1. Complete Story-GramRed Lit book, page 340

WHAT DO FISH HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

What is the setting like? Apartment building (5th

floor, three rooms, mint green walls, street lights), Willie’s

room faced the street, mother’s room was dimly lit

Who are the characters? List descriptive details for each.

Mrs. Markham – protective of Willie (walks him home from school every day, doesn’t want

him to look at the homeless man), unhappy (husband left, has to work night shift)

Willie – curious (asks a lot of questions), kind (offers homeless man cake)

Homeless man – wise ( has seen a lot in his life and has learned from experience)

What is the problem or goal in this story?

Willie needs to help his mother overcome her

unhappiness

List 5 key events. Willie saw a homeless man in front of his building one

day after school.Mrs. Markham gave Willie the exact serving portion of

pound cake.Mom tells Willie that money can’t buy happiness, but it

can rent a lot of it.Willie gives the homeless man large piece of cake, and

homeless man tells Willie the cure for unhappiness.Mrs. Markham has the homeless man removed and

Willie is upset. 

How was the problem resolved?Willie decides that the homeless man is right, but seems to realize

that his mother will remain unhappy. That’s why he walks

away from her at the end.

What Questions do you still have about this story?

Will Willie and his mother stick together through this tough time or will they grow further apart?

Using six words from “All Summer in a Day”:Vital Slackening concussion

Resilient surged tumultuouslyAND

The six words from “What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?”

Contemplate inevitably preoccupiedRetort threshold urgencyComplete your choice of vocabulary

activities in your group of 5. Complete as many as possible.

VOCABULARY