1. Reading
Unit: 2 Lesson: 15
Module: A
Objectives:
Define and use close-reading vocabulary words.RL.4.4
Identify key ideas and details in a tall tale. RL.4.1
Today we will be doing a
Close Reading
of pages 70 – 71.
Essential Questions:
How does a reader identify themes?
How does a writer develop and organize writing that matches purpose and
audience?
How does a writer use internal and external dialogue to develop the theme
of the story?

2. First Read Let’s explore the text!
Recall what has happened so far in “John Henry” and what the situation was at the top of p. 70.Next, preview the text of the next part to see how it is supported by an illustration.

3. Shared Reading Routine
Focus: What is the “gist” of the text?
I will begin reading John Henry while you follow along in your book. Then, you will continue reading up to page 71 silently on your own. Focus on understanding what happens during the contest between John Henry and the steam drill.
Be prepared to discuss the following questions when you are done with the reading:
• What details from the text indicate how hard John Henry
worked in the tunnel?
• Based on evidence from the text, how did people show their
Support for John Henry?
• What questions do you have?

4. Second Read When you reread the text, focus on key details
about main characters and events.
Be prepared to discuss the following questions when you are done
with the reading:
1. How do clues from the illustration on p. 70 help you understand the contest better?
2. When pioneers first settled a new area, they “staked their claim” by pounding wooden stakes into the land to mark the boundaries of their new property. In the sentence on p. 71, “…the city folks, who had staked their hopes on the future of machines,” what might staked mean?
3. On page 70, what context clues help you On page 70, what context clues help you understand the meaning of onlookers?
4. Summarize the attitudes held by different people about John Henry’s chances in this contest. Use details from the story.

5. Focused Reading Vocabulary Routine: Text-Based Vocabulary
• contestants, p. 70
billowed, p. 71
Vocabulary Routine:
1. Read the sentence containing the word.
2. Identify context clues about its meaning within the passage.
3. Look up the word in a dictionary and read the definition.
4. Use the word in other ways.
*After we review these words, write your sentences on p. 104 in your Reader’s and Writer’s Journal.*

6. Text-Based Conversation
Focused Reading
Text-Based Conversation
I see on page 70 that the author is setting the stage for the contest. I can tell that this is an important event because Lucy is wearing her best clothes and people have come from all over to watch it.
Discuss how the author describes the setting of an event and analyze what this description helps the reader understand better about the event.

7. Focused Reading Team Talk Routine
Do you think John Henry’s victory over the steam drill proves that people are better workers than machines? Use details from the text to support your opinion.

8. Reading Analysis Main Idea and Details
To understand the climax of a story, or the moment when its problem is resolved, readers can examine the key details from the event and then figure out the main idea from them.
Use a Main Idea and Key Details graphic organizer to record information about the climax of “John Henry.”

9. Reading Analysis Cite Text Evidence Focus on p. 70–71 of the text.
Tell the most important details about this event.
How is John Henry performing at the end of the contest?
How is the steam drill performing at the end of the contest?
What main idea can you figure out from the key details of the event?

10. Writing in Response to Reading
Independent Reading
Reading Analysis
Work independently to complete a Main Idea and Key Details Chart for the event in the first five paragraphs of the text, beginning with the first sentence on p. 70 and ending with the second paragraph on p. 71.
Writing in Response to Reading
What do you think John Henry means to the people around him, including his wife, his boss, and his coworkers? Find details in the text you have read so far and refer to your Main Idea and Key Details Charts for ideas.

11. Small Groups It’s time to get into our groups!
Please see me if you don’t know what group you belong in.

12. Writing Objectives: Narrative Writing
Use a sequence of events when writing.
Use past progressive verbs correctly.

13. Writing Narrative Writing
Narrative writing includes descriptive details
and a clear narrated flow of experiences or events.
•For a reader to understand a narrative text, the reader must be able to understand the sequence, or order, of events, which means that the
writer must provide details in a clear understandable sequence.
•One way the writer provides events in a clear sequence is through use of transitional words and phrases, such as first, next, then, last, finally, after a while, and later.

14. Writing Narrative Writing
Revising a narrative is part of the writing process and will improve the text. You can rearrange, add, and delete events to improve the narrative and make it clearer.
•You might note during revising that an event is out of order. You can then rearrange events to put them in the correct order. You might also find that the narrative is not clear because an event or detail is missing. You can add the event or detail.
•If you find that you have included events or details that are not
necessary for the reader to understand the text, you could delete them.

15. Read the following section.
Writing
Analyze the Text
Read this sentence about John Henry and Lucy. Notice the use of transitional words and phrases in this narrative text to show sequence of events.
Read the following section.

16. Conventions Focus: Use Progressive verb tense
Writing
Conventions Focus: Use Progressive verb tense
The past progressive verb tense indicates that an occurrence was underway when something else happened in the past.

17. Writing Independent Writing
Revise your narrative to make the sequence of events clear. Add transitional words and phrases to clearly show the sequence of events. Remember to rearrange, add, or delete information as necessary.