Generations Together Activate Prior Knowledge This is a nonfiction selection about a community program that brings people of different generations together. What relationships do you have with your elders, including grandparents? What activities do you do together? Read Aloud

While We Read 1. How did the Boyd twins’ relationship with Sam LaRocca change? 2. How does Taisha Morris feel about Sam LaRocca? What details helped you figure this out? 3. What details help you describe Ann Sawyer Berkley?

attachment: n. A feeling of closeness and affection. The two cousins have a strong attachment to one another.

braille: n. A system of writing that uses raised dots, for people who are visually impaired. Angela ran her fingers over the braille letters on the page. Word History Louis Braille ( ) was a French inventor who lost his sight at the age of three and as a student of fifteen created the unique writing system that bears his name.

dog guide: n. A dog especially trained to lead visually impaired people. May's dog guide waited until it was safe to cross the street.

instinct: n. An inner feeling or way of behaving that is automatic, not learned. A newly hatched sea turtle's instinct is to crawl toward the water.

layout: n. The way something is arranged. The layout of the office building confuses visitors.

mastered: v. To become expert in a skill or art. Ramón mastered the violin through years of practice.

mature: adj. Fully grown or mentally developed. A mature dog is calmer than a puppy.

memorizing: v. To learn by completely remembering. The hikers are memorizing the landmarks along their route.

obedience: n. Willingness to follow orders. Mr. Yee expects obedience from his crew.

obstacles: n. A thing that stands in one's way. The horse had to jump over such obstacles as bushes and fences.

A Special Relationship This theme is about relationships between family members, friends, and others. Mom’s Best Friend is a nonfiction selection about a blind woman and her dog guide.

Mom’s Best Friend Day 1

Noting Details Author’s use details to help readers visualize characters, places, and events. Use details to help: show what characters do, think, and feel show how characters change

she’s blind; misses Marit; has sensitive hearing. I do misses Mom; divided house chores; wonders if she will love Ursula We do

Noting Details I do

We do

You do w/ partner

You do w/ partner

You do

Mom’s Best Friend Day 2

attachment

braille

dog guide

instinct

layout

mastered

mature

memorizing

obedience

obstacles

Mom’s Best Friend Day 3

I do

We do

Mom’s Best Friend Day 4

Step 1 Read the Story Summery to yourself one time. Be sure to use good hand gestures to help you as you read. Step 2 Turn to your shoulder partner and partner read the story with lots of expression. Don’t forget the gestures that you have practiced. Step 3 Take turns asking and answering at least five questions each about the text. Remember to both ask and answer questions with high enthusiasm. You are going to be working in your groups to take the Selection Test.

What is missing? What would you add?

Details!!

After you finish your Weekly Skills Test: 1. Make sure your name, date, and assignment are written clearly on the top left of the paper. 2. Turn your test paper to me and put your answer key in the reading basket. 3. Finish your Mountain Language and work on the Reading Menu. 4. Read a book of your choice.

Test Prep: Theme and Moral We are going to discuss important tips that will help you understand the themes and morals in any text you read.

Identifying Moral Explanation I do

Identifying Moral or Theme The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts The birds fought a long war with the beasts. They fought over who would be the leader of all other animals. Sometimes the birds were winning, and they ruled the animals. At other times, the beasts were winning and ruled. The bats were cowardly during the war. Bats were long-time friends with the birds. But when the beasts were winning the war, the bats would abandon the birds and fight with the beasts. If the birds were winning, the bats would go back to their friends. One day, peace was finally announced. The bats’ cowardly behavior was discovered by the birds and beasts. To punish the bats, the animals sent them to live in dark caves. The bats were only allowed to fly at night. adapted from "The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts" by Aesop What is the theme of this selection? A. Wars are dangerous and cause too much pain. B. Stay loyal to friends even in difficult times. C. Be proud of friends who achieve great things. D. Birds and beasts are bossy and fight too much. The theme or moral is the most important idea the reader gets from the story. It is the lesson that the author wants the reader to learn. In the story, the bats were supposed to be friends with the birds. However, when the birds were facing a difficult time in the war, the bats changed sides and supported the beasts. Both the birds and beasts were upset by the bats’ behavior, so the bats were punished for not staying loyal to one side. We do

An Ant and a Grasshopper In a field one summer's day, a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An ant passed by, carrying a heavy ear of corn that he was taking to the nest. "Why not come and chat with me," said the grasshopper, "instead of working so hard?" "I am helping to gather food for the winter," said the ant. "I recommend you do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the grasshopper. "We have got plenty of food now." But the ant went on its way and continued its work. When winter came, the grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then, the grasshopper knew... adapted from "An Ant and A Grasshopper" by Aesop What did the grasshopper learn? A. It is best to live for the moment. B. The ants worked too hard in the heat. C. The ant was a stronger insect. D. It is best to prepare for the future. Identifying Moral or Theme The last part of the story tells what the grasshopper had to go through. This shows what he had learned. The story says that the ants were full, but the grasshopper was starving. He learned that the ants had the best idea when they worked hard to gather food in the summer. They were preparing for the future. We do

The Wolf and the Crane A Wolf who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth and pull out the bone. When the Crane had taken out the bone, she demanded the promised payment. The Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, said, "Why, you have already had a great payment. I allowed you to pull your head out of the mouth and jaws of a wolf." adapted from "The Wolf and the Crane" by Aesop What lesson should Crane have learned from her experience with Wolf? A. Do not allow Wolf to put his head in her mouth. B. Chew food twelve times before swallowing. C. Only help others when they offer a large reward. D. Do not expect a reward when helping an enemy. Identifying Moral or Theme Crane learned a lesson when she helped Wolf. He promised to reward Crane if she helped him, but he tricked her. She should remember that helping an enemy is risky. She is lucky that Wolf did not bite her while she was helping him. We do