Unit 1: The Short Story (Notes)
Why Read Short Stories?
In this unit you will use a set of graphic organizers in order to demonstrate your comprehension of the story. At the end of this unit you will create your own short story complete with pictures using a story maker app. of your choice.
Please choose a short story to begin the unit.
***Please study weekly for your weekly vocabulary quizlet on
(Short Story Vocabulary)
List of Short Stories and audio version.
For September/October
1. Please review the Short Story Introduction.
a. Point of View: Download into Notes
b. Read About Me Activity
c. Upload Read About Me Into Google Slides
2. STRAY, BY CYNTHIA RYLANT, pg 18
a. Please select the cutest dog in each row of the Adopt a Pet program.
b. Take the survey after you select the cutest dog.
c. Please download "Stray" into your Activities Notebook and highlight elements of plot.
d. Download the plot diagram and complete it for the Short Story Stray.
e. Complete an outline on "How to take care of a pet."
f. Which poem best illustrates this story "Stray?"
Short Story Flocabulary Song
3. JEREMIAH'S SONG, BY WALTER DEAN MEYERS, pg 38
a. Please fill out the exposition, resolution, theme, of the plot diagram.
Blues Song: Fill in the blank Please write your own version of Jeremiah's Song. Add it to a blues or jazz tune in Garage Band.
4. THE KING OF MAZY MAY, pg 52
a. Prediction sheet
b. The King of Mazy May (Read and Stop)
. THE CIRCUIT, pg 66
Whole Class: Sharecropping Video
a. Please download the Sharecropping Images to discuss with your partner.
b. Please download the outline into rough drafts. Reader's Response: Panchito's life was very hard.
c. Please fill out the characterization sheet for Panchito. Download into activities
“The All American Slurp” pg. 496
“The Stone” pg. 505
6. “Dragon, Dragon" pg.434 (Audio Version)
a. Please download the story into Goodnotes Activities.
b. Please complete the plot diagram, add a picture of a dragon and e-mail it.
“The Wounded Wolf” pg. 482
“Thunder Butte” pg. 194
Please screenshot this sheet and download into Goodnotes.(Activities) Place the title of your short story at the top.
_____Step 1: Please select your short story and keep all work in your Activities folder. You may listen to the audio version while you read along.
a. Please review how to fill out a plot diagram.
b. Please complete the plot diagram activity.
_____Step 2: Please view the characterization video.
_____Step 3: After reading your story, complete a protagonist characterization sheet.
_____Step 4: Use the Character Description page to help write a paragraph about the protagonist. Type your paragraph in Rough Drafts. Your first sentence should say: I think the protagonist ______ is very interesting. Then tell three reasons why.
Please Review How to Compare and Contrast Two Characters Video
_____Step 5: Please compare and contrast two characters of your choice.
_____Step 6: Please use the Event Map to describe one event in the rising action.
_____Step 7: Please use symbols to represent events in the Character’s Scrapbook.
_____Step 8: Please choose three words that were unfamiliar or interesting for your vocabulary building activity.
Please Review How to Fill Out a Story Map or Plot Line.
_____Step 9: Please choose a story map graphic organizer to outline the short story you chose.
_____Step 10: Please find examples of Literary Devices that were in your story and list them using the organizer.
_____Step 11: Please use the Generating Questions activities sheet.
_____Step 12: Please see teacher to take the comprehension test for this story.
_____Step 13: Outline your own story using a plot diagram.
_____Step 14: Please compose your own children's short story using Story Creator or free book app of your choice. There should only be one or two sentences on each page with a picture. The story can only have 5 pages.