doctor Kane and his men heard the voices of men on another ship.
  3. Why did Doctor Kane and his men row toward the steamer? The steamer was American and could take them home.
  4. Why did the men on the steamer cheer when they saw Doctor Kane? The steamer was sent to look for Doctor Kane. People thought Doctor Kane and his men might be dead. The searchers were happy to find Doctor Kane and his men alive.