Guiding Comprehension

Compare and Contrast

• Literal

How are Suki and her two sisters alike? How are they different?

Possible response: All three sisters want to wear something special on the first day of school. Suki wants to wear her favorite thing (her kimono) to school, but her sisters want to wear what is new and cool.

then… use the skill and strategy instruction on
p. 153.

If… students are unable to determine how Suki and her sisters are alike and different,

Compare and Contrast

Onomatopoeia • Literal

Reread the second sentence on p. 153. Identify two words that sound like what they mean.

Possible responses: Slurped, slippery, crunchy.

SKILLS

STRATEGIES IN CONTEXT

Compare and Contrast

TEACH

Tell students that to compare and contrast two things means to tell how they are alike and how they are different.
Model identifying the similarities and differences between Suki and her sisters found on p. 152.

MODEL On p. 152, I read that the three sisters have the same goal—to wear something special on the first day of school. To find the differences between Suki and her sisters, I'll look for words that show contrasts. The last paragraph on p. 152 begins with the word but. This signals a difference between Suki and her sisters. Suki doesn't care for new or cool, like her sisters do. She wants to wear her favorite thing—her kimono.

PRACTICE AND ASSESS

Have students reread the last paragraph on p. 153. Ask students what Suki did to be just like her
obchan during the circle dance. (She copied her movements.)

Formal and Informal Language

Tell students that common words, such as the word cool, can have both formal and informal meanings. A formal meaning of the word cool is "lacking warmth but not extremely cold." The meaning of the word cool used on p. 152 is an informal or slang meaning. Here it means stylish or trendy. Explain to students that slang can be used in stories, journals, and friendly letters but not in reports, essays, or business letters.

"Suki's Kimono"
by Chieri Uegaki

Student Edition
Unit 5, pp. 150–163

Realistic fiction has characters and events that are like people and events in real life. Does Suki remind you of anyone you know?

It was Suki's first day of school. She put on her very favorite outfit. It was a blue cotton kimono. A kimono is like a long robe with wide sleeves. It has an obi, or belt, tied around the waist. On her feet Suki wore shiny red wooden shoes called geta.
Her sisters were not happy with Suki. "You cannot wear that to school. You must wear something cool. Others will laugh at you. You need to look cool like us."
Suki did not listen. She wanted to wear the kimono.
Grandmother had given it to Suki in the summer. She wore it to the festival Grandmother took her to. There they danced a circle dance. Grandmother was a graceful dancer. She moved to the rhythm of the music. Suki tried to copy her. Grandmother bought Suki a pale pink handkerchief at the festival. Grandmother said it would help Suki remember their day together.
Now Suki tucked the handkerchief in her snug obi. She was ready for school. Her sisters, Mari and Yumi, would not walk with her. They kept many paces ahead of her. They did not want people to think they knew her.
Suki did not care. She lifted her arms up, and the wind filled her wide sleeves. She felt like a butterfly spreading its wings.
At school Suki's sisters rushed to see their friends. They left Suki alone. Some children stared at Suki as others pointed and laughed at her. Suki sat down on the swings where she waited for the bell to ring. A girl wearing overalls came to the swings. Her name was Penny. She asked about Suki's clothes.
When the bell rang, Suki and Penny went to class. Some students laughed at Suki, which made her feel sad. Then the teacher called the class to order. Her name was Mrs. Paggio, and she asked the children to tell what they did in the summer. When her turn came, Suki talked about her kimono and told about the festival. She showed the children how she and Grandmother danced there. She danced and twirled. When she was finished, Mrs. Paggio started to clap. Penny clapped too. Soon everyone was clapping.
After school, Yumi and Mari walked home ahead of her. They were upset that no one had noticed their new clothes. Suki smiled and danced all the way home because she had been noticed.



	Close
	Build Background Direct students' attention to the Japanese words kimono, obchan, and smen on pp. 152–153 of the story. Explain that a kimono is a loose robe or gown tied with a waistband. It is a traditional Japanese article of clothing worn by both men and women. Ask students to find the word obchan in the first sentence on p. 153. Point out that obchan refers to the person who gave Suki her kimono. Tell students to look at the picture on p. 153 for clues to the meaning of the word obchan. Students should notice that the women in the circle dance appear to be older women. The word obchan, in fact, means grandmother. Explain that the smen noodles that Suki and her obchan slurp out of bowls are long and thin, much like spaghetti noodles. Cotton Cotton is the most widely used plant fiber in the world. Among the leading producers are China, the United States, India, Pakistan, and Brazil. Cotton must be grown in a place that has plenty of sunshine. Farmers plant cotton seeds in long rows in the early spring. They use special chemicals to control disease, insects, and weeds. The cotton fibers develop inside a green pod that eventually turns brown and bursts open. A machine called a gin separates the cotton fibers from the rest of the plant. The cotton is then packed up and shipped to a mill, where it is spun into thread. From this thread, a light but strong cloth is made.

"Suki's Kimono" by Chieri Uegaki

"Suki's Kimono"
by Chieri Uegaki