Hello everyone, I am your reading coach, Minhee Teacher!
Welcome back to our English book journey.
Today, we are diving into Wonder, Part Three, which is all about
Summer's Table.
Grab your imaginary director's chair and put on your headphones
because we are going to look at this chapter like a movie
director.
Let us start by looking at our movie storyboard.
We can see this part of the story in three simple scenes.
First, picture a noisy school lunchroom.
It is loud, messy, and crowded.
In the middle of it all, one boy is sitting completely alone.
That is August.
Second, a girl named Summer walks over with her lunch tray and
sits right across from him.
Third, the camera zooms out to show other kids whispering and
playing a mean game to avoid August, but Summer stays right
where she is.
Now, let us zoom in close on that first lunch scene.
Imagine the camera focusing on August's face.
He is looking down at his plate, trying to look busy so people
do not see how lonely he feels.
Have you ever felt that way?
It is a very heavy feeling.
Suddenly, the camera shifts.
We see a pair of sneakers stopping right in front of his table.
It is Summer.
She looks at the empty seat, smiles, and says, "Hey, is this
seat taken?" This is a massive moment.
Summer does not look around to see if her popular friends are
watching.
She does not wait for a teacher to tell her what to do.
She just sits down.
In her mind, she sees a boy who needs a friend, and she decides
to be that friend.
Why is this small act so huge?
Let us explain it simply.
Imagine kindness is like lighting a candle in a dark, cold room.
When August sits alone, the room feels dark.
When Summer sits with him, she lights a candle.
Other kids at school are playing a game called the Plague.
In this game, if you touch August, you get "dirty" and have to
wash your hands.
It is a very mean game.
Some kids want to be neutral, which means they do not take
sides.
They think, "I am not being mean, but I am not being nice
either." But in our movie, being neutral just keeps the room
dark.
Summer realizes that to change things, she has to make an active
choice.
Choosing kind is not a rule you follow just when a teacher is
looking.
It is a daily decision.
It is like choosing to step out of the crowd and stand next to
someone who is lonely.
Let us look at some important words from our script today so we
can use them like pros.
First, we have the word "plague." Think of a scary historical
movie where everyone is running away from a terrible sickness.
In this story, the kids use "plague" as a game to avoid touching
August.
It is a very hurtful game.
Second, we have "neutral." Picture a car gear in neutral.
It does not go forward, and it does not go backward.
It just sits there.
When you stay neutral in school, you do not take sides.
You do not help, but you do not hurt either.
Third is "popular." This means being liked or noticed by many
people.
Sometimes, kids do mean things just to stay popular.
Fourth is "Halloween." This is the famous holiday where we wear
costumes and go trick-or-treating.
And fifth is "bleeding scream." This is a scary Halloween mask
that looks like a ghost crying red tears.
August wears this mask so nobody can recognize him.
Now, let us practice our lines like actors preparing for a big
scene.
I will say a sentence, and I want you to repeat it after me with
feeling.
Ready?
First sentence: Is this seat taken?
Second sentence: I sat with him because I wanted to.
Third sentence: Some kids played a mean game called the Plague.
Fourth sentence: I stayed on his side even when my friends told
me not to.
Fifth sentence: Choosing kind is more important than being
popular.
Wonderful job!
You sound like real actors bringing this story to life.
Before we wrap up our director's session today, I want to leave
you with one big question to think about.
Imagine you are standing in that crowded lunchroom.
You see someone sitting all by themselves.
Is it brave to go sit with them, or is it just a normal thing we
should all do?
Think about it, and next time you see someone alone, remember
Summer's choice.
See you next time!