Boom Town Day 1 Written by Sonia Levitin Illustrated by John Sandford Skill: Realism and Fantasy Genre: Historical Fiction

Question of the Week When would hard work be the way to strike it rich?

Read Aloud – “Prairie Town” Do you think this story shows something that could have really happened? How would you describe this story—as a realistic story or as a fantasy? Why?

Community Concept Web The towns prospered amid the bounty of wheat fields, and grain elevators dominated the skyline. What is the red word? What do you think it means? Bounty is a large supply.

Community Concept Web The town and its farm neighbors are economic and social partners. Read the red word. What do you think it means? Economic- having to do with the business affairs of a country or area

Community Concept Web School is back in session, and farm children swell the population during the day. Read the red word. What do you think it means? Population- the number of people living in a place

Comprehension Skill/Strategy I jumped into my time machine and went back to the day Columbus first landed in America. Do you think this is realistic or fantasy?

Realism v. Fantasy A realistic story tells about something that could happen. A fantasy is a story about something that could never happen. As you read, ask yourself, “Could this happen?” Strategy: Prior Knowledge Good readers connect what they are reading with what they already know. Using what you know can help you better understand what you read. You can also use what you know to help you judge whether a story is realistic or a fantasy.

Let’s make a chart like this: We’ll fill it out as we read

boom business coins fetched laundry mending pick skillet spell Words to Know

Amazing Words bustle nuggets prospector

boom having fast growth

business work done to earn a living

coins round pieces of metal used as money

fetched went and got something

laundry a room or building where clothes are washed and ironed

mending sewing that repairs a hole or tear

pick a tool with a heavy metal bat pointed at one or both ends, having a long, wooden handle

Skillet a type of frying pan

Spell a period of time

My dad owns his owns business.

My dad owns his own business.

Grandma told me to sit and stay a spell with her.

The miner used his pick while digging for gold.

The miner used his pick While digging for gold.

Sally’s mother is great at mending torn jeans.

The town had a huge boom when many businesses moved west.

Ma uses a skillet to fry bacon for breakfast.

Ma uses a skillet to fry bacon for breakfast.

Dad is teaching me how to use the washer so I can do my own laundry.

I use coins to buy gum at the store.

Small Group Leveled Readers

Fluency  Listen as I reread “Prairie Town.”  I will read with accuracy—I will read without omitting or substituting any words, and I will identify words correctly as I read the selection.

Grammar Day 1 Objectives: Define and identify sentences. Distinguish between sentences and fragments. Use sentences in writing.

1.The apple pies was for super. The apple pies were for supper. 2.Can you're sister bake pies. Can your sister bake pies?

Reading-Grammar Connection Gooseberries grew on the bushes near town. This group of words is a sentence. It tells a complete thought. It begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.

Spelling Day 1 Objective: Spell VCCV words, which usually have short vowel sounds.

Time for the pre-test!

GREAT JOB!