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It is 1904 and Paul and Angelique Bedard are moving to Laconia. They live in a farm in the town of St. Perpétue, Québec in Canada. St. Perpétue is 45 miles northeast of Montreal. Paul, Angelique, their parents and 4 other brothers and sisters are moving to Laconia to have a better life.

The Bedard family has no car. They ride a hay wagon 45 miles to Montreal. They ride a train 240 miles from Montreal to Laconia. They walk from the train station to a tenement house.

The Belknap Mill makes socks. Their father Maurice can walk to work. He will work as a boarder. He will put socks on a board in a steam chamber. He will also ring the bell in the mill. He will ring the bell at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. He will work 6 days a week.

At 6 a.m. the next day, Paul and Angelique hear the bell ring. Their father is already at work. At noon, they hear the bell again. Their mother prepares a hot lunch. Paul and Angelique carry their father's lunch in a pail to the Belknap Mill. Soon Paul, Angelique, and 2 other brothers and sisters will also work at the Belknap Mill. Their mother will take care of the younger children.

Questions

How many children are in the Bedard family?
Paul was born in 1890 and Angelique was born in 1892. In 1904, how old is Paul? How old is Angelique?
How old would Paul be in 2004? How old would Angelique be?
How many miles did the Bedards travel from Sainte Perpétue to Laconia?
Why does their father ring the bell three times a day?
How many hours will he work each day at the Belknap Mill?
If Maurice rings the bell 3 times a day, how often will he ring it in a workweek?

Bonus Challenge Questions

If the hay wagon traveled at 10 miles per hour, and the train traveled at 60 miles and hour, how long would it take them to arrive in Laconia?
If they left at 7 a.m. from Sainte Perpétue, when would they arrive in Laconia?

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