This document contains a story about a turtle named Turtle and an elephant named Ellie who meet in a pond. At first, Turtle is surprised to find another creature in the pond where he swims. Ellie introduces herself and explains that she visits the pond to stay cool. The two animals realize they are both lonely in the pond. They decide to become friends and play together in the pond from then on. The story teaches that new friends can help alleviate loneliness.

2. What makes you unique?
What makes you unique, or
different from everyone else?
Name at least three things
that make you special. Tell
why these things are
important

3.  What is the purpose for reading a story again?
 For enjoyment or to practice reading
 As I read this story aloud, listen to how I pause
slightly at the ends of sentences.

4. Turtle was swimming along among the lily pads. It was right in the
middle of the pond, where the sun was warm and everything was
peaceful. Suddenly something bumped into him and water
splashed up into his face. “Who is that?” he called out in his little
voice.
“It’s just me. I’m Ellie,” came the reply. “If you’d look behind you,
you’d see that I’m an elephant.”
Turtle wasn’t used to finding other creatures in the pond. The truth
was, it was quite a lonely pond for him. He just hadn’t really
thought about how lonely he was until he heard the elephant
speak to him.
“Yes,” he finally said, “I can see that you are an elephant. And I’m a
turtle. I swim a lot, but sometimes I sit on the rocks to warm up.”

5. “Well,” said Ellie, “maybe we could be friends. I
visit this pond sometimes to keep cool. It’s
awfully lonely here, don’t you think?
Soon, Turtle and Ellie were the best of friends,
swimming and playing together whenever
they could. This just goes to show that,
sometimes, new friends can make quite a
splash.

6.  Consonant-vowel-consonant or CVC pattern
often have a short vowel sound.
 Read these words after I read them.
 yet cab run pit not

7.  Now look closely at these words:
 mitten plastic traffic
 What Pattern do those words have
 VCCV
 mit/ten plas/tic traf/fic
 vc/cv vc/cv vc/cv

8.  What are characters?
 What is a setting?
Characters are the people and
animals in a story; setting is
where a story takes place

9.  Listen for the characters and setting as I read aloud
First Day Jitters
Who are the characters in this story?
Sarah Mr. Hartwell, Mrs. Burton
What is the setting?
Sarah’s house, a school
How does Sarah feel about going to a new school?
She is afraid/nervous
How do you know this?
She pulls the covers over her head, she does not
want to get out of bed, and she can’t breathe.

10.  Who is Mr. Hartwell?
 Sarah’s Husband
 What is Mr. Hartwell like?
 He is nice
 How do you know that Mr. Hartwell
is nice?
 He helps Sarah go to school.
T91

11.  Use a different word and make a web like this:
Frustrated
losing
Loud noises
Being last in line
Not being called on
T92

12.  Why might your brother have
gushed after running a race?
 What might make someone
running frustrated?
 Is a person who trudged when
they walked likely to imitated?
Why or Why not?

13.  Would a bully be a pleasant person to be
around? Why or why not?
 Which is a coincidence, wearing the same shoes
as someone in your family or having the same
last name?
 Which is recited, the Pledge of Allegiance or a
thought inside your head?
 Would a loyal friend be someone you could
trust? Why
 Which would be modeled, a new hat or a new
book?

14.  Should an important announcement be
murmured? Why or why not?
 Would a student with a heavy backpack
have trudged home or run home? Why?
 If someone gushed during a speech, what
can you tell about the subject and the
person’s feelings?
 Would you feel frustrated if you missed the
school bus? Why or why not?
 When would you be happy to be imitated?

15.  Correct these sentences in your
language section!
 1. ruby and Angela are friends
 2. did Ruby copy Angela.

16.  Correct these sentences in your
language section!
 1. Ruby and Angela are friends.
 2. Did Ruby copy Angela?

17.  A sentence is a group of words that tells
a complete thought.
 Every sentence begins with a capital
letter and ends with an end mark.
 A sentence uses a word order that makes
sense.
 A statement tells something. It begins
with a capital letter and ends with a
period.
 A question asks something. It begins
with a capital letter and ends with a
question mark.

18.  I want to make these words a
statement, but they are in the
wrong order. Please put them in
the correct order.
Ruby wanted a friend to have
Ruby wanted to have a friend.

19.  I want to make these words into a
question, but they are in the wrong
order. Please put them in the correct
order.
 Did try she too hard
 Did she try too hard?

20.  Get with a partner and take
turns writing statements and
questions.
 Then we will share our
statements and questions with
our class.
T94

21.  Correctly written sentences will help readers
understand and appreciate their writing.
 Check each sentence!
 Make sure your words make sense!
 Make sure your sentences begin with a capital
letter and ends with the correct end mark.
 When you are finished proofreading your
paragraphs then we will share them.
T95