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Story Trail Grades 2-3 / Week 10 / Monday
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Week 10 · Why and Who

Monday

Why did the author write it?
// Author's purpose and point of view
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Why did the author write it?

Donnie the Deer steps softly up to the Story Stump.

A new guide hangs on a low branch.

"Who wrote this?" Donnie asks. "And why did they write it?"

Ferris the Fox smiles. "Every author has a reason to write."

"Let us find the reason," says Donnie in his gentle voice.

Learn it: three reasons to write

An author is the person who writes.

The purpose is the reason the author writes.

Some authors write to tell a story for fun.

Some authors write to teach us facts or steps.

Some authors write to persuade. They want us to think or do something.

Donnie asks: Why did the author write this? He looks for clues.

PurposeClues to look for
Tell a storycharacters, a problem, an ending
Teachfacts, steps, how and what
Persuadeplease, you should, come, the best
WARM UP: TELL, TEACH OR PERSUADE?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
"Once upon a time, a little frog lost his hat." Why was it written?
"Wash the brush. Then dry it on a cloth." Why was it written?
"Come to the pond party. It will be the best day!" Why was it written?
Read it
The Story Stump Guide
The Story Stump is a big old stump in Fern Hollow.
It sits right beside the Tomorrow Trail.
Chris the Coyote tells stories there every morning.
Ferris the Fox keeps a basket of books by the stump.
You may take a book home for one week.
Bring it back so a friend can read it next.
The flat top of the stump is a stage.
Friends sit on soft moss around it to listen.
When it rains, stories move under the big fern.
CHECK IT: THE STORY STUMP GUIDE
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Where does the Story Stump sit?
Who keeps a basket of books?
How long may you keep a book?
Where do stories move when it rains?
WHY DID THE AUTHOR WRITE IT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why was the Story Stump Guide written?
Which clue shows the guide teaches?
What is an author?
SentenceTrue or false?
Chris the Coyote tells stories every morning.?
Friends sit on rocks to listen.?
The flat top of the stump is a stage.?
The guide tells a made-up story with a problem.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEFriends sit on soft moss. The guide teaches facts, so it has no problem.
Try it
Find a sign or a label in your home.
Read it with a grown-up.
Ask: Was it written to tell, teach or persuade?

Word Spot: use, very

Here are new sight words.

Look at each word. Say it. Spell it.

Use: U-S-E.

Very: V-E-R-Y.

FIND THE WORD
  • Listen to the word.
  • Tap it.
Find the word you hear.
Find the word you hear.
Find the word you hear.
Find the word you hear.
FILL THE GAP
  • Listen to the sentence.
  • Tap the missing word.
We ___ a ruler to measure.
An ant is ___ small.

Great thinking! Tomorrow Riley writes a letter to persuade.