Lesson 2: Setting’s Effect on a Character's Actions
Lesson Plan
Tripping Over the Lunch Lady and Other Stories | 790L

- Learning Goal
- Identify and describe how the setting affects the character’s actions.
- Duration
- Approximately 50 minutes
- Necessary Materials
- Provided: Direct Teaching Example Chart
Not Provided: Tripping Over the Lunch Lady and Other Stories edited by Nancy E. Mercado, chart paper, markers
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Teacher Modeling
will explain that the setting of a story affects the character’s actions in the story. For example: If there is a thunderstorm and I am outside, I may wear a rain coat and rain boots and run somewhere to take cover from the storm. If it is a thunderstorm and I am inside, I may watch the rain through my window and curl up on the couch and read a good book. The setting affects my actions. I will model using context clues and visualization to determine the setting at the beginning (page 60) of “Science Friction” by David Lubar in Tripping Over the Lunch Lady and Other Stories, edited by Nancy E. Mercado. I will discuss the time setting on page 61 and explain how the time of year affected Ms. Adler’s actions (loud display to get students’ attention after vacation). I will continue to discuss the setting and how it affects the characters’ actions as I read up to page 67. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart is provided below in Teacher and Student Materials.)
TIP: Throughout the Direct Teaching and Guided Practice, discuss setting in terms of when and where.
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Think Check
Ask: How did I identify how the setting affects the character's actions? Students should respond that you read a few pages and thought about the setting. Then you thought about what the characters were doing and how their actions were affected by the setting of the story.
TIP: If students struggle with determining how the setting affects characters’ actions, re-teach the lesson using a picture book such as Thunder Cake by Patricia Polocco.
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Guided Practice
will use context clues and visualization to identify the setting and how it changes in the middle of the story. We will discuss the evidence that helps us visualize the setting on page 68. We will discuss how this setting affects the characters’ actions. For example, Ellen said, “Ewwww” and tiptoed in, George sat on a hamper and Benji climbed on a mound of dirty clothes. We will continue identifying how the setting affects the characters’ actions, stopping after page 74. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart is provided below.)
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Independent Practice
will listen as I read the end of the chapter and use context clues and visualization to determine the setting at the end of “Science Friction”. You will explain how this setting affects the characters’ actions. You will write a paragraph explaining how their actions would have changed if the setting had been different, such as a neat bedroom. Would they have felt it was okay to hide food in a bedroom that was clean? What would they have done with their food instead?
Texts & Materials
Standards Alignment
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