NA PDF

Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Short Vowels
Generalization  Short a is usually spelled a: damage. Short e is usually
spelled e: gentle. Short i is usually spelled i: injury. Short o is usually spelled
o: cottage. Short u is usually spelled u: clumsy.

Word Sort  Sort the list words according to the short vowels they contain.
Spelling Words
short a short o 1. damage
damage
1. ___________________ cottage
13. ___________________ 2. gentle
3. injury
palace
2. ___________________ honesty
14. ___________________
4. palace
fantastic
3. ___________________ modify
15. ___________________ 5. cottage
6. honesty
cannon
4. ___________________ property
16. ___________________
7. mustard
short e short u 8. legend
9. clumsy
gentle
5. ___________________ mustard
17. ___________________
10. message
legend
6. ___________________ clumsy
18. ___________________
11. modify
message
7. ___________________ ruffle
19. ___________________ 12. ruffle
fender
8. ___________________ dungeon
20. ___________________ 13. glimpse
14. strict
short i 15. dungeon

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injury
9. ___________________ 16. fender
17. fantastic
glimpse
10. ___________________ 18. dignity
strict
11. ___________________ 19. property
20. cannon
dignity
12. ___________________
Challenge Words
Challenge Words
21. reconcile
short a short o 22. hippopotamus
23. lozenge
glamorous
21. ___________________ lozenge
24. ___________________
24. insulation
short e short i and o 25. glamorous
reconcile
22. ___________________ hippopotamus
25. ___________________
short i
insulation
23. ___________________

Home Activity  Your child is learning to spell words with short vowels. Tell your child that the sentence Let it
stop at us can be used to help them remember the short vowel sounds.

DVD•10 Spelling  Short Vowels

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Name

Summary
Mother Fletcher's Gift
A policeman in Harlem meets one of
the neighborhood’s most well known
citizens—the elderly Mother Fletcher.
Mother Fletcher invites the policeman
and his family to Christmas dinner. The
policeman would rather not go, but his
wife and daughter insist. They have a
wonderful visit, each learning something
new about the spirit of giving.

Activity
Your Own Hero With members of
your family, recall a person who made a
big difference in your life. Discuss why
you value him or her as much as you do.
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Write a thank-you letter to the person

whom you value.

Comprehension Skill
Character and Theme Activity
The theme is the main idea or central Actions Speak Louder Watch a
meaning that the author wants you to learn. television show or a movie with your
The theme is not usually stated directly family. Decide what the theme is. Then
in the text. The reader has to figure it out focus on one character and discuss how the
by examining the characters’ goals and character’s actions help convey the theme.
how they try to reach them. Characters
are the people or animals who take part in
the events of a story. You can understand
the characters by noticing their words and
actions or by the way other characters
speak about them and act toward them.

 Family Times DVD•11

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Lesson Vocabulary
Words to Know
Knowing the meanings of these words
is important to reading Mother Fletcher’s
Gift. Practice using these words.
Vocabulary Words
apparently seemingly; with the
appearance of
fixtures things put in place to stay
flimsy easily torn or broken; not
strongly made
incident something that happens;
event
subscribe to give your consent or
approval; agree
survive to continue to exist; remain
Practice Tested Spelling Words
DVD•12 Family Times
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PDF
Conventions
Subjects and Predicates
A sentence must have both a subject and
a predicate. The complete subject
is the word or group of words that tells
whom or what a sentence is about. The
main word in the complete subject
is called the simple subject. The
complete predicate is the word or
group of words that tells something
about the subject. The main word in
the complete predicate is a verb, and
it is called the simple predicate.
For example: The loose floorboard creaked
beneath my feet. “The loose floorboard”
is the complete subject and “floorboard”
is the simple subject. “Creaked beneath
my feet” is the complete predicate and
“creaked” is the simple predicate.
Activity
Mix ‘n’ Match With a family member,
write some simple subjects and some
complete subjects on six paper squares.
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On six other squares, write some
simple predicates and some complete
predicates. Then take turns picking out
a square from each group and making a
new sentence using your choices.
12/11/09 10:02:11 AM
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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Character and Theme

• You can learn about the characters (people or animals in a story) from their words and
actions and the way other characters act toward them.
• The theme is the main idea or central meaning that the author wants you to learn. The
theme may be stated directly in the text, but usually the reader has to figure it out.
• A statement of theme does not mention specific characters or events, even though
characters and events bring the theme to life.

