Keepers
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Author’s Purpose: Entertain
Skill: Plot
By: Jeri Hanel Watts
Illustrated by: Tyrone Geter
Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont
Summary

Kenyon's grandmother, Little Dolly, is
about to have her ninetieth birthday. Kenyon has
been saving his money to buy the perfect
gift. Then he sees a new baseball glove and
can't help buying it. Now Kenyon has no money
left for a gift, and he feels terrible. Then he
thinks of the stories Little Dolly has told him and
decides to write them all down. Bound in a
handsome book, the stories make the most
special gift of all.
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction seems like real life with
characters dealing with real life problems.
The action can happen no matter how
improbable, and often takes place in the
present time. The situations are true or
could be, but the characters are made up.
Realistic Fiction may include "real people"
characters who have actually lived.
Comprehension Skill - Plot
TE 449a
•A story’s plot is the important parts of
the story.
•The parts of a plot are the conflict, or
problem, the rising action, the climax,
and the resolution, or outcome.
Plot quiz
Plot PowerPoint Practice
Practice – Plot

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Conflict or problem between two characters
or groups or between a character and
nature.
Rising Action – part of the story in which
the conflict builds.
Climax – place where the action of the
story builds, and conflict must be faced.
Resolution - place where the problem is
solved.
Vocabulary Skill – Homonyms



These are words that are spelled the same,
can be pronounced the same, but have
different meanings.
To understand the correct meaning, look for
clues in the surrounding words or sentences.
Use personal knowledge and experience to
comprehend correct meanings.
Play a game with easily confused words.
Practice Steps in a Process TE 449b
means following a series of steps in a certain order to
complete an action. It is a good idea to read each step
first to make sure you understand what you will be
doing.
Let’s create a flowchart of the steps in making a family
time line. Remember to use time order words like first,
next, and then.
First, make
a list of
events
and dates.
Next, write
down each
event on
paper.
Then,
illustrate
each
event.
Finally,
arrange
sheets in
chronological
order.
Dialect


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TE 435 and 449i
The people who speak the same language have
different ways of speaking, pronouncing words,
and forming sentences.
The terms used to describe these speech
patterns is dialect.
People often speak in ways that reflect their
ages, backgrounds, education, and where they
live.
What are some words Little Dolly used that are
her dialect? cain’t mostly you not
“Lord, honey, that’s nice but you a boy.”
Research Skill - Time Lines TE 449j


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A time line is a special kind of chart that
shows the order that events happen in
time.
A time line can cover any amount of time,
from a few minutes to many years.
It simply shows the order of events and
the time that passes between them.
birth date
4th grade
Good Stuff
Vocabulary Practice
 Vocabulary Concentration
 Reading Test
 Spelling Test

Sites to Visit
Learn to pass on your family history:
 http://www.sfreading.com/4/u4_keepers/
Books for Black History Month:
 http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/tempo/VCCB/Best
of/BlackHistory2.html
Teacher’s Guide for “Keepers”
 http://www.leeandlow.com/teachers/guide22c.html
Crafts for keepsake gifts:
 http://www.tcpnow.com/holidaykit/part2/hd2.3.html
 Writer’s Workshop
Weekly Fluency Check Read with Appropriate Phrasing TE 449d
Students should practice reading difficult.
with appropriate phrasing, for example,
identifying dialect in dialogue.
In the first passage below, Little Dolly
uses the word cain’t. Since cain’t isn’t an
actual word, readers might then
determine whether the word is being
used to show dialect.
page 434, beginning at the top of the
page
1.
2.
3.
4.
Review Pages 432-439
How are Kenyon’s priorities
different from his grandmother’s?
How is a Keeper of stories
important to a family?
Why does Dolly think Kenyon
can’t be a Keeper?
What is Kenyon’s conflict or
problem in the story?
Review Pages 440-439
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Who helps Kenyon come up with a
resolution to his problem?
What is the climax or turning point of
the story?
Why is everyone coming to Little Dolly’s
house?
What two problems are resolved at the
end of the story?
What lesson can be learned from this
story?
Writing Assignment
Choose one of the following and write
about it:
What is a funny story about you or
another family member that your
family likes to tell again and again?
Write the story as you might tell it.
 Make a card for a grandparent or
older adult. Write a thoughtful
greeting on the front and a clever
message inside. Decorate it.

Words to Know
considering
grounders
diamond
definitely
reminder
taunted
stroke
More Words to Know
apologizing
handmade
squinched
storytelling
considering
taking
into
account; thinking
seriously about
grounders
baseballs
ground
that hit the
diamond
 the
space inside the lines
that connect the bases in
baseball;
infield
definitely
 surely;
certainly
reminder
 something
remember
to help one
storytelling
 relating
a story orally
stroke
a
sudden attack of illness
when a blood vessel breaks
taunted
 teased
(in a mean way)
apologizing
offering
excuse
an
handmade
made
by hand
squinched
squinted
She was apologizing
for breaking my
favorite vase.
She was apologizing
for breaking my
favorite vase.
He is considering
attending the
University of
Tennessee to get his
degree in engineering
He is considering
attending the
University of
Tennessee to get his
degree in engineering.
.
Kenyan was going
to make a handmade
book for his
grandmother
.
Kenyan was going
to make a handmade
book for his
grandmother
The woman said
she would
definitely watch
my children.
The woman said
she would definitely
watch my children.
He stood inside the
diamond waiting to
catch the ball.
He stood inside the
diamond waiting to
catch the ball.
Toby scooped up
the hard-to-catch
grounders that the
batter is notorious
for hitting.
Toby scooped up
the hard-to-catch
grounders that the
batter is notorious
for hitting.
He squinched to
block the sun out of
his eyes.
He squinched to
block the sun out of
his eyes.
I used post-it
notes as a
reminder to get
the milk at the
store.
I used post-it
notes as a
reminder to get
the milk at the
store.
My grandfather
had a stroke and
was unable to
take care of
himself.
My grandfather
had a stroke and
was unable to
take care of
himself.
Grandfather love
storytelling for his
grandchildren.
Grandfather love
storytelling for his
grandchildren.
The children taunted
Hank because he
hasn’t got any front
teeth.
The children
taunted Hank
because he hasn’t
got any front teeth.
Spelling Words –
Double Consonants
tomorrow
borrow
different
supper
matter
written
bottle
ridden
odd
bubble
Spelling Words –
Double Consonants
offer
suffer
current
lettuce
grasshopper
paddle
shudder
worry
hobby
slipper
This Week’s Word Wall
Words
Click and type your own
words for this week:
Let’s review our words.
Watch carefully because
they will flash on the
screen for just a moment.
We will clap as we spell
the word.
hobby
shudder
paddle
lettuce
current
worry
grasshopper
slipper
suffer
offer
bubble
odd
ridden
bottle
written
borrow
matter
supper
different
tomorrow
GREAT
JOB!