How Ben Franklin How Ben Franklin Stole the Stole the

LightningLightning

O’Neal 4O’Neal 4thth Grade Grade

Genre: BiographyGenre: Biography

A Biography is a story about the life of a real A Biography is a story about the life of a real person written by someone else.person written by someone else.

Biographies tell you what character traits the Biographies tell you what character traits the subject had. subject had.

VocabularyVocabulary

hilarious – very funnyhilarious – very funny convinced – caused a person to believe or do somethingconvinced – caused a person to believe or do something mischief – conduct that may seem playful but causes harm mischief – conduct that may seem playful but causes harm

or troubleor trouble independence – Freedom from the control of another or independence – Freedom from the control of another or

others others (come in) handy – within reach, nearby; easy to use (come in) handy – within reach, nearby; easy to use dizzy – having the feeling of spinning and being about to dizzy – having the feeling of spinning and being about to

fallfall whirlwind – a current of air that moves forward with great whirlwind – a current of air that moves forward with great

forceforce nowadays – in the present timenowadays – in the present time

Vocabulary: Story WordsVocabulary: Story Words

eclipse: a shadow that moves across the eclipse: a shadow that moves across the sun or the moonsun or the moon

odometer: a meter that tells how far a odometer: a meter that tells how far a vehicle has traveledvehicle has traveled

scurvy: a disease that causes weakness, scurvy: a disease that causes weakness, joint pain, and dental problemsjoint pain, and dental problems

scepter: a staff carried by a king or queen to scepter: a staff carried by a king or queen to represent powerrepresent power

tyrants: cruel or unfair rulerstyrants: cruel or unfair rulers

Vocabulary: Words in ContextVocabulary: Words in Context

handy, convinced, dizzy, hilarious, independence, handy, convinced, dizzy, hilarious, independence, mischief, nowadays, whirlwindmischief, nowadays, whirlwind

Jack was ________ that he could use strong wind to power Jack was ________ that he could use strong wind to power his bike and never be late for school again. He aimed to his bike and never be late for school again. He aimed to create a ______ using air blown by a strong current. I create a ______ using air blown by a strong current. I thought that the idea was _________, but Jack was thought that the idea was _________, but Jack was famous for his creativity. He couldn’t be talked out of the famous for his creativity. He couldn’t be talked out of the idea.idea.

Words in ContextWords in Context

Jack always kept many different objects nearby as Jack always kept many different objects nearby as he worked. He had boxes, bottles, and even large he worked. He had boxes, bottles, and even large cans, and he built his inventions out of whatever cans, and he built his inventions out of whatever was ________. Since Jack was often getting was ________. Since Jack was often getting himself into_____, nobody paid much attention to himself into_____, nobody paid much attention to him. His actions showed his ________ from rules him. His actions showed his ________ from rules and the regular ideas of others. However, when I and the regular ideas of others. However, when I looked out the window and saw Jack wrestling with looked out the window and saw Jack wrestling with a garbage can, I was afraid that he would get a garbage can, I was afraid that he would get _______ and fall into the street. I ran to help him, _______ and fall into the street. I ran to help him, but not before the garbage can took off down the but not before the garbage can took off down the street, leaving Jack in a heap on the ground.street, leaving Jack in a heap on the ground.____________, Jack just walks to school.____________, Jack just walks to school.

Words in ContextWords in Context

Dictionary: IdiomsDictionary: Idioms

An idiom is an unusual way to say An idiom is an unusual way to say something. Idioms are words or groups of something. Idioms are words or groups of words that cannot be understood by figuring words that cannot be understood by figuring out the meaning of each word. out the meaning of each word.

Example: Pulling my legExample: Pulling my leg This group of words means “to trick or to This group of words means “to trick or to

tease”tease” Practice: IdiomsPractice: Idioms Practice: Eye on IdiomsPractice: Eye on Idioms

Dictionary: IdiomsDictionary: Idioms

know like a bookknow like a book get wind ofget wind of stick one’s neck outstick one’s neck out draw the linedraw the line give someone a piece of one’s mindgive someone a piece of one’s mind pull his legpull his leg put your foot downput your foot down

Phonics: Decode with /ar/ and /or/Phonics: Decode with /ar/ and /or/

An r-controlled vowel is a vowel followed by An r-controlled vowel is a vowel followed by the letter r. One r-controlled vowel is ar, as the letter r. One r-controlled vowel is ar, as in car. After w, ar usually represents /or/ as in car. After w, ar usually represents /or/ as in war. Another r-controlled vowel is or, as in in war. Another r-controlled vowel is or, as in shore.shore.