Directions  Read the following passage. Then fill in the chart below.

I n the 1950s in Montgomery, Alabama,

there was a city ordinance that stated
that African Americans must give up a
seat on a bus if a white person wanted it.
Rosa Parks, a seamstress, was tired from
working hard all day. She was on her way
home from work when a white person
demanded she give up her seat on the bus.
Rosa was tired, not only from working all
day, but from the injustice shown toward
African Americans. Those who fought for
their rights were often beaten or killed,
or their houses were burned. On this day,
Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white
person. She was arrested and fined for
violating the city ordinance. This unknown
woman’s one act led to a bus boycott that
began the Civil Rights Movement in the
United States.

Possible responses given.

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Rosa Parks One-sentence Summary Theme

1.  What word describes
Rosa?
Rosa Parks stood
4. 5.All people should be
up to unfair laws and treated fairly.
brave helped start the Civil
Rights movement.
2.  What important action
did Rosa take?

She refused to
give up her seat.
3.  Why did Rosa refuse
to give up her seat?
She resented the
unjust law and was
helping to begin a
protest against it.
Home Activity  Your child read a biographical passage to analyze character details and determine the
theme. Choose a profile of a person from a newspaper or magazine and work together to identify details
that describe the person. Then have your child suggest a theme that is supported by the character’s actions.

 Comprehension DVD•13

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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Setting and Plot

Directions  Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

I t was a cold, snowy night. James

worried about his dog, Sheeba.
Apparently, when the pizza was delivered,
Sheeba ran out the door. Now James was
running down the icy streets, calling for
Sheeba. It was a terrible night to be out!
Even the taxis and trucks were moving
slowly, trying not to skid.
Suddenly James heard crying. He turned
the corner and saw Sheeba shivering under
a bush. She was cold and lost. James
moved quickly toward her. At the same
moment, James saw a car skidding around
the corner, heading for Sheeba. James
knew he couldn’t get to Sheeba in time. He
was afraid to look. Then he heard Sheeba
bark. The car had missed her. James ran to
Sheeba, picked her up, and rushed home.

1. What is the setting of the story? What clues did you use?

The setting is winter in a city. There is snow and ice. There are
trucks and taxis.
2. What is the problem?

James’s dog ran out of the house and James had to find her.

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. 6

3. How did James try to solve the problem?

James went outside and looked for his dog.

4. What is the climax?

A car skids around the corner heading for Sheeba.

5. What is the resolution?

Sheeba was not hurt. James took her home.

Home Activity  Your child has identified setting and plot in a story. Read a story with your child. Ask him or
her to identify the setting and plot.

DVD•14 Comprehension

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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Subjects and Predicates

Directions  Add a subject or a predicate to each fragment to make a complete sentence. Write the
sentence. Underline the simple subject and simple predicate. Possible answers:
1. works at the senior center in our community.
My aunt works at the senior center in our
community.
2. Volunteers from the neighborhood .
Volunteers from the neighborhood help with many
of the activities.
3. teaches an arts and crafts class.
Mr. Benitez teaches an arts and crafts class.
4. enjoy his class.
All the members of the center enjoy his class.
5. will hold a bake sale for art supplies for the center.
Our sixth-grade class will hold a bake sale for art
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supplies for the center.

6. People at the center .
People at the center are planning an art fair.
7. The friendly staff .
The friendly staff is helping with the
arrangements.
8. participate in the center’s many interesting activities.
Josh’s grandparents participate in the center’s
many interesting activities.

Home Activity  Your child learned how to write complete sentences with subjects and predicates. Say a
fragment such as My right foot, Learned to dance, The little red car, and went on a trip. Have your child add
a subject or predicate to make a complete sentence.

