5th Grade Language Arts
Speaking and Listening
Lesson 3
Let's Talk About Books!
Talking with your classmates about books can help you hear their perspectives and learn more about the book! Here are some questions to ask yourself and your classmates when having a discussion:
If you could be friends with any character in the book, who would it be and why?
What was the most exciting or surprising part of the book? Why?
What do you think the saddest part of the story was? Why?
Is there anything in this story that is similar to something that has happened in your life? What was it and how is it similar?
What would you do in a situation similar to that faced by a character in the story?
How would you change the book's ending if you could re-write it?
How is this book like a book you have read in the past? Discuss how they are alike and different.
When holding a discussion: it is important to remember a few things.
Listen when the speaker is talking, and don't interrupt. You can show that you are paying attention by looking at the speaker and asking thoughtful questions when the speaker is done talking!
If you are the speaker, make sure to make eye contact with your classmates, and talk clearly so that everyone can hear you!
Put Book Discussion Into Practice!
Tell your family about an interesting book or article that you have read recently, and have them ask you the questions that are listed above! You guys can have a discussion about a certain character in the book or how you felt about the book after reading it!
How Do We Summarize?
When you are summarizing a story, you are telling the main points and events in your own words. There are a few easy steps to remember when summarizing (they are shown in the diagram on the left!).
Somebody...
Who are the main characters?
Wanted...
What did the characters hope to do?
But...
What stood in their way?
Then...
How did the solve this issue?
So...
How did the story end?
Congratulations! Now, you know how to summarize!
How to Summarize a Story
Preview and read. Preview and read the text closely. You probably will find that you need to read the paragraph more than one time.
Make a list or outline. Determine the main idea and the supporting details of the paragraph. Make a list or outline of these ideas. Be sure to use your own words.
Write a summary. Using your list, write a summary of the paragraph. State the main ideas, followed by important ideas. Limit your summary to just one or two sentences.
Read aloud and correct. Read the summary aloud, correcting any mistakes.
Need More Help? Let's Watch!
Check out these videos for more help with summarization!
Let's Try It!
Can you summarize the story below? Give it a shot!
Once upon a time there was an honest shoemaker who was very poor. He worked as hard as he could, and still he could not earn enough to keep himself and his wife. At last there came a day when he had nothing left but one piece of leather, big enough to make one pair of shoes. He cut out the shoes, ready to stitch, and left them on the bench; then he said his prayers and went to bed, trusting that he could finish the shoes the next day and sell them.
Bright and early the next morning, he rose and went to his workbench. There lay a pair of shoes, beautifully made, and the leather was gone! There was no sign of anyone having been there. The shoemaker and his wife did not know what to make of it. But the first customer who came was so pleased with the beautiful shoes that he bought them, and paid so much that the shoemaker was able to buy leather enough for two pairs.
Happily, he cut them out, and then, as it was late, he left the pieces on the bench, ready to sew in the morning. But when morning came, two pairs of shoes lay on the bench, most beautifully made, and no sign of anyone who had been there. It was a puzzle. That day a customer came and bought both pairs, and paid so much for them that the shoemaker bought leather for four pairs, with the money.
Once more he cut out the shoes and left them on the bench. And in the morning all four pairs were made.
It went on like this until the shoemaker and his wife were prosperous people. But they could not be satisfied to have so much done for them and not know to whom they should be grateful. So one night, after the shoemaker had left the pieces of leather on the bench, he and his wife hid themselves behind a curtain, and left a light in the room.
Just as the clock struck twelve, the door opened softly and two tiny elves came dancing into the room, hopped on to the bench, and began to put the pieces together. They were quiet, but they had wee little scissors and hammers and thread. Tap! Tap! went the little hammers; stitch, stitch, went the thread, and the little elves were hard at work. No one ever worked so fast as they. In almost no time all the shoes were stitched and finished. Then the little creatures whisked away out of the window.
The shoemaker and his wife looked at each other and said, "How can we thank the little elves who have made us happy and prosperous?"
"I should like to make them some pretty clothes," said the wife.
"I will make the shoes if you will make the coats," said her husband.
That very day they commenced their task. The wife cut out two tiny, tiny coats of green, two little pairs of trousers, of white, two bits of caps, bright red, and her husband made two little pairs of shoes with long, pointed toes. They made the clothes as dainty as could be, with nice little stitches and pretty buttons. By Christmas time, they were finished.
On Christmas Eve, the shoemaker cleaned his bench, and on it, instead of leather, he laid the two sets of clothes. Then he and his wife hid away as before, to watch.
Promptly at midnight, the little elves came in. They hopped upon the bench; but when they saw the little clothes there, they laughed and danced for joy. Each one caught up his little coat and things and began to put them on. They were so happy. Then, when the clock struck two, they left smiling.
They never came back any more, but from that day they gave the shoemaker and his wife good luck, so that they never needed any more help.