Block 1: Fiction

5th Grade
1
Block 1: Fiction
8/27-10/24
9 weeks (41 days)
TEKS: 5.1A, 5.3A, 5.3B, 5.3C, 5.6, 5.6A, 5.6B, 5.6C, 5.8A, 5.9A, Fig.19A-F
Week
1
2
Time Frame
8/27 - 8/29
9/2 - 9/5
Lessons
1-3
4-7
3
4
5
6
9/8 - 9/12
9/15 - 9/19
9/22 - 9/26
9/29 - 10/3
8-12
13-17
18-22
23-27
7
10/6 - 10/10
28-32
8
10/13 - 10/17
33-37
9
10/20 - 10/21
38-39
Focus
5.9A Establishing Reading Workshop
5.9A, 5.6, Fig. 19A-C Establishing Reading Workshop & Realistic
Fiction Genre Immersion
5.6A, Fig. 19E Understanding Plot, Summary, and Foreshadowing
5.6B, 5.6/Fig. 19D Inferring: Inferring about Characters
5.6, Fig. 19A-C Historical Fiction Genre Immersion
5.3C, 5.6C, 4.3/Fig. 19D Point of View, Theme, and Summarizing
Historical Fiction
5.3A, 5.8A, 5.8/Fig. 19D, Fig. 19D Comparing Theme, Sensory
Language & Imagery, and Inferring
Fig. 19A-C, 5.6A, 5.6B, 5.6/Fig. 19D Traditional Literature Genre
Immersion, Plot & Foreshadowing, and Understanding Characters
5.3B, 5.3A Phenomena in Origin Myth and Comparing Theme
Unit Assessment Administered and Scanned by 10/24
2 Flex Days that may be used anywhere within this block.
5th Grade
2
Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
1
Objective & TEKS
TEKS: 5.9A
Obj: We will read independently for a
sustained period of time and produce
evidence of reading.
Product: I will select books and enjoy Reading
Workshop.
2
TEKS: 5.9A
Obj: We will read independently for a
sustained period of time and produce
evidence of reading.
Product: I will select books and enjoy Reading
Workshop.
TEKS: 5.9A
Obj: We will read independently for a
sustained period of time and produce
evidence of reading.
Product: I will select books and enjoy Reading
Workshop.
3
Procedure
Focus: Setting up Reading Notebooks, First Day
of School Read Aloud, and Selecting Books
Text: Picture Book of Choice (1st Day of School,
Back to School, Motivational/Inspirational)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Classroom library books organized in
baskets
 Book checkout and return system
 Spiral notebooks
Focus: How Readers Choose Books
Text:
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Ways We Choose Books Anchor Chart
Focus: Making Good Book Choices
Text:
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
Making Good Book Choices Anchor Chart
5th Grade
3
Lesson 1
Rationale: More than anything else, establishing routines and procedures for managing independent reading
will get your reading workshop off to a good start. Best of all, a tight, thoughtful organization will enable your
students to read for a substantial period of time every day. Early in the year, you will want to present any
number of minilessons on managing Reading Workshop, but once students have established the routines, you
will rarely need to revisit these lessons.
For your students, a successful experience with Reading Workshop begins with knowing the basics: how to use
the classroom library, choose books, record their reading, and respond to their reading. Also, you will want to
establish Reading Workshop as a quiet, productive time; insist on silence from the start. When students are
engrossed in their independent reading, you can more easily confer with individuals or work with small groups
in guided reading and literature study.
During the first month of Reading Workshop, you have two critical goals:
1. Help your students think of themselves as readers by reading books that they enjoy and have them
participate in all the choices and decisions readers make.
2. Establish the roles and routines of Reading Workshop.
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Make sure you have set up your Classroom Library and that it is ready for student use.
2. Create your Teacher’s Reading Notebook.
3. Select a First Day of School book to read aloud.
Creating Reading Notebook Minilesson:
1. Students will create a Reading Notebook. This Reading Notebook will be used throughout the year for
Whole Group, a Record of Reading, and Reading Responses.
Step 1
2. On the first page of the notebook, you will need to create a Record of Reading section. On the top line
of the Record of Reading, label the left margin: Date, the middle: Title/Author, and the right margin:
Genre. Leave 2 blank pages behind this section.
3. Paste a copy of the Genre Codes to the front inside cover for easy reference.
5th Grade
Steps 2 & 3
4
4. On the next page, create a Whole Group section with about 50 blank pages behind this section.
Step 4
5. After the Whole Group section pages, create a Reading Response section with the remaining blank
pages behind this section.
Step 5
6. You will want to use your Reading Notebook as a model for students. Guide them in the creation of their
Reading Notebook. You might want to assist students in the completion of their Reading Notebooks in
small groups throughout the rest of the week.
This needs to be completed by the end of this week. These pictures are included only to serve as a visual. You
may create your Reading Notebooks anyway that works best for you as long as you have a Record of Reading,
Whole Group section, and a Reading Response section.
First Day of School Read Aloud: After you have created the Reading Notebook, read aloud a book of your
choice. (You want to choose something your students will relate to on the first day of school.)
5th Grade
5
Management Minilesson: Selecting Books
1. Introduce Classroom Library: “This year you will get to read many wonderful books in our
classroom and at home. I’d like to introduce you to our classroom library. Let’s talk about how we
can choose, read, and return them in a way that lets us all find and use them easily.”
2. Share the way books are organized; point out books categorized by author, genre, topic, series,
illustrator, format, award winner or by any other category you’ve established. Show students
the place where each category of books is kept. Then show students how to take books out and
return them to each basket. “We will get to share these wonderful books in our classroom this year.
If we are responsible for selecting and returning them to the baskets, we will always be able to find the
books we want to read.”
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6
Genre Codes
Code
RF
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Genre Codes
Code
RF
a made up story that could really
happen in today’s world
HF
Historical Fiction
Traditional Literature
HF
Biography
TL
Autobiography
B
Informational
AB
Use blanks to create other genre codes, as needed
Poetry
I
Drama
P
Persuasive
a written argument that tries to
convince the reader to think a
certain way or take action
Poetry
a piece of writing in which words
and their sounds are used to show
images and express feelings and
ideas
D
a story that is meant to be
performed for an audience
Per
Informational
gives facts about real people,
places, things, or events
a piece of writing in which words
and their sounds are used to show
images and express feelings and
ideas
D
Autobiography
a true story of a real person’s life,
written by that person
gives facts about real people,
places, things, or events
P
Biography
a true story of a real person’s life,
written by another person
a true story of a real person’s life,
written by that person
I
Traditional Literature
short, made up stories that could
have been retold over and over for
many years
a true story of a real person’s life,
written by another person
AB
Historical Fiction
a made up story that could have
happened in a real time and place
in the past
short, made up stories that could
have been retold over and over for
many years
B
Realistic Fiction
a made up story that could really
happen in today’s world
a made up story that could have
happened in a real time and place
in the past
TL
Genre
Drama
a story that is meant to be
performed for an audience
Per
Persuasive
a written argument that tries to
convince the reader to think a
certain way or take action
5th Grade
7
Lesson 2
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Ways We Choose Book Anchor Chart, but leave the ways blank. You will use students’
thinking to complete this during the lesson.
2. Create the Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart.
Management Minilesson: How Readers Choose Books
1. Introduce Ways We Choose Books: “We choose books to read in many different ways and for
many different purposes. For example, I love to read mysteries, and so I often look for that type of
book. What do you think about when you choose a book to read?” Display the Ways We Choose
Books Anchor Chart and record student responses on the anchor chart.
2. “Today we have listed many of the different ways you might choose books to read. I’ll leave this list
of ways readers choose books on the wall because you may think of other ways you choose books to
read, and we can add them.”
3. Write “Reading is Thinking” on a chart. “Today you are going to have a good block of time to
enjoy your reading. Reading is thinking, and you can do your best thinking when it is quiet. When
we do our independent reading, you will need to read silently without talking to the person next to
you or to anyone else. The room is completely quiet so that you and your classmates can do your best
thinking. When I am talking to a reader, I will be sure to whisper. So will the reader I’m talking
with, so that we will not interrupt anyone’s thinking.
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4. Independent Practice: “Now, when I call your group, I want you to choose a book from the
classroom library to read. Find a comfortable seat and enjoy your book. Remember, reading is
thinking-so you will need to read silently. Do not talk, so that your classmates can do their best
thinking. When we gather for our group meeting later, we can talk about how well we did at keeping
the room completely quiet so we could all do our best reading and quickly share how you chose the
book you are now reading.”
5. Group Meeting: Bring students back together to share how they chose the book they are reading and
reflect on how well they did at keeping the room completely quiet.
5th Grade
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Ways We Choose Books
 Front cover / inside jacket
 Back cover information
 Characters we’ve read about in other books
 Another book in a series
 Interesting title
 Great illustrations
 Authors we know and like
 Book recommendations from teachers, friends, and critics
 Books that are movies
 Genres we like to read
 Try the beginning
 Read some of the middle
 “Must-Read” book basket
 New/popular book
 Sequel to a book we’ve read
 Heard it read aloud
 Read it before and enjoyed it
This anchor chart
should be blank in
order to record
student
responses. These
are just ideas of
ways to choose
books that might
help start the
conversation.
5th Grade
10
Reading is Thinking
5th Grade
11
Lesson 3
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Making Good Book Choices Anchor Chart, but leave the columns blank. You will
complete this during the lesson.
2. Create the Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart.
Strategies and Skills Minilesson: Making Good Book Choices
As you teach the minilesson, create the Making Good Book Choices Anchor Chart with three
categories, indicating the characteristics of Easy, Just-Right, or Challenging.
1. Introduce Making Good Book Choices: “Today we are going to talk about how readers
choose “easy,’ “just right,” or “challenging’ books to read. I’ll make some notes on this
chart to help you remember each kind of book we talk about.
2. “Sometimes, easy books are fun to read. They’re the kinds of books you read when you
want to relax. You might pick a favorite picture book you’ve heard read aloud or a book
that you have read before and enjoyed or a new book that won’t take a lot of effort for you
to read and understand. You can read the book easily and understand it very well. Help
me as I write the characteristics of Easy books on the chart.” Record characteristics.
3. “Just-Right books are those that you understand well and can enjoy. You read the book
smoothly and have only a few places where you need to slow down to figure out a word or
think more about the meaning. These are the books that will help you become a better
reader each time you read. Most of the time you should read just-right books. Help me as
I write the characteristics of Just-Right books on the chart.” Record characteristics.
4. “Challenging books are very difficult for you to read. You have trouble reading many of
the words and don’t understand most of what you are reading. These are books that are too
difficult for you to enjoy right now, but you may find you will enjoy them later.
Challenging books are not usually good choices for right now. There may be some times
when you would choose a challenging book, such as when you needed to find some facts
about a topic, but most of the time, you would save challenging books until they are “justright” for you. Help me as I write the characteristics of Challenging books on the chart.”
Record characteristics.
5. Independent Practice: “When you are reading today, think about whether the book you
are reading is easy, just right, or challenging for you. When you return to the group, be
prepared to share the category that best describes your choice. Yesterday you did a
wonderful job reading silently so everyone could do their best thinking. Let’s do the same
today.”
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6. Group Meeting: Bring students back together to share what category (Easy, Just-Right, or
Challenging) their book fit into and why. Then, reflect on how well they did at keeping the
room completely quiet.
5th Grade
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Making Good Book Choices
Easy





fun to read
relaxing
favorite picture book
effortless
You can read “Easy”
books easily and
understand them well.
Just-Right
 Understand well and
enjoy
 read smoothly and only
a few places where you
need to slow down to
figure out a word or
think more about the
meaning
 these are the books that
help you become a better
reader each time you
read
 You should read “JustRight” books most of the
time.
Challenging
 difficult to read
 have trouble with many
of the words and don’t
understand most of
what you are reading
 too difficult for you to
enjoy right now
 There are times when
you would choose a
challenging book, such
as when you need to
find some facts on a
particular topic, but
most of the time, you
would save Challenging
books until they are
“Just Right”
5th Grade Reading
14
Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
4
5
6
7
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: 5.6, Fig. 19A - C
Obj: We will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading.
Product: I will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading a realistic fiction text.
TEKS: 5.6, Fig. 19A - C
Obj: We will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading.
Product: I will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading a realistic fiction text.
TEKS: 5.6, Fig. 19A - C
Obj: We will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading.
Product: I will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading a realistic fiction text.
TEKS: 5.6, Fig. 19A - C
Obj: We will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding by
creating a list of noticings and book
examples.
Procedure
Focus: Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion &
Reading is Thinking: Sticky Notes
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer (Journeys)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) &
Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart
 Sticky Notes
Focus: Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion &
How to Turn and Talk
Text: Elisa’s Diary (Journeys)
Approach: IRA & Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Turn & Talk Anchor Chart
Focus: Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion &
Keeping a Record of Reading
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: IRA & Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Reading Notebook
Focus: Realistic Fiction Genre Study &
Guidelines for Reading Workshop
Text:
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Realistic Fiction Genre Anchor Chart
 Guidelines for Reading Workshop Anchor
Chart
 Reading Notebook
5th Grade Reading
15
Lesson 4
Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion and Reading is Thinking
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer (Journeys Student Magazine, Unit 6, Lesson 29, pg. 52)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
 Stopping Points –
o After reading the first page, ask: Where does the story take place? (in a cabin in the woods) How
would living in a cabin in the woods be different from living in a city?
o After Blake decides to put apple in his yard, ask: What is the problem in the story? (Blake doesn’t
see any deer outside his cabin.) Does this remind you of a time when you were expecting something
but it didn’t happen the way you expected?
o After Blake says that he has to start thinking like a detective, ask: What would someone do to
think like a detective? Have you ever had to think like a detective?
o At the end of the story, ask: Could this story happen in real life? What parts of the story could
really happen?
2. Plan an appropriate introduction for the IRA. Choose an appropriate introduction to engage your
students and get them thinking about the text. You might…
o prompt students to anticipate a book by a favorite author
o invite personal connections
o provide important background knowledge
o draw attention to the genre
o prompt predictions based on the title
o ask students to make connections to a previously read text
o raise questions to spark curiosity
Strategies and Skills Minilesson: Reading is Thinking-Sticky Notes
Display the Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart that you previously created with your class in Lesson 2.
1. Introduce Reading is Thinking: Using Sticky Notes to Record Your Thinking and Talking
About Your Reading: “When I read I am always thinking about what the author is saying and how I
feel. For example, when I read The Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen, I was thinking about visiting my
uncle’s farm when I was a child. My aunt baked bread just like Eldon’s mother did, and I could
almost smell it. I felt that everything on the farm was old and well used. I liked the description of the
names carved on the beds-names they didn’t even know because the beds were so old. I wondered
what the author was suggesting when he wrote: “I don’t know what he meant exactly, but many
questions I ask Father are answered that way, with words around the edges.” (Teachers, use this
example or another example of something you have read with the class and a connection you made to
the text.)
2. “You will be thinking as you read your book today. You may be thinking about what you like or
don’t like, things the book reminds you of in your life or in other books, or questions you have. You
might be making predictions, noticing something about the author’s language or style, or thinking
about how a character reminds you of someone in your life. I’ll write some of the thinking we talked
about on this Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart to remind you. We can add more later.” Take a
moment to list the kinds of thinking on the Reading is Thinking Anchor Chart.
5th Grade Reading
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3. “Today when we read The Case of the Missing Deer, we will be sharing our thinking and recording
it on sticky notes.” Pass out two sticky notes to each student and have them place them on top of their
Reading Notebook to use during the stopping points of the IRA.
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) The Case of the Missing Deer
1. Introduce Text.

