5th Grade VA SOL - Character Development and Story Elements

Read the following passage:

In 1888, the year that Leroy turned 10, he was told that he would be spending the summer with his Grandma Etta on her farm in central Texas. Before he left for his grandmother’s house, his mother had a few words to say to him: “Now Leroy, you are not going to stay with Grandma just to let her cook for you all summer. You need to help her out too.”

Leroy had to admit that the first week he was at Grandma Etta’s, he did just what his mother feared. He defended his actions by telling himself that Grandma seemed to love cooking for him. In fact, she did not seem to mind at all. When his parents visited, however, he heard his mother’s voice from the kitchen.

“You teach him to work the way you taught me to work, Mama. I don’t want you to let him sit here with his feet up while you cook and clean for him.”

After Leroy’s parents left, he watched Grandma Etta to see if she changed her treatment of him, but she didn’t. Then one day she sighed, “I would sure like to make you some of my special soup, Leroy, but I can’t do it alone. It is the most difficult soup in the world to make.”

Leroy thought of last summer when he had that delicious broth, the sliced pieces of okra, the chopped tomato, and the wild rice. His mouth began watering just thinking about that soup. “I’ll be glad to help make it,” Leroy said.

Grandma Etta smiled after hearing Leroy’s words. “First, we need some wild rice,” Grandma Etta said.

Leroy turned to the cabinet and began rifling through its contents.

“Oh, it’s not in there,” she said. “It’s out there,” Grandma Etta replied as she pointed out the window.

“Where?” Leroy asked, a bit confused. He could not imagine what Grandma Etta was going to say.

“On the river,” Grandma answered.

Leroy soon found himself pulling the old canoe out of the chicken shed. It took him three days to clean the canoe. Leroy thought about quitting, but he remembered that soup. He also thought about what his mother had said.

Finally, Grandma Etta and Leroy glided onto the river to where the grain peeked above the water. He used sticks to knock the ripe grain heads into their canoe. Then they had to wash the rice and let it dry in the sun for several days.

“Next, we need some tomatoes and okra.”

“No problem,” Leroy replied. He then picked enough tomatoes and okra from the garden to make enough soup to feed an army for a week. Proudly walking into the kitchen, he tumbled the vegetables onto the table.

“Are we ready to cook now?” Leroy asked impatiently.

“Oh, yes,” she said, “just as soon as we chop wood for the fire.” After that, Leroy had to draw water from the spring and bring down the old iron pot, which seemed to weigh as much as a pile of rocks. Finally, the special soup began bubbling, and its sweet smell filled the air.

That day Leroy’s parents came to visit. He joked with Grandma Etta that they must have smelled the cooking. She just laughed and served a bowl of the hot, steaming soup for everyone.

Leroy learned how to make soup that summer, but he also learned a few other lessons as well. Watching Grandma Etta stir the big pot of soup and scoop out a hearty portion for everyone made Leroy realize how much hard work and love went into making Grandma Etta’s soup. He was proud when his father asked for a second helping, but Leroy was even prouder when Grandma Etta told his father that she and Leroy had made the soup together.

Grandma Etta was right. The soup was difficult to make, but it was worth it. With each spoonful of broth, Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather the ingredients. He could only think of Grandma Etta’s love and the next time he would have the opportunity to share this task with his grandmother (Virginia Practice Items).

What character development did Leroy demonstrate in this story?

• He learned the value of hard work and doing tasks out of love for others.

• He learned how to make soup.

• He learned the value of knowing how to cook.

• He learned the value of spending time with family.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Read the following passage:

In 1888, the year that Leroy turned 10, he was told that he would be spending the summer with his Grandma Etta on her farm in central Texas. Before he left for his grandmother’s house, his mother had a few words to say to him: “Now Leroy, you are not going to stay with Grandma just to let her cook for you all summer. You need to help her out too.”

Leroy had to admit that the first week he was at Grandma Etta’s, he did just what his mother feared. He defended his actions by telling himself that Grandma seemed to love cooking for him. In fact, she did not seem to mind at all. When his parents visited, however, he heard his mother’s voice from the kitchen.

“You teach him to work the way you taught me to work, Mama. I don’t want you to let him sit here with his feet up while you cook and clean for him.”

