Main Body
The Story of Elijah Harper
Learning Goals
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand and use new vocabulary words
- Use synonym clues to understand a text
- Make inferences about a text
- Write contractions
- Use some common homonyms
- Write a paragraph that describes your strengths
Get Ready to Read
- Do you know whose traditional land you are on?
- What do you know about the history and culture of the First Nations people where you live?
Vocabulary
Figure out what the bold word means by looking at how it is used in the sentence. Match it to the best meaning.
| 1. They lived on a reserve in Manitoba called Red Sucker Lake. | a. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis |
| 2. Elijah Harper was the first Aboriginal MLA in the history of Manitoba. | b. Elijah Harper inspired a new wave of First Nations people to take part in politics. | c. Organized actions taken by people working together to achieve something |
| 4. He paved the way for movements like Idle No More, which was just getting started when he passed away. | d. Affected someone in a good way |
Write an answer for each question using the word in bold. Write in complete sentences.
- Who inspires you to be your best self?
- Do you know of any Aboriginal people in government?
- Have you ever been part of a movement?
Word Attack Strategy
Word Patterns
When you see a word that you do not understand, look in the sentences around it for clues. Sometimes a writer will give you a definition or synonym. A synonym is a word with almost the same meaning.
Find the synonyms for the words in bold.
1. Raven tried to calculate, or figure out, how much of a tip to leave the server.
The synonym for calculate is ________________________.
2. The music was too loud for Ted to concentrate, or focus, on his homework.
The synonym for concentrate is ________________________.
3. I like TV shows that mock, or make fun of, people in government.
The synonym for mock is ________________________.
4. The Gum Chewing Club had an annual, or yearly, contest to see who could blow the biggest bubble.
The synonym for annual is ________________________.
5. I was furious, or angry, when the Canucks lost their tenth game in a row.
The synonym for furious is ________________________.
Now look at the reading for this lesson. Find the words in bold.
6. The synonym for residential school is ________________________.
7. The synonym for heathen is ________________________.
8. The synonym for MLA is ________________________.
9. The synonym for bill is ________________________.
Use Your Reading Skills
Read The Story of Elijah Harper in your reader. Return to this page when you are done.
Check Your Understanding
Find the Topic and Main Idea
1. What is the topic of this text?
a. Elijah Harper
b. First Nations people
c. The Manitoba government
2. What is the main idea of this text?
a. This text is about the disadvantages of residential schools.
b. This text tells the story of how Elijah Harper stood up for First Nations