2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use the
Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
Stopping Points –
o After reading the first page, ask: – “Where does the story take place?” (in a cabin in the woods)
“How would living in a cabin in the woods be different from living in a city?” Record your thinking
on your first sticky note. Ask for a couple of volunteers to share their thinking.
o After Blake decides to put apple in his yard, ask: – What is the problem in the story? (Blake
doesn’t see any deer outside his cabin.) Does this remind you of a time when you were expecting
something but it didn’t happen the way you expected?
o After Blake says that he has to start thinking like a detective, ask: – “What would someone do to
think like a detective? Have you ever had to think like a detective?”
o At the end of the story, ask: – “Could this story happen in real life? What parts of the story could
really happen?” Record your thinking on your second sticky note. Ask for a couple of
volunteers to share their thinking.
3. In closing, you might say: “At the end of the week, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with
Characteristics and Noticings of Realistic Fiction. We will be reading another realistic fiction story
together tomorrow.”
4. Independent Practice: “When you are reading today, mark two places in your book where you
might share some of what you were thinking about as you read. Use sticky notes to help you
remember the place so we can share our thoughts when we gather for our group meeting. We might
want to add more kinds of thinking to our list. Place the sticky notes in your Reading Response
section of your Reading Notebook.” (Teachers, you might want to require students to either tape or
paste their sticky notes they use during Reading Workshop.)
5. Group Meeting: Following the Independent Reading time, invite students to talk together about the
thinking they did about their reading. Explain that they can talk about what they are thinking about
their reading.
5th Grade Reading
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6. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they followed the procedure for using
sticky notes. This can be easily accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to
practice more.; or thumbs down=I did not do this.
5th Grade Reading
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Reading is Thinking
This book reminds me of…
I predict….
I wonder….
This part confuses me…
The character reminds me….
Why did/does…..
I think that…..
I notice that the author….
5th Grade Reading
19
Lesson 5
Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion and Turn and Talk
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Elisa’s Diary (Journeys, Unit 1, Lesson 5, pg. 123)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
o After reading about the night Elisa moved to the United States, ask: Why does Elisa write in her
diary that March 25 is the saddest day of her life? Have you ever moved to a new place? (Have a few
students share). Turn and talk about how it felt to be new in a new place if you have every moved.
What was Elisa feeling and why?
o After reading Elisa’s conversation with her brother Francisco, ask: – Why is Elisa angry with
Francisco? Why is Francisco more willing than Elisa to go out and meet people in their new
neighborhood?
o After reading about Jose’s presentation to the class, ask: – What have you learned about Jose so
far? Turn and talk with a partner about Jose’s drawing. Why do you think he shows it during his
presentation?
o At the end of the story, say: – Turn and talk with a partner about what you think Elisa is like as a
teacher.
2. Create the How to Turn and Talk Anchor Chart, but leave the steps blank. You will create these with
your students during the lesson.
3. Plan an appropriate introduction for the IRA. Choose an appropriate introduction to engage your
students and get them thinking about the text. You might…
o prompt students to anticipate a book by a favorite author
o invite personal connections
o provide important background knowledge
o draw attention to the genre
o prompt predictions based on the title
o ask students to make connections to a previously read text
o raise questions to spark curiosity
Management Minilesson: How to Turn and Talk
Display the blank How to Turn and Talk Anchor Chart.
1. Introduce How to Turn and Talk: “Yesterday we talked about how readers think while they read, and
you shared the thinking you were doing as you read. When we talk with a partner or in a small group, we are
going to refer to our talking with each other as a “turn and talk.” Let’s talk a little bit about how we can turn
and talk with each other well, so we can do our best talking and learning. I’ll write our thoughts on this
chart.”
2. Elicit the students’ suggestions, shaping them to create a simple, clear set of guidelines. See the How to
Turn and Talk Anchor Chart for suggested language.
5th Grade Reading
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3. “Let’s practice Turning and Talking now. When we finish, we will use the How to Turn and Talk Anchor
Chart to evaluate how well we did.” Put students in groups of 2 (or 3 when necessary). Have students turn
and talk with their partner about their favorite thing they did over the summer. As students are sharing their
thinking, walk around and listen in to groups and facilitate the conversation when necessary. Have a few
groups share that you noticed did well.
4. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they followed the procedure. This can be easily
accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to practice more.; or thumbs down=I did
not do this.
5. “Today when we read Elisa’s Diary, we will be sharing our thinking with a partner when I ask you to Turn
and Talk. Make sure you listen to what I ask you to think about before you turn and face your partner.”
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) “Elisa’s Diary”
1. Introduce Text.

2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use the
Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
Stopping Points –
o After reading about the night Elisa moved to the United States, ask: Why does Elisa write in her
diary that March 25 is the saddest day of her life? Have you ever moved to a new place? (Have a
few students share). Turn and talk about how it felt to be new in a new place if you have every
moved. What was Elisa feeling and why?
o After reading Elisa’s conversation with her brother Francisco, ask: – Why is Elisa angry with
Francisco? Why is Francisco more willing than Elisa to go out and meet people in their new
neighborhood?
o After reading about Jose’s presentation to the class, ask: – What have you learned about Jose so
far? Turn and talk with a partner about Jose’s drawing. Why do you think he shows it during his
presentation?
o At the end of the story, say: – Turn and talk with a partner about what you think Elisa is like as a
teacher.
3. In closing, you might say “At the end of the week, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with
Characteristics and Noticings of Realistic Fiction. We will be reading another realistic fiction story
together tomorrow.”
5th Grade Reading
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4. Independent Practice: “When you are reading today, mark two places in your book where you
might share some of what you were thinking about as you read. Use sticky notes to help you
remember the place so we can share our thoughts when we gather for our group meeting. Don’t forget
to place your sticky notes in your Reading Notebook in the Reading Response section. During our
Group Meeting, we will Turn and Talk with our partner and share some of our thinking.”
5. Group Meeting: Following Independent Reading time, invite students to Turn and Talk with their
partner about the thinking they did while they were reading.
6. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they followed the procedure. This can be
easily accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to practice more.; or
thumbs down=I did not do this.
5th Grade Reading
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How to Turn and Talk
1. Turn and face your partner and group.
2. One person talks at a time.
3. The listeners look at the speaker.
4. Listen to understand what the speaker is
saying.
5. Members should respond to the speaker’s
thinking by…
I agree! I also think…
What do you think this means?
Hmmm…Maybe you’re right, but I was thinking…because…
What do you mean?
Can you tell me more about that?
I’m wondering…What do you think?
5. The next speaker takes a turn, and
members respond until everyone has shared
their thinking.
5th Grade Reading
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Lesson 6
Realistic Fiction Genre Immersion and Keeping a Record of Reading
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection, Unit 1)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
o Pg. 5, say: In this story, I noticed the author tells us the main problem in the story. Turn and talk with
your partner about what conflict the main character is going to have to try and solve throughout the
story.
o Pg. 15, say: We’ve seen Ira, the main character, interact with another character: his sister. What
kind of relationship do they have? How can you tell?
o Pg. 21, say: Turn and talk about why you think Reggie didn’t answer Ira’s question about teddy
bears. Follow up: Do you think the author was giving you a hint about something that might happen
later?
o Pg. 38, ask: What did we learn about Reggie? Was anyone expecting that to happen? How did you
know?
o At the end of the story, say: Authors use characters’ actions and words to tell us about what
characters are really like. Tell me something you know about Ira, Reggie, or his sister and how you
know.
2. Plan an appropriate introduction for the IRA. Choose an appropriate introduction to engage your
students and get them thinking about the text. You might…
o prompt students to anticipate a book by a favorite author
o invite personal connections
o provide important background knowledge
o draw attention to the genre
o prompt predictions based on the title
o ask students to make connections to a previously read text
o raise questions to spark curiosity
Management Minilesson: Keeping a Record of Your Reading
Display the blank Keeping a Record of Your Reading Anchor Chart.
1. Introduce Keeping a Record of Your Reading: “You have been doing lots of wonderful reading and
thinking about your books. Readers sometimes keep a list of books they’ve read so they can look back at their
reading. Today, I am going to show you a way to help you remember the books you have read. In the front of
your Reading Notebook we created a section called Record of Reading. This is where you will keep a record
of the books you have read.”
2. Point to the section label and open up your Reading Notebook to this section, and place it under the
document camera. If you do NOT have a document camera, you will need to create an enlarged version of the
Record of Reading as an Anchor Chart.
3. Model how to record a book on the Record of Reading list using a student’s independent book as an
example. Say something like, “Nicole, what is a book you are reading right now?” The View from Saturday
”On Nicole’s Record of Reading, she would put the date she began the book and write the Title and Author
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(using capital letters where appropriate) like this.” Model under the document camera or on the anchor chart.
4. “The last column is for the genre code. The View from Saturday is a fictional story that could take place
today, so we will call it Realistic Fiction. When Nicole finishes her book and is sure that it is Realistic Fiction,
she will write RF in the last column.”
5. “During independent time, if you have already finished books this year, just fill in the information on the
list and then write the one you are reading now. I’ll keep this under the document camera as an example of
how to record your books on your list. Remember your Reading Notebook will be a special book for you this
year, and you will want to take very good care of it. When we gather for group meeting today, bring your
Reading Notebook, so partners can check each other’s reading list to be sure we’ve all started to use it
correctly.”
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) “Ira Sleeps Over”
1. Introduce Text.
2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use the
Stopping Points you created before the lesson.

Stopping Points –
o Pg. 5, say: In this story, I noticed the author tells us the main problem in the story. Turn and talk with
your partner about what conflict the main character is going to have to try and solve throughout the
story. Have a few students share their thinking.
o Pg. 15, say: – We’ve seen Ira, the main character, interact with another character: his sister. What
kind of relationship do they have? How can you tell? Have a few students share their thinking.
o Pg. 21, say: – Turn and talk about why you think Reggie didn’t answer Ira’s question about teddy
bears. Follow up: Do you think the author was giving you a hint about something that might happen
later? Have a few students share their thinking.
o Pg. 38, ask: – What did we learn about Reggie? Was anyone expecting that to happen? How did you
know? Have a few students share their thinking.
o At the end of the story, say: Authors use characters’ actions and words to tell us about what
characters are really like. Tell me something you know about Ira, Reggie, or his sister and how you
know. Have a few students share their thinking.
3. In closing, you might say “Tomorrow, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with Characteristics and
Noticings of Realistic Fiction.”
4. Independent Practice: “When you are reading today, mark two places in your book where you
might share some of what you were thinking about as you read. Use sticky notes to help you
remember the place so we can share our thoughts when we gather for our group meeting. During our
Group Meeting, we will Turn and Talk with our partner and share some of our thinking. Don’t forget
to place your sticky notes in your Reading Notebook in the Reading Response section. Also, I want
you to add your book or books you’ve been reading this week to your Record of Reading in your
Reading Notebook.”
5. Group Meeting: Following Independent Reading time, invite students to Turn and Talk with their
partner about the thinking they did while they were reading. Also, have partners check each other’s
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Record of Reading to make sure they listed books correctly.
6. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they followed the procedure. This can be
easily accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to practice more.; or
thumbs down=I did not do this.
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Lesson 7
Realistic Fiction Genre Study and Guidelines for Reading Workshop
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer, Elisa’s Diary, and Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
(BEFORE THE LESSON)
1. Create the Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart leaving both columns completely blank. You
will complete this with your students.
2. Create the COMPLETED Guidelines for Reading Workshop Anchor Chart.
Realistic Fiction Genre Study Minilesson
1. Display the Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of Realistic
Fiction with your students.
2. Explain that all Realistic Fiction stories have certain characteristics. SAY: “We read three
examples of realistic fiction texts: The Case of the Missing Deer, Elisa’s Diary, and Ira Sleeps
Over.” Ask: “What did all of these stories have in common?”
Facilitate discussion using the bullet points below. You may have to model YOUR thinking about the
Genre Noticings.
All of these stories…
 fictional but could happen in real life
 the author made them up with a specific purpose in mind
 the author created characters that are like real people
 each story has a unique plot, but all have characters who have a problem that is resolved through a
series of events
 the story happens in a real place
 the author could choose to have a character tell the story; OR the author could choose a speaker
outside the story, referred to as the narrator, to tell readers the story
 the author creates the story with a message to the reader called a theme; the theme is often a lesson
the character learns about life
3. Complete the Genre Noticings column of the Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart.
4. Distribute a copy of the Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart with the Noticings already
filled in.
.
5. For each Noticing, cite a text example from one of the books read this week, and record it in the
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Book Examples column of the Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart. Students will do the
same on their copy. Paste the completed Realistic Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart in the
Whole Group Section of their Reading Notebook. (A completed sample Realistic Fiction Genre
Study Anchor Chart is included at the end of the lesson.)
Management Minilesson: Guidelines for Reading Workshop
Display the COMPLETED Guidelines for Reading Workshop Anchor Chart.
1. Introduce Guidelines for Reading Workshop: “As readers and writers we need to work together in
our classroom, helping each other do our best learning. Up to this point, we have referred to this time as
Independent Reading. From now on, we will call this time Reading Workshop. We have been talking
about some of the ways we can help each other as readers and writers. On this chart are the ideas or
guidelines for our workshop that we have already talked about and one that we will talk about soon.”
2. Read each Guideline aloud and discuss with your students.
3. Distribute a half-sheet copy of the Guidelines for Reading Workshop to each student and have
them paste it on the back inside cover of their Reading Notebook.
4. Independent Practice: “When you are reading today, mark two places in your book where
you might share some of what you were thinking about as you read. Use sticky notes to help
you remember the place so we can share our thoughts when we gather for our group meeting.
Don’t forget to place your sticky notes in your Reading Notebook in the Reading Response
section. During our Group Meeting, we will Turn and Talk with our partner and share some of
our thinking.”
5. Group Meeting: Following Reading Workshop, invite students to Turn and Talk with their
partner about the thinking they did while they were reading.
6. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they followed the procedure. This can
be easily accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to practice more.;
or thumbs down=I did not do this.
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Guidelines for Reading Workshop
1. You must always be reading a book
and/or writing your thinking about
your reading.
2. You need to work silently to enable
you and your peers to do your best
thinking.
3. Use a soft voice when conferring with
your teacher.
4. Select books you think you’ll enjoy
and abandon books that aren’t working
for you after you’ve given them a good
chance.
5. List the book information using your
Record of Reading.
6. ALWAYS do your best work.
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Guidelines for Reading Workshop
1. You must always be reading a book or writing your thoughts about your reading.
2. You need to work silently to enable you and your peers to do your best thinking.
3. Use a soft voice when conferring with a teacher.
4. Select books you think you’ll enjoy and abandon books that aren’t working for
you after you’ve given them a good chance.
5. List the book information using your Record of Reading.
6. ALWAYS do your best work.
Guidelines for Reading Workshop
1. You must always be reading a book or writing your thoughts about your reading.
2. You need to work silently to enable you and your peers to do your best thinking.
3. Use a soft voice when conferring with a teacher.
4. Select books you think you’ll enjoy and abandon books that aren’t working for
you after you’ve given them a good chance.
5. List the book information using your Record of Reading.
6. ALWAYS do your best work.
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Realistic Fiction- A made up story that could really happen in
today’s world
Noticings
Author’s Purpose: to entertain
Characters: are like real people;
readers learn about characters
and their relationships through
author’s descriptions. Pay
attention to what characters
think, say, and do
Setting: based on a real place
Plot: a series of events that occur
as characters try to solve the
problem/conflict and reach a
resolution
Point of View: narrator or
speaker of story
Theme: the story’s message to the
reader, often determined through
what characters in the story learn.
Book Examples
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Realistic Fiction- A made up story that could really happen in
today’s world
Noticings
Author’s Purpose: to entertain
Characters: are like real people;
readers learn about characters
and their relationships through
author’s descriptions. Pay
attention to what characters
think, say, and do
Setting: based on a real place
Book Examples
Author’s Purpose: (The Case of the Missing Deer)
to entertain the reader with a mystery the main
character had to solve with the help of friends
Characters: (Ira Sleeps Over)




