Elmer and the Dragon · Garden Heights Academy

Part 8

for Elmer and the Dragon · Part 8 · Chapters 9–10

a novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett

30 min5 Parts

This workbook is built on a solid pedagogical foundation, effectively integrating content and language learning based on the CLIL framework (Content and Language Integrated Learning), elevated by our unique 5th C — Connection — and an integrated Standardized Test section that weaves every SAT & TOEFL question type right into the novel, so learners build real test skills easily, naturally, and with fun.

What Happens in Part 8

His work done, Elmer says a warm farewell to Flute, King Can XI, and all the singing canaries, and climbs onto the dragon for the last leg of the journey home. The dragon carries him safely across the sea and sets him down near a wharf close to his house, and the two friends promise to meet again someday. Elmer hurries home to his overjoyed parents — and just in time for his father’s birthday, he presents the shining gold coins from Feather Island as the perfect gift.

What We Will Learn

Focus	What It Means
Plot	The journey ends: goodbye and the trip home
Theme	Friendship, gratitude, and homecoming
Story Links	How this ending sets up The Dragons of Blueland

Chapter Summary

Chapter	Key Events
Ch.9	Elmer thanks the canaries and says farewell, then sets off with the dragon toward home
Ch.10	The dragon drops Elmer near home; they promise to meet again, and Elmer gives his father the gold coins for his birthday

💭 Before You Read · Warm-Up (not scored)

There are no wrong answers here — just think, guess, and talk:

Elmer brings home gold, but the real treasure may be the friendships and the story itself. What’s the most valuable thing you’ve ever ‘brought home’ from a trip or an experience?
The dragon and Elmer promise to meet again someday. Why do stories so often end on a promise rather than a full stop?
Looking back over the whole book: which of Elmer’s choices made you most want him to succeed?

Copyright Notice

This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy to support reading comprehension and literary analysis. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. Elmer and the Dragon is a work by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This guide is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the author or any associated rights holders. Students should read the original book, available from libraries and booksellers.

Part 1

Vocabulary

Study 10 key words from Chapters 9–10, then answer each question.

🧠Knowledge Bank · The Long Journeys Birds Take

Ornithology · MigrationAt last Elmer and the dragon finish their long flight home, much as real birds make long journeys called migration. Every year, many birds fly great distances — sometimes thousands of miles — to follow warm weather and find food. When winter nears and food grows scarce, they travel to warmer lands, then return when spring comes again. To find the way, migrating birds use the sun, the stars, and even the Earth’s gentle pull, and somehow they remember the route home. It is one of nature’s great wonders. Elmer’s trip across the sea echoes this amazing yearly migration.

A long ragged line of migrating cranes strung across a clear blue sky above a snow-covered mountain range — Photograph taken in September 2013 of sandhill cranes migrating over Denali in Alaska. The *Knowledge Bank* explains that many birds fly great distances every year, sometimes thousands of miles, to follow warm weather and food, and that these long journeys are called migration. Look at the shape of the line: birds on a long flight travel in formation, which saves each of them effort. These are wild cranes over a national park, and no dragon appears in the picture.
Sandhill cranes migrating over Denali, Alaska, September 2013; photograph by Denali National Park and Preserve, National Park Service. Source: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

farewelln.Ch.9

A goodbye when parting

“Elmer said a warm farewell to his friends.”

departv.Ch.9

To leave or go away

“They prepared to depart for home.”

overjoyedadj.Ch.10

Extremely happy

“His parents were overjoyed to see him.”

relievedadj.Ch.10

Glad that worry is over

“They felt relieved he was safe.”

wharfn.Ch.10

A platform where boats load by the water

“The dragon landed near a wharf.”

homewardadv.Ch.9

Toward home

“They flew homeward over the sea.”

presentn.Ch.10

A gift

“Elmer brought a present for his father.”

embracev.Ch.10

To hug warmly

“His parents rushed to embrace him.”

memoryn.Ch.10

Something you remember

“The trip became a happy memory.”

thankfuladj.Ch.9

Feeling grateful

“The canaries were thankful to Elmer.”

ⓘ The vocabulary words in this list are selected to help you understand and complete this workbook. Some may not appear verbatim in the original novel.

