Phonics: Module 7, Lesson 5 (Day 35): Compound Words

Phonics: Lesson 5 - Rereading to Build Fluency

Introduction

Today, you will read words with long i spelling patterns and write in response to reading.

Let’s review how to read unfamiliar words.

Step 1. Look for the word parts at the beginning of the word (prefixes).
Step 2. Look for the word parts at the end of the word (suffixes).
Step 3. In the base word, look for familiar spelling patterns.
Step 4. Sound out and blend together the word parts.
Step 5. Say the word parts fast. Adjust your pronunciation as needed.

Reread and Respond

Reread the passage.

Paul Bunyan and the Popcorn Blizzard

Everybody knows that Paul Bunyan was a mighty big hero who went out West and became a lumberjack. When Paul got there, he hired men to help him clear the forests for farmland.

In spring, after some of the forests had been cleared, the farmers planted corn. When summer arrived, the cornstalks grew as tall as trees. As the cornstalks grew, so did the kernels of corn.

One sunny afternoon, it was as hot as can be. When Paul went outside, his lumberjacks stood beside him because his shadow provided them with shade. While the men worked, they suddenly heard a popping sound. Across the fields, the corn kernels were bursting like firecrackers! The popped corn flew through the air and landed on the ground in huge piles. Meanwhile, the men, who had been very hot, began to shiver because they thought the popcorn was snow. They ran inside to put on their jackets. Then they made popcorn balls, like snowballs, and had popcorn fights.

Later on, this day became known as the Popcorn Blizzard. Everyone was amazed that during the “blizzard,” the men forgot about the heat!

Discussion:
What makes this story a tall tale? How would you compare and contrast a tall tale to other kinds of stories, like realistic fiction and fables?