After Leroy’s parents left, he watched Grandma Etta to see if she changed her treatment of him, but she didn’t. Then one day she sighed, “I would sure like to make you some of my special soup, Leroy, but I can’t do it alone. It is the most difficult soup in the world to make.”

Leroy thought of last summer when he had that delicious broth, the sliced pieces of okra, the chopped tomato, and the wild rice. His mouth began watering just thinking about that soup. “I’ll be glad to help make it,” Leroy said.

Grandma Etta smiled after hearing Leroy’s words. “First, we need some wild rice,” Grandma Etta said.

Leroy turned to the cabinet and began rifling through its contents.

“Oh, it’s not in there,” she said. “It’s out there,” Grandma Etta replied as she pointed out the window.

“Where?” Leroy asked, a bit confused. He could not imagine what Grandma Etta was going to say.

“On the river,” Grandma answered.

Leroy soon found himself pulling the old canoe out of the chicken shed. It took him three days to clean the canoe. Leroy thought about quitting, but he remembered that soup. He also thought about what his mother had said.

Finally, Grandma Etta and Leroy glided onto the river to where the grain peeked above the water. He used sticks to knock the ripe grain heads into their canoe. Then they had to wash the rice and let it dry in the sun for several days.

“Next, we need some tomatoes and okra.”

“No problem,” Leroy replied. He then picked enough tomatoes and okra from the garden to make enough soup to feed an army for a week. Proudly walking into the kitchen, he tumbled the vegetables onto the table.

“Are we ready to cook now?” Leroy asked impatiently.

“Oh, yes,” she said, “just as soon as we chop wood for the fire.” After that, Leroy had to draw water from the spring and bring down the old iron pot, which seemed to weigh as much as a pile of rocks. Finally, the special soup began bubbling, and its sweet smell filled the air.

That day Leroy’s parents came to visit. He joked with Grandma Etta that they must have smelled the cooking. She just laughed and served a bowl of the hot, steaming soup for everyone.

Leroy learned how to make soup that summer, but he also learned a few other lessons as well. Watching Grandma Etta stir the big pot of soup and scoop out a hearty portion for everyone made Leroy realize how much hard work and love went into making Grandma Etta’s soup. He was proud when his father asked for a second helping, but Leroy was even prouder when Grandma Etta told his father that she and Leroy had made the soup together.

Grandma Etta was right. The soup was difficult to make, but it was worth it. With each spoonful of broth, Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather the ingredients. He could only think of Grandma Etta’s love and the next time he would have the opportunity to share this task with his grandmother (Virginia Practice Items).

What was the initiating event in this story?

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Read the following passage:

In 1888, the year that Leroy turned 10, he was told that he would be spending the summer with his Grandma Etta on her farm in central Texas. Before he left for his grandmother’s house, his mother had a few words to say to him: “Now Leroy, you are not going to stay with Grandma just to let her cook for you all summer. You need to help her out too.”

Leroy had to admit that the first week he was at Grandma Etta’s, he did just what his mother feared. He defended his actions by telling himself that Grandma seemed to love cooking for him. In fact, she did not seem to mind at all. When his parents visited, however, he heard his mother’s voice from the kitchen.

“You teach him to work the way you taught me to work, Mama. I don’t want you to let him sit here with his feet up while you cook and clean for him.”

After Leroy’s parents left, he watched Grandma Etta to see if she changed her treatment of him, but she didn’t. Then one day she sighed, “I would sure like to make you some of my special soup, Leroy, but I can’t do it alone. It is the most difficult soup in the world to make.”

Leroy thought of last summer when he had that delicious broth, the sliced pieces of okra, the chopped tomato, and the wild rice. His mouth began watering just thinking about that soup. “I’ll be glad to help make it,” Leroy said.

Grandma Etta smiled after hearing Leroy’s words. “First, we need some wild rice,” Grandma Etta said.

Leroy turned to the cabinet and began rifling through its contents.

“Oh, it’s not in there,” she said. “It’s out there,” Grandma Etta replied as she pointed out the window.

“Where?” Leroy asked, a bit confused. He could not imagine what Grandma Etta was going to say.

“On the river,” Grandma answered.

Leroy soon found himself pulling the old canoe out of the chicken shed. It took him three days to clean the canoe. Leroy thought about quitting, but he remembered that soup. He also thought about what his mother had said.

