Locomotive

Locomotive

             By: Brian Floca                    

Lexile: 640L

Grade: 5

Summary:

Take a journey westward on the first transcontinental railroad in this captivating story "Locomotive" by Brian Floca.  Brian Floca makes us feel as though we are living in 1869, in search of a better life out west.  His graphic illustrations and clever use of onomatopoeia will keep you turning pages as we learn of the challenges and hard work required to make such speedy travel possible! 

Learning Activity:

The 5^th grade students are going to demonstrate their understanding of what it must have been like to live in a time when the locomotive was first introduced and made speedy travel possible.  Students should partner up choose someone one of the following “characters” they wish to become:

brakeman, fireman, engineer, conductor, switchman, boy or girl traveler

The students will work together to come up with questions they might ask their chosen “character” as well as an appropriate response.  Students will then present to the class as the interviewer and the interviewee. 

Standards:

W5.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

a.     Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

b.     Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

c.      Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.

d.     Use concrete words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.

e.     Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.

f.      Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

Goal:

Students will listen to “Locomotive” to learn about the transcontinental railroad and its impact in the late 1800’s and create an interview with a potential locomotive passenger/worker.

Objective:

Students will co-create and interview and interview responses on their chosen character (brakeman, fireman, engineer, conductor, switchman, boy or girl traveler)  after listening to the read aloud “Locomotive” by Brian Floca.

Outcome:

Students will present their interview to the class, demonstrating their understand of the time period and what life was like for their chosen character.

Bibliography:

Floca, Brian. Locomotive. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2013.

Selling Tool: selling tool