This is a touching story, by Patricia MacLachlan, of a young woman who journeys West to begin a new life on the frontier. Write a travel diary as if you were Sarah, describing the journey West, her fears, and her reasons for leaving her home in Maine. List the details of frontier life as described in the book, and then look through non-fiction books and compare the details. Create a chart comparing the differences between life in Maine and life on the frontier as discussed in the book.
Items compared can include animals, plants, vegetation, transportation, dangers, weather, and so on.
List clues and formulate a hypothesis as to where Sarah settled. Research this area to see if facts back up your hypothesis. Create a class book of illustrations for Sarah, Plain, and Tall that reflects students' perceptions of the characters and setting.