Unit 2a Lesson 5

Following Characters Into Meaning

Title of Lesson: Spinning All We Know Into Predictions

Connection: (Activate prior knowledge and focus student attention on the lesson)
We’ve been walking in the shoes of main characters and revising our judgments about them based on what we read in the text. Today we are going to learn how to empathize with characters. Empathize means to feel what the character feels.
(Use your own anecdote)
Teacher says, “I got a phone call last night. A friend of mine said in a weak voice, ‘I was taken to the emergency room last night. It turns out I am really sick.’ I started to feel what she was feeling. I wondered what I would do if I was in the same situation. My mind raced. I began to ask my friend questions to find out how she was dealing with this emergency. ‘Have you been drinking that special green tea that you love that is supposed to heal everything?,’ I asked. She said yes and I knew what would come next. ‘Is your mom coming down to take care of you?’ Again the answer was yes, because I know my friend and I can imagine how issues unfold around her.
Today I am going to teach you how to empathize with characters and predict what they would feel in a certain situation. Feeling what characters feel helps you as good readers understand what you’re reading.
Teach: (Demonstrate the teaching point as if you were working independently)
(Use one or more of your own anecdotes)
Let me show you what it’s like when I tell you a story about a boy reacting to a passage about gorillas.
“Leo was a tiny boy. All of his classmates towered over him and I know he wished he was bigger. He loved reading about big strong animals like gorillas. One day I sat beside him while he read the following passage. Listen and try to imagine what Leo thought as he read.
Gorillas that have silver backs become the leaders of their tribe. They are not born with silver backs. Baby gorillas are born dark, but as they mature some gorillas get a splash of silver on their backs. This silver signifies that this gorilla will become the tribe’s leader.
“Looking up from the book, Leo said, ‘I bet every boy gorilla probably wakes up every morning and checks his butt to see if he has any silver hairs on it. Then one day he’s like “Yes!”
Leo is using the text and his own experience to empathize with the gorilla. Just like the gorillas wanted the silver backs he wanted to be taller.
Active Engagement: (coach and assess students during this time)
Now you are going to have a try as we read Tiger Rising in such a way that we feel what the characters feel and anticipate what they will do and say. You will recall that previously in the Tiger Rising, Sistine had to stand and introduce herself in homeroom. When she said her name another kid, Patrice Wilkins, giggled. Sistine responded,
“I’m from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” Sistine said, “home of the Liberty Bell, and I hate the South because the people in it are ignorant.”
“Well,” said Mrs. Soames, “thank you very much for introducing yourself, Sistine Bailey. You may take your seat before you put your foot in your mouth any farther.”
The whole class laughed at that. Rob looked up just as Sistine sat down.
Wow, Rob looked up as Sistine sat down. Hmmm. My mind is leaping ahead in the story, isn’t yours? I am picturing Rob as he looks up, as he sees Sistine. And in mind I am almost writing the part in the story that will happen next, aren’t you? Stop and jot on a Post-It note, recording what you think Rob will do next.
I move around and encourage those who are stuck. After a few minutes, I use the conductor baton method to choose students to share their responses.
Link: (Review and clarify key points, globalizing their utility from the now to the future)
Today and everyday when you are reading, try to empathize with the characters as if you were them and predict what they will do in each situation. This will help you understand what the character is experiencing and how they solve difficult problems. Don’t forget to fill out your logs when you get back to your seat and then continue to read your book as if you were the character.
Off you go!