Ira, the main character
His sister
His parents
Reggie, his friend that invites him over
Setting: (Elisa’s Diary) The setting of the beginning
of the story is in the United States at Elisa’s house
when she was a child. Another setting is at Elisa’s
school, when she was a child. At the end of the
story, the setting is present day when Elisa is an
adult, teaching at the school where she works.
Plot: (The Case of the Missing Deer)
Plot: a series of events that occur
as characters try to solve the
problem/conflict and reach a
resolution
Problem: Blake goes on a vacation with his family
and is expecting to see some deer by the cabin
where he is staying.


Point of View: narrator or
speaker of story
Theme: the story’s message to the
reader, often determined through
what characters in the story learn.
His new friends try to help him solve the
mystery of the “missing deer” by gathering
clues.
After reading an article in a nature magazine
about deer, Blake realizes his jacket that’s been
left outside is scaring the deer away because it
smells like humans.
Resolution: He takes the jacket inside and deer
visit his cabin.
Point of View (Elisa’s Diary): outside narrator, not
a character
(Ira Sleeps Over): Ira tells the story
Theme (Elisa’s Diary): Obstacles can be overcome,
even though we face many hardships.
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
8
9
10
11
12
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: 5.6A
Obj: We will describe incidents that advance
the story or novel, explaining how each
incident gives rise to or foreshadows future
events.
Product: I will describe incidents that
advance the story or novel, explaining how
each incident gives rise to or foreshadows
future events when reading a realistic fiction
text.
TEKS: 5.6A
Obj: We will describe incidents that advance
the story or novel, explaining how each
incident gives rise to or foreshadows future
events.
Product: I will describe incidents that
advance the story or novel, explaining how
each incident gives rise to or foreshadows
future events when reading a realistic fiction
text.
TEKS: 5.6A
Obj: We will describe incidents that advance
the story or novel, explaining how each
incident gives rise to or foreshadows future
events.
Product: I will describe incidents that
advance the story or novel, explaining how
each incident gives rise to or foreshadows
future events when reading a realistic fiction
text.
TEKS: 5.6A/Fig 19E
Obj: We will summarize information in text
maintaining meaning and logical order.
Product: I will summarize information in
text maintaining meaning and logical order
when reading a realistic fiction text.
TEKS: 5.6, 5.6A, Fig 19E
Obj: We will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding by
answering test-formatted questions.
Procedure
Focus: Understanding Plot
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Plot Diagram Anchor Chart
Focus: Understanding Plot
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Plot Diagram Anchor Chart
Focus: Foreshadowing
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Plot Diagram Anchor Chart
 Sticky Notes
Focus: Summarizing
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Summarizing Anchor Chart
Focus: Bridging to the Testing Genre
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Bridging Stems Handout
 Sentence Strips or Colored Paper
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Lesson 8
Understanding Plot
Lesson Overview: 5.6A
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
(BEFORE THE LESSON)
1. Create the Plot Line Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the Plot Line blank. You
will complete this with you students.
Understanding Plot Minilesson
1. Display Plot Line Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of each component.
2. Explain that all Realistic Fiction stories have a unique plot that the author uses to convey his message to
the reader by using characters who have a problem and how they resolve their conflict in the story.
3. Fill in the Plot Line Anchor Chart with your students using The Case of the Missing Deer.
4. Independent Practice: Students will read Elisa’s Diary (Journeys) and begin to complete a Plot
Line in their Reading Notebook using the handout provided.
5. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Plot Line
Title:_________________________
Climax-Turning Point
Resolution-Reasonable
Ending
Problem/Conflict
Introduction to Characters and Setting:
Problem/Conflict: Starts the Action; Problem the main character faces
Rising Action: Sequence of Events



Climax: Turning Point of the Story
Falling Action: Event(s) that Lead to Resolution

Resolution: Solves the character’s conflict; Reasonable Ending-the
character is going to be okay; Not always happy ending
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Plot Line
Title:
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36
Lesson 9
Understanding Plot
Lesson Overview: 5.6A
Text: Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Plot Line Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the Plot Line blank. You
will complete this with you students.
Understanding Plot Minilesson
1. Display Plot Line Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of each component.
2. Explain that all Realistic Fiction stories have a unique plot that the author uses to convey his message to
the reader by using characters who have a problem and how they resolve their conflict in the story.
3. Fill in the Plot Line Anchor Chart with your students using Ira Sleeps Over. Today, you will want to
release more responsibility to your students in completing the Plot Line.
4. Independent Practice: Students will read Elisa’s Diary (Journeys) and complete the Plot Line in
their Reading Notebook using the handout provided.
5. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Lesson 10
Foreshadowing
Lesson Overview: 5.6A
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Foreshadowing Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, and using the completed Plot
Line from The Case of the Missing Deer.
Foreshadowing Minilesson
1. Display Foreshadowing Anchor Chart and discuss the definition and how readers use foreshadowing
to predict future events.
2. Explain that authors often use foreshadowing to give the reader a sense of urgency, wanting to know
what will happen next and how events in the plot influence future events.
3. Identify which events hint at future events in The Case of the Missing Deer. (Blake leaves his jacket
out on a chair early in the plot, which is the reason the deer will not visit his cabin.) Using a sticky
note, explain how the events give rise to future events, place the sticky note by the example of
foreshadowing, and draw an arrow to the event it hinted at on the Plot Line.
4. Independent Practice: Students will read Elisa’s Diary (Journeys) and add some examples of
foreshadowing to their completed Plot Line from the previous day, either just writing it in or using
sticky notes.
5. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Foreshadowing
Title:_________________________
Climax-Turning Point
Resolution-Reasonable
Ending
Problem/Conflict
Foreshadowing = hints or clues the author gives the reader about future events
Some examples could be:
- conversation between characters
- character actions
- creates a feeling of suspense/excitement
How does the first event hint at a future event?
Blake throws his jacket into a chair
during a soccer game and forgets
to pick it up and take it inside that
evening.
The scent from his jacket deters
the deer from coming near his
cabin.
When readers notice clues in the text that make them wonder about what is
going to happen later in the story, the author has used foreshadowing.
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Lesson 11
Summarizing Fiction
Lesson Overview: 5.6/Fig. 19E
Text: The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart with the definitions completed but the summary left
blank. You will also use the completed Plot Line from The Case of the Missing Deer to craft your
summary with your students.
Summarizing Fiction Minilesson
1. Display Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart and discuss the elements of a good summary. Emphasize
the importance of paraphrasing the plot’s main events.
 paraphrase – to express the meaning of something written in different words, especially to clarify the
message
2. Write the summary on the Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart with your students using The Case of
the Missing Deer modeling your thinking when you use the Plot Line to paraphrase the events.
3. Independent Practice: Students will write a summary in their Reading Notebook using their
completed Plot Line from Elisa’s Diary (Journeys).
4. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Summarizing Fiction
A summary is the retelling in your own words, or paraphrasing, of the
most important parts.
The most important parts in fiction:
Conflict
Resolution
Most Important Event(s) that move the
Character from the Conflict to the Resolution
Summary:
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Lesson 12
Bridging: Understanding Plot, Foreshadowing, and Summarizing Fiction
Lesson Overview: 5.6A, 5.6/Fig. 19E
Text: Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Using the stems from the Bridging Handout, write questions for the texts you have read together in
class. Write the questions on sentence strips, a colored sheet of paper, or a half-sheet Anchor Chart. You
will add these to your Plot Line Anchor Chart and your Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart during
the lesson.

Using the story Ira Sleeps Over, a possible question could be: Before Ira is able to feel comfortable with
Reggie knowing about his teddy bear, it is necessary for him to – (feel confident that Reggie will not make
fun of him and still accept him as a friend)
Bridging: Understanding Plot, Foreshadowing, and Summarizing Fiction Minilesson

