Fourth Grade (on grade level)
Section 5 (pages 76-90)

Discussion Director
The discussion director's job is to develop questions for the group members to discuss about this section of the book.  The focus is on important ideas and issues in this section and designing questions that address them.

1 Opinion
1 Cause/Effect
1 Setting
1 MCEOG
1 Character Relationship

Opinion
1.  What part of the day is most difficult for you?
(I am like Soft Rain.  The mornings are most difficult for me, too.  I have a very hard time waking up after a good sleep.  It is even harder when I know that I have a lot to do that day (Page 89, paragraph 4).

Passage Picker
The Passage Picker's job is to select significant passages from the selections being read; determine why those passages are important; call other group member's attention to the passage; and lead a discussion about the passage.
   Steps:
        1.    Pick out a passage you would like to share.
        2.    Write down the page and paragraph number.
        3.    Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
        4.    Write down the reason you chose the passage, and explain why!
        5.    Ask a question about your passage, and give an answer.
        6.    Write down the Author's Purpose:  To Describe, To Entertain, To Inform, or To Persuade.

1.  Passage One- Descriptive
2.  Page 82, paragraph 3
3.  She buried. . . could utter.
4.  I chose this passage because I like the way it describes how Soft Rain reacted when she saw her father again.
5. Why would Soft Rain be so engrossed in seeing her father again?
(She never gave up hope that she would see him again, but it must have been terribly difficult not knowing for sure and not knowing where he was and if he was safe.)
6.  Author's Purpose:  To describe

Passage Two- Descriptive
Passage Three- Informative
Passage Four- Descriptive

Word Wizard
The Word Wizard's job is to search the section being read for words that are key to understanding what is happening in the story; note the page and sentence where it can be found; check the dictionary meaning of the word; lead a discussion about the meaning and intent of the word from context and what the word contributes to the importance of the passage.
Steps:
    1.  Write down the word.
    2.  Copy the sentence from the book in which the word appears.
    3.  Look up the word in the dictionary.
    4.  Using the context clues from the sentence and the dictionary definition, write in your own words the
        definition of the word.
    5.  Write the correct part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb).
    6.  Write a question and the answer about the word that would help you teach the word to your group,
        refer back to the text, or write a sentence using the Word Wizard word.
    7.  Make your Word Wizard card.  Be sure to include in big print, your word and the page and paragraph
        number.  On the other side of the card should be a picture, the word, and the definition of the word.

1.  utter (Page 82, paragraph 3)
2.  mired (Page 78, paragraph 2)
3.  quavering (Page 85, paragraph1)
4.  ferocious (Page 89, top of page)

Character Sketcher
The Character Sketcher's job is to develop a character map of major characters in the section of text being read.
Steps:
1.  Pick out a character that interests you.  Choose three words to describe this character.
2.  For each trait, you will give proof (an example) from the book (write down page and paragraph).
3.  Write out the character's goal, problem, and solution (page and paragraph).
4.  Last, you will draw a picture of your character.

Father

Connector
The Connector's job is to think of ways personal experiences connect to events and themes appearing in the book and lead discussions of these issues.