Plot and Setting

Figure 1 BookFlix

 

Unit Overview

This unit focuses on Plot, Setting, Fragments and Run-ons, and Narrative Writing. You will be able to accomplish the following objectives by the end of this unit:

1.  I can use spelling patterns and rules to help me spell new words. L.3.2.F

2.  I can ask and answer questions to show that I understand the stories that I am reading. RL.3.1

3.  I can find the answers to specific questions within the stories that I read. RL.3.

4.  I can use temporal words (first, next, then, finally, etc.) to help others understand the order in my stories. W.3.3.C

5.  I can write conclusions (endings) to my stories. W.3.3.D

6.  I can revise my writing with the help of peers and adults. W.3.5

7.  I can show that I know how to write sentences correctly. L.3.2

 

 

Spelling

rocket

grown

almost

pocket

throne

both

hold

so

coach

told

sew

open

often

most

also

 

Let's Practice

Click on Spelling Training to practice your spelling words. Add each of your spelling words to the list. Then complete one the activities below the list.

 

 

Vocabulary List

cable

a strong rope made of metal wires

Construction worker

a person whose job is to build buildings

juggle

the act of tossing objects in the air and keeping them moving

perform

to display a talent for the public

roof

the top of a building

subway

trains that travel in tunnels beneath the ground

terrifying

frightening; scary

 

Above is your list of vocabulary words with their definitions. 

Be sure to study and practice these words daily before you begin your reading lessons.

 

Let's Practice

Below is a Quizlet activity on your vocabulary words for the unit.  You should practice the Flashcard and Learn activities each day during the week of this unit.

 

 

 

 

Plot

 

The plot is the events that happen in a story, or what the characters do. The plot of a story is often told in the order that the events happen.  

A plot has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. One event leads to the next. Good readers use this structure to learn about the characters and the setting.

You should be able to answer the following questions during the three parts of any story that you read.

Beginning à

 

Who are the characters?

What is the setting?

 

Middle à

What happens to the characters?

End à

 

How are the characters different from the beginning of the story?

 

 

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

 

IXL Skill Check – Go to the Unit Resource tab on the left and click Identify story elements to complete the skill.

 

 

Setting

 

The setting tells where and when the events of a story take place. It is the place, time, and environment of a story. The setting helps you to understand and remember the story because you can picture where and when it happens. Sometimes, the setting affects the events. For example, during the summer, the grasshopper did not think about how cold it would be in the winter, so he did not get ready.  Below are some more examples of a setting.

Place à

 

Where?

 

home – playground – island – school

Time à

When?

morning – 2004 – summer – future

Environment à

 

What?

 

cold – rainy – dark – hot – farm - city

 

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Log & Journal

Writing journals can be compelling to you as a student.  It helps you respond to your Read-Aloud and Oral Readings to gain further understanding.  You must write at least one journal per unit in this course based on one of your readings.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to download the Reading Log & Journal template.  Also, you have an option to create your journal book for this course.

 

 

Reading

The above two stories will be used for your Read Aloud and Oral Reading activities. 

 

Read-Aloud

Your read-aloud is a historical fiction story called "The Man Who Walked Between The Towers."

Historical fiction is a literary genre where the story takes place in the past. Historical novels capture the details of the time period as accurately as possible for authenticity, including social norms, manners, customs, and traditions .

A true story inspired this book. In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing, and performing high-wire tricks a quarter mile in the sky.

Link to What You Know:

·      What do you know about the twin towers in New York City?

·      Have you ever seen street performers? If so, what did they do?

Using what you learned about plot and setting above, see if you can pick them out as you read/listen to "The Man Who Walked Between The Towers."

Click the image below to begin your read-aloud activity.

 

After listening to this story,

Did you hear the new vocabulary words?

Were you able to identify details that tell you about the setting?

What details in the story tell you that Philippe was determined?

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

Oral Reading

Your oral reading is a nonfiction text called "New York City."  The text introduces readers to basic geographic facts about the climate, industries, and landmarks of New York City.

Remember, nonfiction tells about things in real life.

Both stories you have/will read are about New York: one focuses on a single event while the other title provides information about a variety of things in New York City.

Click the image below to begin your oral reading activity.

If you enjoyed reading these stories, see below for more topics to research. Many people have attempted or accomplished feats of daring in and around famous structures in New York City, for example:

·      Harry the Human Fly, who parachuted off the Flatiron Building.

·      George Willis, who climbed down the facade of the World Trade Center.

·      Terry De Baux, who attempted to bungee jump off the torch of the Statue of Liberty.

Let's Practice

 

 

 

Sentences: Fragments and Run-ons

 

A complete sentence:

·      has a subject (noun or pronoun) and a predicate (verb).

·      starts with a capital letter.

·      ends in a period, question mark, or exclamation point.

·      expresses a complete idea

Example:  My father is a human cannonball in the circus.

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence, missing either a subject or a verb.

Example: New improved Caramel cereal bits, now in glow-in-the-dark colors!

A run-on sentence is a sentence with two independent clauses that run together without appropriate punctuation.

·      It is NOT the same thing as a very long sentence.

Example: I don’t like hiking it makes me tired and sweaty.

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

 

IXL Skill Check – Go to the Unit Resource tab on the left and click Is it a complete sentence, a fragment, or a run-on? to complete the skill.

 

Narrative Writing: Revising

Revising is changing, taking out, adding words or phrases to make the meaning clearer.

It is important that your ideas are expressed in the best way possible. 

Look at the chart below to review the first three stages of the writing process.

Prewriting à

draw a picture

talk it out

make a web or diagram

Draft à

get ideas on paper

guess and go

Revise à

vary beginnings of sentences

vary length of sentences

use more vivid words

avoid overused words

 

Let's Practice

 

 

 

 

Please click the Narrative Revising Activity to practice your drafting skills.

 

Cursive Handwriting

Let’s review the curves you have practiced in Units 1, 2 and 3.

First, you saw the airplane make an undercurve.

It looked like this:



Then, you practiced making lowercase letters beginning with an undercurve.  For example, you wrote:

 

Next, you saw the airplane make a downcurve.

 

 

 

 

Then, you practiced making lowercase letters beginning with a downcurve.  For example, you wrote:



Next, you saw the airplane make an overcurve.

 

 

Then, you practiced making lowercase letters beginning with an overcurve.  For example, you wrote:



Now, let’s look at a different stroke.  This one is called the slant stroke.

 
Let’s look at the cursive letter "a."  Notice the slant stroke.

 

Let’s look at the cursive letter "d."  Notice the slant stroke.

 

 

There are slant strokes in some cursive lowercase letters.  Let’s practice them now.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to practice the Lowercase Letters.  First, trace the first letter, noting where the slant stroke is.  Next, print that letter several times on the line that follows.  Then, move on to the next letter, repeating the directions.

There are also slant strokes in some uppercase letters.  Let’s practice them now.  Click on the Unit Resource icon to the left of your screen to practice the Uppercase Letters.  First, trace the first letter, noting where the slant stroke is.  Next, print that letter several times on the line that follows. Then, move on to the next letter, repeating the directions.