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Family Times

Daily Questions

Prior Knowledge

Compare and Contrast

Vocabulary

Greek and Latin Roots

Predictions

Guided Comprehension

Sequence

Illustrator's Craft

Independent Reader

Additional Resources

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Genre: FolktaleVocabulary Strategy: Word StructureComprehension Skill: Compare and ContrastComprehension Strategy: Predict

Study Skills

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Question Of the WeekWhat are the rewards in helping others?

Daily Questions:

Why does Hsiang-ling help the poor bride?

What happened as a result of Hsiang-ling’s kindness?

How did a little mouse help a lion?

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Activate Prior Knowledge

What I know about China What I learned about China

Ruled by emperors in the past.

Great Wall of China

Dragon Parades

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Compare and Contrast When you compare and contrast things you tell

how they are alike or different.

Sometimes clue words point out comparisons and contrasts, but not always.

You can compare and contrast different things you read about with one another, and also with what you already know.

Similarities in Text

Differences in text Compared with What I Know

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Predict:

Good readers predict what will come next in a story or article. You can use the author’ ideas and clue words to predict what the author will write about next. For example, if you have read an author’s comparisons of things, you might predict you will next read about contrasts.

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Write

1.Read “Wedding Tradition.” Make a graphic organizer like the one above to compare and contrast the wedding traditions in the article.

2. Write about two wedding traditions you know of. Tell how they are similar to and different from the traditions in the article.

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Vocabulary Word List

AstonishedBehaviorBenefactor

DistributionGratitudeProcession

RecommendSacredTraditions

Introduce Vocabulary

Astonished is to surprised as gratitude is to ______________________.

Identify the vocabulary words in the analogy. Analogies work by pointing out that the first two words are synonyms. Complete the analogy by finding a synonym for gratitude. You may use a thesaurus if needed. Work with a partner to write your own synonym analogies using another vocabulary word.

Traditions are to customs as benefactor is to helper.

Recommend is to suggest as sacred is to holy.

Procession is to parade as distribution is to ration.

Examples:

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Astonished

Surprised greatly; amazed

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Behavior

Manner of behaving; way of acting

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Benefactor

A person who has given money or kindly help

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Distribution

Act or process of giving some of to each; dividing and giving out in shares

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Gratitude

Kindly feeling because of a favor received; desire to do a favor in return; thankfulness

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Procession

Something that moves forward; persons marching or riding

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Recommend

To speak in favor of; suggest favorably

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Sacred

Worthy of Reverence

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Traditions

Customs or beliefs handed down from generation to generation.

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More Words to Know

Footmen: Uniformed male servants who answer the bell, wait on tables, go with a car or carriage to open the door, etc.

Matchmaker: Person who arranges, or tries to arrange, marriages for other.

Pavilion: A light building, usually somewhat open, used for shelter, pleasure, etc.

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Practice Lesson Vocabulary

Are traditions something parents pass on to their children?

Does recommend mean to insist?

Does a procession mean a fast race?

True/False

Pencils are sacred things.

A benefactor could help a poor student go to college.

A person should show gratitude when receiving a gift.

You would not be astonished if a friend called you.

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Vocabulary Strategy:

Greek and Latin Roots:

Word Structure: When you find a word you cannot read, see if there is a familiar root within it. Greek and Latin roots are used in many English words. For example, the Latin root bene- means “well” or “good.” This root is used in benefit, benefactor, and beneficial. You can use roots to figure out the meaning of an unknown word.

• See if you recognize a root in an unknown word. If you do, think about the words you know that also have this root.

• See whether the root meaning of the known words gives you a clue about the meaning of the unknown word.

• Then check to see if this meaning makes sense in the sentence.

As you read “The Meaning of Tales,” look for roots in unfamiliar words to try and figure out their meaning.

Example of Greek roots

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Example of Greek words parts:

auto- “self”

graph- “write; recording”

photo- “light”

tele- “at a distance”

What do these words mean:

Autograph:

Photograph:

Telegraph:

Can you think of other words that are made up of these Greek roots?

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Genre: Folk Tales

Folktales are stories or legends that are told over and over from one generation to the next. As you read, imagine that someone is sitting next to you telling you the story.

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How does the story show that one good deed

deserves another?

