Happy Birthday Mr. Kang
Group Time
Reinforce Comprehension
SKILL CAUSE AND EFFECT Have students tell what a cause is
(why something happens) and what an effect is (the thing that happens) and list clue words that signal cause-and-effect relationships (because, since, as a result, so, therefore). If necessary, review the meanings and provide a model. A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens as a result. Sometimes authors use clue words to show causes and effects, but not always. Mr. Kang's grandfather had a bird in a cage, and Mr. Kang wanted one too. I see that Mr. Kang wanted a bird because his grandfather had one. The cause is that the grandfather had a bird. The effect is that Mr. Kang wants one.
Ask students to identify the cause and the effect in this example:
Mr. Kang turned seventy years old so Mrs. Kang had a birthday party for him. (Effect: Mrs. Kang had a birthday party for Mr. Kang. Cause:
Mr. Kang turned seventy.)
BEFORE READING Have students retell what happened in the selection so far. Ask: Why does Mr. Kang go to the park every Sunday? What causes this to be a special Sunday? Then draw a cause-and-effect graphic organizer. Reread the text section on p. 316 and model how to identify the cause-and-effect relationship. "It's a special Sunday morning" is the effect because it tells what happened. "Sam and Mr. Kang are going to the park together" is the cause because it tells why it was a special Sunday morning. Use the information to complete the graphic organizer. Remind students to think about cause-and-effect relationships—what happened and why it happened—as they read the rest of Happy Birthday Mr. Kang.
STRATEGY Graphic Organizers
DURING READING Follow the Guiding Comprehension routine on
pp. 318–325. Have students read along with you while tracking print or do a choral reading. Stop every two pages to ask students what has happened so far. Prompt as necessary.
- What happens before Mr. Kang lets his hua mei out of the cage?
- What happens after the bird is set free?
AFTER READING How does this story show that every person and animal deserves freedom? Reread with students for comprehension as needed. Tell them that tomorrow they will read "Back to the Wild," an interview with a wildlife worker who helps wild animals that are hurt so that they can return to freedom in their natural environments.
Extend Comprehension
SKILL CAUSE AND EFFECT Tell students that
a cause-and-effect relationship is not always obvious and that sometimes there is more than one cause or reason for an effect, or more than one effect from a cause. Have students think of several causes or reasons why Sam might want his grandfather to set the bird free.
STRATEGY GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS Have students use a
cause-and-effect graphic organizer with more than one box for the effects. In the "cause" box, have them write, "Mrs. Kang gives Mr. Kang a birthday party." Then ask students to list at least two effects.
BEFORE READING Have students recall what has happened in the
selection so far. Remind them to look for causes and their effects
and to write them on a graphic organizer as they read the remainder
of the story.
CRITICAL THINKING Have students read
pp. 318–325 independently.
Encourage them to think critically. For example, ask:
- Why do you think Mr. Kang set the bird free even though his wife
and friends wanted him to keep his hua mei caged?
- Why do you think the bird came back to him?
AFTER READING Have students complete the Strategy Response Log
activity (p. 324). Meet with them to have them share their summaries.
Then have students imagine that Mr. Kang keeps a diary. Have them
write the entry he might have recorded on the Sunday he gave his hua
mei freedom. Tell students to include details about Mr. Kang's feelings
and how they changed from early in the morning to later in the day.
AudioText
Happy Birthday Mr. Kang,
Happy Birthday Mr. Kang,