Mrs. Pells :)
Greetings! This summer, I challenge you to read (at least) four books! Once you have finished a book, take the AR quiz then write a summary (TAM--TITLE, AUTHOR, MAIN IDEA, and SOMEBODY, WANTED, BUT, SO, THEN). When summer comes to an end and if you've read at least four books, we'll find a way to celebrate! Happy Reading!
Mrs. Pells :)
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Let us know what you are reading at home! Write down your favorite part of the book so far and why!
Example: I am reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. My favorite part of this book so far is the beginning scene when the young girl is rescued from the pier in Australia. I like this part because the author clearly sets up the mystery from the beginning and holds the reader in suspense. Your blog this week is to write a descriptive paragraph. Before break, we talked about using your five senses to and figurative language to describe a scene in nature (remember the picture walk with the posters?!) Use that strong language!
You may find a scenic photo to write about, or use one of the choices below. Be sure to include: 1.) All five senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch) 2.) Examples of figurative language (similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.) Example: It was a wonderful day at the beach. White clouds floated like marshmallows through the light blue sky. My friend Sam and I relaxed on a rainbow striped beach towel under an enveloping orange umbrella. A seal popped his head up among the glistening waves as a tiny crab scurried along the sand like lightning. Two starfish lie happily basking in the sun. Near us, a seagull remained perched like a statue on a midnight black rock. Two red balloons danced in the sky looking down on young children creating memories. We didn’t want the day to end. Cause and effect is a relationship between events or things, where one is the result of the other. Identifying cause and effect relationships within a story helps us focus on two important elements of comprehension: what happens in the story and why it happened.
Your assignment this week is to identify three examples of cause and effect in the book you are reading at home. Using the following conjunctions may help: *since *as a result *because + noun phrase *therefore *due to + noun phrase *consequently *for this reason *so As always, please include the title and author of the text as well as a clear topic sentence. Also, to show understanding, please label each cause and effect. Example: In the book, Wonder, by RJ Palacio, there are several examples of cause and effect. Since Auggie was born with a facial abnormality (cause), most people stare when they meet him for the first time (effect). Another example of cause and effect is when Auggie's family is talking about the principal of his new school: "His name is Mr. Tushman" (cause) and everyone in the family starts laughing uncontrollably (effect). Because Auggie shares the way Julian treated him when they first met (cause), Auggie's mom begins to have doubts about sending him to school (effect). An important skill in reading and writing is the ability to compare and contrast characters. If you're able to demonstrate the similarities and/or differences between two people from your story, then you're showing a strong understanding of the text.
Your assignment this week is to compare and contrast two characters from the book you are reading at home. This assignment will take some time and you will have a week and a half to finish it. Please feel free to use the suggested timeline (or finish it earlier!): Monday, 2/24: Think of a topic Tuesday, 2/25: Create a "Double Bubble Map" or a "Venn Diagram" Wednesday, 2/26: Write an introduction Thursday, 2/27: Write "similarities" paragraph Monday, 3/2: Write "differences" paragraph Tuesday, 3/3: Write a conclusion Wednesday, 3/4 Reread and post! 1.) Choose two characters from the book you are reading at home or from books we've read in school (The Willoughbys, Because of Mr. Terupt, your book club book, The Bridge Home, Tiger Rising, Wonder) 2.) Write a compare and contrast essay demonstrating the similarities and differences between these two characters. 3.) Use transition words such as "On the other hand..." or "Similarly..." (see the image below). 5.) Include the author and title For example: Two fifth graders with seemingly nothing in common. One who loves school, one who despises it. One who escapes life's problems through books, the other who can't stand reading. Despite their differences, Jessica and Jeffrey, two characters from the book, Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea, also find common ground through their fifth grade experiences at Snow Hill School. Jessica and Jeffrey have many similarities and differences. Jessica and Jeffrey may seem like total opposites, but they actually have quite a few things in common! Both attend Snow Hill Tree Elementary School and share their beloved teacher, Mr. Terupt. We don't realize it at first, but they are both compassionate and kind kids. Jessica demonstrates her compassion when she defends her friends from the bully, Lexie. Jeffrey shows his kindness with students from the collaborate classroom. Both characters also demonstrate a great deal of strength. Jessica's parents are recently divorced and she moved to a new school. Even though she's new, she finds the strength to make friends and face her difficult family situation. Similarly, Jeffrey struggles with his family as well. He lost his brother to cancer and shows grit and courage in dealing with these difficult situations. Jessica and Jeffrey are also quite different. Jessica loves to read and appreciates school and learning. She often connects to the characters in her books, "I was finishing the book Belle Teal. I loved Belle. I wanted her to be my friend" (p.38). On the other hand, Jeffrey's attitude is not as positive. He doesn't like school and dislikes most of his teachers and assignments: "I'm no good in school. School stinks" (p. 15). Clearly, these two characters are very different, though in the end of the book, they all find a commonality--loving Mr. Terupt. Two different students with challenging family situations find common ground in Because of Mr. Terupt. From kindness and courage to very different backgrounds, clearly Jessica and Jeffrey have many similarities and differences. For