Skill: Theme A Castle on Viola Street” by DyAnee DiSalvo Reading Skill: Identifying the Theme of a Story! Genre Fiction Day 1

Monitor Comprehension CCLS1,2  As you read use your theme map.  Great readers can identify the theme of a story.  Great readers can use context clues/paragraph clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Materials  TE/SE “ A Castle on Viola Street by: DyAnne DiSalvo page 249  Day: 1 Pages  Day: 2 Pages  Day: 3 Pages  Day 4: Read aloud entire main selection  Day 5 : Assessment/ Project ( Class Specific)  Practice workbook Pages : 98,99,101, 102 and 104

VOCABULARY : Look for these words as we read  downtown  The main, or lower, part of a city  appliances  Machines that are used in homes  owners  People to whom something belongs  construction › The act of building something  equipment  includes tools and materials needed to do a job  leaky › Something that has a hole in it so that water passes through it ›

Contractions: just Look for the following words as we read!  What is a contraction: A short way of writing a word: An apostrophe takes the place of the letter that are left out:  Is not- Isn’t  Has not – hasn’t What letter is replaced by the apostrophe?  As we read the main selection look for examples of contractions in the story: A castle on Viola Street

Great readers can Analyze story structure. Find and understand a story’s theme. Use academic language: story structure, theme.

Genre: Fiction/ Theme  Fiction is a made up story. It has characters and events.  Theme is the message that the author wants to tell the reader.  Readers use details in a story to identify the theme.

STRATEGY: Analyze Story Structure  A story’s structure is made up of: › Plot: the events that take place in the story › Characters: who is in the story › Setting: Where the story takes place  In most plots, the character’s face a problem they must solve.  Identifying the story structure helps you understand what you read. › It also helps you figure out the theme of the story.

What is the theme of a story?  The theme of a story is the message that the author wants to tell the reader.  The theme of a story is the underlying idea. It’s the big message, the big idea.  The theme is the point of the story. Without a theme, a story doesn’t make much sense.

PREVIEW & PREDICT When I say “Go”, take 1 minute to preview the illustrations. Ask yourself: › What do you think this story is about? › Where will the setting be? On an index card, write your predictions. After we listen to the selection, we will see if our questions were answered.

Let’s Share our Predictions!  Share your predictions with a criss- cross/shoulder partner.  Let’s read to find out more.  We will read this story for four days  Today we will read pages

Motivation SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT….  The family in this story worked hard for their house.  Have you every worked hard to get something you wanted?  What was it?  Let’s Share!

FOCUS QUESTION  Read to find out…  What is the theme of this story? NOW…you will read along and listen as I read pages

Guided Reading  What is the problem in the story so far?  What message does the author want the reader to know?  Why does the mother look at pictures of the houses?

Independent Practice  Skill : Theme  Practice book page 98  What is the Authors Purpose?

Closure  What is the gist/main idea of the story? Why is the family working so hard?

Shared Reading  Day: 2  Pages

OBJECTIVES Great Readers WILL…. Analyze story structure Find and evaluate a story’s theme Use academic language: story structure, theme

Some Common Themes  You’ll often see the same themes pop up again and again.  Good will triumph over evil  Honesty is the best policy

A CASTLE ON VIOLA STREET CCSRL.3.2; RL.3.4; RL.3.8 Speaking and Listening Standard: SL.3.1 Language Standards: L.3.1; L.3.2; L.3.3; L.3.6 Created by Jackie Adams– Alta Loma Elementary– June 2009

Develop Comprehension Questions  To what does the author compare the old bathtub, cabinets, and sinks?  Describe what the author’s comparison shows you about the things that come out of the house.  Think about the important details in the story so far,. Based on these details, what might be the theme so far?  What has happened in the story up until this point?

Guided Practice Continued  Why is the family working so hard?  What details does the author give to show that Andy’s family is working hard?  How will this hard work help the family get there own home?  What causes Andy’s father to tell Andy, “You’re doing good work”?  What happened after the Tran Family moved into their new house?

Guided Practice: Read to find out... Think about the important details so far. Based on these details, what might be the theme of the story? What are some key details that help you understand the theme? Let’s Read Pages

Idioms??  Andy’s father says “ I like to whip up a storm” when he and Andy cook something to take to the Tran potluck supper. What does “ whip up a storm” mean?  What context clues help you figure out the meaning of the word?  Look at the illustrations, how do the illustration in the story help you figure out the meaning of the word “potluck”

Independent Practice RE-Read: Read Page 264 and try to use strategies to figure out the meaning of “pot luck supper” in the text. Practice book page 99

Closure What I the gist/main idea of the story? Family is working hard?

Guided Reading Day: 3 Pages

A CASTLE ON VIOLA STREET’ CCSRL.3.2; RL.3.4; RL.3.8 Speaking and Listening Standard: SL.3.1 Language Standards: L.3.1; L.3.2; L.3.3; L.3.6 Created by Jackie Adams– Alta Loma Elementary– June 2009

OBJECTIVES TODAY WE WILL…. Analyze story structure Find and evaluate a story’s theme Use academic language: story structure, theme

What is the theme of the main selection? Great readers will understand the plot and theme of a story.

Think of a time when you finally got something you really wanted and worked hard for. How did you feel when you finally received it. Turn and talk to an elbow partner about your feelings.

Guided Practice: Read to find out... What happened after the Tran Family moved into their new home? What does the family learn in the fall? Compare and contrast “Castle on Viola Street” to the story “Here’s my Dollar”. How are these stories alike?

