The
New Kid In Town
•
Skill: Story Elements (Characterization)
Each of us has talents and interests that make us unique.
Sometimes you have to get to know someone in order to discover
what is special about that person. Think about the kinds
of things that make people special as you complete the activities
in The New Kid In Town.
Start by clicking the first activity below.
Take-Home
Activity: Special
People, Special Interests
If
you don't already have a copy of this activity, click the
link above. Then print out the page or copy the instructions.
Before
You Read: What Makes Us Special?
One thing that makes each of us special is our particular
interests. Whether it is reading, playing baseball, painting,
collecting stamps, or surfing the Internet, what we enjoy
doing tells a great deal about us.
Use a word web like the one below to list things you like
to do.
Share your word web with a friend. You might also share some
interesting facts about the activities you've listed. Then
discuss how you could learn more about each other's interests.
Afterward, read on to learn amazing facts about several interesting
hobbies.
Interesting
Hobbies, Amazing Facts!
- Soccer:
When the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was founded
in Torrance, California, in 1964, it had about 125 players.
Current membership includes more than 600,000 boys and girls
in 46 states.
- Music:
The 2,000-piece Young People's Orchestra and Chorus of Mexico,
which performed in 1991, was one of the world's largest
orchestras.
- Juggling:
The most balls that have been successfully juggled at once
is ten. This feat has been accomplished only twice, once
in the 1920s and again in 1996.
Next read a set of fictional diary entries in which one fifth-grade
girl tells about meeting a newcomer with a special talent.
Think about what you learn about the newcomer based on the
information in the diary.
Now
read "Meeting
Marta" and complete the worksheet.
If
you don't have a copy of the worksheet, click "Meeting
Marta" Worksheet. Then print out the page or copy
the instructions.
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Meeting
Marta
April
9
Dear Diary,
First thing this morning, Ms. Potts told us that a new girl
from Argentina would be joining our class. Then she let
it slip that this Marta Flores's father was the star of
her country's World Cup soccer team.
Oh,
great! Just what we need. A stuck-up kid who's been
pampered all her life!
She probably thinks she's a celebrity like her dad. When
Marta walked into the room, we all turned and stared at
her. She's sort of pretty, but she was wearing some really
weird clothes—a purple dress and a fancy leather jacket.
I was right. With an
outfit like that, she must
be stuck up!
April
10
Dear Diary,
Today Ms. Potts nearly ruined my life! She sat that Marta
Flores in the empty desk right next to mine! Marta spent
the whole morning just sitting there. She frowned, she stared
straight at the chalkboard, but she never looked at me.
I guess she's too special to talk to us ordinary kids!
When
the noon bell rang, I went to get my lunch. I guess I must
have dropped my math homework, because just before I got
to the door, Marta tapped me on the shoulder. She handed
me my homework and said, "Excuse me. This is yours." (Her
English isn't very good.) I said a quick "Thanks" and was
out the door before she had a chance to say another word.
During
lunch time I saw her wandering around the playground by
herself. Then, I couldn't believe it, she took five bean
bags from her jacket pocket and started to juggle them!
She kept the five multicolored bags in the air without dropping
them for 15 minutes! What a
showoff! Everyone stopped
what they were doing to look at her, but she didn't seem
to notice any of us. She still had that frown on her lips.
I looked away quickly the one time she looked my way.
April
13
Dear Diary,
After lunch today, we got a new math assignment. As usual,
I had a hard time keeping all the information straight.
I was gnawing on my pencil when I heard Marta's voice again.
"Do you need help?" she asked, pointing to my paper. When
I nodded, she pushed her desk next to mine. Then she showed
me how she'd made a little drawing of the story problem.
The drawing made perfect sense, and I used it to help me
figure out the answer. I thanked Marta for her help, and
she said, "De nada." I think that means "It was nothing"
in Spanish.
This
time, before she pushed her desk away, I told her I would
meet her after school and show her where to wait for the
bus. I think maybe she already knew, but she said, "Okay!"
Then I saw her smile for the first time, and she asked me
if I wanted to learn how to juggle!
I
guess I made a new friend today, and I learned something
important, too. Judging people before you get to know them is not smart.
When
you finish the "Meeting
Marta" Worksheet, use Rate Yourself to judge how
well you did on this Reading Journey.
If
you don't have a copy of Rate Yourself, click Rate
Yourself. Then print out the page or copy the instructions.
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