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Read Chapters 5-7; Complete Student Packet Worksheets for Chapters 5-7; Bring in a photograph of a friend or family member.

Have students sit in a circle and share the photographs they brought in of a friend or family member. Each student should answer the questions: Who is this relationship with? How are you alike or different? How do you both feel about each other? Why do you and this person need each other? Describe the relationship. Is it positive or negative? Both? Explain.

After each student has had a chance to present his or her photograph, engage the class in a discussion about relationships. Ask, "What do relationships have in common? How are they different? What purpose do relationships serve in our lives?" Note: Students will need their photographs for Lesson 4. You may want to collect the photographs and keep them.

will explain that it is important to examine relationships in a work of Realistic Fiction. Readers can track a relationship and see how the relationship and the characters change in a story. By evaluating the features or details of a relationship, readers can connect with characters, understand the plot, and predict what will happen later in the story.

I will think about the many relationships that Gilly has with other characters in the book, including Miss Ellis, Trotter, William Ernest, Mr. Randolph, Agnes Stokes, Miss Harris, her mother, and more. These relationships are both positive and negative, and I can examine each relationship to learn more about the story and its characters. First, I will examine the relationship between Trotter and Gilly by answering the questions on my Relationship Chart. Note: See Sample Relationship Chart for a sample chart. Recreate this chart on chart paper or the board as you teach the lesson, recording answers to each question. On my Relationship Chart I will record the answers to the following questions:

Who is this relationship between? Trotter and Gilly.

How are the characters alike and different? Trotter is open-minded and Gilly is not, but both are stubborn and loveable.

How do the characters feel about each other? Trotter loves Gilly and tries to act like a parental figure in Gilly’s life; down deep, Gilly likes, or perhaps loves, Trotter, but she acts as though she doesn’t and she wants to cause trouble.

Why do the characters need each other? Trotter needs Gilly because the girl fills Trotter’s need for children; Gilly needs Trotter because she needs a parent and someone who will accept her and love her for an extended period of time.

Describe the relationship. Is it positive or negative? Explain. This relationship is positive because Trotter takes care of Gilly and provides a home, family, and love to her. It could also be negative because Gilly doesn’t like Trotter.

Ask: "How can I understand the relationships between characters?" Students should respond that you can identify who the relationship is between, how the characters are alike and different, how the characters feel about each other, why the characters need each other, and if the relationship is a positive or negative one (or both). By evaluating the features or details of a relationship, readers can connect with characters, understand the plot, and predict what will happen later.

will analyze the relationship between Gilly and William Ernest. We will answer the questions about the relationship on the Relationship Chart that we started during the Direct Teaching. Note: See Sample Relationship Chart for a sample chart. Save this chart for use with Lesson 4.

Who is this relationship between? Gilly and W.E.

How are the characters alike and different? Gilly is outgoing and proud, whereas W.E. is shy and unsure of himself. Gilly is very smart and W.E. has learning difficulties. Both are foster children.

How do the characters feel about each other? W.E. is both scared and fond of Gilly, and he wants to learn from her and be her friend; Gilly likes W.E., but she wishes he was more independent and smarter.

Why do the characters need each other? W.E. needs Gilly because he has a need for a role model and someone closer to his age to interact with; Gilly needs W.E. so she can play the role of a big sister and teach him new things. She also needs W.E. to help her escape Trotter’s home.

Describe the relationship. Is it positive or negative? Explain. The relationship could be both positive and negative; they both have each other and learn from each other, but it could be negative because Gilly teaches W.E. how to fight and she lies to him about escaping.

will work with a partner (or with a group, depending on class size), to analyze another relationship in the book by answering the relationship questions listed on the Relationship Roster in your Student Packet. (See page 15 in the Student Packet.) You will pull one Relationship Strip out of a hat and analyze the relationship written on the strip. You will answer the questions on your Relationship Roster Relationship Roster in your Student Packet. (See page 15 in the Student Packet.)

will come together as a class to share information about the relationship we have analyzed. We will read aloud all of our answers to the questions and discuss the relationships in the book so far. We will compare and contrast the relationships we have analyzed. Ask, "How are some relationships different? How are they the same?" We will discuss whether the relationships between the characters have changed at all since the beginning of the book. We will predict whether they will change in the future.