Where the Red Fern Grows Lesson Plans

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Day 1

Vocabulary Words of the Day -
dormant - Lying asleep or as if asleep; inactive
(Page 3 - It's strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years.)

grieve - To mourn or sorrow for; feel sad; be upset
(Page 9 - I never saw a boy grieve like that.)

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Introduce the Book

• Mention that the story starts with a man on his way home from work. He sees a dog fight, then takes care of the injured dog. This reminds him of his childhood.
• After Chapter 1 the entire book is a flashback. A flashback is recalling events that happened in the past. Flashbacks are usually used to give the reader background information. In Where the Red Fern Grows Rawls uses the flashback so he can tell the story from a distance.

Read Chapter 1 - 2 (Pages 11-23) Audiobook is approximately 26 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print1.htm

Portals

Pages 9-10  -  Making Compounds
Page 11 - Base Words

Optional Map Activity (Locate the setting for the book - Ozark Foothills on the Illinois River in Northeast Oklahoma)

• Ozark Mountains Map  http://ozarkopathy.org/map.html
• Oklahoma Maps http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/oklahoma.html
• Oklahoma and United States Map Links  http://www.netstate.com/states/maps/ok_maps.htm

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English Skill - Select the best way to correct incomplete sentences within context.

Lesson 1 Understanding Sentences   http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_1.htm

PowerPoint - http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt1.ppt
This PowerPoint includes two videos, a United Streaming Video and a  BrainPop . Student practice has been placed in student packet.

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Day 2

Vocabulary Word of the Day -
festered - To be or become an increasing source of irritation or poisoning; irritate; make bitter; aggravate
(Page 17 - Every time I'd see a coon track down in our fields, or along the riverbanks, the old sore would get all festered up and start hurting again.)

Read Chapter 3 (Pages 24-30) Audiobook is approximately 14 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print2.htm

Portals

Page 12 - Syllables (orally with response cards)
Pages 13-14  -  Where When How (orally with response cards)

Craft Activity - Billy decided to save his money by selling items to the fishermen, trapping, and collecting berries to sell in his grandpa's store. He needed a place to keep the money safe. Billy decided on an Old K. C. Baking Power can. Try making a bank to save your money.

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English

Lesson 2 Four Types of Sentences  http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_2.htm
Practice is in student packet.

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Optional Writing Activity (Could be done in writing class)

Venn Diagram Comparing Grandpa and Billy

Write a paragraph describing either Billy, Grandpa, or how Billy and Grandpa are alike/different. Use at least one of each type of sentence when writing the paragraph.

OR

Make a Story Map and use the map to write a paragraph describing one of the characters.

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Day 3

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

provisions - A stock of necessary supplies, especially food; rations; necessities
(Page 28 - At the outskirts of town, I hid my flour sack and provisions, keeping the gunny sack.)

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Page 43 "As I turned around to face the mob, I doubled up my fist, and took a Jack Dempsey stance."
Tell the students a little about Jack Dempsey.

• born in Manassa, Colorado on June 24, 1895
• professional heavyweight boxer
• retired in 1940 with an astounding record of 60-7-8
• In 2003, Dempsey was named the seventh best puncher of all time in boxing history by Ring Magazine.

Read Chapters 4 - 5 (Pages 31-48 or Pages 25-46) Audiobook is approximately 34 minutes in length.

Because this selection requires a lot of reading have students listen to the audiotape and draw coon dogs. Here is a pattern with step-by-step instructions. http://www.canadianliving.com/CanadianLiving/client/en/Crafts/DetailNews.asp?idNews=3265&idSM=63
See the step-by-step instructions with images.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print3.htm

Optional Map Activity

Calculate miles from Kentucky to Oklahoma.
Draw a map showing Billy's trip to Tahlequah. http://www.tahlequahchamber.com/welcome.asp
(Page 27 - Tahlequah was a small country town with a population of about eight hundred. By the road it was thirty-two miles away, but as the crow flies, it was only twenty miles. I went as the crow flies, straight through the hills....)

Portals -

Page 15 - Classifying
Page 16 - Following Directions

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English

Lesson 3 - Punctuating Sentences http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_3.htm
Practice is in student packet.

