Adapting to Survive: Short Stories and Poems

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 6

5th Grade

Lesson 9 of 18

Objective


Summarize the excerpt from Endangered by identifying a theme and explaining how the characters in the story respond to the main challenges. 

Compare and contrast the excerpts from Julie of the Wolves and Endangered by analyzing the way they both approach the theme and topic of survival. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Endangered by Eliot Schrefer (pp. 76–83, 90–95, 98–103)  — Close read pp. 76–83, 90–95, 98–103

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Summarize the excerpt. In your summary, be sure to describe how the characters in the story respond to the main challenges. Also, be sure to determine a main theme of the excerpt.

Compare and contrast the way Miyax from Julie of the Wolves and Sophie from Endangered approached survival. 

Key Questions


  • Part 1: Summarize the excerpt. In your summary, be sure to describe how the characters in the story respond to the main challenges. Also, be sure to determine a main theme of the excerpt. 

  • Part 1: Did Sophie use more physical or mental strength to survive? Defend. 

  • Part 1: What key character traits enabled Sophie to survive her first few days in the enclosure? 

  • Part 1: Why does the author include the observations Sophie makes of the bonobos? How do these scenes contribute to the overall structure of the story?

  • Part 2: Compare and contrast the key traits of Miyax and Sophie. 

  • Part 2: Compare and contrast Sophie’s and Miyax’s actions. 

  • Part 2: Compare and contrast the biggest challenges Sophie and Miyax are facing in their quest for survival.

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.5.2 — Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
  • RL.5.9 — Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Supporting Standards

RF.5.3
RF.5.4
RL.5.1
RL.5.4
RL.5.10
SL.5.1
W.5.10

Next

Describe Brian’s current predicament and how he responds.

Lesson 10
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