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When I Was Young in the Mountains

published on: 2/28/2003

Contributing Teacher(s): Suzanne Boyce,

Subject Area: Communication Arts/Reading/literature,

Grade Range: Lower Elementary (K-3)

Materials Needed:

• Rylant, Cynthia's, "When I Was Young in the Mountains", Scholastic Books, 1982.
• copies of assessment tool

Objective:

Essential Question:

Instructional Strategy: Questions

Process Standards: Goal 1.5 comprehend and evaluate written, visual and oral presentations and works
Goal 4.1 explain reasoning and identify information used to support decisions

Content Standards: CA1, CA2, CA4,

G.L.E.:
CA - Wr - 3 - E - 03
(Writing, Write effectively in various forms and types of writing, Audience and purpose, Grade 3.)

Time Allowance: 40 minutes

Technological Resources:

Extensions:

Integration:

Differentiation:

Assessment:

Description: Students grade 2-6 listen, discuss book and share own childhood memories in letter form--scoring guide, writing

Comments:

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Classroom Component:
Name   ______________ When I Was Young in the Mountains

Which state might the author be writing about? Why do you think so? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

What are some reasons it may have taken the author a long time to take a bath? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Which of the author's memories did you enjoy the most? Why? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Now write a letter to someone sharing memories of life when you were young. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Answer Key for When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

Question	Points	Description
1	2 pts.	Must include:  a state containing mountains (1 pt) Reasonable support:  has mountains, mine there, etc. (1 pt.)
2	2 pts.	Includes at least two:  pumping, hauling, or heating water
3	2 pts.	Answer should accurately include one of the memories from the story such as:  Grandpa's clean lips, eating corn bread, walking to the outhouse at night, swimming with snakes, going to the grocery store, killing the snake (1 pt.) Reasonable support of why the student enjoyed the memory. (1 pt.)
4	4 pts.	Correct letter form. Addressed to a specific person. Includes information about two or more of the following: where the student lived, family relationships or specific activities. Few mechanical errors which are not distracting.
	3 pts.	Minor errors in letter form. Only includes one of the following: where the student lived, family relationships, or activities.
	2 pts.	Distracting errors in letter form. Vague details concerning student's early life.
	1 pt.	Not in letter form. Does not address student's early life. Difficult to follow.

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