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Optional Writing Activity (Could be done in writing class)
Writing Activity 1

Compare the two dogs Billy buys. (Page 43 & 44 - I noticed the boy dog was much larger than the girl dog, He was a deeper red in color. His chest was broad and solid. His puppy muscles knotted and rippled under the velvety skin. He was different in every way. He would go closer to the fire. I saw right away he was bold and aggressive......The girl pup was small and timid. Her legs and body were short. Her head was small and delicate. She must have been a runt in the litter. I didn't have to look twice to see that what she lacked in power, she made up in brains. She was a much smarter dog than the boy dog, more sure of herself, more cautious. I knew when the trail became tough, she would be the one to unravel it.)

After making the chart write a paragraph describing the differences between the boy dog and the girl dog.

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Optional Writing Activity (Could be done in writing class)
Writing Activity 2

Write a paragraph that tells how Billy felt when he first saw the pups at the railway station.

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Day 4

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

trance - A soothing, comatose or overexcited state; dream; daze; stupor; daydream
Page 49- The booming voice of my father shook me from my trance.
Page 62 - The movement of the boy pup shook me from my trance.

main idea (Tennessee Vocabulary) - The main idea of a paragraph tells the topic of the paragraph. The topic tells what all or most of the sentences are about.

Read Chapter 6 (Pages 49-54 or Pages 47-53) Audiobook is approximately 14 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print4.htm

Portals -

Page 18 - Sequencing
Pages 19-20 - Main Idea

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Craft Activity

• Dog Crafts http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/dog_crafts.html

• Dog Collar http://www.youthonline.ca/crafts/DogCollar.shtml

• Balloon Dogs http://www.mbd2.com/makeadog.htm

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English

Lesson 4 - Subject/Verb Agreement - Singular Nouns and Pronouns He, She, It http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_4.htm

PowerPoint http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt2.ppt
PowerPoint includes a BrainPop video, guided practice, and 15 items students can complete as a graded assignment. (Practice is not in the student packet.)

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Day 5

submerge - To place under water; go under water; sink
(Page 59 -All along the river large sycamore logs lay partly submerged  in the clear blue water.)

Vocabulary Practice with Week 1 Words http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/vocabulary1.htm (in student packet)

Read Chapter 7 (Pages 55-66 or Pages 55-68) (End of Tape 1) Audiobook is approximately 24 minutes in length.

Show students the illustration of the coon trap Grandpa describes.

Answer comprehension questions. Quiz for Chapters I - VII  http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern_printable1.htm

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English

Lesson 5 - Subject/Verb Agreement - Plural Nouns and Pronouns I, We, You, They http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_5.htm

PowerPoint http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt3.ppt
PowerPoint includes a United Streaming video, guided practice, and 32 items for students to complete as a grade.  (Practice is not in the student packet.)

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Reread pages 62-63

Write a paragraph that describes how Billy felt when he trapped his first raccoon.

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Day 6

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

riffle - A rocky sandbank or sandbar lying just below the surface of a waterway.
(Page 75 - I was hurrying along looking for a shallow riffle so I could wade across, when the voices of my dogs stopped.)

implied (Tennessee Vocabulary)  - to suggest without being stated

Read Chapter 8 (Pages 67-78 or Pages 69 - 83) Audiobook is approximately 24 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print6.htm

Portals

Pages 23-24  -  Fact and Opinion  (Orally with response cards)
Pates 25-26 - Drawing Conclusions

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English

Lesson 6 - Subject/Verb Agreement - Irregular Verb BE (am, is, isn't, are, aren't) http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_6.htm

PowerPoint http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt4.ppt
This PowerPoint contains guided practice and 18 items for students to complete as a grade. (Practice is not in the student packet.)

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Day 7

limber - Capable of moving, bending, or contorting easily; nimble; flexible
(Page 92 - If I know anything about swinging an ax, it won't be long before he's limber as a rag.)

Read Chapter 9 (Pages 79-90 or Pages 85-98) Audiobook is approximately 24 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print7.htm

Portals

Page 27 - Cause and Effect
Pages 29-30  -  Meaning through Context

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English

Lesson 7 - Subject/Verb Agreement - Irregular Verbs DO and HAVE http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_7.htm
PowerPoint http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt5.ppt
This PowerPoint contains guided practice and 15 items for students to complete as a grade. (Practice is not in the student packet.)

Flashcard Activity with Verbs (One set of cards in which student choose the correct verb. These cards may be used as a game.

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Write a paragraph that tells how you felt when Billy cut down the huge sycamore tree.

