Guiding Comprehension

Cause and Effect
• Inferential

The narrator of Wings says that people in the neighborhood are pointing their fingers and shaking their heads. What is the cause of these actions?

A boy is flying in the sky.

then… use the skill and strategy instruction on
p. 19.

If… students are unable to determine the cause of people's actions,

Cause and Effect

Genre • Inferential

Reread p. 18. Find one example that shows how Wings is a fantasy.

The character of Ikarus Jackson has wings.

Understand Idioms

• Inferential

What do you think is the meaning of the idiom "wagging tongues" on p. 18, paragraph 3? Use context clues to help you figure it out.

People talking a lot about someone or something else; context clues: "They whispered about his wings and his hair and his shoes. Like they whisper about how quiet I am."

Use the key words Greek mythology or Icarus to look up information on the Greek myth of Icarus. Information about Icarus also comes up in a search under history of flight.

SKILLS

STRATEGIES IN CONTEXT

Cause/Effect

TEACH

Remind students that a cause tells us why something happened, and an effect tells us what happened.
Sometimes, but not always, clue words such as because, reason, and cause can help you find the causes; or words such as so, consequently, therefore, and thus can help you find the effect.
When there are no clue words, it helps to ask questions such as "What happened?" and "Why did this happen?"
Model finding the cause on
p. 18.

MODEL First I'll reread the passage and look for clue words. I don't see any, so next I'll try asking myself what happened. The question tells me what happened: the neighbors were pointing their fingers and shaking their heads. Why did this happen? I read that Ikarus was flying around in the sky. That's why people were staring. That must be the cause.

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

Have students find another effect Ikarus and his wings had on people. (The whole school was staring at him and whispering about him.) To assess, check that what students have chosen tells what happened and not why it happened.

"Wings"
by Christopher Myers

Student Edition
Unit 4, pp. 16–27

A fantasy is a story in which unbelievable things happen. What happens to make this Selection Snapshot a fantasy?

Ikarus Jackson is a new boy on my block. He has wings and can fly. I have seen him swooping down toward the ground and soaring up into the sky. I have watched him looping in big circles above the rooftops. Ikarus Jackson is wonderful.
Yet the kids at school didn't think so. They talked about him because he was different. They made fun of his wings, and they laughed at his hair and shoes. I felt bad for Ikarus because I knew how it felt to be singled out by the other kids.
They talk about me because I am quiet. This has made me feel lonely and sad, and I could tell that Ikarus felt the same way.
Even our teacher complained about Ikarus. He once sent Ikarus out of the room, saying the other students couldn't pay attention with him and his wings around.
In the schoolyard, kids pointed at Ikarus and made fun of him. I heard a snicker from one kid and a giggle from another. Soon everyone was laughing at Ikarus. They said his wings were useless.
At first, Ikarus struggled to keep from crying. Then he just looked up, flapped his feathers, jumped into the air, and began flying up higher and higher.
I thought people would be amazed, but their glaring looks told me differently. They said that Ikarus was nothing but a show-off.
Then Ikarus began drifting down toward the top of a building. His wings drooped, and his head was down. He sat on the roof with the pigeons until a police officer called for him to come down.
When kids saw the officer yelling at him, they laughed even louder. Ikarus dropped to the ground, hanging his head low.
I had to do something, so I yelled for everyone to be quiet. To my surprise, they stopped laughing. Ikarus came toward me, and I told him that I liked watching him fly.
For the first time, he smiled. Then he soared up again and swirled through the sky. I told everyone to look up and see my amazing new friend fly.



	Close
	Understanding Idioms Explain that the idiom wagging tongues on p. 18 means talking in a negative way about someone or something, or gossiping. Have students say who the people were wagging their tongues about. Ask them what kinds of things they might have been saying. Citizenship In the story Wings, the narrator proves to be Ikarus's friend. What qualities make a friend? We look for qualities in friends such as openness, honesty, respect for others, and friendliness. A friend is always there for you and never lets you down. A friend will help you, cheer you up, and root for you. Good citizens in class, like friends, are helpful, supportive, and sharing. They don't put down others; instead, they overlook and even welcome differences.

"Wings" by Christopher Myers

"Wings"
by Christopher Myers