1. Display the Plot Line Anchor Chart and your Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart and explain
that test makers have certain language that they use when they write test questions.
You must explicitly make the connection between the skills they have learned in class and what the test
question is asking the reader to do.
2. Using the questions you wrote for Ira Sleeps Over, read the first question and explain what the
question is asking the reader to do. Then model using the appropriate Anchor Chart and the evidence
from the text (Ira Sleeps Over) to support your thinking in crafting your answer.
3. Record the answer to the question and add it to the appropriate anchor chart.
4. Continue using this same process until you have bridged each question.
5. Independent Practice: Student will complete the bridging assessment…
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42
Use the data from this assessment to make informed decisions about individual student’s needs.
6. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in
the Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Bridging
How is ______ able to solve his/her problem?
Before _______ (the resolution of the conflict), it is
necessary for the character(s) to ________ -(event that leads to the resolution)
The narrator/character’s actions in the story
show the he/she ___________ (character’s actions that give the reader a hint he/she will solve the conflict foreshadowing)
According to the story, the
narrator/character’s conflict is caused by -
5.6A
What is the best summary of the story?
What is paragraph ___ mostly about?
5.6/Fig. 19E
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
13
14
15
16
17
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: Fig. 19D
Obj: We will make inferences about text and
use textual evidence to support
understanding.
Product: I will make inferences about text
and use textual evidence to support
understanding.
TEKS: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will explain the roles and functions
of characters in various plots, including their
relationships and conflicts.
Product: I will explain the roles and
functions of characters in various plots,
including their relationships and conflicts.
TEKS: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will explain the roles and functions
of characters in various plots, including their
relationships and conflicts.
Product: I will explain the roles and
functions of characters in various plots,
including their relationships and conflicts.
Procedure
Focus: Making Inferences
Text: Elisa’s Diary (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Inference Anchor Chart
TEKS: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will explain the roles and functions
of characters in various plots, including their
relationships and conflicts.
Product: I will explain the roles and
functions of characters in various plots,
including their relationships and conflicts.
TEKS: 5.6B, 5.6/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding by
answering test-formatted questions.
Focus: Character Conflicts
Text: Elisa’s Diary (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Character Conflict Anchor Chart
Focus: Understanding Characters
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Understanding Characters Anchor Chart
Focus: Characters’ Roles and Relationships
Text: Elisa’s Diary (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Characters’ Roles Anchor Chart
 Characters’ Relationships Anchor Chart
Focus: Bridging to the Testing Genre
Text: Ira Sleeps Over (CSCOPE Collection)
and The Case of the Missing Deer (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Bridging Stems Handout
 Sentence Strips or Colored Paper
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Lesson 13
Inferring
Lesson Overview: Fig. 19D
Text: Elisa’s Diary
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Inference Anchor Chart with the definition and column headings completed. You will
complete the rest with your students.
2. Use sticky notes to prepare samples of inferences, background knowledge, and text evidence to use
during the lesson. You will need to write each sample of text evidence, each sample of background
knowledge, and each sample inference on a SEPARATE sticky note, so you can stick them individually
where they belong during the lesson as you are modeling your thinking.
See completed Inference Anchor Chart.
Inferring Minileson
1. Display Inference Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of each inferring.
2. “Sometimes you need to make an inference using text evidence and background knowledge.” Place the
sticky note with the text evidence on the Anchor Chart in the first row and read it aloud.
3. Model thinking about your background knowledge and place that sticky note on the Anchor Chart in the
first row.
4. Think aloud about how readers use text evidence and their schema to infer ideas about the text. Model
composing the inference then place the sticky note on the Anchor Chart in the first row.
5. “Sometimes we need to find text evidence to support an inference.” Place the second sticky note with
the inference on the Anchor Chart in the second row and read it aloud.
6. Think aloud using your background knowledge and locate text evidence to support the inference. Place
the sticky note with the background knowledge and text evidence on the Anchor Chart in the second
row.
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7. Independent Practice: Students will use the Inferring Handout and the text The Case of the
Missing Deer (Journeys) to make an inference and locate text evidence to support an inference in
their Reading Notebook.
8. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
5th Grade Reading
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Inference = an idea the author does not state
+
Text Evidence
=
+ Background Knowledge =
(schema)
Inference
When I go on a wonderful vacation,
sometimes you never want to leave!
But when I get home, I’m always so
glad because there truly is no better
feeling that coming home after being
gone for a while.
Elisa is missing her home and
country even though she is
with her family and had once
wanted to live there.
I do not like to feel alone,
especially when I think people
are making fun of me. It would
be miserable to feel that way at
school every day.
Elisa’s language barrier and
hesitance to try new things is
making school difficult for her.
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Inference = an idea the author does not state
+
Text Evidence
=
+ Background Knowledge =
(schema)
Inference
By bedtime, Blake had not caught
sight of a single deer. Living in the
city, he would never be able to see
deer on his doorstep. This was his
only chance!
Blake enjoys being outdoors
and interacting with nature,
but he doesn’t get to do that
very often.
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Lesson 14
Understanding Character
Lesson Overview: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Text: Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Understanding Character Anchor Chart with the definition and Character’s Actions/Words
completed. You will complete the rest with your students.
Understanding Character Minilesson
1. Display Understanding Character Anchor Chart and discuss how Character’s Thoughts, Actions, and
Words are clues that can help readers figure out the reasons characters act the way they do. We can use
these clues to make inferences about characters.
2. Read the first excerpt from the text about a conversation between Ira and Reggie. Explain how Reggie’s
actions help you infer that… (See the completed Understanding Characters Anchor Chart for
examples.)
3. Use this same process to continue modeling how readers make inferences to better understand
characters.
4. Independent Practice: Students will use the Understanding Characters Handout and the text
Elisa’s Diary (Journeys) and make three inferences about characters based on their thoughts, words
and actions in their Reading Notebook.
5. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Understanding Characters
Details such as what characters think, say, and do are clues that the reader can use
to help them figure out the reasons characters act the way they do.
Character:__________________
What can we infer about characters based on their actions or words?
Character’s
Thoughts,
Actions or
Words
When Ira asks Reggie what he
thinks about teddy bears, but
Reggie doesn’t respond…
Ira’s sister says: “What if Reggie
wants to know your teddy bear’s
name. Did you think about that?
And did you think about how he
will laugh and say Tah Tah is a silly,
baby name, even for a teddy
bear?”
At the end of the story, when Ira
goes and gets his teddy bear from
his house and goes back to
Reggie’s, he tries to tell Reggie
what his teddy bear’s name is.
Reggie, however, has fallen asleep.
The narrator’s/character’s
actions/words show that --
The narrator’s/character’s
actions/words imply that --
Based on their actions/words,
the reader can infer that --
Reggie doesn’t answer because he
probably didn’t want Ira to know
that he still sleeps with a teddy
bear because he was afraid of what
Ira would think.
Ira’s sister is trying to make him
Ira has overcome his fear of
more confused and conflicted in his rejection and knows his friend will
decision. He wants to take to his
not judge him.
teddy bear, but she keeps saying
things that make him unsure about
what decision to make.
(text evidence)
Inferences
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Understanding Characters
Details such as what characters think, say, and do are clues that the reader
can use to help them figure out the reasons characters act the way they do.
Character:___Elisa________
What can we infer about characters based on their actions or words?
Character’s
Thoughts,
Actions, or
Words
She opened her lesson
planner, thought a
moment, then shut it. She
stood up and wrote on the
board “The Joining of
Forces.” – pg. 132
(text evidence)
The narrator’s/character’s
actions/words show that --
Inferences Squirrels used to symbolize
a time of joy and hope for
Elisa, but now they are a
reminder of what she has
lost.
The narrator’s/character’s
actions/words imply that --
Based on their actions/words,
the reader can infer that --
Elisa views herself as a
“lamb” and Jose as a
“quetzal” that helped her
excel. She is grateful for his
friendship.
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Lesson 15
Understanding Characters’ Roles and Relationships
Lesson Overview: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Text: Elisa’s Diary
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Character Relationships Chart with the definition completed but the boxes left blank. You
will complete the rest with your students.
2. Create the Character Roles Chart with the definition completed but the boxes left blank. You will
complete the rest with your students.
Understanding Character Relationships Minilesson
1. Display Character Relationships Anchor Chart.
2. Discuss how characters influence each other based on what they do and how they feel. Also, explain that
character relationships often change over the course of the plot depending on the events and characters’
changes over time.
 Thinking aloud with your students, discuss who the main character is and another character who
influenced him/her. Who are my main characters? (Elisa and Jose) Record on the Anchor
Chart.
 Compose a sentence that explains Elisa and Jose’s relationship and locate text evidence to
support your thinking. Explain their relationship. (Elisa and Jose help each other and bond over
an issue they both struggle with – learning English.) Record on the Anchor Chart.
3. Use the text (Elisa’s Diary) to find text evidence to support the statement about their relationship.
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Understanding Character Roles Minilessons
1. Display Character Roles Anchor Chart and discuss how authors create characters with specific roles in
mind. Some may be a father, a brother, a friend, etc. Authors use these characters and their roles to further
the events in the plot. Not all characters play important roles in the plot, but some have crucial roles.
2. Model listing all the characters and their roles in Elisa’s Diary. Then, explain their role in the plot: part
of the conflict, climax, resolution, rising actions, or falling actions.
 For example, Elisa’s parents do not play roles that advance the plot.
 Her brother does play a role in the conflict because he is learning English much more easily
and quickly than she, so her internal conflict is intensified.
 Jose plays a role in the resolution because he helps her learn how to speak English better,
which solves her problem. That leads to her becoming a teacher later in life. Without Jose’s
friendship and help, learning to speak English would’ve been much more difficult.
3. Complete the Response at the bottom of the anchor chart and model thinking aloud about your response.
 Without Jose’s friendship and willingness to teach Elisa, she might have not had any
friends that she could communicate with that year. Learning to speak English would’ve
been more difficult. Her relationship with Jose leads to her becoming a teacher later in life.
4. Independent Practice: Students will use the text The Case of the Missing Deer and complete a
Character Relationships Chart and a Character Roles Chart in their Reading Notebook. Students
will use what they wrote about Character Roles to complete the response question: How would the
plot change if Maria and her brothers were not in the story?
5. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Character Relationships: how characters
influence one another based on what they do and
how they feel
Who are my main characters?
Explain their relationship. (What is their relationship like?)
Use the text to show how you know.
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Character Roles
Authors create characters with specific roles in
the plot, such as mother, father, friend, enemy,
partner, brother, sister, etc. The character’s
role plays an important part in one of the main
parts of the plot: conflict, climax, or resolution.
Character
Role
Explain their Role in
the Plot
How would the plot change if Jose were not in the story?
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Lesson 16
Understanding Characters’ Conflicts
Lesson Overview: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Text: Ira Sleeps Over and The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Character Conflicts Anchor Chart with the definition completed and the chart left blank.
You will complete the rest with your students.
Understanding Characters’ Conflicts Minilesson
1. Display Character Conflicts Anchor Chart and discuss how characters’ problems, or conflicts, are
what set up the events in the plot.
 Without a problem, there is no story to be told.
 The character(s) with the problem are usually the main character(s) or the focus of the plot.
 The author follows them throughout the story with events that lead to the resolution of the
conflict.
 The resolution doesn’t always solve characters’ conflicts, but it does resolve the conflict. This
doesn’t always mean a “happy ending.” Students must begin using the language conflict,
resolution, solve, resolve when discussing characters’ problems.
2. Discuss the different types of conflicts readers commonly see in fictional texts using the Character
Conflicts Anchor Chart.
3. Add text examples of Internal and External Conflicts from Ira Sleeps Over and The Case of the
Missing Deer.
6. Independent Practice: Students will use the text Elisa’s Diary (Journeys) and complete a Character
Conflicts Chart in their Reading Notebook.
7. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in the
Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Character Conflicts:
problems in the plot that characters can face; often there are multiple
conflicts
Type of Conflict
Internal Conflict
(man vs. himself)
External Conflict
(man vs. man, man
vs. nature)
Meaning
-not visual or tangible
-the struggle is usually inside a
character’s mind
 A character is dealing with his or
her mixed feelings or emotions.
 A character may have to decide
between right or wrong or two
solutions to a problem.
 A character can face several types
of outside forces
- outside force may be another
character
- does not have to be a physical
conflict, but can be a battle
between 2 ideas
- mostly this refers to 2 characters
against one another
- may also be forces of nature
Examples from text
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Lesson 17
Bridging: Inferring About Characters and Their Relationships, Roles, and Conflicts
Lesson Overview: 5.6B, 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Text: Elisa’s Diary
Approach: Minilesson
(BEFORE THE LESSON)
 Using the stems from the Bridging Handout, write questions for the texts you have read together in class.
Write the questions on sentence strips, a colored sheet of paper, or a half-sheet Anchor Chart. You will add
these to your Understanding Characters Anchor Chart, Character Roles Anchor Chart, Character
Relationship Anchor Chart, and Character Conflicts Anchor Chart during the lesson.


Using the story Elisa’s Diary, a possible question could be:
Why does it make sense that Elisa is frustrated with her brother when he tells her to watch TV
programs in English? – (He is trying to give her advice to help her learn to speak English because he is
learning more easily than she is. School is coming up, and he will be able to communicate with his
classmates, but she will have a much harder time.)
Bridging: Inferring About Characters’ and Their Relationships, Roles, and Conflicts Minilesson

1. Display the Understanding Characters Anchor Chart, Character Roles Anchor Chart,
Character Relationship Anchor Chart, and Character Conflicts Anchor Chart, and explain that
test makers have certain language that they use when they write test questions.
You must explicitly make the connection between the skills they have learned in class and what the test
question is asking the reader to do.
2. Using the questions you wrote for Elisa’s Diary, read the first question and explain what the question
is asking the reader to do. Then model using the appropriate Anchor Chart and the evidence text
(Elisa’s Diary ) to support your thinking in crafting your answer.
3. Continue using this same process until you have bridged each question.
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4. Record the answer to the question and add it to the appropriate anchor chart.

5. Independent Practice: Student will complete the bridging assessment…
Use the data from this assessment to make informed decisions about individual student’s needs.
6. Reading Workshop: Each day as students complete the independent practice, they SHOULD read
their independent book, record thinking on sticky notes, paste them in their Reading Notebook in
the Reading Response section, and continue to keep a Record of their Reading.
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Bridging
From the events in the story, what can the
reader conclude about _______?
(character in the story)
Why does it make sense that ______(character in
the story) is _______ (emotion) when _______?(event
that causes the emotion)
Which sentence from the story best shows
that _______ realizes _________?
(character’s actions that show the reader he/she has changed during the plot)
Read this sentence from the story.
(text evidence that shows the character feels a certain way, specifically at the
resolution of the conflict)
This sentence shows that –
_________ contributes to solving the
narrator’s problem mostly by—
5.6B/Fig. 19D
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
18
19
20
21
22
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: Fig. 19A-C, 5.6
Obj: We will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
TEKS: Fig. 19A-C, 5.6
Obj: We will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
TEKS: Fig. 19A-C, 5.6
Obj: We will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
TEKS: Fig. 19A-C, 5.6
Obj: We will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about the structure and elements
of historical fiction and provide evidence from text
to support our understanding.
TEKS: 5.6A, Fig. 19D
Obj: We will describe incidents that advance the
story or novel, explaining how each incident gives
rise to or foreshadows future events.
Product: I will describe incidents that advance the
story or novel, explaining how each incident gives
rise to or foreshadows future events.
Procedure
Focus: Historical Fiction Genre Immersion &
Different Ways to Respond
Text: Willie and the All-Stars
Approach: IRA
Resources/Materials:
 Reading Notebook
 Different Ways to Respond Anchor Chart
Focus: Historical Fiction Genre Immersion &
Using Sticky Notes
Text: “Old Yeller”
Approach: IRA
Resources/Materials:
 Sticky notes
Focus: Historical Fiction Genre Immersion &
Monitoring Comprehension
Text: Pink and Say
Approach: IRA
Resources/Materials:
 How to Know if You Understood What You
Read Anchor Chart
Focus: Historical Fiction Genre Study & Solving
Unknown Words
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, “Old Yeller,”
and/or Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Solving Unknown Words Anchor Chart
 Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart
Focus: Plot and Reading Workshop Review
Text: Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Plot Anchor Chart or Teacher’s Reader
Notebook
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Lesson 18
Historical Fiction Genre Immersion and Different Ways to Respond
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Willie and the All-Stars (CSCOPE Collection, Unit 1)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
 After you read the first page, say: I notice the author begins by telling us the setting: 1942 in
Chicago. The setting tells me this is set in a time in history. Also important to the setting is the
historical movement that will impact the theme and characters. What do you already know from
our Author’s Note that will be a prominent historical movement?
 After Willie and his friends play stickball in the street, say: – What can we infer about
“stickball” from the text and pictures? Turn and talk to your partner about what you can infer
about “stickball.”
 After Ol’ Ezra tells Willie about the Negro League, say: – The narrator tells us something
important here – “All of a sudden Willie felt all closed up inside. Almost like he was trapped in a
box.” Why does Willie feel this way? How is he “trapped in a box?” Turn and talk to your partner
and share your thinking.
 After the author describes the Negro players when Willie is at the stadium: – The author
doesn’t give a clear description of the Major League Players, just the Negro League. What can
infer were the differences in the Negro League Players and the Major League Players?
 At the end of the story, say: Tell me what lesson you feel like Willie learned in the story. How does
that connect to your life? Turn and talk to your partner about what you think is the theme of this
story.
3. Write the Reading Response in Teacher’s Reading Notebook.
4. Create the Different Ways to Respond Anchor Chart.
Strategies and Skills Minilesson: Different Ways to Respond
1. Introduce Different Ways to Respond: “Together we have shared our thinking by talking about
books I have read aloud to you. You have been doing thinking and talking about the books you have
chosen to read. You have talked about your thinking with a partner and in groups. Now instead of only
talking about your thinking, you’re going to put your thinking on paper. When you write about your
thinking, you can remember it and share it with other who read it.”
2. “In our class this year, you’re going to share your thinking by writing your thoughts as a response in
your Reading Notebook. Each day you are going to respond in your Reading Notebook, sharing what
you are thinking about the book you are reading. I have written a response today to share my thinking
about a book I’m reading.” Display the Reading Response that you have written in your
Teacher’s Reading Notebook under the document camera and read it to the students. If you do
NOT have a document camera, you will need to create an enlarged version of the Reading Response as
an Anchor Chart.
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3. Ask students: “What do you notice about the response I wrote?” Discuss student responses.
5. Display the Different Ways to Respond Anchor Chart. “I’ve made a list of all the different kinds of
writing about books you have done and can tell me about in your responses. Here are some of the
topics you can write about in your response. I’m sure we will have many more to add as we continue to
write about books we are reading. Let’s place our list on the wall, and I will give you a copy to paste
in your Reading Notebook. If you are having difficulty thinking about what you want to share in your
response, this list may help you.” Read and discuss topics.
6. Distribute the student copy of the Different Ways to Respond List and have students paste it in
their Reading Notebook.
7. “Today when we read Willie and the All-Stars, we will be sharing our thinking and recording it on
sticky notes.” Pass out two sticky notes to each student and have them place them on top of their
Reading Notebook to use during the stopping points of the IRA.
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) Willie and the All-Stars


1. Building Background – Because the historical event and/or time period is important to
understanding the structure and elements of historical fiction, building background knowledge for
the historical context is critical for students to comprehend the text.
Willie and the All-Stars takes place during the segregation era in the 1940s.
Read the “Author’s Note” on the last page of Willie and the All-Stars to activate and build background
knowledge for your students.
2. Introduce Text:
 You might say: “Willie and the All-Stars is a story about a boy named Willie who is an
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African American in a time when white people and black people did not have equal rights.
There was a period of segregation, which means whites and blacks were kept separated –
separate restaurants, water fountains, neighborhoods, and even sports leagues. Willie loves
baseball, and he even has several favorite players. Listen to find out what Willie learns.”

