5 5 1 the sandwich brigade TG

5.5.1

The Sandwich
Brigade

PLOT AND CHARACTER
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Herb, Bob, and Pete are three
retired men with time on their hands. When
Bob comes up with an idea to help people
in their area by providing them with healthy
lunches, the lives of the three men change.

READ THE BOOK

LESSON VOCABULARY

STRATEGY SUPPORT: PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

SUMMARY

pondered
recruit

putter
retirement

INTRODUCE THE BOOK
INTRODUCE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR

Discuss
with students the title and the author of The
Sandwich Brigade. Based on the title, ask students what they think the book will be about
and what they think the title means. Ask:
What is a brigade? Encourage students to look
up the word in the dictionary. Determine the
context in which the word is usually used.
(military) Ask students if they think it will be
used in this context in the book? (No) Why
not? (This book is not about the military.)

BUILD BACKGROUND

Discuss what students
know about being retired. Ask them if they
know some retired people. Ask them what
these people do with their time.

PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES

As students preview the book, have them notice the chapter
divisions and illustrations. Compare these
to the photo on page 28. Invite students to
predict how the illustrations and the photo
complement each other.

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SET PURPOSE

Have students set a purpose for
reading The Sandwich Brigade. Students’ interest in senior citizens and helping people in
the community should guide this purpose.
Ask
students if they have ever helped anybody in
need. Have them share what they did and how
it made them feel afterwards. Ask them what
it means to be a volunteer in the community.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
PAGE 4

What was Herb Battleby’s former
profession? (movie reviewer)
PAGE 8

How did Herb react when Bent threw
him? (He was angry and upset.)
PAGE 11

How would you describe Herb’s wife,
Eden? (patient, loving, helpful)

PAGE 15

Who gave them the idea to help
shut-ins? (Herb’s wife, Eden)
PAGE 17

How do Herb, Bob, and Pete go about

setting up their project? (Bob goes after
money, Pete organizes food discounts, Herb
organizes volunteers.)

PAGE 25

How did the Sandwich Brigade get
to be so well known? (An article about it was
written in the Benderville Times.)

The Sandwich Brigade

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REVISIT THE BOOK
READER RESPONSE

1. Beginning: self-absorbed and proud,
Examples: he was hostile at the karate
studio, he insulted others at the book club.
End: helpful and less proud, Examples: he
serves the elderly, he jokes about Hamlet.
2. Answers will vary but may include some
reference to volunteering the students may
have done. It may also refer to friends or
relatives’ experiences. Examples from prior
knowledge will clarify the students’ understanding of the text.

3. Both have to do with seeing.
4. Instead of just doing something for himself,
he’s helping other people.
EXTEND UNDERSTANDING

Have students compare the illustration on page 26 to the photo
on page 28. How are they similar? How are
they different? Ask students what information
they learn from the caption to the photo on
page 28. Ask: How does this information add
to your understanding of the story?

RESPONSE OPTIONS
WRITING

Invite students to write two paragraphs about the theme of this selection.
They can use the notes they jotted down as
they read. Encourage them to write one sentence expressing the story’s “big idea.” Have
them support their idea with evidence from
the story.

SCIENCE CONNECTION
Students can learn more
about what volunteers do
by going to the library or using
the Internet. Suggest they research volunteer
activities that clean up the environment or
work with seniors. Have them find out about
volunteer activities in their region and report
their findings to the class.

Skill Work
TEACH/REVIEW VOCABULARY
Have students read the ninth paragraph on
page 10 and explain the meaning of the word
pondered. Ask: What word with a similar
meaning could be used in place of pondered?
Talk about the subtle difference in meaning
between synonyms. Continue in a similar
fashion with the remaining vocabulary words.

TARGET SKILL AND STRATEGY
PLOT AND CHARACTER Remind students
that plot is the pattern of events in a story.
Remind them that characters are the people
in stories. Readers learn about characters
through their words and actions. Encourage
students as they read to jot down notes
about the different characters and plot
events in the book.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE Remind students that
prior knowledge is what a reader knows about
a given topic, gathered from reading and from
personal experience. Invite students to think
about their knowledge of senior citizens. Ask:
What have they done all their lives? What are
some problems people have when they get
older? Who might help older people? Have
students think about what the characters in
the book might do.

Have students perform skits to show
what they know about older people in their
families or the community. What did these
people do in their lives? How might they
need help? How might volunteers be able to
help them? Have the students perform their
skits for the class.

ADDITIONAL SKILL INSTRUCTION

THEME Remind students that the theme is
the “big idea” of a story. A statement of
theme does not mention specific characters
or events. Sometimes, authors state their
themes for the reader. Other times, readers must infer the theme from story clues.
Encourage students to jot down notes about
the story’s theme as they read. Remind
them to be prepared to support their ideas
with evidence from the story.

The Sandwich Brigade

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The Sandwich Brigade

Name

Plot and Character
• The plot is a pattern of events usually organized around a problem or conflict.
• A character is a person who takes part in the events of a story. Readers can learn about
characters by paying attention to how they react to what happens in the story or by noting the
actions they take.

Directions Fill in the graphic organizer below.
Title
Main Characters

Setting

Problem

© Pearson Education 5

Plot

Solution

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The Sandwich Brigade

Name

Vocabulary
Directions Choose a word from the box to complete the chart.

Check the Words You Know
pondered

putter

Root Word
1. retirer, which
means “to draw”

recruit

Word

retirement

Definition
withdrawal from
occupation or active
working life
to move or act
aimlessly or idly
thought about,
reflected on

to fill up with new
members

2. pote, which means
“to poke”
3. ponderare, which
means “to weigh”
4. recrue, which
means “fresh
growth”

Directions Read each sentence. Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.
Words may be used more than once.
5. Bill was surprised by the changes that
6. He

brought.

the best route to take to arrive at his destination.

© Pearson Education 5

7. With no job to fill his days, Bob had plenty of time to
8. Herb said he would
9. Later, Bill

around.

and train volunteers.
the success of the Sandwich Brigade.

10. Before he started helping others, he was not enjoying his

.

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