Guiding Comprehension

Sequence • Literal

William had to make several changes to his house over the course of the family's first year in the new land. In order, what were the changes, and why did he have to make them?

First, he built a cellar. Then he cleared trees. Next, he shingled the roof. Then he made the roof steeper. Finally, he built a new fireplace.

Draw Conclusions
• Inferential

Do you think William's father would be surprised if he saw William's new house? Why or why not?

Possible response: He would probably be surprised because it does not look like the kind of house he is used to.

Summarize • Critical

Text to World Write a brief summary of William's House. In your summary, think about how William must have felt as a newcomer to the colonies. How do you think people new to the United States today feel? What hardships do you think they face when they get here?

Responses will vary; check students' summaries for accuracy and make sure they support their conclusions with details from the story or other stories they have read.

Summarize When students finish reading the selection, provide this prompt: Imagine that you want to tell a friend what William's House is about. In four or five sentences, explain its important points.

STRATEGY SELF-CHECK

Ask Questions

Tell students that when we have finished reading, it is a good idea to think about any questions we have about the story and go back and try to find the answers. This helps us understand what we have read.

If we can't find the answers, we can usually think about what we already know and draw our own conclusions.

Have students write at least one question they have about the story and draw a conclusion.

SELF-CHECK

Students can ask these questions to assess their ability to use the skill and strategy.

Do my questions help me understand the story better?
Does my conclusion make sense?
Can I back up my conclusion with information from the selection or reasons of my own?

then… use the Reteach lesson on
p. 271b.

If… students have difficulty drawing conclusions,

Draw Conclusions

Practice Book 3.1 p. 97

with | without Answers

"William's House"
by Ginger Howard

Student Edition
Unit 2, pp. 254–265

Historical fiction is a story that takes place in the past. What can you learn about when this story takes place?

William grew up in England, but in 1637 he and his family were living in New England. William needed to build a house for his wife and two sons. He wanted it to be like his father's house in England.
William cut trees and used the wood to make the frame and sides of the house. He used wooden pegs as nails. He built a small stone fireplace in the corner of the house's one room. He then added a thatched roof. Since he didn't have glass for a window, he used scraped animal horn and placed it between slits in the boards.
He made a few pieces of furniture for the home too. He made a table from a packing crate and mattresses from sacks filled with corn husks. He looked at his home and smiled. It did indeed look just like his father's house in England.
That summer was very hot, much hotter than summers in England. The family's food began to spoil. Elizabeth, William's wife, warned that the family had to do something or else they would lose all their food. William dug a cellar and stored their vegetables and barrels of food in the cool underground room.
In late summer, strong winds blew, toppling a tree near the house. Elizabeth warned that the family had to do something or a tree would fall and crush them. William cut down trees to make a clearing around the house.
Fall came, and everything was dry, much drier than in England. Sparks from the fireplace went up the chimney and fell on the dry thatched roof. Elizabeth warned that the family had to do something or the house would burn down. William tore off the thatched roof and put up cedar shingles instead. They would not burn as easily as thatch.
Winter brought a lot of snow, much more snow than in England. The heavy snow weighed down the roof. Elizabeth warned that the family had to do something or the roof would collapse. William and his friends built a steep, peaked roof so snow would slide off.
Winter was also much colder than in England. Elizabeth warned that the family had to do something or they would freeze. William built a bigger fireplace in the center of one wall. It kept them cozy and warm in their new house.
Spring came, and so did a ship from England. On it were William's cousins. When they looked at his house, they asked what kind of house it was.
William looked at it and said, "This is like my father's house-reshaped for New England."
Then he turned to his cousins. "Welcome!" he said, and they all went inside.



	Close
	PRACTICE LESSON VOCABULARY Have students provide oral responses to each question. *Where did William create a clearing?* (Around the house) *What did William keep in the barrels?* (Cider) *Why did William have to build a steep* roof?** (So the snow wouldn't build up on it and cause the roof to cave in) BUILD CONCEPT VOCABULARY Review previous concept words with students. Ask if students have met any words today in their reading or elsewhere that they would like to add to the Concept Web.

"William's House" by Ginger Howard

"William's House"
by Ginger Howard