Suggestions For Flexible Groups

Suggestions for Flexible Groups

Story: Sarah, Plain & Tall

 Listening Center  Vocabulary Center  Skills/Strategy Center  Fluency  Writing Center

Listening

 Listen to the selection Sarah, Plain and Tall on Audio Tape.

 Complete the Story Map after listening to the story. Title of Story: ______Author: ______Setting: ______

Cause Effect (Ask yourself…”So What?”) Papa puts an advertisement in the newspaper for a wife.

Sarah picks flowers and hangs them upside down to dry.

Sarah cut Caleb’s hair on the front steps. Then she gathered his curls and scattered them on the fence and ground.

Circle the words that would describe Sarah: brave trusting kind-hearted greedy bored home-sick strict motherly

Chose one of the characteristics you circled above and explain why you made that choice. REMEMBER to write you sentence using correct format. ______Vocabulary

 Place the Question Cards in the center of the group.  Select a Question Card from the stack and read the question aloud. Discuss your answer with the group and explain your reasons why.  Allow all group members to share their own opinions.  As a group, come to an agreement on the best answer.  Each person in the group should record the groups’ decision for the best answer on their own Vocabulary Record Form. The reason why should be stated in a complete sentence.  Challenge: Write a sentence using each vocabulary words. Vocabulary Record Sheet Sentence Yes / No Why? Would you find a conch at the top of a mountain? Would you fly a kite near a windbreak? During a storm, could you hear the trees rustle? Would a paddock be a good place to keep a pet hamster? Does bad weather cause people to be alarmed? Can you plant a windbreak?

Could a sea crab crawl out of a conch? Would there be a rustle in the classroom if everyone took off their jackets at the same time? Could a paddock be constructed from wood? Would you be alarmed if you got to school and realized you left your homework at home? Would you need to wear ear plugs to listen to the rustle of the leaves? Could a windbreak protect a home during storm? Is a conch rectangular in shape? Is a paddock and the playground at school the similar? Vocabulary Question Cards (Cut out the above cards and shuffle ahead of time) Would you find a conch at the top of a Would you fly a kite near a windbreak? mountain?

During a storm, could you hear the trees Would a paddock be a good place to rustle? keep a pet hamster?

Does bad weather cause people to be Can you plant a windbreak? alarmed?

Could a sea crab crawl out of a conch? Would there be a rustle in the classroom if everyone took off their jackets at the same time? Could a paddock be constructed from Would you be alarmed if you got to wood? school and realized you left your homework at home? Would you need to wear ear plugs to Could a windbreak protect a home listen to the rustle of the leaves? during storm?

Is a conch rectangular in shape? Are a paddock and the playground at school the similar? Skill/Strategy (Taken from last week’s selection “How to Babysit an Orangutan”) Skill: Summarize Strategy: Text Structure

 Choose a paragraph card. Write the paragraph number on the recording sheet.

 Read the paragraph aloud.

 Write the main idea in the center of the recording sheet

 Write one supporting detail in each of the other circles.

If Internet is available check out the following websites for interactive Summarizing practice! http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/reading.cfm?str=reading&num=6&act=1 http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/mpark/reading %20activities/orangutansum.html Paragraph #1

Tiger was the funniest cat we have ever had. He was the first cat to start drinking from our fish aquarium. I would laugh so hard every time I saw Tiger perched up on the fish aquarium, lapping up water from the water filter system! He never bothered the fish; he just loved to drink their water! Another funny thing that Tiger did was drink from the dog’s bath water. Whenever we would be giving the dog a bath, Tiger would waltz over and start lapping up the water from the tub. I don’t think the dog appreciated that, but we sure thought it was funny! At night, Tiger would sit in front of the television and watch the evening news! His favorite show to watch was Wheel of Fortune! After a few hours of television, Tiger would always sneak off and hide under the bed. When we would walk near the bed, he would slap our feet from under the bed. Tiger was definitely a very funny cat.

Paragraph #2

To have a successful road trip, you must make proper traveling plans. First, you should decide where you want to go and how long you want your trip to be. Next, you must plan your traveling route on a map. You may even want to check your route on several maps to make sure that you have chosen the best plan. Thirdly, you must locate hotels, camping grounds, or relatives’ and friends’ homes where you will stay. It is always a good idea to call and make reservations ahead of time. Finally, you are ready to pack your belongings, jump in the car, and sit back and enjoy your vacation.

Paragraph #3

Katherine Anne Porter was born in Texas in 1890. She did not go to college, but she read many books. Porter wrote stories. But people wanted her to write a book. Her first book took twenty years to write. It was Ship of Fools. It was a big seller. Later it was made into a movie. Paragraph #4

Comets are a part of the solar system. They orbit the Sun along with Earth and the other planets. Scientists believe that when the solar system began, there was a big explosion. They think that comets are left over from the explosion. They are the small pieces of rock and dust that did not become planets. A comet is made of crumbly rock trapped in frozen liquid.

