Home-School Connection

Dear Family Member:

This week our class will be reading stories about the transportation
used to take people from place to place. Children will learn about
how families in the past traveled and how these vehicles compare with
what is used today.

Here are some activities that you

can do with your child to help
reinforce the skills we will
be practicing.

Word Workout (see page 109)

• Vocabulary: transportation, vehicle Discuss the different kinds of
transportation you take from place to place. Then invite your child to
draw pictures of each type of transportation.
• My Words to Know
High-Frequency Words: here, me Write the words here and
me and ask your child to write each word. Think of sentences
that use each word, then read the sentences together.
Category Words: vehicles Play “Guess the Vehicle.” Give
rhyming clues about different kinds of vehicles. Encourage your

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child to guess the vehicle, and then act out how it is used.
Phonics: j, qu Have your child guess words that begin with the
letter j. Give a clue and act out each word. When your child
guesses the word, write the word on a chart. Repeat for qu.

Comprehension: character, setting, plot (see page 110)

Have your child choose a favorite story and then read it together. Ask
your child questions about the main characters, setting, and plot. Invite
your child to draw pictures about the characters, setting, and plot.

106 Unit 8 • Week 1

 Word Workout

Vocabulary

transportation vehicle
Let’s name different kinds of vehicles, or types of transportation that we
take from place to place. A school bus is a vehicle that can take you to
school. A car can take us to the store. What is another form of
transportation that can help you get from place to place? That’s right!
You can ride a bike. Draw pictures of how you get from place to place.

My Words to Know

High-Frequency Words: here, me

I’ll write the words here and me on this paper. Can you write each word?
Great! Now let’s think of sentences that have each word. I’ll write down
the sentences. For example, A bus takes me to school. Here comes the
subway. Let’s read each sentence together. Can you underline the words
me and here? Good work!

Category Words: vehicles

bike car jet

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I’m going to give you a clue. I want you to guess the vehicle, or kind of
transportation that is used. Then you can act out riding in it. Ready?
It has a seat where I can sit. I use my legs to pedal it. (bike)
It has 4 wheels and travels far. It also rhymes with far and star. (car)
It travels in the sky, you know. Look out and see the land below. (jet)

Phonics: j, qu I’m thinking of a word that begins with j. I put this on to

keep me warm. That’s right! It’s a jacket. Let’s write the word jacket on
the chart under the letter j. I’m thinking of a word that begins with qu. I
put this on my bed to keep me warm. You’re right again! It’s a quilt. Let’s
write the word quilt on the chart under the letters qu. Can you guess
more words that begin with j or qu?

Unit 8 • Week 1 109

 Comprehension: Character, Setting, and Plot

Who? Where? What?

Let’s read a favorite story together. Afterward, we will answer some
questions and draw some pictures.

Who is the story about? Draw a picture of the characters.

Where does the story take place? Draw a picture of the setting.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

What happens in the story? Draw a picture of a main event.

110 Unit 8 • Week 1