A Summer’s Trade 5th Grade

Why do people make sacrifices for others? Big Question Why do people make sacrifices for others?

Author’s Purpose The author’s purpose is the main reason an author has for writing a selection. The author may wish to persuade, to entertain, to inform, or to express ideas. What the author says and the details he or she gives help you figure out the author’s purpose. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/trophies/rsr/build1/RR_e_4_20_ae.htm http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/match/term/matchgeneric2.asp?filename=kderitteauth

Vocabulary Bandana Mesa Bracelet Navajo Hogan Turquoise Jostled

Bandana A square piece of fabric worn on the head or neck

Bracelet A piece of jewelry worn around the wrist

Hogan A kind of house used by the Navajo people

Jostled Bumped or jiggled

Mesa A rock formation or a mountain with a flat top

Navajo A member of the Navajo Indian tribe

Turquoise A precious blue-green stone

Explore Why are family relationships important? What important values do family members teach each other? What sacrifices do people make for their families that thy don’t make for others?

Realistic Fiction Tells stories about ordinary characters in everyday situations. Both characters and events are imaginary.

Guide Questions What details about Tony on page 266 indicate that this is a realistic fiction selection? Based on the details on page 266, what sort of climate does Tony live in? How do think this setting will play a role in the story?

Guide Questions Using pages 268-269. What is the author’s purpose so far? How does the setting of a trading post on pages 268-269 help create a picture of the Navajo people? Compare and contrast the Trading Post to your favorite store. Why does Tony worry about the skinny man in the black hat?

Guide Questions Describe the process and quality of making Navajo rugs. What are some questions you could ask to help you clarify your understanding of the last paragraph on page 271? What point of view does the author use to tell the story? How do you know? Tony’s main problem in the story so far is how to earn the saddle he wants. Have you ever had to work to earn money for something expensive? What did you do to earn money?

Guide Questions Compare and contrast the mood of Tony’s grandmother before and after she pawned her turquoise bracelet? How is Mr. Hilson’s treatment of Tony different from how he usually treats other customers? What conclusion or inference can you draw or make about Tony based on his actions and the textual evidence on p. 273? How does the author suggest that Tony’s grandmother’s illness is caused by the loss of her bracelet?

Guide Questions What can you infer about Tony’s grandmother based on the way she responds to Tony returning her bracelet to her? Assess whether it was a good idea for the author not to explicitly say that Tony’s grandmother’s illness was linked to the absence of her bracelet.

Guide Questions How do you think the author wants readers to feel after reading this story? How well do you think the author achieved her goal? What if the author‘s main purpose had been to explain how to make the Navajo rugs? How would that have changed the story?

Guide Questions Do you understand how Tony feels after he sees that his saddle had been sold? Why do you think Tony’s grandmother got ill when she pawned her bracelet? How does the theme of sacrifice relate to this story?