Comprehension: Comprehension: Generate QuestionsGenerate Questions

Problem and solutions are important parts of most Problem and solutions are important parts of most stories. Asking yourself questions as you read can stories. Asking yourself questions as you read can help you understand problem and solution. help you understand problem and solution.

When you begin reading a biographical sketch, When you begin reading a biographical sketch, you should ask yourself, “What problem does the you should ask yourself, “What problem does the subject face?” or “What does the subject want or subject face?” or “What does the subject want or need to do?”need to do?”

These questions will help you identify the problem.These questions will help you identify the problem. Once the problem is identified, look for actions that Once the problem is identified, look for actions that

the subject takes to solve the problem.the subject takes to solve the problem.

Comprehension: Comprehension: Problem and Problem and

SolutionSolution

Reread page 222-Reread page 222-223 and complete a 223 and complete a Problem and Problem and Solution ChartSolution Chart

Problem and Solution Chart

Problem

 

Action

 

Action

 

Solution

 

Comprehension PracticeComprehension Practice

Problem and SolutionProblem and Solution

Fact and OpinionFact and Opinion

Comprehension: Comprehension: Fact and OpinionFact and Opinion

A A fact fact is a statement that can be proved as true. is a statement that can be proved as true. Writers use facts when writing informational texts Writers use facts when writing informational texts about various subjects. They may also use facts about various subjects. They may also use facts to support their opinions.to support their opinions.

An An opinionopinion is a statement that tells what someone is a statement that tells what someone thinks or believes. Signal words and phrases, thinks or believes. Signal words and phrases, such as such as I think, I believe, I think, I believe, or or I feelI feel may alert may alert readers to opinions. Strong adjectives that are readers to opinions. Strong adjectives that are likely to be expressions of the author’s feelings, likely to be expressions of the author’s feelings, such as such as uglyugly, , excitingexciting, , terribleterrible, or , or scaryscary can also can also be clues that an opinion is being stated.be clues that an opinion is being stated.

Fluency: Fluency: Repeated Reading: TempoRepeated Reading: Tempo

Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of odometer and bifocalsodometer and bifocals

Slow your tempo when you read the Slow your tempo when you read the sentences in which these words appear.sentences in which these words appear.

He also invented an odometer that told how far he had ridden to deliver the mail. And the first clock with a second hand. And he even thought up daylight saving time. Then he invented bifocals so older folks could see up close and far away without changing glasses.

PoetryPoetry

A A Concrete PoemConcrete Poem has words arranged in the has words arranged in the shape of the thing it describes.shape of the thing it describes.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language uses words to evoke mental uses words to evoke mental images. This includes similes, metaphors, and images. This includes similes, metaphors, and other words that create images in the reader’s other words that create images in the reader’s mind.mind.

AlliterationAlliteration is the repetition of the dame is the repetition of the dame consonant sound in a series of words.consonant sound in a series of words.

AlliterationAlliteration Quia - AlliterationQuia - Alliteration

Reflection: Day 1Reflection: Day 1

Re-read page 222-223.Re-read page 222-223. What does independence mean in the What does independence mean in the

story? Give two details or clues from the story? Give two details or clues from the story that helps you understand the story that helps you understand the meaning.meaning.

Reflection: Day 2Reflection: Day 2

Re-read page 230-231.Re-read page 230-231. For what problem did Ben Franklin invent For what problem did Ben Franklin invent

two solutions? What were the solutions? two solutions? What were the solutions? What were the reasons that Ben Franklin What were the reasons that Ben Franklin had this problem in the first place?had this problem in the first place?

Reflection: Day 3Reflection: Day 3

Re-read page 232.Re-read page 232. What does the author mean by the idiom What does the author mean by the idiom

“everybody and his brother and sister”?“everybody and his brother and sister”?

Reflection: Day 4Reflection: Day 4

Re-read page 236-237.Re-read page 236-237. What actions did Ben Franklin take to start What actions did Ben Franklin take to start

solving the problem of fires caused by solving the problem of fires caused by lightning?lightning?

Reflection: Day 5Reflection: Day 5

What was Ben Franklin’s most famous What was Ben Franklin’s most famous invention, and what problem did it solve? invention, and what problem did it solve? Use story details to support your answer.Use story details to support your answer.