1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first page aloud. Then, with a small group, answer the following questions: When does the story take place? How are things different from today? How do the characters feel about the book? Jot down your answers to the questions.
2. Continue reading the remainder of the story on your own. Jot down any information that you think will help you identify the theme or lesson in the story. When you finish reading, meet with your group to identify the lesson or theme. Discuss the clues that led you to this theme.
If you have difficulty gathering clues, use the Guided Reading questions to point you to the pertinent information in the story. Before reading a page of the story, read the Guided Reading questions on the page. Then, read the story. When you reach the answer, stop and record it in your notebook. Continue using the questions as you finish the text. Then, review your answers to lead you to the theme.