Lesson 7
BLACKLINE MASTER 7.16
Home Letter
Old Yeller
Home Letter
Dear Family,
This week we’ll consider the question “Can
nature bring out the best in a character?” Our
main selection is the children’s literature classic
Old Yeller. In this historical fiction story, a dog
helps a boy look after his family while their
father is away. We’ll also read the persuasive text
What Makes It Good?, a review of the movie
version of Old Yeller.
This week’s…
Target Vocabulary: frantic, lunging,
stride, checking, wheeled, bounding,
shouldered, strained, romp, picturing
Vocabulary Strategy: Idioms (adages
and common sayings)
Comprehension Skill: Understanding
characters—use text details to explain
why characters act, speak, and think as
they do
Comprehension Strategy: Visualize—
use text details to form pictures in your
mind of what you are reading
Writing Focus: Write to respond—poem
Activities to Do Together
Vocabulary
It’s time for another mini-spelling bee with the Target Vocabulary! Say each word aloud and
ask your child to spell it and give a definition. For bonus points, ask your child to use the
word in a sentence.
If I Could Have Any Pet…
Ask your child to talk with you about his or her idea of the perfect pet. Discuss details about
the pet: what it looks like, how it behaves, what it eats, and so on.
Have You Met My Perfect Pet?
Have your child write a poem about a perfect pet. Encourage your child to include details
that describe why he or she chose this pet.
Go to the Student eBook to read and listen to
this week’s selection.
Home Letter
Grade 5, Unit 2: Wild Encounters
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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