2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use
the Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
Stopping Points –
 After you read the first page, say: I notice the author begins by telling us the setting: 1942 in
Chicago. The setting tells me this is set in a time in history. Also important to the setting is the
historical movement that will impact the theme and characters. What do you already know from
our Author’s Note (and background knowledge) that will be a prominent historical movement?
Have a few students share their thinking.
 After Willie and his friends play stickball in the street, say: – What can we infer about
“stickball” from the text and pictures? Record your thinking on your sticky note. Turn and talk
to your partner about what you can infer about “stickball.” Have a few students share their
thinking.
 After Ol’ Ezra tells Willie about the Negro League, say: – The narrator tells us something
important here – “All of a sudden Willie felt all closed up inside. Almost like he was trapped in a
box.” Why does Willie feel this way? How is he “trapped in a box?” Record your thinking on
your sticky note. Turn and talk to your partner and share your thinking. Have a few students
share their thinking.
 After the author describes the Negro players when Willie is at the stadium: – The author
doesn’t give a clear description of the Major League Players, just the Negro League. What can
infer were the differences in the Negro League Players and the Major League Players? Record
your thinking on your sticky note. Have a few students share their thinking.
 At the end of the story, say: Tell me what lesson you feel like Willie learned in the story. How does
that connect to your life? Record your thinking on your sticky note. Turn and talk to your
partner about what you think is the theme of this story. Have a few students share their thinking.
7. In closing, you might say: “At the end of the week, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with
Characteristics and Noticings of Historical Fiction. We will be reading another historical fiction
story together tomorrow.”
8. Independent Practice: “Today during Reading Workshop, you are going to practice writing a
response about your thinking. Use the Different Ways to Respond list and your sticky notes to help
you write about your thinking about Willie and the All-Stars. Use my example to help you begin
writing your response. During our Group Meeting, we will share some of our responses.”
9. Group Meeting: Following the Independent Reading time, invite students to share their responses
with their partner. Listen in to the conversations and have students share quality responses with the
whole group.
10. Informal Assessment: Have students reflect on how well they responded to their reading. This can
be easily accomplished with a thumbs up=I did it!; thumbs to the side=I need to practice more.; or
thumbs down=I did not do this.
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Different Ways to Respond
Different Ways to Respond

what the book is about

what the book is about

how the book reminds you of another book

how the book reminds you of another book

how the book makes you feel

how the book makes you feel

how the author describes things

how the author describes things

whether you like the book or not and why

whether you like the book or not and why

why you think the author wrote the book

why you think the author wrote the book

why you chose the book

why you chose the book

how you feel about the author’s writing

how you feel about the author’s writing

whether or not you would recommend the
book to another reader

whether or not you would recommend the
book to another reader

why you abandoned a book

why you abandoned a book

what you predict will happen

what you predict will happen

what you would change about the book

what you would change about the book

examples of stereotypes or bias

examples of stereotypes or bias

what you found interesting

what you found interesting

what you were wondering about

what you were wondering about

whether the book is easy, just right, or
challenging and how you can tell

whether the book is easy, just right, or
challenging and how you can tell

about the genre

about the genre

what you think is the author’s message

what you think is the author’s message

what books you look forward to reading

what books you look forward to reading

what you don’t understand or questions you
have

what you don’t understand or questions you
have

how you feel about a character

how you feel about a character

what you notice about the author’s
style/language

what you notice about the author’s
style/language

something about the author and what it has

something about the author and what it has
to do with the story
to do with the story

what was funny to you

what was funny to you

what you like/dislike about the setting

what you like/dislike about the setting

how the setting affects the characters

how the setting affects the characters

about good word choices/special language

about good word choices/special language

what you think about the author’s lead

what you think about the author’s lead

how the author captured your interest

how the author captured your interest
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Different Ways to Respond

what the book is about

how the book reminds you of another book

how the book makes you feel

how the author describes things

whether you like the book or not and why

why you think the author wrote the book

why you chose the book

how you feel about the author’s writing

whether or not you would recommend the book to another reader

why you abandoned a book

what you predict will happen

what you would change about the book

examples of stereotypes or bias

what you found interesting

what you were wondering about

whether the book is easy, just right, or challenging and how you can tell

about the genre

what you think is the author’s message

what books you look forward to reading

what you don’t understand or questions you have

how you feel about a character

what you notice about the author’s style/language

something about the author and what it has to do with the story

what was funny to you

what you like/dislike about the setting

how the setting affects the characters

about good word choices/special language

what you think about the author’s lead

how the author captured your interest
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Write this sample response in your Teacher’s Reading Notebook.
September 22, 2014
The first thing I thought about when I read The Keeping Quilt is what
it was like for immigrants who come to the U.S. for the first time. Patricia
Polacco’s great-grandparents came from Russia. They faced many changes.
There were other people from different countries and a new language. I
think about how we are all here now but that we or our ancestors came as
immigrants from other countries. We are different in a lot of ways but also
have things in common, like our classroom community of learners.
Another thing I noticed as I read was how the author creates pictures
in the readers’ minds. I like how she uses details to make scenes clear for
the readers. For example, Polacco writes about cut out animals and
flowers from the scraps of clothing while the quilt was being made.
I enjoyed this book because I really like books about families!
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Lesson 19
Historical Fiction Genre Immersion and Using Sticky Notes to Prepare for Writing Responses
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Old Yeller (Journeys, Unit 2, Lesson 7, pg. 176)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
 After reading the introduction, ask: When does this story take place? What do you think life was
like back then in Texas?
 After reading that the bear cub is charging Arliss, ask: How does this part of the story make you
feel? Turn and talk to your partner and share your thinking.
 After reading about the fight between the bear and Old Yeller, ask: What words and phrases
did the author use to help you see the fight between Old Yeller and the bear? Write specific
language the author used on your sticky note to share.
 At the end of the story, ask: How would you describe the narrator in the story. Why? Turn and
talk to ta partner and share your thinking.
Strategies and Skills Minilesson: Using Sticky Notes to Prepare for Writing Responses
1. Introduce Using Sticky Notes to Prepare for Writing Responses: “We have been talking about
all the different ways we think about what we are reading and how we share our thinking in our
journals. As you read this week, stop one or two times to make some quick notes about your
thinking on sticky notes, and place them in your Reading Notebook. When you are ready to write
your response, you can use your sticky notes to help you remember the parts you want to write
about. This may help you write letters that show lots of good thinking about your reading.”
2. CAUTION:
 You will not want to overdo the use of sticky notes because it will interrupt the reading
process. Some children will NOT need the support of stick-on notes.
 Your students should be reading and recording their thinking EVERY DAY. A response
should be completed by the end of the week. (Some students will write a couple of
sentences each day. Others will wait and complete the response on Friday. Either way is
acceptable.)
 The purpose of the response is for students to record their thinking while reading and to
share it with others.
3. COMMON READING RESPONSE ROADBLOCKS:
 If students think they must complete a book before they write a response, then remind
them that a response is not a summary of their book, rather a written collection of their
thoughts while they read.
 If students abandon a book, then they need to respond about why they abandoned the book
and what kind of book they want to read next and why.
 If students are reading a different book each day, then they are not engaging with text.
You will need to confer with them to give them a direction in selecting a book.
 “Fake reading” is often a sign of choosing the wrong book. You will need to confer with
those students to help them choose books that are engaging to them.
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Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) “Old Yeller”
1. Building Background – Because the historical event and/or time period is important to
understanding the structure and elements of historical fiction, building background knowledge for
the historical context is critical for students to comprehend the text.
o “Old Yeller” takes place during on the frontier in the 1800s. Ask students to think about
and share what they already know about life on the frontier during that time period.
o Read pg. 174 “Background” to your students and discuss it.
2. Introduce Text:
 You might say: “We know that in historical fiction, the time and place where the story takes
place often impacts every element of the story. In this story, the narrator might even say things
a little differently because the author wanted to make it seem like the characters were very
authentic and realistic. The author’s message in “Old Yeller” is impacted by the setting, but
we can still relate to it as readers today.”
3. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use
the Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
 Stopping Points –
o After reading the introduction, ask: When does this story take place? What do you think life
was like back then in Texas?
o After reading that the bear cub is charging Arliss, ask: – How does this part of the story
make you feel? Turn and talk to your partner and share your thinking.
o After reading about the fight between the bear and Old Yeller, ask: – What words and
phrases did the author use to help you see the fight between Old Yeller and the bear? Write
specific language the author used to share.
o At the end of the story, ask: – How would you describe the narrator in the story. Why? Turn
and talk to ta partner and share your thinking.
4. In closing, you might say: “At the end of the week, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with
Characteristics and Noticings of Historical Fiction. We will be reading another historical fiction
story together tomorrow.”
5. Independent Practice: “Today during Reading Workshop, you are going to continue reading your
independent book and jotting your thinking on sticky notes. Remember to place these in your
Reading Notebook so they don’t get lost. If you want to begin your Weekly Response, you may do
so. Use the Different Ways to Respond list and your sticky notes to help you write about your
thinking. Use my example to help you begin writing your response.
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Lesson 20
Historical Fiction Genre Immersion and Monitoring Comprehension
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Pink and Say (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
o After reading about when Pinkus carries the narrator a long way, say: Both characters
we have been introduced to at this point are young soldiers fighting in the Civil War for the
Union Army. Where do you think they’re going at this point?
o After reading about the 1st day with Moe Moe Bay, say: – If you noticed, the author is
using some of the different language I was telling you about earlier. What were some of the
terms you heard that might have been unfamiliar? What can you infer about their meaning?
Turn and talk to your partner and share your thinking.
o After reading the very next page, say: – Pinkus “looked troubled” after Moe Moe Bay
asked if he was going back to fight in the war. Why do you think he didn’t answer her?
o After reading about Pink telling Say about his old master, ask: –What do you think Pink
feels when they visit the old plantation, and he shares memories of Master Aylee? Turn and
talk to ta partner and share your thinking.
o After reading the very next page, ask: What can we infer about the Civil War based on the
conversation between Pink and Say? Why does Pink want to go back and fight, but Say
doesn’t? What would the difference in their motivations be? Turn and talk to your partner and
share their thinking.
o After reading about when Pink calls slavery “the sickness,” ask: Knowing what we just
discussed about Pink and the war, I think him calling slavery “the sickness” is so telling
about how passionate he is about ridding the world of it.
o After reading about when Pink and Say get captured by the Confederate Army, ask: Do
you think Moe Moe Bay’s bravery and death affected Say? Turn and talk to your partner and
share their thinking.
o At the end of the book, say: The setting and historical event of the Civil War definitely
impacted the theme of this book. The characters’ relationships and lessons they learned also
have a big impact on the theme. Turn and talk to your partner and come up with a possible
theme for Pink and Say.
2. Create the How to Be Sure You Understand What You Read Anchor Chart.
Strategies and Skills Minilesson: Monitoring Comprehension
1. Introduce Monitoring Comprehension: When readers read, they notice when something
doesn't make sense, and they take some action to resolve the problem. “When you are reading
your book and something doesn’t make sense, what do you do?”
2. Display How to Be Sure You Understand What You Read Anchor Chart.
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o Read and discuss each bullet point on the chart.
o “If you have tried all of these ways of figuring out the meaning and you still don’t
understand it, you can ask for help in our group meeting, small group, or in your reading
response. This chart will remind you that you need to notice when something doesn’t
make sense and that good readers have lots of ways to solve the problem.”
3. “Today, when you are reading during Reading Workshop, if you notice something that doesn’t
make sense, try and fix it using the strategies we just discussed. Remember to refer to the Anchor
Chart if you need help remembering what to do.”
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) Pink and Say
1. Building Background – Because the historical event and/or time period is important to
understanding the structure and elements of historical fiction, building background knowledge
for the historical context is critical for students to comprehend the text.
o Pink and Say takes place during the Civil War. Ask students to think about and share
what they already know about the Civil War, the Confederate Army, the Union Army,
and the reason they were fighting.
o Clarify these terms and make sure students are clear that North was the Union Army
(Yankees), and the South was the Confederate Army (Rebels). They were fighting over
the issue of slavery; the North wanted to free the slaves and the South wanted slavery to
continue. Also, explain that President Lincoln was the president at the time who wanted
the slaves to be emancipated (freed).
o This book is told from the point of view of a Confederate soldier, “Say.” The language
the author uses is very representative of the time period, and occasionally, you might have
to clarify the meaning of words/phrases for your students to enhance comprehension.
2. Introduce Text:
o You might say: “This is a story handed down from generation to generation until it was told
to Patricia Polacco (our author), who then wrote it down and made it into a book. The
language in this book is going to be very different from anything we’ve read this year.
Because of the setting, you will hear words/phrases you might not understand. I will clarify
many of them for you, but I want you to keep the setting in mind because it plays an
important part when we discuss a theme for this book when we finish reading. The
characters will also help you when thinking about a life lesson we can learn from this
book.”
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3. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use the
Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
Stopping Points –
o After reading about when Pinkus carries the narrator a long way, say: Both characters
we have been introduced to at this point are young soldiers fighting in the Civil War for the
Union Army. Where do you think they’re going at this point?
o After reading about the 1st day with Moe Moe Bay, say: – If you noticed, the author is
using some of the different language I was telling you about earlier. What were some of the
terms you heard that might have been unfamiliar? What can you infer about their meaning?
Turn and talk to your partner and share your thinking.
o After reading the very next page, say: – Pinkus “looked troubled” after Moe Moe Bay
asked if he was going back to fight in the war. Why do you think he didn’t answer her?
o After reading about Pink telling Say about his old master, ask: –What do you think Pink
feels when they visit the old plantation, and he shares memories of Master Aylee? Turn and
talk to ta partner and share your thinking.
o After reading the very next page, ask: What can we infer about the Civil War based on the
conversation between Pink and Say? Why does Pink want to go back and fight, but Say
doesn’t? What would the difference in their motivations be? Turn and talk to your partner and
share their thinking.
o After reading about when Pink calls slavery “the sickness,” ask: Knowing what we just
discussed about Pink and the war, I think him calling slavery “the sickness” is so telling
about how passionate he is about ridding the world of it.
o After reading about when Pink and Say get captured by the Confederate Army, ask: Do
you think Moe Moe Bay’s bravery and death affected Say? Turn and talk to your partner and
share their thinking.
o At the end of the book, say: The setting and historical event of the Civil War definitely
impacted the lesson the character(s) learned in this story. What do you think the lesson
learned was?
4. In closing, you might say: “Tomorrow, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with Characteristics
and Noticings of Historical Fiction.”
5. Independent Practice: “Today during Reading Workshop, you are going to write a response
about your thinking using your independent book. You are going to continue reading your
independent book and jotting your thinking on sticky notes. Remember to place these in your
Reading Notebook so they don’t get lost. If you want to begin your Weekly Response, you may
do so. Use the Different Ways to Respond list and your sticky notes to help you write about your
thinking. Use my example to help you begin writing your response.
6. Group Meeting: Following the Reading Workshop time, invite students to share their responses
with their partner. Listen in to the conversations and have students share quality responses with
the whole group.
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How to Be Sure You Understand What You Read
Readers notice when something doesn’t make sense.
They have different ways to solve the problem.
o Readers stop and think about what they know.
o Readers go back and reread the sentence of the
paragraph to clarify the author’s meaning.
o Readers continue reading and look for more
information.
o Readers ask for help with understanding.
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Lesson 21
Historical Fiction Genre Study and Solving Unknown Words
Lesson Overview: 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and/or Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart leaving both columns completely blank. You will
complete this with your students.
2. Create the Solving Unknown Words Anchor Chart.
Realistic Fiction Genre Study Minilesson
1. Display the Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of Historical
Fiction with your students.
2. Explain that all Historical Fiction stories have certain characteristics. SAY: “We read three examples of
historical fiction texts: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and Pink and Say. Ask: “What did all of
these stories have in common?”
3. Facilitate discussion using the bullet points below. You may have to model YOUR thinking about
the Genre Noticings.
All of these stories…
 fictional but set in a real time and place in the past
 the author made them up with a specific purpose in mind
 the author created characters that are like real people that could have lived during that time period
 each story has a unique plot, but all have characters who have a problem that is resolved through a
series of events
 the author could choose to have a character tell the story; OR the author could choose a speaker
outside the story, referred to as the narrator, to tell readers the story
 the author creates the story with a message to the reader called a theme; the theme is often a lesson
the character learns about life that is directly impacted by the setting and historical event/movement
4. Complete the Genre Noticings column of the Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart.
5. Distribute a copy of the Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart with the Noticings already filled
in.
.
6. For each Noticing, cite a text example from one of the books read this week, and record it in the Book
Examples column of the Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart. Students will do the same on
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their copy. Paste the completed Historical Fiction Genre Study Anchor Chart in the Whole Group
Section of their Reading Notebook.
Management Minilesson: Solving Unknown Words
Display the Solving Unknown Words Anchor Chart.
1. Introduce Solving Unknown Words: “When readers come to words they don’t know, they have lots
of ways to figure them out. You know some ways to figure out words.”
2. Display the Solving Unknown Words Anchor Chart.
o Read and discuss each bullet point on the chart.
3. Independent Practice: “Today during Reading Workshop, if you come a word you don’t know,
try and solve it using the strategies we just discussed. Remember to refer to the anchor chart if you
need help remembering what to do. You are going to continue reading your independent book and
jotting your thinking on sticky notes. Remember to place these in your Reading Notebook so they
don’t get lost. If you want to begin your Weekly Response, you may do so. Use the Different
Ways to Respond list and your sticky notes to help you write about your thinking. Use my
example to help you begin writing your response.”
4. Group Meeting: Following the Reading Workshop time, invite students to share their responses
with their partner. Listen in to the conversations and have students share quality responses with the
whole group.
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Historical Fiction- A made up story that could have happened in a
real time and place in the past
Noticings
Author’s Purpose: to entertain
the reader with a story set in the
past
Characters: are realistic or real
people from the past that the
author uses to tell the story
Setting: is IMPORTANT to the
story and shows something about
a period or place in history
Plot: could contain an author’s
imagined details about real events
Point of View: narrator or
speaker of story
Theme: the author’s message to
the reader, may center around an
important issue during the time in
which the story takes place
Book Example
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Solving Unknown Words
o
Readers look at the letters and letter clusters and
think about their sounds.
o
Readers look at parts of words.
o
Readers use what they know about other words to
figure out new words.
o
Readers think about what would make sense and
then check with the letters.
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Lesson 22
Understanding Plot and Reading Workshop
Lesson Overview: 5.6A
Text: Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Plot Line Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the Plot Line blank. You
will complete this with you students.
Management Minilesson: Reading Workshop Review
Up to this point, you have taught lessons that have established routines and procedures for an effective
Reading Workshop. Today, you will want to review the expectations for your students, so they have a clear
direction of what to do when they are finished with the Independent Practice that follows your Whole Group
teaching. Review and discuss the following bullet points with your students.
 Select a “Just-Right” book that you are interested in and want to read.
 Follow the Guidelines for Reading Workshop (refer to the anchor chart).
 Track your thinking each day. Use sticky notes, if needed.
 Complete a Reading Response by the end of the week.
 Do your BEST reading and thinking every day. Happy Reading!
Understanding Plot Minilesson
1. Display Plot Line Anchor Chart OR place the Plot Line Handout underneath the document camera.
Review the definition of each component of the plot.
2. Explain that all Historical Fiction stories, like Realistic Fiction, have a unique plot that the author uses to
convey his message to the reader by using characters who have a problem and how they resolve their
conflict in the story.
3. Fill in the Plot Line Anchor Chart OR the Handout with your students using Pink and Say.
4. Independent Practice: Students will read Dangerous Crossing (Journeys) and complete a Plot Line
in their Reading Notebook using the handout provided.
5. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Plot Line
Title:_________________________
Climax-Turning Point
Resolution-Reasonable
Ending
Problem/Conflict
Introduction to Characters and Setting:
Problem/Conflict: Starts the Action; Problem the main character faces
Rising Action: Sequence of Events