the last few weeks, our focus has been on writing opinion essays and learning about persuasive techniques. For your blog this week, please come up with an opinion and write only an introduction (lead and thesis statement). You can choose anything you'd like, but it must be a new topic and not one you've written about before. :) 1. Choose a topic (see ideas below) 2. Write a strong lead (at least 3-4 sentences) 3.) Write a clear thesis statement (three reasons separated by a comma) Example: I’ll never forget the first time my dog came home. It was Christmas morning and I never thought in my life that I would get a dog. My parents pulled across a bright red and green box. It sat still in the living room, until, all-of-a-sudden, the box moved! Yes, moved. My sister and I jumped and then popped the top open! It was a puppy! Its brown eyes looked at us lovingly as the fluff ball jumped into my arms. Best Christmas ever! I’m so grateful our parents chose a dog and not a cat. Dogs are better than cats because dogs are more entertaining, they’re more lovable, and they’re cleaner. Topic Ideas (or choose your own!) School should/shouldn’t be optional. We should/shouldn’t have homework. Students should/shouldn’t have to learn a second language. All cars should/shouldn’t be painted yellow. We should/shouldn’t be allowed to chew gum in school. Our pets should/shouldn’t be allowed to come to school. We should/shouldn’t be allowed to wear hats in school. All fast food/coffee drive throughs should/shouldn’t be banned. School should/shouldn’t be shorter days without recess. We should/shouldn’t be able to sit beside our friends in class. We should/shouldn’t be able to eat in class. We should/shouldn’t have school uniforms. We should/shouldn’t have the option of doing school online. Fast food should/shouldn’t be banned. Cell phones should/shouldn’t be allowed at school. Persuade somebody to give you a job. You’re a banker, you need to persuade others to hand over their money. Persuade your friends to volunteer at a pet shelter. Which are better: hard copy books or the e-reader version? Reading books is better than watching shows. Video games are helpful or harmful. Girls should be allowed to play on boy’s teams. Students should be paid for getting great grades. In class, we've discussed the difference between a retell and a summary. Remember that a RETELL includes DETAILS and a SUMMARY is only the BIG IDEAS (think running along the details and jumping from big idea to big idea like we did in class using Corduroy!). Using the book you're reading at home, write a summary based on the section you read this week. FOR FICTION: Include the title, author, main idea and SOMEBODY, WANTED, BUT, SO, THEN. FOR NONFICTION: Include the title, author, main idea and three details to support your main idea using words such as first, next, then, and finally. Fiction Example: In the book, The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry, the main idea is about kids who want to get rid of their parents, and the parents who want to get rid of their kids. In chapter 4, entitled "The Odious Nanny", Nanny joins the Willoughby family. The children want to test Nanny to see what she'll be like compared to their parents. Barnaby A and B and Jane like Nanny, but Tim is not so sure. (So) When Nanny learns about Tim's point game, she quickly gives the others points for trying their oatmeal, and takes points away from Tim for not eating his. Then, Tim scowls as he realizes the power he holds over his siblings is quickly deteriorating under Nanny's rules. Nonfiction Example: In the article, "Susie Sausage Just One of Many New Shopkins Toys," by writers at the Washington Post, the main idea is how Shopkins have become a popular, best-selling toy in 2016. First, Shopkins are tiny toys that look like something you can find at a grocery store like cookies and carrots. Next, many believe that Shopkins are popular because they are easy to collect and the company wanted to cater to girls. In addition, the company is creating a new toy about every six months, which maintains interest. Finally, Shopkins are one of the toys on the "Hot Toy List" that also sell at an inexpensive price. (See the article here: https://newsela.com/articles/shopkins-toys/id/24269/) Our blog this week focuses on the many themes in the book Wonder, by RJ Palacio. Remember, a theme is the lesson or message of the text (many people confuse theme with main idea, but remember the main idea is what the story is mostly about). Use the list of themes below to help.
1.) Choose a theme you think relates to Wonder. 2.) Explain why you chose this theme and use text evidence to support your thinking. 3.) Include the title and author. Example: One of the many themes in the book, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, is hope. In a culture where girls don't always have the same opportunities to education as boys, Amal maintains hope that even after missing school to tend to her siblings, she can get back to school. Her hope waivers, but never disappears after her life is altered when standing up for herself in the marketplace. Amal always carries hope that she'll return to her family one day after becoming a servant to the Khans. Our focus this week is determining the main idea. The main idea is what the text is "mostly about."
Here's the assignment: Using the book you're reading at home: 1.) State the main idea of your book (what is the book mostly about?) 2.) Support the main idea with details and specific evidence from the text (RACE). 3.) Include the title and the author. Example: In the book, The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry, the main idea is the adventures of four children who want to get rid of their parents, and the parents who want to get rid of their children. I know this because the story includes many descriptions, particularly at the beginning, of kids who don't like their mom and dad, and vice versa (dark humor!). For example, Mrs. Willoughby states, "I never much liked those kids, especially the ones who look alike! What are their names?" (p.19). Similarly, the kids want to get rid of the parents, "We should send them on a vacation! One with lots of danger!" (p.21). This shows the children were trying to get their parents into trouble so they would not ever return. |
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April 2020
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