Connector Stories

Grammar Stories

Bears and Raccoons

A. Reading

Raccoons and bears are similar animals in many ways. Bears are found
in the Canadian wilderness, and raccoons are too. Bears eat a wide
range of foods, and raccoons do too. Bears are omnivores (they eat
meat as well as plant food), and raccoons are too. Bears especially
enjoy eating garbage. They have often been found rummaging through
people’s garbage, and so have raccoons! Bears have sharp pointed
teeth, and raccoons do too. Bears can be very effective predators, and
so can raccoons. During the last century, bears have become more
and more used to the presence of humans and less timid. Bears are
often seen in towns and in people’s yards, and so are raccoons. There
is one big difference between bears and raccoons. Bears hibernate
during the winter, but raccoons don’t. Raccoons don’t sleep through
the entire winter, but they are less active.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Bears and Raccoons cont.

B. Questions

1. Are raccoons found in the Canadian wilderness?

2. D
 o bears and raccoons eat similar types of food?
What do they like to eat?

3. Are raccoons ever found eating people’s garbage?

4. Is it true that bears have sharp, pointed teeth

and that raccoons have dull, rounded teeth?

5. Are raccoons good hunters?

6. What is the big difference between bears and raccoons?

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

The Plight of the Prisoner

and the Caged Bird
A. Reading

A prisoner and a bird in a cage lead very similar existences.

A prisoner isn’t free to do as he or she wishes, and neither is a bird
in a cage. A prisoner can’t travel far or see new places, and neither
can a bird in a cage. A prisoner cannot interact freely with others,
and neither can a bird in a cage. A prisoner is isolated from friends
and family, and so is a bird in a cage. A prisoner can’t live out his
or her dreams, and neither can a bird in a cage. A prisoner may go
insane from loneliness and boredom, and so might a bird in a cage.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

The Plight of the Prisoner

and the Caged Bird cont.
B. Questions

1. Is a bird in a cage free to do as it wishes?

2. Can a bird in a cage travel far and see new places?

3. Can a bird in a cage interact with as many other birds as it wishes?

4. Are prisoners and caged birds both isolated from friends and family?

5. Might a caged bird go insane from loneliness and boredom?

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Two Artists in New York

A. Reading

Jane and Ian are friends. They are both artists. Jane enjoys painting,
and so does Ian. Ian loves photography, and so does Jane. Jane has
a large studio in New York, and so does Ian. However, Jane doesn’t
make sculptures, and Ian doesn’t either. They find it too messy.
Jane doesn’t make a lot of money, and Ian doesn’t either. It’s hard
to be an artist sometimes. Ian finds great inspiration in landscapes,
and so does Jane. Ian paints trees, lakes, and natural settings, but
Jane prefers cityscapes. Ian loves painting people and portraits,
but Jane doesn’t. Sometimes they go to art galleries together.
Ian loves Impressionism, but Jane doesn’t. Often they disagree
on which galleries to visit. Luckily, they remain friends despite
their disagreements.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Two Artists in New York cont.

B. Questions

1. Does Ian enjoy painting?

2. Does Jane love photography?

3. Do both Jane and Ian have large studios in New York?

4. Does Ian like making sculptures? Why or why not?

5. Do both Ian and Jane make a lot of money?

6. Do both Jane and Ian find great inspiration in landscapes?

7. Does Jane like painting trees and natural settings? If not, what does she prefer?

8. Does Jane like Impressionism? Does Ian?

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Comprehension
A. True or False?

Write T if the answer is true, and write F if the answer is false.

1. Clowns are funny, and comedians are too.

2. Fish like to swim, and so do whales.

3. Birds can fly, and so can cats.

4. Snails don’t move fast, and neither do slugs.

5. Mexico has a warm climate, and Alaska does too.

6. Garbage doesn’t smell good, and neither does soap.

7. People don’t wear shorts in the snow, and they don’t wear bathing suits either.

8. Orchestras don’t use guitars, and rock stars don’t either.

9. Apples grow on trees, but carrots grow underground.

B. Complete the Sentences

Complete the following sentences using the connectors in parentheses.

1. Cigarettes are addictive, and .

(too)
2. My friends are nice, and .
(so)
3. I’m not scared of ghosts, and .
(neither)
4. John doesn’t like vegetables, and .
(either)

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

About You
A. Drawing B. Writing

Draw a picture of yourself and one other Now write a short paragraph about yourself
person in the box, or paste in a photograph. and the other person using connectors.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Your Own Story

A. Drawing

Draw a picture in the box, or paste in a photograph.

B. Writing

Using connectors, write a short paragraph about the picture in

the box. Use your notebook if you don’t have enough space below.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Your Own Story cont.

C. Questions
Write five questions about your paragraph.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

D. Answers
Give your story and questions to a classmate.
Have them read your story and answer your questions below.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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 Connector Stories
Grammar Stories

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: LEVEL: Int

In this lesson, students read three stories that use connectors in TIME:
context. They answer comprehension questions and write two
TAGS:
paragraphs of their own using connectors.
1.5 – 2 hours
connectors, transitions, parallel structure,
conjunctions, either, neither, or, and, but, so, too

Bears and Raccoons Comprehension

1. Yes, raccoons are found in the Canadian wilderness. A. TRUE OR FALSE?

2. Yes, both eat a wide range of food. Both eat meat and plants.
1. T 3. F 5. F 7. T 9. T
3. Yes, raccoons are sometimes found eating people’s garbage.
2. T 4. T 6. F 8. F
4. No. Both bears and raccoons have sharp pointed teeth.
5. Yes, raccoons can be good hunters.
B. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
6. The big difference between bears and raccoons is that
bears hibernate during the winter, but raccoons do not. Answers will vary.

1. Cigarettes are addictive, and drugs are too.

The Plight of the 2. My friends are nice, and so is my family.

Prisoner and the Caged Bird 3. I’m not scared of ghosts, and neither is my brother.
4. John doesn’t like vegetables, and I don’t either.

1. No, a caged bird is not free to do as it wishes.

2. No, a bird in a cage cannot travel far and see new places. About You
3. No, a bird in a cage can’t interact with
as many other birds as it wishes. Individual answers.
4. Yes, both prisoners and caged birds
are isolated from friends and family.
5. Yes, a caged bird might go insane
Your Own Story
from loneliness and boredom.
Individual answers.

Two Artists in New York

1. Yes, Ian enjoys painting.

2. Yes, Jane enjoys photography.
3. Yes, both Jane and Ian have large studios in New York.
4. No, Ian doesn’t like making sculptures because it is too messy.
5. No, neither Ian nor Jane make a lot of money.
6. Yes, both Ian and Jane find great inspiration in landscapes.
7. No, Jane prefers painting cityscapes.
8. Jane doesn’t like Impressionism, but Ian does.

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