With a partner, preview the entire selection, including activities before and after the selection. Read the title, the Prereading information on page 263, and About the Author on page 268. Then look at the picture on page 264. What do you think the story will be about? Write this prediction down in a two-column chart. In the first column, write down when you made the prediction (before reading). In the second column, write down your prediction.
Read aloud the first three paragraphs of the story, stopping with the line at the end of paragraph three that begins “Aaron was supposed to deliver the goat by evening....” Discuss with your partner what could happen next, and write this prediction down on your chart. Continue reading the story silently. Stop at the following points to make and discuss predictions:
After the first line in paragraph one on page 266 (“Aaron did not want to admit the danger.”)
After the first line in the last paragraph in column two on page 267 (“The snow fell for three days.”)
If you are having a difficult time reading and making predictions, use the Guided Reading Questions. Stop and answer each question with your partner. Then help each other make predictions about what will happen next at each stopping point.
Look over your Prediction Chart. Were your predictions correct? What helped you make your predictions?