Paragraph #5

Lacrosse is the oldest game in the United States. Native Americans played it. Sometimes the game was fun, but other times the game was played to settle a disagreement. The tribes made goals and used sticks and a ball. The players tried to get the ball into the other tribe’s goal. The games were rough, but the tribe that won the game also won the argument.

Paragraph #6

A jellyfish is a strange animal! It can’t swim. Instead, it moves through the ocean by shooting water from its body. The body is shaped like a bell. In some jellyfish, the bell is less than an inch across. Other jellyfish have a bell that is more than six feet across! The mouth of the jellyfish hangs down from the center of the bell. Tentacles hand down from the edges of the bell. They are long growths that look like pieces of string. Jellyfish use the tentacles to catch their food. They eat plankton, tiny plants and animals, and other jellyfish! EXAMPLE

Supporting Detail Supporting Detail

He keeps their cage He places toys for clean. them to play with inside their cage.

Main Idea

Jerry takes good care of his pet mice.

He feeds them. He keeps the cat away. Paragraph # ____

Main Idea

**Have multiple copies available at center. Answer Key Paragraph #1 Main Idea: Tiger was a funny cat. Supporting Details: 1. He drank from the fish aquarium. 2. He drank from the dog’s bath water. 3. He watches television 4. Tiger slaps our feet from under the bed.

Paragraph #2 Main Idea: You must make plans if you want to have a successful road trip.. Supporting Details: 1. Decide where you want to go and how long you will stay. 2. Plan your route on a map. 3. Locate hotels, campgrounds, or friends’ and relatives’ homes for overnight stays. 4. Call ahead and make reservations for where you will stay..

Paragraph #3 Main Idea: Katherine Anne Porter was a successful author. Supporting Details: 1. She was born in Texas in 1890. 2. Her first book, Ship of Fools, took twenty years to write. 3. It was a best seller. 4. The book was later made into a movie.

Paragraph #4 Main Idea: Comets are part of the solar system. Supporting Details: 1. Comets orbit the sun. 2. Comets are left over from an explosion that took place when the solar system was formed. 3. Comets are small pieces of rock and dust. 4. Comets are made of crumbly rock trapped in frozen liquid.

Paragraph #5 Main Idea: Native American Tribes played lacrosse. Supporting Details: (answers may vary) 1. Lacrosse is the oldest game in the United States. 2. Lacrosse was played for fun and to settle arguments. 3. Lacrosse is played with sticks and a ball. 4. Players try to get the ball into the other tribe’s goal.

Paragraph #6 Main Idea: A jellyfish is a strange animal. Supporting Details: (answers may vary) 1. It can’t swim. 2. Its body is shaped like a bell. 3. Its mouth hangs down from the center of the bell. 4. It eats other jellyfish. Fluency  Read the passage aloud.  Re-Read the passage paying very close attention to the punctuation marks.  Re-Read the passage from the bottom –up. Read the last line first and so on.  Flash Phrase cards with partner. To The Pioneers

A chapter of history has been written Each time a pioneer passes on And their story is almost completed For those oldtimers will soon be gone. No longer we'll hear from their own lips Of the many adventures they had Of the hardships and trials they endured In poor times, and when the weather was bad. Now they came to the west in a wagon Drawn by oxen, through wind, rain and sun With only their folks few possessions To find a home in Saskatchewan. Many days over trails they did travel Through the long prairie grass, their way made Suffering sickness and many misfortunes And the fear of an Indian raid. When they finally located a homestead A small shack was built on the land The early pioneers made sod houses Where no wood could be found at hand. You may hear about all of their hardships But they'll tell you some 'fun' stories too Of the school dances, socials and picnics And their own community do's. The men helped their neighbors at threshing Or a barn raising bee, often held Traded what they'd not need to another Or help dig a new neighbor's well. The women assisted each other Whenever a new child arrived Did chores while her husband was working At odd jobs, to help them survive. But not all of course were just farmers For they came here from all walks of life Some to live in a village or hamlet They experienced their full share of strife. Now to those pioneers yet remaining Our respect, admiration we give May your courage, your strength and your spirit In generations to come ever live. written by Marion Pedersen St.John Writing Narrative Essay

My friend Birute Galdikas is teaching me how to be an orangutan sitter. For more than twenty years she has been taking care of orangutan babies and training babysitters at Camo Leakey. The first thing she told me was that babysitting an orangutan is not a “forever” job. A good babysitter’s job is done when the baby grows up and can go off into the rain forest and live as a wild ape. Our job is to teach the orphans the skills they need to get along on their own……..

Excerpt from “How to Babysit an Orangutan” page 257

Pretend you were hired by Birute Galdikas as an orangutan sitter at Camp Leakey. Write a personal narrative about what you would teach your orangutan orphan.

Follow the steps in writing a personal narrative.

Then______First______•______•______•______•______•______•______

As an orangutan sitter, it is my job to teach orphan orangutans the skills they need to get along on their own. Wrap Up Sentence Finally______Topic Sentence •______•______•______

Final Draft