Lesson 5: Theme with the Realistic Fiction piece "Elisa's Diary"

The Target Skill in this lesson is Theme

Concept Question: What do the actions and motivations of the character(s) in this story tell you about what the author thinks about this story's topic?

Lesson 5 Grab-And-Go Resources

From Journeys:
Theme  As you read "Elisa's Diary," look for the theme, or central message, of the story.  The main character's behavior often provides clues to the theme.  Use this graphic organize to record Elisa's qualities, motives, and actions.  These details will help you determine the theme.

Short stories such as "Elisa's Diary" convey a theme, or a message or lesson that the author wants readers to know.  This message is often revealed through the main character's actions--especially how he or she reacts to conflict.

In "Elisa's Diary," the main character, Elisa, faces a conflict.  The beginning of the story shows her first attempt at handling her problem.  By the end of the story, she has a completely different response.  How do her actions show her change of heart?  How does this change reveal the theme of the story?

The only way you will ever need to teach theme

How to find a theme

Realistic Fiction
Realistic fiction includes characters and events that are like people and events in real life. As you read, look for: challenges and conflicts that might happen in real life and characters’ feelings that seem believable.

Spelling List 12 – Unit 1 Lesson 5

Word	Verb Root	Part of Speech	Definition
opponent		n.	A person or group that opposes another in a battle, contest, controversy, or debate.
brutal		adj.	Cruel; ruthless.
supposedly		adv.	Seemingly.
gorgeous		adj.	Dazzlingly beautiful or magnificent.
embarrassed	embarrass	v.	To cause to feel self-conscious or ill at ease; disconcert.
obvious		adj.	Easily perceived or understood; evident.
typically		adv.	In a way that is usual for a kind, group, or category.
preliminary		adj.	Prior to or preparing for the main matter, action, or business; introductory.
sweeping		adj.	Moving in, or as if in, a long curve.
officially		adv.	By or in a way relating to an office or post of authority.

Lesson 15: Compare and Contrast with the Biography "We Were There, Too!"

The Target Skill in this lesson is Compare and Contrast

Concept Question: Are the details in my Venn Diagram important for the story or the characters in it, or are they just trivia (true, but not important to the story or characters)?

Lesson 15 Grab-And-Go Resources

From Journeys:
Compare and Contrast The selection "We Were There, Too!" allows readers to compare and contrast the experiences of two young people involved in the American Revolution.  As you read, look for text evidence that helps you think about how the situations, motives, and traits of the two subjects are alike and different.  Use a graphic organizer like this one to record similarities and differences between the two patriots.

When you compare and contrast the actions of two or more historical figures, you learn more about each one's character.  The things they do and the choices they make show who they are inside.

In "We Were There, Too!" Joseph Plumb Martin and Sybil Ludington are similar in that they act on behalf of their country.  Their behaviors are alike in other ways, too, but they also have some important differences.

Recording text evidence in a Venn diagram like the one above will help you keep track of similarities and differences between Joseph Plumb Martin and Sybil Ludington.


When you compare and contrast two people, look for text evidence that shows how the two characters are different about the same topic.  For example, if the text says that Jack likes chocolate ice-cream and that Jill likes strawberry ice-cream, that would be a good piece of text evidence to use in your Venn diagram because it tells us that Jack and Jill like different kinds of ice cream.  In this example, we can compare how they are different about the topic of favorite ice cream.

However, if the text says that Jack like dogs, but does not say anything about what animals Jill likes, you cannot say that Jack likes dogs and Jill doesn't.  Unless the text says that Jill does not like dogs, you cannot assume that just because the text says Jack likes dogs and doesn't say anything about Jill, that Jill must not like dogs.  When you compare and contrast, the things that are different MUST be differences about the same topic.

Introduction to Reading Skills: Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Texts

Introduction to Reading Skills: Compare and Contrast

Biography

Biography is an account of a person’s life told by someone else. As you read, look for: information about why the person is important, events from the person’s life in time order, and a third-person point of view.

Spelling List 11 – Unit 3 Lesson 15

Word	Verb Root	Part of Speech	Definition
rural		adj.	Of, relating to, or characteristic of the country.
tedious		adj.	Tiresome because of slowness, dullness, or length; boring.
lacked	lack	v.	To be without.
personally		adv.	In person or by oneself; without the help of another.
organize		v.	To put together or arrange in an orderly, systematic way.
mocking	mock	v.	To treat with scorn or contempt, deride.
efficient		adj.	Acting or producing effectively with a minimum of waste, expense, or unnecessary effort.
summons	summon	v.	To call forth, muster.
mimic		v./adj.	v. To resemble closely; simulate.  adj. Acting as an imitation.
peal		n.	A loud burst of noise.