 Conventions  Subjects and Predicates DVD•15

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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Short Vowels
Spelling Words
damage gentle injury palace cottage
honesty mustard legend clumsy message
modify ruffle glimpse strict dungeon
fender fantastic dignity property cannon

Word Search  Find and circle ten list words in the word search. Write them on the lines.
W E F T Y H U I O P L M N V G T S T fantastic
1. ___________________
E F A L E G E N D C L U M S Y M T G legend
2. ___________________
T Y N O I U Y T F D F W E W E U R J clumsy
3. ___________________
L U T A S D F G H J K S S J N S I I property
4. ___________________
E W A P R O P E R T Y T S N K T C N ruffle
5. ___________________
I K S R U F F L E H J R A L O A T J fender
6. ___________________
S W T Q W E R T Y U I I G A S R Y U message
7. ___________________
P O I F E N D E R Y H C E V C D H R mustard
8. ___________________
E R C T Y B N U J I K M K O L P N Y strict
9. ___________________
injury
10. ___________________

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. 6

Drawing Conclusions  Write the list word that fits each clue.
11. This makes a big booming sound. cannon
11. ___________________
12. Proud people behave with this. dignity
12. ___________________
13. This is a prison. dungeon
13. ___________________
14. When you change something you do this to it. modify
14. ___________________
15. Natural disasters can cause a lot of this. damage
15. ___________________
16. A kind person is usually also this. gentle
16. ___________________
17. They say this is the best policy. honesty
17. ___________________
18. This is a small house. cottage
18. ___________________
19. This is where royalty lives. palace
19. ___________________
20. This is what you do when you see something for just a moment. glimpse
20. ___________________

Home Activity  Your child has been learning to spell words with short vowel sounds. Ask your child to pick
two list words and use them together in a sentence.

DVD•16 Spelling  Short Vowels

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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Character and Theme

• You can learn about the characters (people or animals) from their words and actions
and the way other characters act toward them.
• The theme is the main idea or central meaning that the author wants you to take away
from the reading.
• A statement of theme should stand alone—it does not mention specific characters or
events in the story, even though the characters and events inform the theme.

Directions  Read the following passage. Then answer the questions below.

M iguel passed a homeless man on

Fifth Street every morning on his
way to school. At first, he tried to ignore
the stranger, but as the weather grew
colder, Miguel started to worry about him.
While helping his father with the dishes
one night, he asked him if he could have
the old wool coat that his father never wore
anymore. “Why do you want it?” asked his
father. “For a project,” said Miguel. The
next morning, Miguel left the house with
the coat and gave it to the stranger. As
Miguel turned around, he saw his father
standing behind him. His father smiled.
“You’re a thoughtful boy, Miguel,” said his
father. The two walked the rest of the way
to school together.

Description of Miguel
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1. What does Miguel do for his father?

helps with the dishes
2. What does Miguel do for the stranger?
worries about him, gives him a coat
3. What does Miguel’s father say about his son?
“You’re a thoughtful boy, Miguel.”
4. What word describes Miguel’s personality?
Possible response: thoughtful, caring, kind
Theme
5. What does the author want you to learn from the story? In other words, what is the theme?
Possible response: If you show respect to all people, you get
respect from others.
Home Activity  Your child identified and described a character and wrote a statement of theme. Read a
short story and ask your child to identify a main character, describe his or her personality, and state a theme.
Ask your child to explain the details that support the answers.

 Comprehension DVD•17

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Name Mother Fletcher’s Gift

Subjects and Predicates

Directions  Draw a line between the complete subject and the complete predicate in each sentence.

/
1. Mother Fletcher shopped at the market every Monday.

/
2. The officer’s family dined with Mother Fletcher.

/
3. She wore a pretty green dress on Christmas Day.

/
4. Christmas lights twinkled from every window.

5. The brave officer/has a wife and daughter.

Directions  Underline the simple subject and circle the simple predicate.

6. The paramedic checked Mother Fletcher’s pulse.

7. Officer O’Brien keeps the streets of Harlem safe.

8. Aunt Betsy baked ham and sweet potatoes for Christmas dinner.

9. A warm friendship had formed between the officer and the old woman.

10. Tinsel was hanging from every branch of her Christmas tree.

Directions  Write F after fragments. Write R after run-ons. Write S after sentences.

11. Knitted a green sweater for Mike. F

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. 6

12. The children reread stories about Santa they know them by heart. R
13. Streets of Harlem lively at night. F
14. Colorful Christmas decorations adorn the houses in the neighborhood. S
15. Everyone knew about Mother Fletcher she was a legend. R
16. Officer O’Brien became a police officer because he wanted to help people. S

DVD•18 Conventions  Subjects and Predicates

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