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Day 8

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

belligerent - Inclined or eager to fight; hostile or aggressive; quarrelsome; spoiling for a fight.
(Page 102 -  He strutted around with a belligerent and tough attitude.)

Read Chapters 10 - 11 (Pages 91-110 or 99 - 122) (End of Tape 2) Audiobook is approximately 38 minutes in length.

Here again a drawing activity is recommended during this long reading selection.
Raccoon http://www.iowadnr.com/education/kids/drwcoon.pdf OR http://www.waterfordpress.com/%20pdf/ba_01_raccoon.pdf

Answer comprehension questions. Quiz for Chapters VII - XI http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern_printable2.htm

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English

Lesson 8 - Troublesome Verbs (sit, set, lay, lie) http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_8.htm
PowerPoint Activity http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/powerpoint/ppt6.ppt
Contains guided practice using sit and set (10 items to grade using sit or set), more guided practice (32 items to grade using forms of lie and lay)

Optional Activity - If students need additional practice there are a number of websites which provide online practice with troublesome verbs.

Optional Practice with these Online Quizzes

Sit/Set Quizzes

• http://homepage.smc.edu/quizzes/cheney_joyce/SitorSet.html
• http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sitsetseat.html
• http://garts.latech.edu/owl/revise/set.htm

Lie/Lay Quizzes

• http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/lie-lay.html
• http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/lie-lay1.html

Online Quizzes for Sit/Set and Lie/Lay

• http://webster.commnet.edu/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/lie_lay_quiz.htm
• http://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/quizzes/grammar/sitsetlielayverbs.htm
• http://www.quia.com/jg/309583.html

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Day 9

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

resistance - power or capacity to withstand; fight; battle
(page 139 - That took the last resistance out of me.

Read Chapter 12 (Pages 111-121 or 123-????) Audiobook is approximately 22 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print9.htm

Portals

Pages 33-34  -   Figurative Language
Page 35  -  Synonyms

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At the beginning of Chapter 12 Papa spends Billy goes to mill to have corn ground. As a follow-up to this chapter try one of these cooking activities:

Optional Activity - Corn Meal Pancakes http://www.cooksrecipes.com/breakfast/corn_meal_pancakes_recipe.html or http://brunch.allrecipes.com/az/CrnMlPncks.asp
http://www.freerecipe.org/Breakfast/Pancakes/CornMealGr_bcggd.htm

Discuss how corn meal is used:

• Billy feeds the beagles corn meal mush.

• corn dogs

• waffles

• grits

• muffins

• corn bread

• tortillas

• hush puppies

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Puppy Chow Recipe (This recipe is much easier to do with a large class.)
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
8 Cups Chex Cereal
1 Cup Peanut Butter
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Cube Butter or Margarine

Melt butter, chocolate chips, and peanut butter together. Pour over Chex cereal. Put mixture in paper bag, add powdered sugar and shake until covered. Delicious!

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English

Lesson 9 - Sentence Problems  http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_9.htm
Rules for lesson and BrainPop video link on MCE website above^.
Exercises are in the students' packets.

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Write directions for making corn meal pancakes OR Puppy Chow.

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Day 10

foliage - A cluster of leaves; plants; shrubbery
(Page 147 - As I passed under the branches of the bur oak tree, I looked up into the dark foliage.

Practice with Vocabulary Words Weeks 1 and 2 http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/vocabulary2.htm  (in student packet)

Read Chapter 13 (Pages 122-134 or ????-152) Audiobook is approximately 24 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print10.htm

Portals

Pages 36 - Antonyms

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English

Lesson 10 - Combining Choppy Sentences http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_10.htm -
Rules for lesson on MCE website above^.
Exercises are in the students' packets.

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Write a paragraph that describes how you felt when Rubin Pritchard died.

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Day 11

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

jubilant -   joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success; triumphant; thrilled; ecstatic; delighted; over the moon
(page 158 - "That's six days from now," he said in a jubilant voice.)

clause  (Tennessee Vocabulary) -  A group of words containing a subject and a predicate and forming part of a compound or complex sentence

Read Chapter 14 (Pages 135-147 or Pages 153 - 168) (End of Tape 3) Audiobook is approximately 26 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print11.htm

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Optional Craft Activity

Origami Dog http://bj.canon.co.jp/english/3D-papercraft/origami/dog_e.html

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English

Lesson 11 - Combining Choppy Sentences Part 2 http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_11.htm -
Rules for lesson on MCE website above^.
Exercises are in the students' packets.

