“That’s Amazing!”

Theme 3

“That’s Amazing!”

Name some things that are amazing. Are these things real or imaginary? What makes these things amazing?

Chris Van Allsburg

Genre:

Fantasy

Characters and events that could occur in real life combine with

those that could not.

“That’s Amazing!”

Purposes for Reading• Strategy focus:

Monitor and Clarify• Comprehension skill:

Noting Detail• Vocabulary development• Critical thinking, discussion

Strategy Focus:Strategy Focus:Monitor /Clarify

Monitor:Ask yourself, “Did I understand what I just read?”

Clarify:Reread the story, or read ahead to clarify your understanding.

Monitoring and clarifying are ways of making sure you follow and understand the story.

Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary

•autumn•draft•etched•frost

• mercury

• thermometer

• peculiar

• timid

Autumn

The season after summer

Draft

A flow of air

Etched (v)

made a design by cutting lines

frost

A very thin covering of ice.

mercury

Silvery white metal used in thermometers

thermometer

An instrument that measures temperature.

peculiar

Unusual, strange or odd

timid

Easily frightened; shy

Spelling FocusSpelling FocusCompound Words

• railroad

• airport

• seat belt

• everywhere

• homesick

• understand

• background

• anything

• ninety-nine

• already

• fireplace

• ourselves

• all right

• forever

• breakfast

• whenever

• everything

• meanwhile

• afternoon

• make-believe

• landmark

• nationwide

• postscript

• motorcycle

• handkerchief

Grade FourEnglish-language Arts Content Standards

WritingCreate multiple-paragraph writingsIllustrate focus, graphic organize, point of viewWrite legibly in cursiveDemonstrate keyboarding skillsBe familiar with computer vocabularyKnow the purpose of various reference booksRevise and edit own paper for progressWrite narratives using related ideas and sensory detailsWrite responses to literature and expository reportsWrite and speak using appropriate grammar Identify and use various parts of speechOrganize and deliver oral reportsKnow appropriate punctuation rules Correctly spell grade level wordsAlphabetical order

ReadingDecoding and word recognitionAntonyms, synonyms, idioms, affixes Read aloud narrative/expository texts fluentlyUse a dictionary and a thesaurusComprehension strategiesComprehend and analyze texts

 Listening and SpeakingListen and respond appropriately to oral communicationDeliver oral presentations with a clear focusAnalyze and evaluate oral and media communications

Spelling FocusSpelling FocusCompound Words

• herself

• something

• himself

• nowhere

• snowflake

• home run

• runner-up

• nighttime

• well-known

• no one

• crosswalk

• bathtub

• bedtime

• maybe

• into

• science fiction

• light-year

• videotape

• field trip

• toothache

Genre:

Fairy Tale

A fantasy story that has been retold through generations and in many

cultures.

“That’s Amazing!”

Purposes for Reading• Strategy focus: Question

• Comprehension skill:

Compare/Contrast

• Vocabulary development

• Critical thinking, discussion

Strategy Focus:Strategy Focus:Question

Question:

What is Cendrillon’s carriage made out of?

Question:

Does she have two evil stepsisters?

As you read the story, think of questions you can ask other students.

Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary

• crossly

• elegant

• godmother

• orphan

• peasant

• proud

crossly:

in a grumpy or grouchy way

elegant:

marked by good taste;

graceful

godmother:a woman who acts

as a child’s parent

orphan:a child whose parents are dead

peasant:relating to a poor farm worker

proud:thinking

too highly of oneself

Spelling FocusSpelling Focus Final /er/ and /l/

• harbor

• final

• middle

• weather

• labor

• model

• chapter

• special

• sugar

• bottle

• medal

• collar

• proper

• towel

• beggar

• battle

• trouble

• shower

• uncle

• doctor

• shoulder

• decimal

• trifle

• solar

• cancel

SpellingSpelling FocusFocusFinal /er/ and /l/

• metal

• pedal

• angel

• total

• suffer

• favor

• bitter

• feather

• terror

• clutter

• mammal

• pebble

• kennel

• quarter

• mineral

• stellar

• boulder

• example

• smaller

• quarrel

Genre:

Tall Tale

Characters with exaggerated qualities and abilities perform

fantastic feats.

“That’s Amazing!”

Purposes for Reading• Strategy focus: Evaluate

• Comprehension skill:

Fantasy/realism

• Vocabulary development

• Critical thinking, discussion

Strategy Focus:Strategy Focus:Evaluate

Evaluate:

What details make the story realistic and which details make the story fantastic?

Evaluate how the author and illustrator make the story funny and incredible.

Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary

• affected

• horizon• miscalculated

• singe

• temperature• weather vane

• commotion

• pasture

affected

caused a change in

horizon

line along which the earth and sky seem to meet

miscalculatedfigured incorrectly

singe

To burn slightly

temperature

measure of heat or coldness

weather vane

movable pointer that shows wind direction

commotion

noisy confusion

pasture

land used for animals to graze

Spelling FocusSpelling FocusWords ending with -ed or -ing• dancing

• skipped

• hiking

• flipped

• snapping

• raced

• landed

• pleasing

• checking

• dared

• dimmed

• rubbing

• striped

• wasting

• traced

• stripped

• tanning

• smelling

• phoning

• fainted

• breathing

• tiring

• urged

• scrubbed

• striving

Spelling FocusSpelling FocusWords ending with -ed or -ing

• smiled

• saving

• dropped

• rubbed

• grinning

• buzzed

• judged

• wiped

• putting

• scaring

• folded

• scarred

• scared

• bluffing

• quizzed

• whipped

• called

• peeled

• drummed

• tasted