Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman

      The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman Written by: Darcy Pattison Illustrated by: Joe Cepeda Genre: fantasy Target Skill: Sequence of Events Target Strategy: Analyze/Evaluate – think about what you read, and form an opinion about it Essential Question: What happens if you tell story events out of order? Big Idea: There are many reasons to…

  • Two Bear Cubs

        Summary: The story is a retelling of an authentic Southern Sierra Miwok legend concerning the origin of Yosemite Valley’s El Capitan rock. Mother Grizzly Bear thinks that her two playful cubs are wrestling and having fun along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley while she is checking her fish traps. When she returns…

  • Bat Loves the Night

        Lesson Topic: Mammals Genre: Narrative Nonfiction Written by Nicola Davies Illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies Essential Question: What makes bats interesting and useful? Comprehension  Target Skill: Sequence of Events The order in which things happen. Sequence Word Activity Practice Sequencing Sequencing Puzzles Target Skill: Domain-Specific Vocabulary Vocabulary related to a specific topic Target Strategy: Question…

  • Mountains Surviving Mount Everest

    Mountains: Surviving on Mt. Everest INFORMATIONAL TEXT by Michael Sandler    Target Vocabulary: approached, section, avalanches, increases, equipment, tanks, slopes, altitude, succeed, halt   Vocabulary Strategy: Anaologies   Phonics Skills: Suffixes -less, -ness, -able   Comprehnsion Skills: Text and graphic features — tell how words and photos work together     Comprehension Strategy: Infer/predict —…

  • Saving Buster

     Long Article: Saving Buster Service Dogs Target Skill: Conclusions/Generalizations Target Strategy: Question Essential Question: What helps you make decisions about a character? Big Idea: To reach a goal takes hard work. Social Studies Connection Community Contributions Leveled Chapter Books Donovans Word Jar Jake Drake Capoeira

  • Tops and Bottoms

    Lesson Topic Agriculture Essential Question Why is it important to grow food crops? Fluency: When good readers read aloud, they know which words to emphasize to add meaning to the text.  Understanding the text helps readers know which words to stress.  Punctuation and italics can also help readers know which words and phrases to stress.…

  • Technology Wins the Game

    Essential Question How do inventions help athletes? Fluency – Phrasing When good readers read aloud, they group words together and make natural pauses between phrases.  Readers use punctuation, such as commas, periods, exclamation points, and question marks, to help them know where to pause. Comprehension  Quizlet: Technology Wins the Game Comprehension Target Skill: Text and Graphic…

  • Sarah Plain and Tall

      Sarah Plain and Tall Summary: Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. Sarah, Plain and Tall is a simple story of a family that needs a motherand of the woman who gradually fills this need. It is not a tale of wild action or frightful events. Instead, it emphasizes the humanity of characters who yearn to be loved…

  • Kamisihibai Man

    Written and Illustrated by Allen Say Genre: Realistic Fiction Target Skill: Cause and Effect – tell how one event makes another happen and why Target Strategy: Monitor/Clarify – as you read, find a way to clear up what doesn’t make sense Essential Question: How can a new invention cause people’s lives to change? Big Idea: We communicate in many ways. Grammar…

  • Pop’s Bridge

    Written by Eve Bunting Illustrated by C.F. Payne Genre: Historical fiction Target Skill: Compare and Contrast – tell how details and ideas are alike or different Target Strategy: Infer/Predict – use clues to figure out more about the selection Grammar Common and Proper Nouns: -A word that names a person, a place, or a thing…

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