Climax: Turning Point of the Story
Falling Action: Event(s) that Lead to Resolution

Resolution: Solves the character’s conflict; Reasonable Ending-the
character is going to be okay; Not always happy ending
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Plot Line
Title:
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
23
24
25
26
27
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: Fig. 19E
Obj: We will summarize information in text
maintaining meaning and logical order.
Product: I will summarize information in
text maintaining meaning and logical order
when reading a historical fiction text.
TEKS: 5.6C
Obj: We will explain different forms of
third-person point of view in stories.
Product: I will explain different forms of
third-person point of view in stories.
Procedure
Focus: Summarizing Historical Fiction
Text: Pink and Say (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Summarizing Anchor Chart or Handout
TEKS: 5.3/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will analyze, make inferences and
draw conclusions about theme and genre
and different cultural, historical, and
contemporary contexts and provide evidence
from the text to support their understanding.
Product: I will analyze, make inferences and
draw conclusions about theme and genre
and different cultural, historical, and
contemporary contexts and provide evidence
from the text to support their understanding.
TEKS: 5.3, 5.3C/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will explain the effect of a historical
event of movement on the theme of a work
of literature.
Product: I will explain the effect of a
historical event of movement on the theme
of a work of literature.
Focus: Understanding Theme
Text: Ira Sleeps Over, Elisa’s Diary, and The
Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Understanding Theme in Realistic Fiction
Anchor Chart
TEKS: 5.6C, 5.3C, 5.3/Fig 19D
Obj: We will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding by
answering test-formatted questions.
Focus: Bridging to the Testing Genre
Text: Pink and Say CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Bridging Stems Handout
 Sentence Strips or Colored Paper
Focus: Understanding Point of View
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller,
Pink and Say, Ira Sleeps Over, Elisa’s Diary,
and/or The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Point of View Anchor Chart
Focus: Understanding Theme in Historical
Fiction
Text: Pink and Say (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Understanding Theme in Historical Fiction
Anchor Chart
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Lesson 23
Summarizing Fiction
Lesson Overview: 5.6/Fig. 19E
Text: Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
2. Create the Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart or display the Summarizing Fiction Handout under the
document camera with the definitions completed but the summary left blank. You will also use the
completed Plot Line from Pink and Say to craft your summary with your students.
Summarizing Fiction Minilesson

2. Display Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart and discuss the elements of a good summary. Emphasize
the importance of paraphrasing the plot’s main events.
paraphrase – to express the meaning of something written in different words, especially to clarify the
message
2. Write the summary on the Summarizing Fiction Anchor Chart with your students using Pink and Say
modeling your thinking when you use the Plot Line to paraphrase the events.
5. Independent Practice: Students will write a summary in their Reading Notebook using their
completed Plot Line from Dangerous Crossing (Journeys).
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Summarizing Fiction
A summary is the retelling in your own words, or paraphrasing, of the
most important parts.
The most important parts in fiction:
In Historical Fiction, the setting is an important part of the story because
it is a real time and place in the past and should be mentioned in the
summary.
Conflict
Resolution
Most Important Event(s) that move the
Character from the Conflict to the Resolution
Summary:
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Lesson 24
Point of View
Lesson Overview: 5.6C
Text: Pink and Say (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Point of View Anchor Chart with the definitions completed but leaving the bullet points blank.
Point of View Minilesson
1. Display the Point of View Anchor Chart and discuss how to determine the 1st or 3rd Person Point of
View, and how to determine what type of 3rd Person Point of View.
2. Model using the Anchor Chart and determine the Point of View of Pink and Say and Willie and the
All-Stars. Record titles on the Anchor Chart under the correct Point of View.
7. Independent Practice: Students will identify the Point of View of Dangerous Crossing, Old Yeller,
Elisa’s Diary, and The Case of the Missing Deer using the Point of View chart in their Reading
Notebook.
8. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Point of View
Ask yourself:
 Who is telling the story (narrator)?
 Is the narrator…
a character in the story
OR
an outside observer?
THEN…
How much does the narrator know
1st person point of view
– the narrator uses key
words such as I, me, we,
and us.
Like in the stories:



Only
about
one?
3rd Person Limited- knowledge of ONE
character’s thoughts and feelings
Like in the stories:
About
all?

3rd Person Omniscient-knowledge of
ALL characters’ thoughts and feelings
Like in the stories:

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Lesson 25
Understanding Theme
Lesson Overview: 5.3/Fig. 19D
Text: Elisa’s Diary, The Case of the Missing Deer, and Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
(BEFORE THE LESSON)
1. Create the Common Themes Anchor Chart using the picture included.
2. Create the Understanding Theme Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the table
blank.
Theme Minilesson




1. Display Common Themes Anchor Chart and discuss it with your students.
Theme is an abstract concept for students. This anchor chart explains many common themes that appear in
literature. Students need to be able to connect texts they read to the ideas on the chart in order to infer a
specific them.
2. Display Understanding Theme Anchor Chart and discuss it with your students.
Distribute a copy of the Understanding Theme Anchor Chart.
Complete the first two rows of the chart with you students using the Common Themes Anchor Chart and
the text. Model your thinking as you complete each section.
For the last row, fill in the Lesson Learned column, but leave the Personal Connection and Theme blank.
9. Independent Practice: Students will fill in the Personal Connection and explain the Theme of Ira
Sleeps Over on the Understanding Theme Chart using their Reading Notebook.
10. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Understanding THEME
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the
story.
- The author uses the character’s lesson to teach the reader something
about life.
Text
“Elisa’s Diary”
“The Case of
the Missing
Deer”
Ira Sleeps Over
Lesson
Character
Learned
Personal
Connection
Elisa learned that coming
to a new place was hard,
but a new friend helped
her overcome her
struggles.
“When I visited Germany,
I didn’t know the
language, which made
communicating difficult,
so I understand how
helpless Elisa must’ve
felt.”
Blake learns how to solve
a problem with the help
of some friends.
“When I have had a
problem in the past,
having someone help me
figure out a good solution
always makes me feel
more confident in my
decision.”
Ira learns not to be
ashamed of his teddy
bear because Reggie
ended up having one,
too.
“When I was in junior
high, I would hide my
Barbies before my friends
came over because I was
embarrassed that I still
played with them.”
THEME

Acceptance,
Friendship, Never
Give Up
We all encounter
hardships in life, but
friends (new and old)
who accept us can help
us through difficult
times.
 Friendship, Never
Give Up
When a problem needs to
be solved, perseverance
and the help of others
can help us figure
anything out!