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1According to the Knowledge Bank, the long journeys birds make each year are called ___.Ch.9

2True or False: To “depart” means to arrive somewhere new.Ch.9

3Someone who is “overjoyed” is ___.Ch.10

4True or False: A “wharf” is a platform by the water where boats load.Ch.10

5Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.9–10

Word choices:farewelloverjoyedrelieveddepart- some words will not be used

Elmer said a warm to the canaries, and his parents were to see him home.

6True or False: To be “relieved” is to feel glad that worry is over.Ch.10

7The word “homeward” means ___.Ch.9

8True or False: To “embrace” someone means to hug them warmly.Ch.10

9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.10

Word choices:presentwharfmemorydepart- some words will not be used

The dragon landed near the , and Elmer carried a home for his father.

10Feeling grateful means feeling ___.Ch.9

Part 2

Comprehension

How well do you understand Chapters 9–10?

🧠Knowledge Bank · Retelling the Whole Story

Narrative Logic · Retelling the Whole StoryAs the adventure ends, it is a perfect time to practice sequencing — putting the whole story in order. Try to retell it from start to finish: Elmer freed the dragon, they flew into the storm, they landed among the canaries, they solved the secret, and at last they headed home. Lining up the events in order shows how each one led to the next. Words like first, then, after that, and finally help you keep the steps straight. Retelling a story in the right order proves you understood it and helps you remember every important event.

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1The Knowledge Bank says the end of the book is a good time to practice ___.Ch.9

2Who carries Elmer home across the sea?Ch.9

3Where does the dragon set Elmer down?Ch.10

4True or False: Elmer and the dragon promise to meet again someday.Ch.10

5Write the numbers 1–5 in the boxes to show the correct order of events in Part 8.Ch.9–10

He climbs onto the dragon for the journey home.
Elmer says farewell to Flute and the canaries.
Elmer gives his father the gold coins for his birthday.
The dragon sets Elmer down near a wharf by his home.
The friends promise to meet again someday.

6True or False: Elmer’s parents are overjoyed and relieved to see him.Ch.10

7What gift does Elmer give his father?Ch.10

8What special day is it when Elmer arrives home?Ch.10

9True or False: Elmer keeps the dragon as a pet at home forever.Ch.10

10Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.Ch.10

Word choices:birthdaycoinsstormcanary- some words will not be used

Elmer reached home for his father’s and gave him the gold .

Part 3

Literary Elements

Understanding HOW and WHY Ruth Stiles Gannett creates certain feelings across Chapters 9–10.

🧠Knowledge Bank · How a Story Wraps Up

Literary Craft · ResolutionThe end of a story is called the resolution, the part where problems are settled and questions are answered. Here the mystery is solved, Elmer is thanked, and the two friends fly safely home — loose threads tied, hearts at ease. A good resolution leaves the reader feeling satisfied, as if the story has truly finished. Yet notice the small hint of more adventures to come, a doorway left gently open for another book. Writers often end one tale while quietly promising the next. That warm, settled feeling as everything comes together at the close is the story’s resolution.

Visual AidWhat a resolution ties off

Diagram for the Knowledge Bank on resolution. The three numbered cards are the threads the Knowledge Bank says this ending settles — the mystery solved, Elmer thanked, the friends safely home — and the arrows carry all of them into the resolution itself. Notice that every arrow points the same way: a resolution is where things finish, not where anything new begins.

The threads a resolution ties off, as set out in the Knowledge Bank. Drawn for Garden Heights Academy.

📚 Literary Devices in This Part · definitions & examples

The resolution ties up the story: the canaries are happy and Elmer is home.

A theme here is that kindness and courage lead you safely home again.

A sequel hook, like ‘meet again,’ hints at a future story.

The questions below are mixed — not grouped by device. Decide which device each one is about.

🧠Knowledge Bank question

1According to the Knowledge Bank, the resolution of a story is where ___.Ch.9

2The resolution is how a story’s problems are finally settled.Ch.9

3Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.9

Word choices:resolutionthememoodsetting- some words will not be used

Elmer reaching home safely is the story’s

The big idea that kindness is rewarded is the book’s .

4The big idea that helping others brings its own reward is the book’s —Ch.9

5A theme is a big idea a story leaves us with.Ch.9

6Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.9

Word choices:themeresolutionmoodplot- some words will not be used

The idea that kindness is repaid is the book’s

Elmer’s safe homecoming is the .

7Elmer’s safe, happy homecoming is the story’s —Ch.9

8That good deeds bring reward is the book’s main —Ch.9

9Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.9

Word choices:resolutionthememoodplot- some words will not be used

Elmer reaching home is the

The idea that kindness pays is the .

