Heart of Gold Reading Activity
Heart of Gold
Name:
Date:
Read the story below. Pay close attention to how the characters act and what they say.
The Stained Sketchbook
The afternoon sun streamed through the library windows as Sam worked on his final art project. Beside him sat Chloe, his best friend since kindergarten. She was meticulously coloring a vibrant sunset when her elbow bumped her water cup. Time seemed to slow down as the blue-tinted water spilled directly onto her sketchbook, soaking the pages.
Chloe let out a small gasp, her eyes filling with tears. She had spent three weeks on those drawings. "It’s ruined," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Mrs. Gable said projects are due tomorrow morning, and I don't have time to start over."
Sam looked at his own finished masterpiece—a detailed charcoal drawing of an old oak tree. He knew how much this project meant to Chloe. Without a second thought, he grabbed a stack of paper towels and began gently blotting the water. "We can fix this, Chloe," he said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Or at least, we can try together."
Just then, Mrs. Gable walked by. She noticed the mess and the stained pages. "What happened here?" she asked, looking between the two students.
Chloe was too upset to speak. Sam knew that if he took the blame, he might lose points for being messy, but he didn't want Chloe to get in trouble while she was already hurting. Instead, he looked Mrs. Gable in the eye. "It was an accident, Mrs. Gable," Sam explained truthfully. "Chloe bumped her cup, but she’s been working so hard. I’m going to stay late and help her dry the pages and touch up the colors."
Mrs. Gable nodded slowly, impressed by Sam's directness. "I appreciate your honesty, Sam. Chloe, you may have until tomorrow afternoon to finish. Sam, that is very kind of you to offer your time."
Quick Check Questions
1. What causes the initial problem in the story?
Sam accidentally knocked over his charcoal.
Chloe spilled water on her art project.
Mrs. Gable told the students the project was due early.
The sun was too bright to see the artwork.
2. How does Chloe feel immediately after the water spills? (Circle all that apply)
Excited Devastated Angry Hopeless
3. Why was Chloe worried about the spill specifically regarding Mrs. Gable?
4. What does Sam do first when the water spills?
He calls Mrs. Gable over to help.
He continues working on his oak tree drawing.
He grabs paper towels and blots the water.
He tells Chloe it's not a big deal.
5. What was the outcome of Sam's honesty with the teacher?
Character Analysis Response
Based on Sam's actions in the story, which character trait—loyal, compassionate, honest, or caring—best describes him?
Write a paragraph explaining your choice. Use at least two specific examples from the text to support your answer.
Heart of Gold Teacher Guide
Teacher Guide: Heart of Gold
Character Traits & Textual Evidence (5th Grade)
Answer Key & Rubric
Learning Objective
Students will identify a dominant character trait and support their choice using specific details and evidence from the narrative text "The Stained Sketchbook."
Key Vocabulary
- Loyal: Staying true to a friend.
- Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy.
- Honest: Telling the truth; being sincere.
- Caring: Displaying kindness and concern.
Quick Check Answer Key
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Chloe spilled water on her art project.
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Devastated, Hopeless (Tears in eyes, whispering it's ruined).
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She was worried because the projects were due the next morning and she didn't have time to restart.
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He grabs paper towels and blots the water.
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Mrs. Gable was impressed and gave Chloe an extension until the following afternoon.
Model Paragraph Response
"Sam is best described as compassionate because he cares about Chloe’s feelings and goes out of his way to help her. One example from the story is when Chloe’s sketchbook gets soaked and she starts to cry. Sam doesn't just watch; he immediately puts his hand on her shoulder to comfort her and tells her, 'We can fix this.' Another example is when he offers to stay late at the library to help Chloe touch up her artwork. These actions show that Sam truly feels for his friend's situation and wants to make things better for her."
Note: Students may choose any of the four traits (loyal, compassionate, honest, or caring) as long as they provide evidence. For example, honesty is shown when he tells Mrs. Gable exactly what happened without making excuses.
Response Scoring Rubric
| Score | Criteria |
|---|
| 4 | |
| Exceeds Expectations | |
Clearly identifies a trait. Provides 2+ relevant and specific text examples. Explains how the evidence supports the trait. Paragraph is well-organized with few errors.
|
| 3 |
Meets Expectations
Identifies a trait. Provides 2 text examples. Basic explanation linking evidence to the trait. Paragraph is mostly clear.
|
| 2 |
Approaching Expectations
Identifies a trait. Provides 1 text example or 2 vague examples. Limited explanation.
|
| 1 |
Developing
Heart of Gold Slides
Heart of Gold
Analyzing Character Traits
Today's Goal
"I can identify specific character traits in a story and support my ideas with evidence from the text."
Character Traits
What they ARE
Qualities that describe a character's personality on the inside.
Example: Brave, Selfish, Shy
What they ARE NOT
Physical appearance (height, hair color) or temporary feelings.
Example: Tall, Sad, Hungry
How do we find them?
Watch what they SAY, DO, and THINK.
Four Key Traits
Loyal
Always being there for your friends, no matter what.
Compassionate
Feeling what others feel and wanting to help them.
Honest
Choosing to tell the truth even when it might be hard.
Caring
Showing kindness and looking out for others.
The Stained Sketchbook
Imagine you spent three weeks on a project. Suddenly, it's ruined by a spill. What would you do? What would your best friend do?
Let's read the story together...
Discussion Time
Question 1:
How does Sam's reaction differ from a "typical" reaction to a mess?
Question 2:
Why was it important that Sam told Mrs. Gable the truth about the spill?
Hunt for Evidence
To prove Sam has a specific trait, find actions or dialogue (quotes):
His Actions
"Grabbing paper towels..."
"Staying late to help..."
His Words
"We can fix this, Chloe."
"It was an accident..."
Ready to Write?
Open your workbook and complete the Quick Check Questions and the Paragraph Response.
Good luck, Detectives!