Finally, Grandma Etta and Leroy glided onto the river to where the grain peeked above the water. He used sticks to knock the ripe grain heads into their canoe. Then they had to wash the rice and let it dry in the sun for several days.

“Next, we need some tomatoes and okra.”

“No problem,” Leroy replied. He then picked enough tomatoes and okra from the garden to make enough soup to feed an army for a week. Proudly walking into the kitchen, he tumbled the vegetables onto the table.

“Are we ready to cook now?” Leroy asked impatiently.

“Oh, yes,” she said, “just as soon as we chop wood for the fire.” After that, Leroy had to draw water from the spring and bring down the old iron pot, which seemed to weigh as much as a pile of rocks. Finally, the special soup began bubbling, and its sweet smell filled the air.

That day Leroy’s parents came to visit. He joked with Grandma Etta that they must have smelled the cooking. She just laughed and served a bowl of the hot, steaming soup for everyone.

Leroy learned how to make soup that summer, but he also learned a few other lessons as well. Watching Grandma Etta stir the big pot of soup and scoop out a hearty portion for everyone made Leroy realize how much hard work and love went into making Grandma Etta’s soup. He was proud when his father asked for a second helping, but Leroy was even prouder when Grandma Etta told his father that she and Leroy had made the soup together.

Grandma Etta was right. The soup was difficult to make, but it was worth it. With each spoonful of broth, Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather the ingredients. He could only think of Grandma Etta’s love and the next time he would have the opportunity to share this task with his grandmother (Virginia Practice Items).

What was the resolution of this story?

• Leroy made his mom proud.

• Grandma Etta tricked Leroy into making soup for her.

• Leroy learned how to be patient.

• Leroy learned how to make soup along with other lessons.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Read the following passage:

In 1888, the year that Leroy turned 10, he was told that he would be spending the summer with his Grandma Etta on her farm in central Texas. Before he left for his grandmother’s house, his mother had a few words to say to him: “Now Leroy, you are not going to stay with Grandma just to let her cook for you all summer. You need to help her out too.”

Leroy had to admit that the first week he was at Grandma Etta’s, he did just what his mother feared. He defended his actions by telling himself that Grandma seemed to love cooking for him. In fact, she did not seem to mind at all. When his parents visited, however, he heard his mother’s voice from the kitchen.

“You teach him to work the way you taught me to work, Mama. I don’t want you to let him sit here with his feet up while you cook and clean for him.”

After Leroy’s parents left, he watched Grandma Etta to see if she changed her treatment of him, but she didn’t. Then one day she sighed, “I would sure like to make you some of my special soup, Leroy, but I can’t do it alone. It is the most difficult soup in the world to make.”

Leroy thought of last summer when he had that delicious broth, the sliced pieces of okra, the chopped tomato, and the wild rice. His mouth began watering just thinking about that soup. “I’ll be glad to help make it,” Leroy said.

Grandma Etta smiled after hearing Leroy’s words. “First, we need some wild rice,” Grandma Etta said.

Leroy turned to the cabinet and began rifling through its contents.

“Oh, it’s not in there,” she said. “It’s out there,” Grandma Etta replied as she pointed out the window.

“Where?” Leroy asked, a bit confused. He could not imagine what Grandma Etta was going to say.

“On the river,” Grandma answered.

Leroy soon found himself pulling the old canoe out of the chicken shed. It took him three days to clean the canoe. Leroy thought about quitting, but he remembered that soup. He also thought about what his mother had said.

Finally, Grandma Etta and Leroy glided onto the river to where the grain peeked above the water. He used sticks to knock the ripe grain heads into their canoe. Then they had to wash the rice and let it dry in the sun for several days.

“Next, we need some tomatoes and okra.”

“No problem,” Leroy replied. He then picked enough tomatoes and okra from the garden to make enough soup to feed an army for a week. Proudly walking into the kitchen, he tumbled the vegetables onto the table.

“Are we ready to cook now?” Leroy asked impatiently.

“Oh, yes,” she said, “just as soon as we chop wood for the fire.” After that, Leroy had to draw water from the spring and bring down the old iron pot, which seemed to weigh as much as a pile of rocks. Finally, the special soup began bubbling, and its sweet smell filled the air.

That day Leroy’s parents came to visit. He joked with Grandma Etta that they must have smelled the cooking. She just laughed and served a bowl of the hot, steaming soup for everyone.

