Author’s Purpose: Entertain Comprehension Skill: Compare & Contrast Blame it on the Wolf Genre: Drama Author’s Purpose: Entertain Comprehension Skill: Compare & Contrast By: Douglas Love Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont

Summary    This play lets the wolf tell his side of the story.  What really happened with the three little pigs?  Did the wolf threaten them as some say?  And did the wolf really go after Little Red Riding Hood's grandma?  Could it be that the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood have misunderstood him?  In this play, a jury hears testimony from the three pigs, Little Red, and others, and learns that there are always two sides to a story!.

Genre - Drama A drama is a play that has a cast of characters. The author of a play is called a playwright. It is usually performed on a stage in a theater before an audience. It will have a setting. The dialogue tells what the actors say. A drama has stage directions that tell the actors how to interpret the speeches or move around the stage.

Comprehension Skill: Compare and Contrast Compare is to tell how two things are alike. Contrast is to tell how two things are different. Use their comparisons to look for meaning and author’s purpose Clue words such as like or as show comparisons. Clue words such as but, instead, and unlike show contrasts.

Compare and Contrast “The Three Little Pigs” Pig’s Version Wolf’s Version Characters: Wolf, 3 pigs Characters: Setting: brick house Setting: How it starts: Wolf at door, yelling to come in. How it starts: What happens next: How it ends:

Comprehension Skill Review: Theme The theme of a story is what the author wants us to learn from the story. It is the story’s “big idea”. Most stories do not tell what the “big idea” is. Readers need to find it themselves. A good way to find the theme is to ask: What does the author want me to learn from this story?

Practice Theme There are always two sides to a story. Pigs don’t listen very well. Wolves are nice. Which sentence is the theme for Blame it on the Wolf? Why do you think this theme makes sense?

Vocabulary Strategies – Unfamiliar Words When you read, you may come across a word you do not know. To figure out the meaning of the unfamiliar word, look for clues in the sentences or paragraph around it. A clue might be found in specific details or examples given near the unknown word. You can also use a dictionary to clarify word meanings.

Research Skill – Evaluate Reference Sources pg. 383j There are many sources you can use to find information. You can use books, magazines, encyclopedias, videotapes, audiotapes, CD-ROMs, and even the Internet. When you evaluate references sources, you decide which sources are reliable and up-to-date, and which are most useful for your purposes.

Types of Reference Materials Encyclopedias Videos Newspapers How to Books Internet Dictionaries Biography Books

Weekly Fluency Check - Read with Expression Model or review ways to read with expression, for example, reading play dialogue with attention to how the characters should speak. When reading a play with others, each reader should think about how their character might speak his or her lines. Dialogue should sound like conversation rather than words being read from a page. Each character should react to what the other characters are saying.

Rhythm and Cadence Read aloud the bird’s dialogue on page 377, starting with “It’s falling! It’s falling!” This should sound like a poem because the words have rhythm and rhyme. They flow from one line to the next. Rhythm creates a beat, as in music, for the words. Fast rhythm can make the words sound light and happy. Slow rhythm can make it sad and serious.

What is the setting of the first scene? Read to Find Out - Pg. 362-373 What is the setting of the first scene? What is the wolf trying to do in this story? Who decides the wolf is innocent or guilty? How are the pigs’ and wolf’s stories different?

What did the animals do that effected the outcome of the story? Read to Find Out – Pg. 374-383 What did the animals do that effected the outcome of the story? Which character in the story is most different from the others? How are Auntie Pot Pie and Big Red related? What proves that the wolf is not guilty? What is a moral that can be learned from this story?

Writing Assignment Choose one of the following and write as directed. Create a wanted poster for Wolf. Be sure to include a description of the criminal as well as the list of crimes and possible rewards for his capture. What happens to Auntie Pot Pie after Wolf’ trial? Is she charged with a crime? Write a story telling what happens to her after the trial is over.

Good Stuff ABC Spelling words Compare Contrast Tips Compare and Contrast Quizzes Graphic Organizers Reader’s Theater Scripts More Reader’s Theater Spelling Concentration What Really Happens in a Court of Law? Scholastic – Wolves Reading Test Spelling Test

Words to Know character courtroom guilty evidence rescued

More Words to Know appalling defendant verdict witness wolflike

character a person or animal in a book, play, film, story, or poem

courtroom the room in which courts of law meet

evidence facts; proof

guilty having done wrong

rescued saved

appalling filling with horror or fear

defendant a person against whom a charge is brought in court

verdict the decision of a jury

witness a person who takes an oath of truth in a court of law

wolflike similar to a wolf

The trial took place in the courtroom.

The trial took place in the courtroom.

The wolf is my favorite character.

The wolf is my favorite character.

The defendant was found guilty of the crime.

The defendant was found guilty of the crime.

The dog let out a wolflike cry.

The dog let out a wolflike cry.

The lawyer presented the evidence to the jury.

The lawyer presented the evidence to the jury.

The verdict of the jury was not guilty.

The verdict of the jury was not guilty.

She pled guilty to the crime.

She pled guilty to the crime.

Each pig was called to be a witness against the wolf.

Each pig was called to be a witness against the wolf.

Charlie was rescued by the fireman.

Charlie was rescued by the fireman.

Chicken Little said he was so frightened, it was appalling!

Chicken Little said he was so frightened, it was appalling!

Spelling Words Contractions we’ll what’s would’ve I’m doesn’t could’ve I’d he’ll wouldn’t I’ll

Spelling Words Contractions she’ll shouldn’t we’ve they’ll let’s it’s they’d that’s he’d you’d Click on Contractions for a Concentration Game

This Week’s Word Wall Words Click and type your own words for this week:

Let’s review our spelling words Let’s review our spelling words. Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just a moment. We will clap as we spell the word.

let’s

shouldn’t

wouldn’t

could’ve

he’d

they’d

they’ll

she’ll

he’ll

doesn’t

what’s

that’s

it’s

we’ve

I’ll

you’d

I’d

I’m

we’ll

would’ve

GREAT JOB!