Acceptance,
Friendship
Never be ashamed of who
you are because true
friends will accept you,
no matter what.
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Understanding THEME
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the story.
- The author uses the character’s lesson to teach the reader
something about life.
Text
“Elisa’s Diary”
“The Case of the
Missing Deer”
Ira Sleeps Over
Lesson Character
Learned
Personal
Connection
THEME
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Lesson 26
Understanding Theme in Historical Fiction
Lesson Overview: 5.3/Fig. 19D
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Theme in Historical Fiction Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the
table blank.
Theme in Historical Fiction Minilesson



1. Display Theme in Historical Fiction Anchor Chart and discuss it with your students.
Distribute a copy of the Theme in Historical Fiction Anchor Chart to your students.
Model the first row of the chart with your students using the Common Themes Anchor Chart and the text.
Model your thinking as you complete each section.
For the second row, complete the first two columns ONLY for Old Yeller with the students’ help.
2. Independent Practice: Students will explain the theme of Old Yeller and complete the entire row for
Pink and Say on the chart in their Reading Notebook.
3. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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THEME in Historical Fiction
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the story.
- The theme may center around an important issue during the time in which the
story takes place.
- The author uses the character’s lesson and/or the historical event or
movement to teach the reader something about life.
Text
Willie and the
All-Stars
“Old Yeller”
Pink and Say
Lesson
Character
Learned
Setting & Historical
Event/Movement
THEME
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THEME in Historical Fiction
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the story.
- The theme may center around an important issue during the time in which the
story takes place.
- The author uses the character’s lesson and/or the historical event or
movement to teach the reader something about life.
Text
Willie and the
All-Stars
“Old Yeller”
Pink and Say
Lesson
Character
Learned
Willie begins to
understand the
difference in life for
white people and black
people. His love of
baseball takes him to a
game between a white
team and a black team,
but ultimately realizes
that something as simple
as baseball can bring
people together.
Setting & Historical
Event/Movement
During segregation, blacks
and whites were kept
separate, even having
different sports teams and
leagues. Black people were
treated unfairly during this
time in history.
THEME
 Acceptance, Respect
Everyone deserves
acceptance and respect,
despite our differences.
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Lesson 27
Bridging: Understanding Theme and Point of View
Lesson Overview: 5.6C, 5.3C, 5.3/Fig. 19D
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Using the stems from the Bridging Handout, write questions for Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller,
and/or Pink and Say. Write the questions on sentence strips, a colored sheet of paper, or a half-sheet
Anchor Chart. You will add these to your Understanding Theme Anchor Chart and your Point of
View Anchor Chart during the lesson.


Using the story Pink and Say, a possible question could be:
Based on Pink’s actions in the story, Pink most likely thinks it is important to – (Fight for a cause you
believe in, despite the risk.)
Bridging: Understanding Theme and Point of View Minilesson
1. Display the Point of View Anchor Chart and the Understanding Theme Anchor Chart, and
explain that test makers have certain language that they use when they write test questions.
 You must explicitly make the connection between the skills they have learned in class and what the test
question is asking the reader to do.
2. Using the questions you wrote for Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and/or Pink and Say, read
the first question and explain what the question is asking the reader to do. Then model using the
appropriate Anchor Chart and the evidence from the text to support your thinking in crafting your
answer.
3. Continue using this same process until you have bridged each question.
4. Record the answer to the question and add it to the appropriate anchor chart.

5. Independent Practice: Student will complete the bridging assessment…
Use the data from this assessment to make informed decisions about individual student’s needs.
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Bridging
The reader can tell this story is told in 3rd
person _______ (limited or omniscient) point of
view because –
Based on the character’s actions in this story,
the character most likely thinks it is important
to –
(correct answer is theme based on the character’s actions)
_______’s (character) actions in the story support
the message that –
What lesson does _______ (character) learn in the
story?
5.6C, 5.3/Fig. 19D
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
28
29
30
31
32
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: 5.3A
Obj: We will compare and contrast the
themes or moral lessons of several works of
fiction from various cultures.
Product: I will compare and contrast the
themes or moral lessons of several works of
fiction from various cultures.
TEKS: 5.8A, 5.8/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will evaluate the impact of sensory
details, imagery, and figurative language in
literary text.
Product: I will evaluate the impact of
sensory details, imagery, and figurative
language in literary text.
TEKS: 5.8A, 5.8/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will evaluate the impact of sensory
details, imagery, and figurative language in
literary text.
Product: I will evaluate the impact of
sensory details, imagery, and figurative
language in literary text.
TEKS: Fig. 19D
Obj: We will make inferences about texts
and uses textual evidence to support
understanding.
Product: I will make inferences about texts
and uses textual evidence to support
understanding.
TEKS: 5.8A, 5.8/Fig 19D
Obj: We will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding.
Product: I will understand, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about the structure
and elements of fiction and provide evidence
from text to support our understanding by
answering test-formatted questions.
Procedure
Focus: Comparing Theme
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller,
Pink and Say, Ira Sleeps Over, Elisa’s Diary,
and/or The Case of the Missing Deer
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Comparing Themes Anchor Chart
Focus: Sensory Language that Creates Imagery
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Sensory Language Anchor Chart
Focus: Sensory Language that Creates Imagery
Text: Old Yeller, Elisa’s Diary, and
Dangerous Crossing
Resources/Materials:
 Sensory Language Anchor Chart
Focus: Inferring
Text: Old Yeller
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Inferring Anchor Chart
Focus: Bridging to the Testing Genre
Text: Pink and Say CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Bridging Stems Handout
 Sentence Strips or Colored Paper
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Lesson 28
Comparing Theme
Lesson Overview: 5.3A/Fig. 19D
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, Pink and Say, Elisa’s Diary, The Case of the Missing Deer,
and Ira Sleeps Over
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Comparing Themes Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the table
blank.
Theme in Historical Fiction Minilesson
1. Display Comparing Themes Anchor Chart and discuss it with your students.



Distribute a copy of the Comparing Themes Anchor Chart to your students.
Using the Common Themes Anchor Chart, Understanding Theme, and Theme in Historical Fiction,
model thinking through finding a theme that was recurring throughout the texts we have read aloud.
Record the common theme on the Comparing Themes Anchor Chart and write the titles of the texts that
conveyed that message. (Sample Anchor Chart is included.)
2. Independent Practice: Students will explain the theme of ACCEPTANCE and COURAGE and
complete the entire row including writing a theme statement and listing the titles that conveyed that
message on the chart in their Reading Notebook.
3. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Comparing THEMES
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the
story.
- Readers will often find that some texts have themes that are the same
or similar.
Theme
Always strive to reach your goals,
even though obstacles may stand in
your way.
Never Give Up
Friendships are important in many
ways.
Friendship
Acceptance
Courage
Text Examples
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Willie and the All-Stars
Old Yeller
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Comparing THEMES
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the
story.
- Readers will often find that some texts have themes that are the same
or similar.
Theme
Text Examples
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Lesson 29
Sensory Language that Creates Imagery
Lesson Overview: 5.8A/Fig. 19D
Text: Willie and the All-Stars and Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Sensory Language that Creates Imagery Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, the
text titles, and the examples of sensory language filled in but leave the rest of the chart blank.
Sensory Language that Creates Imagery Minilesson
1. Display Sensory Language that Creates Imagery Anchor Chart and discuss how authors use sensory
language to create images for the reader.
 sensory language –
o words and phrases the author uses to appeal to the reader’s 5 senses (sight, taste, touch,
smell, and hear)
o words and phrases the author uses to evoke emotion or feeling
o Good readers use the author’s language to play a “movie” in their mind as they read
o Sensory language and imagery makes that “movie” more vivid and realistic
2. Model using the examples of sensory language and imagery in the first two rows of the Sensory
Language that Creates Imagery Anchor Chart.
3. Independent Practice: Students will use the text Pink and Say and the last example of sensory
language on the anchor chart to complete the last two columns of the chart in their Reading Notebook.
Students will also use what they have learned about sensory language to complete the response
question: What would change for the reader if authors did not use sensory language?
4. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Sensory Language = the language the author uses to create images by
appealing to the reader’s senses
Imagery = one type of sensory language the author uses to create a visual or mental
picture
Sensory Language
Text
(example from the text)
Illustration
(what you visualize based on the
author’s words)
Willie &
the AllStars
“Willie would close his eyes and feel just like he was
at Wrigley Field, his heart pumping to the sound of
balls slamming into mitts, sending puffs of old leather
dust into the afternoon sunlight as waves of fresh-cut
grass tickled his nose.”
I see a late afternoon baseball game.
(You can draw this for your
students.)
Willie &
the AllStars
“And then there were the Negro League players. A
ragtag collection they were, in uniforms tattered and
faded from too many trips up and down backcountry
roads. Shoes softened and worn with age and
memories of two or three games a day. Baseball
gloves patched up, tied and retied too many times.”
“Then fever must have took me good, ‘cause I could
feel a cool sweet-smelling quilt next to my face. Soft,
gentle warm hands were strokin’ my head with a cool
wet rag cloth.”
I see a team of white players with
pristine uniforms and the best
equipment, but then I see a team of
black players who are in hand-me
downs and have old equipment. (You
can draw this for your students.)
Pink and
Say
The author uses
the description to
show—
how much Willie loved
baseball and everything
about it. It also shows how
much Willie wanted to go to
Wrigley Field because it was
a place that was “alive” with
all things baseball.
the difference in the way the
Major League players and the
Negro League players were
dressed and how they acted
before a huge game.
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Sensory Language = the language the author uses to create images by appealing to the
reader’s senses
Imagery = one type of sensory language the author uses to create a visual or mental picture
Text
Sensory
Language
(example from the text)
Willie & the
All-Stars
Willie & the
All-Stars
Pink and Say
“Willie would close his eyes and feel
just like he was at Wrigley Field,
his heart pumping to the sound of
balls slamming into mitts, sending
puffs of old leather dust into the
afternoon sunlight as waves of
fresh-cut grass tickled his nose.”
“And then there were the Negro
League players. A ragtag collection
they were, in uniforms tattered and
faded from too many trips up and
down backcountry roads. Shoes
softened and worn with age and
memories of two or three games a
day. Baseball gloves patched up,
tied and retied too many times.”
“Then fever must have took me
good, ‘cause I could feel a cool sweetsmelling quilt next to my face. Soft,
gentle warm hands were strokin’ my
head with a cool wet rag cloth.”
Illustration
(what you visualize based on the
author’s words)
The author uses
the description to
show—
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Lesson 30
Sensory Language that Creates Imagery
Lesson Overview: 5.8A/Fig. 19D
Text: Old Yeller, Dangerous Crossing, and Elisa’s Diary
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
Sensory Language that Creates Imagery Minilesson
1. Under the document camera, use your Teacher’s Reading Notebook to display the Sensory Language
that Creates Imagery Chart and review how authors use sensory language to create images for the
reader.
 sensory language –
o words and phrases the author uses to appeal to the reader’s 5 senses (sight, taste, touch,
smell, and hear)
o words and phrases the author uses to evoke emotion or feeling
o Good readers use the author’s language to play a “movie” in their mind as they read
o Sensory language and imagery makes that “movie” more vivid and realistic
2. Distribute Sensory Language and Imagery Chart to students.
3. Model locating sensory language and imagery when reading page 280 of Dangerous Crossing.

“Mr. Adams, you are going to embark under very threatening signs. The heavens frown, the clouds
roll, the hollow winds howl, the waves of sea roar upon the beach.”

Fill in the example of sensory language on the chart and complete the illustration and the final
column for that example of sensory language.
4. Independent Practice: Students will use the texts Old Yeller and Elisa’s Diary to locate, illustrate,
and explain two more examples of sensory language and imagery. They will record this on the chart to
complete two rows of the chart in their Reading Notebook.
5. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Sensory Language = the language the author uses to create images by
appealing to the reader’s senses
Imagery = one type of sensory language the author uses to create a visual or mental
picture
Sensory Language
Text
(example from the text)
Illustration
(what you visualize based on the
author’s words)
Old Yeller
Elisa’s
Diary
The author uses
the description to
show—
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Lesson 31
Inferring
Lesson Overview: Fig. 19D
Text: Old Yeller
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
Inferring Minilesson
1. Under the document camera, display the Inference Handout and review the definition of an inference.
2. “Sometimes you need to make an inference using text evidence and background knowledge.” Read the
text evidence in the first row.
3. Model writing your background knowledge on the chart in the first row.
4. Think aloud about how readers use text evidence and their schema to infer ideas about the text. Model
composing the inference and then write it on the chart in the first row. (See the completed Sample
Handout.)
5. Independent Practice: Students will complete the Inference Handout in their Reading Notebook
using the text Dangerous Crossing.
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Inference = an idea the author does not state
Text Evidence
But that day when I saw him (Arliss) in
the spring, so helpless against the angry
she bear, I learned different. I knew then
that I loved him as much as I did Mama
and Papa, maybe in some ways even a
little bit more. So it was only natural for
me to come to love the dog that saved
him. After that, I couldn’t do enough for
Old Yeller.
+
Background
Knowledge
(schema)
Sometimes my brother annoyed me when I
was younger, but honestly, I can’t imagine
my childhood with him. He made
everything we did (almost everything) a
little more fun.
=
Inference
The encounter with the bear bonds
Arliss, Travis, and Old Yeller together
for life. They are closer to one another
and realize how much they love each
other after a close call.
But the real adventure still lay ahead.
Americans would need much help to
achieve their freedom, and Johnny and
his father were glad to be a part of it.
John Adams was a man full
of words and ideas, but he
wasn’t afraid to fight for
what he believed in.
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Lesson 32
Bridging: Sensory Language and Imagery
Lesson Overview: 5.8A
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and Pink and Say
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Using the stems from the Bridging Handout, write questions for Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller,
and/or Pink and Say. Write the questions on sentence strips, a colored sheet of paper, or a half-sheet
Anchor Chart. You will add these to your Sensory Language that Creates Imagery Anchor Chart
during the lesson.


Using the story Pink and Say, a possible question could be:
The author says that Say’s “heart ached at the thought of tellin’ her we’d be leavin’ soon to emphasize
that – (He was dreading telling Moe Moe Bay that they were leaving and that he’d have to go back to the
war.)
Bridging: Sensory Language and Imagery Minilesson

1. Display the Sensory Language Anchor Chart, and explain that test makers have certain language
that they use when they write test questions.
You must explicitly make the connection between the skills they have learned in class and what the test
question is asking the reader to do.
2. Using the questions you wrote for Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, and/or Pink and Say, read
the first question and explain what the question is asking the reader to do. Then model using the
appropriate Anchor Chart and the evidence from the text to support your thinking in crafting your
answer.
3. Record the answer to the question and add it to the appropriate anchor chart.
4. Continue using this same process until you have bridged each question.

