By:Maria Cristina BruscaBy:Maria Cristina Brusca

On the Pampas

Genre: AutobiographyAuthor’s Purpose: Inform, EntertainSkill: Generalizing

SummarySummary

    One summer, María goes by herself to her One summer, María goes by herself to her grandparents' ranch on the Argentine grandparents' ranch on the Argentine pampas.  The first thing she sees when she pampas.  The first thing she sees when she arrives is her cousin, Susanita, on her very arrives is her cousin, Susanita, on her very own horse.  María gets her own horse, own horse.  María gets her own horse, Pampita, and she and Susanita ride Pampita, and she and Susanita ride everywhere together.  María also learns how everywhere together.  María also learns how to lasso a calf, herd cattle, and separate the to lasso a calf, herd cattle, and separate the cows from the calves - just like a regular cows from the calves - just like a regular gauchogaucho, or cowboy. , or cowboy.

Genre: AutobiographyGenre: AutobiographyAn autobiography tells about a real An autobiography tells about a real

person’s life and is written by the person person’s life and is written by the person who lived it. who lived it.

It is written in the first person.It is written in the first person.

““I lived with my family. . .”I lived with my family. . .” It can tell about a person’s whole life or It can tell about a person’s whole life or

only part of it.only part of it.

Comprehension Skill: Comprehension Skill: Generalizing Generalizing

Sometimes as you read, you are given ideas about several things or people.

when you make a statement about all of them together, you are making a generalization.

A valid generalization is accurate.

A faulty generalization is not accurate.

GeneralizationGeneralization

Generalization Susanita and I did Susanita and I did

everything together everything together that summerthat summer

Susanita was always Susanita was always ready for an ready for an adventure.adventure.

Supporting Fact She was the one who She was the one who

showed me how to showed me how to take care of horses.take care of horses.

She used to swim in She used to swim in the creek holding on the creek holding on to La Baya’s mane.to La Baya’s mane.

Comprehension Skill Review –Comprehension Skill Review –Context CluesContext Clues

When you see unfamiliar words, use context clues, or words around the unfamiliar word, to figure out its meaning.

The context may give a definition or an explanation. Example: Animals that eat other animals are called

predators Sometimes a synonym is used as a context clue. Example: Komodo dragons are carnivores, or meat-

eaters. You can also find the meaning of an unknown word by

looking for information in picture clues, dictionaries, or explanations.

Practice Context CluesPractice Context CluesSentence

But she rode so well the gauchos called her La Gauchita-”The Little Gaucho.”

Meaning

The Little Gaucho

How I Know The author explains the meaning right away.

We would gallop We would gallop to the general to the general store.store.

store that sells store that sells many different many different kinds of thingskinds of things

The picture The picture shows many shows many things sold there.things sold there.

They would make They would make carbonado, a thick carbonado, a thick stew made of corn stew made of corn

and peachesand peaches..

a thick stew a thick stew made of corn made of corn and peachesand peaches

The author The author defines the word defines the word in the same in the same sentence.sentence.

Vocabulary Skill:Vocabulary Skill:Homophones Homophones

Words that are pronounced the same but Words that are pronounced the same but spelled differently are called homophones.spelled differently are called homophones.

reins and rains dear and deerreins and rains dear and deerHomophones also have different meanings.Homophones also have different meanings.The understand the difference, look for The understand the difference, look for

clues in the surrounding words and clues in the surrounding words and sentences.sentences.

Click on the title to practice this skill.

Weekly Fluency Check -Weekly Fluency Check -Read with Appropriate Phrasing Read with Appropriate Phrasing (pg. 297d)(pg. 297d)

● Students should read with appropriate Students should read with appropriate phrasing, for example, using appositives to phrasing, for example, using appositives to make reading clearer and more make reading clearer and more conversational.conversational.

● Often, appositives are used to define Often, appositives are used to define something in a story which is unfamiliar to something in a story which is unfamiliar to readers, or unique to a story. It keeps the readers, or unique to a story. It keeps the flow and focus of the story moving along. flow and focus of the story moving along.

● Go to pages 286-287, beginning with “I grew Go to pages 286-287, beginning with “I grew up. . .”up. . .”

Say It!Say It!initialsinitialsmanesmanesreinsreinsherdherd

brandbrandbridlesbridlescalvescalvescorralcorral

More Words to KnowMore Words to Know

gauchosgauchos

gourdgourd

vaccinatevaccinate

gauchosgauchos

cowboys of the South American pampas cowboys of the South American pampas

gourdgourd

a fruit that grows on a vine and whose a fruit that grows on a vine and whose shell is used for cups, bowls, and so on shell is used for cups, bowls, and so on

vaccinatevaccinate

to give medicine to protect from disease to give medicine to protect from disease

More Good StuffMore Good StuffReadingReading Test TestSpelling TestSpelling Test

brandbrandto mark by burning skin with a hot iron to mark by burning skin with a hot iron

bridlebridle

a part of a horse harness that fits on the a part of a horse harness that fits on the horse's head horse's head

calvescalves

young cows or bulls young cows or bulls

corralcorral

a structure in which horses are kept a structure in which horses are kept

herdherd

a group of animals of one kind a group of animals of one kind

initialsinitials

first letters of names first letters of names

manesmanes

long heavy hair on horses' necks long heavy hair on horses' necks

reinsreins

straps fastened to the bridle straps fastened to the bridle

I put the horse back in the corral.

I put the horse back in the corral.

She brushed the horse’s mane.

She brushed the horse’s mane.

I took one of the bridles and Put in on the horse’s head.

I took one of the bridles and put in on the horse’s head.

I hopped on the horse and grabbed the reins.

I hopped on the horse and grabbed the reins.

The herd of cattle was in my way.

The herd of cattle was in my way.

The cow had two calves.

The cow had two calves.

I got to help grandpa brand the horses.

I got to help grandpa brand the horses.

The cows had the owners’ initials.

The cows had the owners’ initials.

Spelling WordsSpelling WordsAdding -Adding -eded and - and -inging

happenhappenededopenopenededdancdancededstudistudiededstoppedstopped

chaschasededworriworriededdridriededrobbrobbededslippslippeded

Spelling WordsSpelling WordsAdding -Adding -eded and - and -inging

happenhappeningingopenopeningingdancdancingingstudystudyingingchaschasinging

worryworryingingdrydryingingrobbrobbingingstoppstoppingingslippslippinging

This Week’s Word Wall WordsThis Week’s Word Wall Words

Click and type your own words for this week:

Let’s review our spelling words.

Watch carefully because they will flash on the

screen for just a moment. We will clap as we spell

the word..

smaller

GREAT GREAT JOB!JOB!