Leroy learned how to make soup that summer, but he also learned a few other lessons as well. Watching Grandma Etta stir the big pot of soup and scoop out a hearty portion for everyone made Leroy realize how much hard work and love went into making Grandma Etta’s soup. He was proud when his father asked for a second helping, but Leroy was even prouder when Grandma Etta told his father that she and Leroy had made the soup together.

Grandma Etta was right. The soup was difficult to make, but it was worth it. With each spoonful of broth, Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather the ingredients. He could only think of Grandma Etta’s love and the next time he would have the opportunity to share this task with his grandmother (Virginia Practice Items).

What was the climax of the story?

• The climax was when Leroy's mom sent him to his grandmother's house.

• The climax was when Leroy realized how much hard work and love went into Grandma Etta's soup.

• The climax was when Grandma Etta asked Leroy to help her make soup.

• The climax was when Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather soup ingredients.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Read the following passage:

In 1888, the year that Leroy turned 10, he was told that he would be spending the summer with his Grandma Etta on her farm in central Texas. Before he left for his grandmother’s house, his mother had a few words to say to him: “Now Leroy, you are not going to stay with Grandma just to let her cook for you all summer. You need to help her out too.”

Leroy had to admit that the first week he was at Grandma Etta’s, he did just what his mother feared. He defended his actions by telling himself that Grandma seemed to love cooking for him. In fact, she did not seem to mind at all. When his parents visited, however, he heard his mother’s voice from the kitchen.

“You teach him to work the way you taught me to work, Mama. I don’t want you to let him sit here with his feet up while you cook and clean for him.”

After Leroy’s parents left, he watched Grandma Etta to see if she changed her treatment of him, but she didn’t. Then one day she sighed, “I would sure like to make you some of my special soup, Leroy, but I can’t do it alone. It is the most difficult soup in the world to make.”

Leroy thought of last summer when he had that delicious broth, the sliced pieces of okra, the chopped tomato, and the wild rice. His mouth began watering just thinking about that soup. “I’ll be glad to help make it,” Leroy said.

Grandma Etta smiled after hearing Leroy’s words. “First, we need some wild rice,” Grandma Etta said.

Leroy turned to the cabinet and began rifling through its contents.

“Oh, it’s not in there,” she said. “It’s out there,” Grandma Etta replied as she pointed out the window.

“Where?” Leroy asked, a bit confused. He could not imagine what Grandma Etta was going to say.

“On the river,” Grandma answered.

Leroy soon found himself pulling the old canoe out of the chicken shed. It took him three days to clean the canoe. Leroy thought about quitting, but he remembered that soup. He also thought about what his mother had said.

Finally, Grandma Etta and Leroy glided onto the river to where the grain peeked above the water. He used sticks to knock the ripe grain heads into their canoe. Then they had to wash the rice and let it dry in the sun for several days.

“Next, we need some tomatoes and okra.”

“No problem,” Leroy replied. He then picked enough tomatoes and okra from the garden to make enough soup to feed an army for a week. Proudly walking into the kitchen, he tumbled the vegetables onto the table.

“Are we ready to cook now?” Leroy asked impatiently.

“Oh, yes,” she said, “just as soon as we chop wood for the fire.” After that, Leroy had to draw water from the spring and bring down the old iron pot, which seemed to weigh as much as a pile of rocks. Finally, the special soup began bubbling, and its sweet smell filled the air.

That day Leroy’s parents came to visit. He joked with Grandma Etta that they must have smelled the cooking. She just laughed and served a bowl of the hot, steaming soup for everyone.

Leroy learned how to make soup that summer, but he also learned a few other lessons as well. Watching Grandma Etta stir the big pot of soup and scoop out a hearty portion for everyone made Leroy realize how much hard work and love went into making Grandma Etta’s soup. He was proud when his father asked for a second helping, but Leroy was even prouder when Grandma Etta told his father that she and Leroy had made the soup together.

Grandma Etta was right. The soup was difficult to make, but it was worth it. With each spoonful of broth, Leroy forgot about how difficult it was to gather the ingredients. He could only think of Grandma Etta’s love and the next time he would have the opportunity to share this task with his grandmother (Virginia Practice Items).

What genre does this story fall under?

• Fantasy

• Non-Fiction

• Adventure

• Realistic Fiction