10The happy ending mainly leaves the theme of —Ch.9

Part 4

Think Deeper

Four deeper challenges — no single-word recall. Read, weigh the evidence, and reason it through.

🧠Knowledge Bank · Thankful Goodbyes

Social-Emotional · GratitudeThis ending glows with gratitude — the warm feeling of being thankful. The canaries thank Elmer for his help, and Elmer is thankful for his brave dragon friend and for the safe trip home. Saying goodbye is a little sad, yet gratitude makes the parting sweet instead of only sorrowful. Being thankful helps us notice the good in what we have and in the people who helped us along the way. Try naming one thing you are grateful for each day; it makes the heart lighter. Closing an adventure with a warm, thankful goodbye is a beautiful act of gratitude.

1Claim: “Elmer’s kindness earns him a safe journey home.” — choose the two details that best prove it.Claim & Evidence

2Shows the warm, rewarded ending, or just a detail of the scene? Tap each item to sort it — tap again to switch sides. You can keep tapping to change your answer.Sort into two

◄ The rewarded endingJust a detail ►

3Match each cause to its result. For each cause, pick its result.Cause & Effect

Elmer has helped the canaries→

He has made true friends→

He climbs onto the dragon→

His kindness is rewarded→

🧠Knowledge Bank question

4Fill both blanks to complete the reasoning.Build the Argument

The Knowledge Bank says this ending glows with gratitude because , and notes that saying goodbye is .

Part 5

Standardized Test

Prose Summary & Whole-Passage Reading — SAT & TOEFL-style practice

The Hidden Meaning of Goodbye

Every language has special words for parting, and they are often more interesting than they look. The English word goodbye, for example, began life as the phrase ‘God be with you,’ worn smooth over the centuries until only goodbye remained. The word farewell is a small blessing too: it once meant may you travel well. Other languages do the same. The French say au revoir and the Germans auf Wiedersehen, both meaning until we see each other again — a goodbye that is really a promise to meet once more. Even the casual Hawaiian aloha serves as both hello and goodbye, as if greeting and parting were two sides of one warm feeling. What all these words share is a wish for the other person’s wellbeing after they depart. A goodbye is rarely just an ending; hidden inside it is almost always a small hope for what comes next, and a memory of what has already been shared.

Original passage written for Garden Heights — not a quotation from the novel.

1The word “goodbye” began as which phrase?TOEFL · Factual Information

2In the passage, farewell once meant ___.SAT · Words in Context

3What did “farewell” once mean?TOEFL · Factual Information

4In the passage, to depart is to ___.SAT · Words in Context

5What do au revoir and auf Wiedersehen both mean?TOEFL · Factual Information

6The passage suggests a goodbye often carries a hidden wish for the other person’s —SAT · Inference

7Why is aloha given as an example?SAT · Inference

8In the passage, a memory is ___.SAT · Words in Context

9Which TWO ideas together best summarize the passage?SAT · Central Ideas

10Insert Text (TOEFL). Look at the four squares [1]–[4] in the excerpt below. They show where this sentence could be added:
“A goodbye, then, is really a small blessing dressed up as a farewell.”

Look closely at the word ‘goodbye.’ [1] It began as a shortening of ‘God be with you.’ [2] Many other farewells hide a similar wish. [3] Each one hopes for the traveler’s safety and good fortune. [4]

Where would the sentence fit best?TOEFL · Insert Text

Part 6 · Optional

Creative Writing

A bonus challenge to practice your English. Take your time and have fun with it.

About This Section

This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice, so feel free to use your imagination!

Writing Task — Part 8 “Home at Last”

Elmer returns home with an amazing story and the perfect gift for his father. Write about coming home after a big trip or adventure, real or imagined. Who would you want to see first, what story would you tell, and what gift might you bring? Write at least 40 words.

You can start with: “The best part of the whole adventure was finally coming home, because…”

0 / 40 words minimum

🗣 Teach It · Just for Fun (optional)

No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby what happened in this part. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.

Part 8 Complete!

You finished Chapters 9–10 of Elmer and the Dragon.

Here are your auto-graded results:

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Teach it to someone

The best last step is to teach it. In your own words, explain what happened — retell a favorite scene, teach a character’s big choice, or sum up the main idea for a parent, friend, or classmate. When you can teach it clearly, you truly own it.

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Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the author or any rights holders. Contains original analysis only; no text from the novel is reproduced.