Pushing Up the SkyBy: Joseph Bruchac

What are we doing today?

Talk about how people explain things in nature

Explore author’s purpose

Practice summarizing

Question of the Week:Don’t Answer it Yet

How do people explain How do people explain nature in order to nature in order to understand it?understand it?

This question sets the purpose for our read aloud today.

Listen as I read Greek Mythology by Mary Pope Osborne

Remember, listen for an answer to our question of the week and also for the author’s purpose for writing this article.

Why do you think the author wrote this article? (Author’s Purpose)

(Turn and Talk)

As a Group:As a Group:

Let’s identify one comparison (way they are the same) and one contrast (way they are different) the author makes between civilization today and ancient Greek civilization.

Let me give you some hints…

Compare and Contrast Alike and Different

Civilization TodayGreek Civilization

Question of the Week:

How do people explain nature How do people explain nature in order to understand it?in order to understand it?

(Think-Pair-Share)

What kind of writing do you do most often?

Let’s list them:

When we talk about why we or someone else writes something, we are talking about author’s purpose.

Let’s Explore Author’s Purpose

The author’s purpose is the reason an author writes something.

An Author Writes for Four Reasons

To persuade (talk you into something)

To inform (teach you something)

To entertain

To express ideas and feelings

One piece of writing can have different purposes…

Example: Beginning- informMiddle-persuadeEnd-entertain

Lucky for Us We Have a Strategy to Help

SUMMARIZESUMMARIZE

Summing up the main ideas and details as you read can help you figure out the author’s purpose.

Let’s Practice Recognizing Author’s Purpose

Listen to me read An Up and Down Story

In Olympia, Washington, you will find a tall pole. However, this pole is not just any pole. It is a story pole.

I can summarize that paragraph by saying that it tells me about a story pole and where it can be found.

I think the author’s purpose is to entertain and to inform.

Let’s Read Together:A story pole is different from a totem pole. A totem pole tells about a family. A story pole uses animal stories to teach children about their culture and responsibility. The story pole in Olympia has 21 carved figures on it. Each teaches a lesson about life.

In summary, this paragraph describes what a story pole is, and it also compares and contrasts story poles and totem poles.

What do you think is the author’s purpose?(Turn and Talk)

Whisper Read:

The story pole was made by Snohomish Chief William Shelton. It was carved from a great cedar tree. Chief Shelton worked on the pole for five years. When he died in 1938, other people in his tribe finished the carving.

Turn and tell your partner a summary of this paragraph.

Think Time: What is the author’s purpose?

Group Response:

Choral Read:

In 1940 the pole was done, but there was no money to put it up. Children from around the state each gave one cent. Together, they raised enough money.

If you are ever in Olympia, be sure to visit the story pole. You will learn about the Snohomish culture. And you will see a beautiful work of art.

Author’s Purpose: I believe at the end of the story the author has moved to persuading you to visit the story pole. Are you persuaded?

What Do You Know About Native Americans?

(Think Pair Share)

What Do You Want to Know about

Native Americans?

(Write one thing on a post-it)

Vocabulary

Antlers- bony growths on the head of male deer, elk or moose

Imagined- pictured in your mind

Languages- spoken or written speech

Narrator- the person who tells a story

Overhead- over the head / high

Poked- pushed with force

THE END