Transcript American History - Mrs. Anderson's Classroom

The Grandfather
by Gary Soto
page 431
2007 COS – 2a
2010 CCRS – RL.9-10.1; RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.10; W.9-10.4; W.910.10; Sl.9-10.1; L.9-10.1; L.9-10.2; L.9-10.4; L.9-10.6
AHSGE – R.II.1; R.IV.2
ARI – Vocabulary Development, Reading Comprehension
Literary Skills – Understand symbols with multiple meanings
Reading Skills – Identify main idea
The Grandfather
Literary Focus: Symbols with Multiple Meaning
A symbol is an object, event, person, or animal
that stands for something more than itself.
• Sometimes a symbol
has one clear-cut
association (like a
wedding ring)
• Other symbols (like
the ocean) are more
open-ended and may
have multiple
meanings
The Grandfather
Literary Focus: Symbols with Multiple Meanings
While reading “The Grandfather,” pay special
attention to what the author says about the
avocado tree planted by his grandfather. Notice
how the tree’s meaning seems to expand as the
tree itself grows over time.
The Grandfather
Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
gurgle v.: make a bubbling sound while flowing.
hovered v.: stayed suspended over something.
sulked v.: showed resentment and ill-humor.
meager adj.: thin; small; inadequate
The Scarlet Ibis
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity: Sentence Completion
Fill in the blanks with the correct Word Bank words.
gurgled
hovered
sulked
meager
hovered over me
1. I would be annoyed if someone ___________
while I was reading.
2. Jim ate a ___________
breakfast of toast and milk.
meager
gurgled as it went down the drain.
3. The water ___________
sulked
4. The child ___________
when he got in trouble for fighting
with his sister.
The Grandfather
Quickwrite
Make the Connection
Think about someone who means a great deal to
you. What is this person like? Why is he or she so
important to you? Write down a few sentences
explaining what this person means to you.
While Reading
1. What does the grandfather associate with money?
2. In what way might the grandfather’s rise to packer then to
watchman resemble a donkey’s labored climb?
3. By the avocado tree’s third year, what do the tree and Soto
have in common?
4. Why is it odd that the avocado tree is the grandfather’s
favorite?
5. Why is the avocado tree the grandfather’s favorite?
6. What are the milestones in the avocado tree’s production
of fruit?
7. Explain the symbolism of the avocado tree.
Activity
• Think of a place, element of nature, or an object that has
symbolic meaning to you. What do you associate with this
place, element, or object? Does this symbol have multiple
meanings for you? Write a paragraph in which you reveal the
symbol’s meaning or meanings and its appeal to you.
• The avocado tree is symbolic of the narrator’s family with
grandfather being the trunk, or base, of the family. Create a
drawing of your own family tree in which you place your
family members where you believe they fit on your symbolic
tree. (This is not supposed to be a family tree like a
genealogist would make.)