Students will explore the question "How is a live performance different than other kinds of entertainment?" In the realistic fiction selection Kamishibai Man, student will read about a storyteller from Japan who finds his stories- told with traditional Japanese scenes on paper- still bring delight to a contemporary audience.
Traditions from Around the World Talk with your child about the traditions from different parts of the world, such a playing with a piñata or listening to Irish music.
Vocabulary on the Go Ask your child to use this week's vocabulary words to tell about a favorite story.
familiar, jerky, vacant, rickety, blurry, rude, blasted, applause
In my Opinion - Ask your child to write a review of The Kamishibai Man, telling what parts he or she liked best and why.
People around the world love stories and storytellers. Some storytellers tell their tales with words alone. Some use puppets. In Japan, kamishibai is the old art of telling stories with beautiful, large picture cards and a small stage. The word kamishibai means "paper drama." The storyteller claps together two wooden blocks to announce his arrival.
In Kamishibai Man, you'll read about such a storyteller. You'll find out that storytelling may change through the years, but people will always love to hear stories.
Realistic Fiction in a story that could happen in real life. As you read, look for:
a setting that could be a real place
realistic characters and events
a plot with a beginning, middle, and an ending
Read "The Kamishibai Man" on page 318 in your Journeys Textbook
Continue your discussion of Kamishibai Man by explaining your answers to these questions:
What do you learn about Jiichan at the beginning of the story?
Why do you think Jiichan hums a tune his mother used to sing when he was a boy?
Jiichan calls the candies "jewels" are they? Why does he call the candies jewels?
In a story like Kamishibai Man, some events make other events happen. An event that makes something else happen is a cause. The even that happens as a result of something else is an effect.
As you read Kamishibai Man, look for events that are connected. Think about which events are causes and which are effects.
As you read, be sure to monitor, or pay attention to, the parts you don't understand. If you do not understand something, clarify it by rereading or looking for text evidence to make sense of the text.
Listen to the Story