Vocabulary/Word Work: Homophones

1
(No Transcript)
2
Vocabulary/Word Work Homophones

• Homophones, or homonyms , are words that are
  pronounced the same but have different spellings
  and meanings.
• here/hear seen/scene
• there/their four/for
• rain/rein through/threw
• blue/blew plains/planes
• needed/kneaded buries/berries
• seen/scene road/rode

3
The Polar Express (p. 1)

• On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly
  in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I
  breathed slowly and silently. I was listening
  for a sound---a sound a friend had told me Id
  never hear--- the ringing bells of Santas
  sleigh.
• There is no Santa, my friend had insisted, but
  I knew he was wrong.
• Late that night I did hear sounds, through not of
  ringing bells. From outside came the sounds of
  hissing steam and squeaking metal. I looked
  through my window and saw a train standing
  perfectly still in front of my house.

Homophones
Word Meaning Word Meaning
for four
hear here
There their
not
knew
through
4
Homophones
word meaning word meaning

• I knew that I could have any gift I could
  imagine. But the thing I wanted the most for
  Christmas was not inside Santas giant bag. What
  I wanted more than anything was one silver bell
  from Santas sleigh. When I asked, Santa smiled.
  Then he gave me a hug and told an elf to cut a
  bell from a reindeers harness. The elf tossed
  it up to Santa. He stood, holding the bell high
  above him, and called out, The first gift of
  Christmas!

5
Comprehension Similes

• Authors sometimes use literary elements to make
  writing more interesting and add suspense.
• Similes- A simile is the comparison of two unlike
  things using the word 'like' or 'as', e.g. an
  example of a simile would be as big as a bus. It
  is used to paint pictures in the head of the
  reader.

6
The Polar Express (p. 3)
Simile Meaning/Picture
as white as snow very white
as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars hot chocolate that is very sweet and delicious

• The train was filled with other children, all in
  their pajamas and nightgowns. We sang Christmas
  carols and ate candies with nougat centers as
  white as snow. We drank hot cocoa as thick and
  rich as melted chocolate bars. Outside, the
  lights of towns and villages flickered in the
  distance as the Polar Express raced northward.

7
The Polar Express (p. 5)

• We climbed mountains so high it seemed as if we
  would scrape the moon. But the Polar Express
  never slowed down. Faster and faster we ran
  along, rolling over peaks and through valleys
  like a car on a roller coaster.

Simile Meaning/Picture


8
Comprehension Authors Purpose

• As you read, ask yourself if the author is trying
  to entertain, inform, or persuade.
• If a selection includes humor or suspense, the
  authors purpose may be to entertain.
• If the author gives a lot of information about a
  topic, the purpose is probably to inform.
• An author whose purpose is mainly to persuade
  tries to get the reader to think or act a certain
  way.
• Remember, many selections have more than one
  purpose. Authors use figurative language for a
  purpose. Authors use background information to
  help the reader understand what is going on or to
  build suspense.

9
Authors Purpose

• Why do you think the author had the boy lose the
  bell through a hole in his bathrobe pocket?
• What was the authors purpose in choosing this
  theme?

10
The Polar Express 2

• Santa is concerned with how very little attention
  was given to the city of The North Pole in the
  first book. Two of his Reindeer, Mrs. Carson and
  Mrs. Wells are unable to sleep at night wondering
  what pictures the kids must be painting in their
  heads when they read this part. Santa has sent
  his head Elf, Mrs. Murray, to get Kid Authors
  to rewrite this page. Please use some great
  similes to help children imagine just how magical
  the North Pole is. Santa needs all of his
  Reindeer rested and ready for the big day! Do a
  great job so Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Carson can get
  some sleep!