GHGR
UNIT 4
Understanding How Stories Work
Week 1
Understanding Story Elements
FOCUS LESSON 1
PREVIEWING A TEXT
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question in your
reading notebook.
Essential Question: How can previewing a story help better
prepare me to read?
Previewing a story allows readers to activate their background knowledge
and make predictions about the story. This will help them understand the
story and adjust their thinking as they read.
FOCUS LESSON 1
PREVIEWING A TEXT
My
My Predictions
Observations
Kids shooting
basketballs
Chapter 2 title
This story is about a
basketball game
between students and
teachers.
APPLY THE STRATEGY
 Open up the Volume 2 Student Reader to page 6.
 Independently preview the cover and contents page (pp. 6-9) of
Leonardo’s Wings.
 Use your background knowledge to make predictions.
 Use a T-chart to organize your observations and predictions.
 Discuss your previews with a partner.
FOCUS LESSON 2
I D E N T I F Y I N G S T O RY E L E M E N T S
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question in your
reading notebook.
Essential Question: What elements in a story do I need
to recognize in order to better understand the story?
Keeping track of story elements helps readers understand what motivates the characters and
follow how their actions fit into the plot.
Characters:
Danny, Brian, Lorena, Hoops, Chris, J.D.
Setting: Brian’s apartment, Central (a park), in modern times
Possible Plot: Danny and Brian are going to play basketball against teachers.
Plot:
APPLY THE STRATEGY
 Read pages 11-16 of Leonardo’s Wings.
 Keep track of the story elements on a story map like the one we
just used.
 Discuss your map with your table.
FOCUS LESSON 3
IDENTIFYING POINT OF VIEW
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question in your
reading notebook.
Essential Question: How can I tell whose perspective a story
is reflecting? How does point of view impact me as a reader?
By identifying the point of view, readers will understand
whose “voice” tells the story and know from what perspective
they will learn about the story setting, characters, and events.
Character
Point of View Words the
Author Uses
for POV
How POV
Helps Me
Understand
the Plot
Brian
First person
I follow events
through his
eyes and see
the story as he
sees it.
I, me, we, us
APPLY THE STRATEGY
Skim pages 11-16 of Leonardo’s Wings and
continue to read pages 17-20
Record story information in a four column chart
like the one we used.
Discuss with a partner.
Understanding
and
Analyzing Characters
FOCUS LESSON 1
U N D E R S TANDI N G A C H A R AC T E R ’ S
PURPOSE
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question
in your reading notebook.
Essential Question: Why is it important to identify
a character’s purpose in a story?
It is important to figure out why the author included
each character in a story, the importance of the
character, and how the character influences the plot
and the theme. This will help you understand the
story.
C H A R AC T E R ’ S R O L E A N D P U R P O S E
Character Role and Purpose
Brian
Main – tells story; poor player
Danny
Main – reason Brian is on the
team; good player
Lorena
Main – reason Brian is captain
of the team; good player
APPLY THE STRATEGY
Skim pages 13 – 20 of Leonardo’s Wings
Identify three main characters and their purposes
Complete a T-Chart like the one we just used
FOCUS LESSON 2
A N A LY Z I NG A C H A R AC T E R ’ S D I A L O G U E
A N D AC T I O N S
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question
in your reading notebook.
Essential Question: Why is it important to analyze
characters in a story?
Analyzing characters helps readers understand how
the characters feel about each other and what
motivates them to behave as they do.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Character
Mr. Chang
Brian
Character’s
Words or Actions
What I Learned
“huge smile swept
across his face;”
He’s very happy.
“slapped hand on
table”
He’s excited
“shrugged”
He’s unhappy.
APPLY THE STRATEGY
Read pages 25-33 of Leonardo’s Wings.
Use a three-column chart to analyze
Donny.
FOCUS LESSON 3
U N D E R S TA N D I N G H OW
C H A RAC T E RS D E V E L OP
Do Now – Please respond to the essential question
in your reading notebook.
Essential Question: Why is it important to
understand why characters change in a story?
Understanding character development leads you to
make predictions and set purposes for reading.
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT
Change: Brian is starting to like being the captain.
Why Change Happens: He has to organize the team.
Evidence: Brian asks Jeff to teach the team the cross-over move.
APPLY THE STRATEGY
Read pages 34-40 of Leonardo’s Wings
Record how Donny as changed on a chart
similar to the one we just used.