This document provides the lesson plan for a unit on migration stories. It includes independent reading, word study, a read-aloud discussion, classroom conversation, whole class instruction, and individual/small group work. The read-aloud focuses on the novel "A Family Apart" and discussion questions about how the character Mike has changed. Students will then learn about comparison and contrast signals through a whole class activity analyzing similarities and differences between St. Joseph, Missouri and Lower Manhattan. Finally, students will draft paragraphs comparing and contrasting the two locations using signal words.

1. UNIT 2- MIGRATION STORIES
Lesson 11: Compare and Contrast Signals
Words and Phrases

2. INDEPENDENT READING
 Get an SSR book and read for 15 minutes.
 On page 11 of your workbook
 Record one way that the author signals importance in
your SSR reading.
 Don’t forget to record the title and date
 Record your reading on page 33 of your workbook

3. WORD STUDY
Parallel
 (adj) Two things that are side by
side and have the same distance
between them.

4. WORD STUDY
Prominent
 (adj) Important or famous

5. WORD STUDY
Contrary
 (adj) Opposite in opinion,
direction or meaning

6. READ-ALOUD/THINK-ALOUD
 Recall the events of the last reading.
 How has Mike changed?
 What do you think of Mr. Crandon?
 Reading Strategy: Determining
Importance
 Look for the target words
 Read Pages: 87-93 in A Family Apart
 Stopping Points:
 Page 89: How do I know this is
important?
 Page 90, Paragraph 4: Repetition

7. CLASSROOM CONVERSATION
 What seems important about
Captain Taylor’s conversation with
Mike?
 What else seemed important in
today’s reading?
 Sacrifice is a BIG THEME, what
other sacrifices do you remember
from the book?
 How does migration play a role in
the novel?

8. WHOLE CLASS INSTRUCTION
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST SIGNALS
WORDS AND PHRASES

9. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST SIGNALS
Comparison and Contrast
Signals Sheet Page 105
“The Pony Express” Page 197
Chunking Information

10. INDIVIDUAL/SMALL GROUP WORK
 Comparison and Contrast Signals
 Draft a paragraph describing the similarities
between St. Joseph Missouri and Lower
Manhattan
 Draft a paragraph describing the differences
between St. Joseph Missouri and Lower
Manhattan
 Highlight the signal words that you used
 Read the paragraphs that you have written to a
partner
 Have your partner identify the signal words
that you used