Scott Foresman Reading Street

Social Studies in Reading

Examine features of a picture encyclopedia.
Practice a test-taking strategy.
Compare and contrast across texts.

PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES

As students preview "Money from Long Ago," have them examine the section heads and the picture labels to help them tell what each section will be about. After they preview, ask:

How does the head of each section help you understand what you will read? (The heads tell what each section will be about.)
What kind of information do the labels by the pictures give you? (The labels identify the pictures.)

Link to Social Studies

As an alternative to using the library, encourage students to use the Internet to help them learn about foreign currencies. Have students explain how to convert from the foreign currency to their own currency.

Whole Group Discuss the Question of the Day.

Group Time
Differentiated Instruction

"Money from Long
Ago." See pp. 86f–86g for the
small group lesson plan.

Reading

Language Arts
Use pp. 115e–115h,
115k–115m.

Whole Group Use pp. 115a,
115j.

Grouping Options

PICTURE ENCYCLOPEDIA

Use the sidebar on p. 112 to guide discussion.

A picture encyclopedia is an illustrated book that covers a wide range of topics.
Have students examine the labels that accompany the photographs. Explain that the visual elements of picture encyclopedias often include informative labels. Some labels simply identify the pictured object. Other labels tell something about the pictured object.
Have students examine each label. Ask them to explain whether the label functions to identify the object or to tell something about the object.

AudioText

Have students who are having comprehension difficulties explain why they are confused. Then provide them with adequate time to reread.

by Darleen Ramos

Cowrie Shells

Cowries are small snails that live
in the ocean. In ancient times, their
shiny shells were used as money in
China, India, and parts of Africa. The
shells are one of the oldest forms of payment.
Cowrie shells could be stored or worn. The color and size of the shell would set its price.

Cowrie shells

Labels identify each
picture.

Headings tell what
each section will
be about.

A reader may read the
information in any order.

The information is
in both written and
picture format.

Picture encyclopedias
provide information
on a variety of topics.

Text Features

Picture
Encyclopedia

Genre

Use the library and learn
about the money used
in a country of your choice.
What is the money called?
What is it made of? Share
what you find with the class.

Link to Social
Studies

Feather Coils

Introduction

If the trade was not even, people
used other things for payment.
They may have used beans, shells,
furs, or tools. Here are a few items
people used as money.

In ancient times, people
did not use paper money
or coins. They traded to
get things they needed.
A person might trade three
ears of corn for five potatoes.
A farmer might trade a sheep for
several chickens.

Red feather money coil

Before there were coins and paper money, the
people on the Pacific island of Santa Cruz used a
feather coil for money. The coil was made from the
red feathers of a honey-eating bird. The feathers
were glued on the coil, which is about
ten yards long. Red feather
money was used in
marriage contracts
and to buy boats.

Monitor and Fix-Up

If you’re confused, try reading on.