Scott Foresman Reading Street

SKILLS

STRATEGIES IN CONTEXT

Character/Setting Story Structure

Test

Selection Test:
Unit 1
Benchmark Test: Unit 2

Reteach/
Review

TE: 3.1 25, 141b, DI•56; 3.2 197b, 207, 215, 259

PB: 3.1 6, 43, 47, 48, 63, 67, 76, 96

Practice

TE: 3.1 116–117, 123: 3.2 174–175, 181, 189

Introduce/
Teach

Character and Setting

	Identify the characters and setting of a story.
	Determine story structure to learn about the characters and the setting.

INTRODUCE

Write this sentence: "Alice and Jimmy hiked along the Appalachian Trail." Ask students to identify the characters and setting. (characters: Alice, Jimmy; setting: Appalachian Trail)

Have students read the information on
p. 116. Explain the following:

Stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most major characters and the setting are introduced at the beginning. The story structure shows how the characters interact with the setting through a series of events.
Character traits and the setting may be described clearly or have to be identified using clues.

Use Skill Transparency 5 to teach character and setting, along with story structure.

TEACH

SKILL Use the first paragraph to

model how to describe the characters and the setting.

MODEL The first paragraph tells me that the characters are a family. I can tell that a child is telling the story. The last sentence—"They are the best scarves you could buy"—shows that the child is proud of Mama's scarves. The first paragraph also explains that the story takes place in Africa.

STRATEGY Discuss the story so

far.

MODEL So far, all of the events seem to happen in order from first to last. I wonder what else I will learn about the characters and the market as I keep reading. I predict I will learn what life is like for them.

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

SKILL Have students distinguish

details about the character and setting that are stated explicitly, versus those that are stated implicitly.

STRATEGY Have students describe

how the author uses temporal phrases to move the story along in a chronological manner. Phrases include: before the sun; every Saturday; as the sun came up; and so on.

WRITE Have students complete steps

1 and 2 of the Write to Read activity. You might want to discuss with students why authors often choose to frame the structure of a story by showing events in chronological order.

then… use Practice Book 3.1, p. 143 to provide additional practice.

If… students are unable to complete Write to Read on
p. 116,

Character and Setting

Available as Skill Transparency 5

Strategy
Story
Structure

Skill
Character
and Setting

A character is a person who takes part
in the events of a story.

Skill This is a good place to stop and think about the characters and the setting. The story takes place in a village in Africa, and the main character is a child who helps her family sell scarves.

     We got up before the sun to make the trip
into town. My family lives in a little village in
Africa. Every Saturday we go to town to sell
our head scarves. Mama makes the scarves.
Sometimes I help. They are the very best scarves you could buy.
     Papa pulled the cart into the market as the
sun came up. My sister Fusi and I laid out the
scarves. We ate breakfast before our first customer came.
     It was not long before we sold our first
scarves. A woman and her daughter bought
them. Soon we began to sell many more.
     At ten, drummers set up near us. As they
played, Papa and Fusi danced. Mama and I
clapped along.
    In the afternoon, one customer had me turn
around and around. She was looking at the
scarf I was wearing. I had made it myself. She
bought my scarf!
     It was a good market day. I am looking forward
to next Saturday.

Setting

Characters

Story Title

Strategy The writer seems to be telling the story in a daily order. This structure can help you better understand what happens and when.

Strategy: Story Structure

A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. This means that events happen all along the way. One event leads to the next. Good readers use this structure to learn about the characters and the setting.

2. Write a paragraph that tells the main events of "Saturday Is Market Day"
in the order in which they happened.

1. Read "Saturday Is Market Day." Make a chart like the one above. Write details from the story that tell about the main character and the setting.

Character
and Setting

Writers tell some things about characters.
You can also figure out about characters
by their words and actions.

The setting is when and where a story
takes place.

A writer may tell you the setting, or you
may figure out the setting from details.



	Close
	Access Content Beginning/Intermediate For a Picture It! lesson on character and setting, see the ELL Teaching Guide, pp. 29–30. Advanced Before students read "Saturday Is Market Day," have volunteers tell what market means and describe things you might do there. Character and Setting Make sure students understand that a character takes part in the events of a story, and the setting is the time and place in which the story takes place. Have students describe characters and settings from their favorite stories or movies. Practice Book 3.1 p. 43 with \| without Answers