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Day 12

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

jinx - A condition or period of bad luck that appears to have been caused by a specific person or thing; curse; plague
(On pages 172-173 Billy hears two owls screeching at once. This is considered bad luck. .....Papa laughed, and said, ""These mountains are full of that jinx stuff."

coordinating conjunctions (Tennessee Vocabulary)  - words that specialize in joining together or connecting words for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so (FANBOYS)

Read Chapter 15  (Pages 148-158 or Pages 169 - ????) Audiobook is approximately 24 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. Quiz for Chapters XII - XV  http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern_printable3.htm

Comprehension questions may be placed on game cards to use with this board game.
Raccoon Board Game http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Wetlands/WetlandGames/RaccoonGame/RaccoonGame.html

Questions for Chapters 1-7
Questions for Chapters 1-7 continued
Questions for Chapters 1-7 continued & Chapters 8-11
Questions for Chapters 8-11 continued & Chapters 12-15
Questions for Chapters 12-15 continued
Questions for Chapters 12-15 continued & Chapters 16-20
Questions for Chapters 16-20

 

Portals

Pages 41-42 -  Choosing Correct Meanings

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English

Lesson 12 - Combining Choppy Sentences Part 3 http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_12.htm
Rules for lesson on MCE website above^.
Exercises are in the students' packets.
 

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Day 13

Vocabulary Word of the Day -

lull - A relatively calm gap; quiet period; stillness; silence
(Page 199 - Once during a momentary lull in the storm, I thought I heard the baying of a hound.)

Read Chapter 16 (Pages Pages 159-169 or Pages ????-197) Audiobook is approximately 22 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print13.htm

Portals

Pages 43-44 Making an Outline

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Optional Craft Activity

Raccoon Puppet Made from Paper Bag http://www.ri.net/schools/Central_Falls/ch/heazak/corn2.html

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English

Lesson 13 - Run-on Sentences Part 1 http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_13.htm
Rules for lesson on MCE website above^.
Overhead with run-on sentences is in lesson plan notebook.
Exercises are in the students' packets.

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Write a paragraph that tell how you felt when Billy won the raccoon hunt.

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Day 14

Vocabulary Word of the Day  -
haggard - Appearing worn and exhausted; gaunt; fatigued; worn-down
(Page 180 - The first one to reach us was Mr. Kyle. He looked haggard and tired.)

Read Chapter 17 - 18 (Pages 170-190 or Pages 197 - 211) Audiobook is approximately 42 minutes in length.

A third drawing activity is recommended with this long reading selection. Print out production photos from the movie Where the Red Fern Grows http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=pstills&id=1808482965 or http://www.elixirfilms.com/redfern.html Have students draw their favorite scenes.

Answer comprehension questions. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/print14.htm

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English

Lesson 14 - Run-on Sentences Part 2 http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/lesson_14.htm -
Rules for lesson on MCE website above^.
Exercises are in the students' packets.

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Day 15

Vocabulary Word of the Day  -

jugular - One of the large veins which return the blood from the head to the heart through two chief trunks, an external and an internal, on each side of the neck
(Page 226 - The big cat had Old Dan by the throat. I knew he was seeking to cut the all-important vein, the jugular.)

Practice with Vocabulary http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/vocabulary3.htm  (in student packet)

Vocabulary Post Test http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern2/vocabulary_post_test.htm  (in student packet)

Read Chapters 19 - 20 (Pages Pages 191-212 or Pages 212-229) (End of Tape 4) Audiobook is approximately 42 minutes in length.

Answer comprehension questions. Quiz for Chapters  XV - XX 
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/fern_printable4.htm

Take AR Test - 12 Points

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English

Post Test for Sentence Unit   (in student packet)

• Printable Version http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/post_test.htm

• Online Version http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fern/sentences/posttest.htm

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Optional Writing Activity (May be completed in writing class)

Write a paragraph that describes how you felt when Little Ann died.

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Watch video 

• 2004 Version http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002S64VY/qid=1120576002/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_ur_1/102-5751735-8869760?v=glance&s=video&n=507846

• 1974 Version http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6304687729/qid=1120576002/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_ur_2/102-5751735-8869760?v=glance&s=video&n=507846

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