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Preview and Predict

Preview the story title and illustrations, discuss the setting, and predict what the story might be about. Use lesson vocabulary words is your discussion.

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Guided Comprehension:

How is Hsiang-ling’s life similar to your life? In what ways is it different?

Describe and explain the symbol on the purse.

Two Latin roots were used to form the word procession: pro means “before” or “forward,” and cede means “to go.” Use these clues to define the word.

What does Hsiang-ling do that lets the reader know that she is a kind person?

Describe a tradition in your own family or culture. Compare and contrast it with the Chinese traditions described in this story.

How has Hsiang-ling’s life changed? Why did it change?

What is a food-distribution shack? How do you know?

Based on the selection, what do you think will happen next?

What happens before Hsian-ling goes into Pearl Hall?

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Guided Comprehension Continued:

In what ways is the Ch’i-lin Purse a symbol for Hsiang-ling? In what ways is it a symbol for the Lu family?

The picture on pg. 200 shows Pearl Hall. How did you picture Pearl Hall in your mind before you saw this picture? Compare and contrast what you saw with the picture.

How does the artist illustrate Hsiang-ling’s sadness in this picture?

Think about Hsiang-ling’s behavior at the beginning of the story. Compare and contrast it with how she acts and feels at this point in the story.

Why does Mrs. Lu move Hsiang-ling to a stool, then to a chair on her left, then to a middle seat?

Which, if any, of the predictions you made earlier were accurate?

What lesson can you learn from reading this folk tale?

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Sequence (TM 199)

Sequence is the order in which things happen

Clue words can help clarify the sequence of events in a story.

Put these events in the correct order.

________Hsiang-ling starts to cry.

________Mrs. Lu gets angry at Hsiang-ling.

________Hsiang-ling sees the Ch’i-lin Purse in Pearl Hall.

2

3

1

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Illustrator’s CraftAn illustrator is someone who creates the art that appears in a book.

Illustrators choose what to illustrate. An illustrator may choose to show a person or object to help the reader understand more about it.

An illustrator may choose a certain style of art to let the reader know more about the story’s setting or mood.

Explain how the illustration of the hua-chiao on pp. 194-195 helps them better understand what it is.

Study the illustration on p. 192, and write a response to the following question:

1. What does the illustration tell you about Hsiang-ling?

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SUMMARY In The Gift, a young girl experiencesthe joy of both giving and receiving family oriented gifts.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

PAGE 5 Why does Lupe decide to make a recipe book for her grandmother?

PAGE 7 How do you predict Lupe will react to her grandmother’s gifts? Why?

PAGE 9 Why does Lupe enjoy being in Mexico for the celebration of the Three Kings?

PAGE 16 Why does Lupe like hearing stories about the women in her family making Rosca de Reyes?

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SUMMARY The author compares the government, culture, writing, and educational systems of China, past and present. The title enables students to predict the text structure before reading. A map, captions, and photographs spark readers’ interest.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

PAGE 5 What is one of the biggest differencesbetween communist and democratic governments?

PAGE 9 How would a theater benefit from pleasing the emperor?

PAGE 11 What can you conclude about the Chinese people based on what you just read about Chinese sports?

PAGE 16 What do you predict the author will write about education?

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SUMMARY A young woman joins the Peace Corps, leaving her rural home in Maine for a village in Africa. While helping others, she learns to see both the similarities and the differences between her old life and her new life.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

PAGE 7 What does Georgia say that convincesher father that it is okay for her to join thePeace Corps?

PAGE 18 How do you think Georgia will feelduring her first few days in Mali? What areyou basing your prediction on?

PAGE 22 How is the weather in Mali differentfrom the weather in Maine?

PAGE 29 Why does Moussa give Georgia thepiece of fabric?

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Fable:

• A fable is a brief story that states a moral or lesson at the end. The action in the story shows the moral in action.

• Many fables have been passed by word of mouth from generation to generation until someone has written them down.

• Characters in fables are often animals.

• Animals in fables usually talk and behave like humans.

Reading Across Texts

How are the actions of the main characters in “The Ch’i-lin Purse” amd “The Lion and the Mouse” alike.

Make a list of how the characters’ actions are alike.

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Additional Resources:Study Vocabulary

Sequencing