5. Independent Practice: Student will complete the bridging assessment…
Use the data from this assessment to make informed decisions about individual student’s needs.
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Bridging
Read this sentence from the story.
(insert example of imagery)
The imagery used allows the reader to know
that—
The author says that ______ (character)
“________”(sensory language that describes something about the
character) to emphasize that –
5.8A
5th Grade Reading
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
33
34
35
36
37
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: Fig. 19 A-C, 5.3
Obj: We will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading.
Product: I will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading traditional literature.
TEKS: Fig. 19 A-C, 5.3
Obj: We will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading.
Product: I will establish purpose, ask
questions, and monitor comprehension
when reading traditional literature.
TEKS: 5.3
Obj: We will analyze, make inferences, and
draw conclusions about theme and genre in
different cultural, historical, and
contemporary contexts and provide evidence
from the text to support our understanding.
Product: We will analyze, make inferences,
and draw conclusions about theme and
genre in different cultural, historical, and
contemporary contexts and provide evidence
from the text to support our understanding.
TEKS: 5.6A, 5.6/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will describe incidents that advance
the story or novel, explaining how each
incident gives rise to or foreshadows future
events.
Product: I will describe incidents that
advance the story or novel, explaining how
each incident gives rise to or foreshadows
future events.
TEKS: 5.6B, 5.6/Fig. 19D
Obj: We will make inferences about text and
use textual evidence to support
understanding.
Product: I will make inferences about text
and use textual evidence to support
understanding.
Procedure
Focus: Traditional Literature Genre Immersion
Text: Skywoman and Turtle (Journeys)
Approach: IRA
Resources/Materials:
Focus: Traditional Literature Genre Immersion
Text: Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: IRA
Resources/Materials:
Focus: Traditional Literature Genre Study
Text: Skywoman and Turtle (Journeys) and
Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Traditional Literature Genre Anchor Chart
Focus: Understanding Plot and Foreshadowing
Text: Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Understanding Plot and Foreshadowing
Anchor Chart and/or Handout
Focus: Understanding Characters
Text: Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Understanding Characters Handout
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Lesson 33
Traditional Literature Genre Immersion and Monitoring Comprehension
Lesson Overview: 5.3, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Skywoman and Turtle (Journeys, Unit 2, Lesson 6, pg. 164)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
o After reading the first page, ask: How does the author help you imagine what the
Haudenosaunee people believed about the world?
o After reading the second page, ask: – How do you know that this isn’t a true story? Turn
and talk to your partner about your thinking.
o At the end of the myth, ask: – How are the characters in this myth the same as or difference
from the characters you read about in other stories?
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) Skywoman and Turtle
1. Introduce Text: You might say…
 An origin myth is a type of traditional literature that comes from different cultures all over
the world. Does anyone know what the word origin means? (Have a few students respond.)
The origin of something is where it began or how it started. An origin myth is a made-up
story about how something real came to be. Read the introductory paragraph before the
myth.
2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use
the Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
 Stopping Points –
o After reading the first page, ask: How does the author help you imagine what the
Haudenosaunee people believed about the world?
o After reading the second page, ask: – How do you know that this isn’t a true story? Turn
and talk to your partner about your thinking.
o At the end of the myth, ask: – How are the characters in this myth the same as or difference
from the characters you read about in other stories?
3. In closing, you might say: “Tomorrow, we will read another type of traditional literature.”
4. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the
Independent Practice.
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Lesson 34
Traditional Literature Genre Immersion
Lesson Overview: 5.3, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Interactive Read Aloud
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create Stopping Points for IRA – Record the following on sticky notes and place on the correct pages in
the text:
o After the wolf blows out the candle, ask: How is this version of Little Red Riding Hood
different or the same from the version we know?
o After Shang tells Po Po about the ginko nuts, ask: – What do you predict Shang is
planning? Turn and talk to your partner about your predictions and make sure you use text
evidence to support them.
o At the end of the fairy tale, ask: – Fairy tales were originally told to teach children lessons.
What lesson did the children learn in this fairy tale?
Interactive Read Aloud (IRA) Lon Po Po
2. Introduce Text: You might say…
 Who has read or heard the story “Little Red Riding Hood?” What was it about? (Have a
few students respond.) Did you know fairy tales like “Little Red Riding Hood” are told all
over the world? This fairy tale is a version of “Little Red Riding Hood” that originated in
China. I want you to notice the similarities and differences between the story you know and
this story as I read it to you today.
2. Read aloud the story to students. Stop periodically for very brief discussion of the text. Use
the Stopping Points you created before the lesson.
 Stopping Points –
o After the wolf blows out the candle, ask: How is this version of Little Red Riding Hood
different or the same from the version we know?
o After Shang tells Po Po about the ginko nuts, ask: – What do you predict Shang is
planning? Turn and talk to your partner about your predictions and make sure you use text
evidence to support them.
o At the end of the fairy tale, ask: – Fairy tales were originally told to teach children lessons.
What lesson did the children learn in this fairy tale?
5. In closing, you might say: “Tomorrow, we will be creating an Anchor Chart with Characteristics
and Noticings of Traditional Literature.”
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Lesson 35
Traditional Literature Genre Study
Lesson Overview: 5.3, 5.6, Fig. 19A, Fig. 19B, Fig. 19C
Text: Skywoman and Turtle and Lon Po Po
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart leaving both columns completely blank. You
will complete this with your students.
Traditional Literature Genre Study Minilesson
1. Display the Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart and discuss the definition of Traditional
Literature with your students.
2. Explain that all types of Traditional Literature have certain characteristics. SAY: “We read two
examples of traditional literature: Skywoman and Turtle and Lon Po Po. Ask: “What did these stories
have in common?”
Facilitate discussion using the bullet points below. You may have to model YOUR thinking about the
Genre Noticings.
All of these stories…
 fictional and have been shared for years and years all over the world
 the author made them up with a specific purpose in mind – to teach children lessons about life
 characters could be like real people, have magical elements, have exaggerated traits or abilities, or
could be talking animals/objects
 usually set long ago, often where the story originated
 each story has a unique plot
 the story was created with a message to the reader called a theme; the theme is often a lesson about
life; may explain how something came to be
 different versions of the same story are told in different cultures and places
 there are many subgenres of traditional literature: fable, folktale, fairy tale, tall tale, trickster tale,
myth and each has its own unique features
3. Complete the Genre Noticings column of the Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart.
4. Distribute a copy of the Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart with the Noticings already
filled in.
.
5. For each Noticing, cite a text example from one of the books read this week, and record it in the Book
Examples column of the Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart. Students will do the same
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113
on their copy. Paste the completed Traditional Literature Genre Study Anchor Chart in the Whole
Group Section of their Reading Notebook.
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the
Independent Practice.
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114
Traditional Literature - is short, made-up stories that have been
retold over and over for many years
Noticings
Author’s Purpose: to entertain; to
teach a lesson
Characters: could be like real people
or have exaggerated traits or amazing
abilities; talking animals and objects
are common in traditional tales;
characters are usually good or evil
Setting: usually set long ago in a
specific place; usually where the story
originated
Book Examples
Author’s Purpose:
Characters:
Setting:
Plot:
Plot: what happens in the story could
have magical elements or events that
are unrealistic; includes a problem
characters face, a series of events as
they try to solve the problem, and a
resolution
Subgenres: fable, folktale, fairytale,
tall tale, trickster tale, myth, each
having their own unique features
Theme: the lesson that the author
wants to teach readers; often tells the
beliefs of a group of people; may
explain how something came to be
Subgenres:
Theme:
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Lesson 36
Understanding Plot and Foreshadowing
Lesson Overview: 5.6A
Text: Lon Po Po
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Plot Line Anchor Chart with the definitions completed, but leaving the Plot Line blank. You
will complete this with your students.
Understanding Plot and Foreshadowing Minilesson
1. Display Plot Line Anchor Chart OR place the Plot Line Handout underneath the document camera.
Review the definition of each component of the plot.
2. Explain that most types of Traditional Literature have a unique plot that the author uses to convey his
message to the reader by using characters who have a problem and how they resolve their conflict in the
story.
3. Fill in the Plot Line Anchor Chart OR the Handout with your students using Lon Po Po.
4.
Review how authors often use foreshadowing to give the reader a sense of urgency, wanting to know
what will happen next and how events in the plot influence future events.
5. Identify which events hint at future events in Lon Po Po. Using a sticky note, explain how the events
give rise to future events, place the sticky note by the example of foreshadowing, and draw an arrow to
the event it hinted at on the Plot Line.
6. Independent Practice: Students will read Zeus and the Titans (Journeys) and complete a Plot Line
in their Reading Notebook using the handout provided, and add some examples of foreshadowing to
their completed Plot Line.
7. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Plot Line
Title:_________________________
Climax-Turning Point
Resolution-Reasonable
Ending
Problem/Conflict
Introduction to Characters and Setting:
Problem/Conflict: Starts the Action; Problem the main character faces
Rising Action: Sequence of Events



Climax: Turning Point of the Story
Falling Action: Event(s) that Lead to Resolution

Foreshadowing = hints or clues the author gives the reader about future
events
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Plot Line
Title:
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Lesson 37
Understanding Character
Lesson Overview: 5.6B/Fig. 19D
Text: Lon Po Po
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Locate text evidence about Lon Po Po or Shang. Use the text evidence to make an inference about the
character. Write the text evidence on the chart in the first column of the Understanding Characters
Handout.
Understanding Character
1. Under the document camera, display the Understanding Character Handout and discuss how
Character’s Thoughts, Actions, and Words are clues that can help readers figure out the reasons
characters act the way they do. We can use these clues to make inferences about characters.
2. Model how to use character’s thoughts, actions, or words to make an inference for your students and
record your thinking in the first column on the Understanding Characters Handout.
3. Independent Practice: Students will use the text Zeus and the Titans (Journeys) and make two
inferences about characters based on their thoughts, words and actions in their Reading Notebook using
the Understanding Character Handout.
4. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Understanding Characters
Details such as what characters say and do are clues that the reader can use
to help them figure out the reasons characters act the way they do.
Character:Wolf from Lon Po Po, Epimetheus & Cronus from Zeus and the Titans,
What can we infer about characters based on their actions or words?
Character’s
Actions or
Words
(text evidence)
Inferences
Tao and Paotze rushed to their Po
Po and wished to be hugged. The
old wolf help Tao. “Good child, you
are so plump.” He embraced
Patoze. “Good child, you have
grown to be so sweet.”
With the word at peace, Zeus gave the
two Titan brothers a new job – creating
people and animals Zeus told them to
give their creations special gifts, such as
speed and keen vision. However, one
brother, Epimetheus used up all the gifts
on the animals. What was left for
people?—pg. 318
Uranus, the Titans’ father, had a cruel
side. He treated some of his children
badly. Only the youngest Titan, Cronus,
was brave enough to challenge and
defeat him. As a result, Cronus became
the ruler of both earth and sky. But his
rule would be temporary.—pg. 316
The Wolf’s words show
that --
Epimetheus’s actions imply Based on Cronus’s actions,
that -the reader can infer that --
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Block 1: Fiction
Lesson
38
39
40
41
42
TEKS & Objective/Product
TEKS: 5.3B
Obj: We will describe the phenomena
explained in origin myths from various
cultures.
Product: I will describe the phenomena
explained in origin myths from various
cultures.
TEKS: 5.3A, Fig. 19F
Obj: We will compare and contrast the
themes or moral lessons of several works of
fiction from various cultures.
Product: I will compare and contrast the
themes or moral lessons of several works of
fiction from various cultures.
Procedure
Focus: Phenomena in Origin Myths
Text: Skywoman and Turtle (Journeys)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Phenomena in Origin Myths Anchor Chart
Focus: Comparing Themes
Text: Lon Po Po (CSCOPE Collection)
Approach: Minilesson
Resources/Materials:
 Comparing Theme Anchor Chart
Flex Day
Flex Day
Unit Assessment Deadline
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Lesson 38
Phenomena in Origin Myths
Lesson Overview: 5.3B/Fig. 19D
Text: Skywoman and Turtle
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Create the Phenomena in Origin Myths Anchor Chart, completing the definitions but leaving the rest
of the chart blank.
Phenomena in Origin Myths
1. Display the Phenomena in Origin Myths Anchor Chart and discuss how these types of texts are based
on a specific group of people’s belief and explain how something real came to be. Discuss the definition
of Phenomena.
2. Distribute a copy of the Phenomena in Origin Myths Anchor Chart to students.
3. Model using Skywoman and Turtle how write events that included phenomena on the chart for your
students and explain that the Theme is explaining how something came to be. Model completing the
blank.
4. Independent Practice: Students will use the text Zeus and the Titans (Journeys) and Journey to
Cuzco (Lesson 30, Journeys Student Magazine, pg. 64) and complete the last 2 rows of the chart.
5. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Phenomena: remarkable, unbelievable events that take
place
Origin Myth: short, made-up story that explains how
something real came to be
Title
Events that included Phenomena
Skywoman and 
Turtle

Theme
This myth
explained the
origin of
_______________.

Zeus and the
Titans


This myth
explained the
origin of
_______________.

Journey to
Cuzco



This myth
explained the
origin of
_______________.
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Lesson 39
Comparing Themes
Lesson Overview: 5.3A/Fig. 19D
Text: Willie and the All-Stars, Old Yeller, Pink and Say, Elisa’s Diary, The Case of the Missing Deer,
Ira Sleeps Over, and Lon Po Po.
Approach: Minilesson
BEFORE THE LESSON
1. Display your previously completed Comparing Themes Anchor Chart.
Comparing Themes Minilesson
1. Display Comparing Themes Anchor Chart and review it with your students.
2. Tell students to locate their Comparing Themes Handout in their Reading Notebook.
3. Using the Common Themes Anchor Chart and Understanding Theme, review how we, as readers,
can infer a theme of a text.
4. Ask students to come up with a theme for Lon Po Po (Courage and Honesty), and see if it fits anywhere
on the Comparing Themes Anchor Chart. (See Sample Anchor Chart)
5. Independent Practice: Students will explain the theme of COURAGE AND HONESTY using Lon
Po-Po and complete the entire rows including writing a theme statement and writing the title on the
chart in their Reading Notebook.
6. Reading Workshop: Students engage in Reading Workshop when they complete the Independent
Practice.
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Comparing THEMES
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the
story.
- Readers will often find that some texts have themes that are the same
or similar.
Theme
Always strive to reach your goals,
even though obstacles may stand in
your way.
Never Give Up
Friendships are important in many
ways.
Friendship
Text Examples
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Willie and the All-Stars
Old Yeller
Acceptance
Being clever and courageous can pay Lon Po-Po
off and help you out of difficult
situations.
Courage
Being honest is always the best
choice; lies only get you into more
trouble.
Honesty
Lon Po-Po
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Comparing THEMES
Theme = the implied message, moral, or lesson in the
story.
- Readers will often find that some texts have themes that are the same
or similar.
Theme
Always strive to reach your goals,
even though obstacles may stand in
your way.
Never Give Up
Friendships are important in many
ways.
Friendship
Acceptance
Courage
Honesty
Text Examples
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Elisa’s Diary
The Case of the Missing Deer
Pink and Say
Willie and the All-Stars
Old Yeller
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