1. What are the 3 main story elements that we have been learning about in grades 4 & 5? Character Setting Plot

2. 1.We will learn how the problems that characters face and how they solve them make up a story’s plot.. 2. We will see how discovering symbols in a story can make it much more interesting and can help us understand it better.

3. Watch the Video What do you learn about in a story’s introduction? What is another word for problems? What are some of the different kinds of problems characters can face in stories? What is the most exciting part of a story called?

4. Cynthia Rylant We’re going to read a selection from an anthology of 12 short stories by Called,

5. The Blurb

6. by Cynthia Rylant Who can share an interesting story about their pet? What kind of pet do you think this story will be about? What kinds of pets do kids usually want the most?

7. Vocabulary 1. Jacob's parents finally ______________ giving in and buying him the keyboard he had wanted for a year. (A synonym, giving in, provides a clue.) 2. She ______________ around so long that she had to hurry up to avoid being late for school. (The situation described gives a clue to the meaning.) 3. He listened to the candidates ______________ the issue, but in the end he still couldn't choose which arguments to support. (A definition of the word is in the sentence.) 4. Mikka played ______________ in the string orchestra until she decided she wanted a lower pitched instrument and took up the cello instead. (The description gives a clue as to the meaning.) 5. She ______________ mailed the invitations, deeply regretful that she hadn't done it earlier. (A synonym, deeply regretful, is in the sentence.)