How are the stories different? Use details from both selections in your answer. Andy used to dream that he had a million dollars to buy a house of his and his families own. What, in real life, does it take to buy a house?

Independent practice Reading Andy’s father says” I like to whip up a storm” when he and Andy cook something to take to the Tran potluck supper. What does this statement mean? Practice book page 101

Closure  What is the theme of the main selection?  What does Andy Dream of?

“A Castle on Viola Street” Day 4 Reading Skill: Identifying the Theme of a Story Genre Fiction Day 4 Read Aloud: The Entire Main Selection

A CASTLE ON VIOLA STREET’ CCSRL.3.2; RL.3.4; RL.3.8 Speaking and Listening Standard: SL.3.1 Language Standards: L.3.1; L.3.2; L.3.3; L.3.6 Created by Jackie Adams– Alta Loma Elementary– June 2009

OBJECTIVES TODAY WE WILL…. Read the story in its entirety and Then.. Recall details from the text. Understand the Theme of the story. Find evidence to support the theme.

After the Main Selection : Let’s Review the following questions to help us get ready for tomorrows assessment.

“Guided Practice ” Theme  Why does the mother look at pictures of houses? How is this a clue to the theme of the story?  The mother looks at the pictures because _____________________________.  The mother looks at the pictures because she dreams of having a house of her own.  Fill in the first clue on the Theme Map!

“A Castle on Viola Street” Point-of-View  Who is the narrator of the story? How do you know?  The narrator is ________. I know because _______________________.  The narrator is the young boy in the story. I know because the pronouns I and my are used throughout the story.  Since the narrator is a character in the story, this is a first-person narrative

“A Castle on Viola Street” Sequence  What events take place on Saturday morning. Tell the sequence in which the events occur. First Then Last

“A Castle on Viola Street” Sequence The boy’s mother gives him quarters for the Laundro mat. She tells his little sister to hold his hand. Then she puts two lunches and a dollar in the wagon. Lastly, the boy and his sister walk the cart to the Soap & Go on Viola Street.

“A Castle on Viola Street”  Think about what Andy says and does in the story. What do his actions and words tell you about his character ? How does he feel about his sister? How can you tell?

“ A Castle on Viola Street”  Andy is helpful, and he works hard. He takes his sister and the family’s laundry to the Laundromat every Saturday without complaining.

Continued  He folds the laundry before taking it home. He likes his sister and watches out for her. I know this because he is patient with her and remembers to hold her hand.  Describe Andy’s character traits.

“A Castle on Viola Street”  Think about the theme of the story. Why do you think the family signs up to work on old houses? (Answer in complete sentences please)

“A Castle on Viola Street”  I think they dream of owning their own home one day. That is why they start working with an organization that could help them get a house.

“A Castle on Viola Street”  What do you think the author’s message, or the theme, of the story is so far? Why do you think this?

“A Castle on Viola Street”  I think the theme is, “People can reach their dreams by working hard.” In the story the family has a dream of owning a house. They sign up to work on houses for other people, and in time, I think they will get a home of their own.

Authors Purpose  Turn and discuss with an elbow partner, what you think the authors purpose is?

“A Castle on Viola Street”  That’s right! DyAnne DiSalvo purpose in writing this story is to entertain us. The characters and events in the story are entertaining and enjoyable.

Closure “A Castle on Viola Street”  Using all the clues from our Theme Maps, what do you think the theme of the story is?

“ A Castle on Viola Street” Independent Practice  I wonder what’s going to happen next.

Assessment Review A CASTLE ON VIOLA STREET’ CCSRL.3.2; RL.3.4; RL.3.8 Speaking and Listening Standard: SL.3.1 Language Standards: L.3.1; L.3.2; L.3.3; L.3.6 Created by Jackie Adams– Alta Loma Elementary– June 2009

If Time we will review a few key points to show understanding of the story we have read several times!!

“A Castle on Viola Street”  Why is the family pitching in and working so hard? Place this clue about the theme of the story on your Theme Chart.

“A Castle on Viola Street”  The family works so hard because they want a house of their own some day.

“A Castle on Viola Street”  How did you think this realistic fiction story will end?

“ A Castle on Viola Street” Closing  What happens for the family in fall? Write the answer on your Theme Map in the third Clue Box.  In the fall, ____________________.  In the fall, the family learns that they will get a house!

Summarize Your Learning  We’ve practiced a lot of different reading skills during this story: theme, characterization, point-of-view, sequencing, and author’s purpose.  Remember, the theme of a story is the message that the author wants to tell the reader, so work hard, be patient, and some day your dreams may come true too!

“A Castle on Viola Street” Assessment on the Main Selection

A CASTLE ON VIOLA STREET’ CCSRL.3.2; RL.3.4; RL.3.8 Speaking and Listening Standard: SL.3.1 Language Standards: L.3.1; L.3.2; L.3.3; L.3.6 Created by Jackie Adams– Alta Loma Elementary– June 2009

OBJECTIVES TODAY WE WILL…. Complete an assessment on the story “ A castle on Viola Street.

“A Castle on Viola Street” I think the theme is __________ ___________ ___________

“A Castle on Viola Street” T hink of the theme is, “With time and hard work, dreams come true.”

“A Castle on Viola Street”  Finally, what do you think the author’s purpose for writing, “A Castle on Viola Street” was? Was it to:  Entertain?  Inform?  Explain?  Or describe?

Assessment  Good Luck! Please use your knowledge of what you have learned about the main selection and the theme of the story to help you with this assessment.  No questions at this time.

Complete The Assessment!!