Examine the literary devices Sharon Creech uses to deepen characterization and tone. Complete the analytical matrix below:
Text Excerpt & Device
Literal Meaning
Deeper Emotional Significance (Sal's Mindset)
"Rush, rush, rush..."
The whispering wind and rustling trees heard by Sal.
Personification
The sound of the wind blowing through the branches outside the car window as they drive.
Gramps Hiddle's Characterization
"He had a heart as soft as a cooked noodle, but he acted ornery just to make folks laugh."
Simile / Contrast
Gramps pretends to be tough and grumpy, but he is actually gentle and compassionate.
Scored: 10 Points
Consider the central proverb introduced in the novel: "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."
Prompt A (Literal vs. Figurative): What does "two moons" and "walking in his moccasins" symbolically represent? (TEKS 6.8D)
Prompt B (Application & Inference): How will Salamanca need to apply this advice to understand her mother Chiddle / Sugar, or to understand Phoebe? Support your answer with one specific detail from the text. (TEKS 6.5F, 6.6C)
Walk Two Moons • Student Packet Page 2 of 2
Walk Two Moons • Teacher Answer Key Page 1 of 2
Day 1 Answer Key Continued Part 3 & Part 4 Rubrics
1. "Rush, rush, rush..." (Personification / Auditory Motif)
Deeper Emotional Significance: The whispering trees and the phrase 'rush, rush, rush' represent Salamanca's racing heartbeat and panic over time running out. She subconsciously believes that if she does not reach Idaho before her mother's birthday, something final and terrible will be sealed. The landscape mirrors her interior psychological tension.
2. Gramps Hiddle: "Heart soft as a cooked noodle..." (Simile / Contrast)
Deeper Emotional Significance: This simile establishes Gramps' underlying warmth and vulnerability. While he pretends to be ornery, his silliness and patience provide Sal with emotional security. It shows that beneath gruff exteriors often lie deep reservoirs of affection—a pattern Sal will need to recognize in her own father.
Scoring Criteria
Prompt A: Symbolism of "Two Moons" & "Moccasins" (4 Points)
Exemplar Response: "'Two moons' refers to two months or two complete lunar cycles, meaning a significant duration of time. 'Walking in his moccasins' is a metaphor for stepping into another person's shoes and living through their private experiences, burdens, and perspective before passing judgment on their behavior."
Scoring: 2 pts for defining duration (two months/time); 2 pts for explaining empathy/perspective-taking.
Prompt B: Application to Sal's Journey (6 Points)
Exemplar Response: "Salamanca must apply this proverb to understand why her mother felt overwhelmed and had to leave Bybanks. Right now, Sal feels abandoned and confused; however, by tracing her mother's physical journey to Idaho, Sal is literally 'walking in her mother's moccasins.' Similarly, by listening to Phoebe's paranoia about Mrs. Cadaver, Sal realizes Phoebe's anger stems from fear of losing her own family, which helps Sal develop empathy for others instead of remaining trapped in self-pity."
Holistic Rubric:
• 5-6 Pts: Clear, insightful connection to either mother or Phoebe with accurate text-dependent reasoning.
• 3-4 Pts: Basic connection made with generalized textual reference; lacks nuanced emotional explanation.
• 1-2 Pts: Superficial or inaccurate connection; missing textual support.
Walk Two Moons • Teacher Answer Key Page 2 of 2
Day 2 Lesson Plan Continued Minutes 50 – 85
3. Independent Work: SCR Writing & Drafting 50 – 65 min (15 min)
Students transition to Part 2: The Short Constructed Response. They fill out their A-C-E graphic organizer before writing in the designated TEA response box. Teacher conducts quiet laps to catch students who write text evidence without quotation marks or fail to explain the connection.
4. Peer Calibration & Self-Scoring Audit 65 – 80 min (15 min)
Students switch papers with a shoulder partner. Using the 3-point TEA SCR Checklist printed on the back of their assessment, partners evaluate:
Students have 3 minutes to revise their response based on partner feedback.
5. Final Collection & Teacher Exit Debrief 80 – 85 min (5 min)
Collect 100% of student assessments at the door. Teacher delivers a 2-minute wrap-up highlighting the overarching thematic takeaway: Salamanca's journey is about learning that everyone carries invisible grief.
Emergent Bilinguals (EB)
Sentence frames on desk: "The author demonstrates Sal's fear when she writes '______'. This evidence shows that..." Word bank with feeling words.
SPED / 504 Accommodations
Allow speech-to-text or oral transcription for SCR. Highlight key paragraphs in text excerpt to narrow search area for evidence. Reduced question answer choices if specified in IEP.
GT / Advanced Extension
Ask students to synthesize how Sharon Creech's motif of nature (trees, wind, sky) functions as both external setting and internal psychological reflection.
• Multiple Choice (Items 1-5): 10 points each (50 points total). Use rapid overlay key.
• Short Constructed Response (Part 2): 50 points total (Scale: 2 TEA pts = 50 pts, 1 TEA pt = 35 pts, 0 TEA pts = 0-20 pts based on effort). Grade using the provided 3-anchor exemplar set.
Walk Two Moons • Lesson Plan Day 2 Page 2 of 2
Walk Two Moons • STAAR Assessment Page 1 of 2
STAAR Assessment Continued Part 2: Short Constructed Response
A By demonstrating that sharing stories helps people navigate grief and understand others.
B By showing that young people often fail to appreciate the wisdom of older generations.
C By suggesting that road trips are only enjoyable when passengers play imaginary games.
D By proving that moving to a new city always destroys family relationships.
Part 2: STAAR Short Constructed Response (TEKS 6.6C, 6.10B) 2 TEA Score Points
Read the question carefully. Then enter your response in the box provided.
Based on the excerpt, explain how the author uses Salamanca's internal thoughts during the journey to reveal her true feelings about her mother's absence. Support your answer with evidence from the text.
A — Answer / Claim State your clear, direct answer to the prompt.
C — Cite Evidence Incorporate a direct quote with quotation marks.
E — Explain & Elaborate Explain how the quote proves your claim.
✓ Student Final Verification Checklist (TEA 2-Point Criteria):
Clear claim directly answering the question
Exact direct quote with quotation marks
Specific explanation linking quote to claim
Walk Two Moons • STAAR Assessment Page 2 of 2
Official TEA Short Constructed Response (SCR) Scoring Rubric Grade 6 ELAR
Score Point 2
(Complete)
The response provides a complete and correct explanation of how Salamanca's internal thoughts reveal her feelings about her mother's departure. The explanation is supported by relevant text evidence from the excerpt, and the link between the evidence and explanation is clearly articulated.
Score Point 1
(Partial)
The response provides a valid explanation without text evidence, OR includes relevant text evidence but provides a weak/unclear explanation, OR cites evidence that is only loosely connected to the claim.
Score Point 0
(Insufficient)
The response is incorrect, irrelevant, too vague to evaluate, or simply copies text from the excerpt without addressing the question.
Anchor Paper: Score Point 2 (Exemplar) 2 / 2 TEA Points
"The author uses Salamanca's internal thoughts to reveal that she feels a desperate panic and denial over her mother's departure. During the car ride, Sal notes that the wheels whisper 'rush, rush, rush' while her heart beats in 'frightened rhythm.' This evidence proves that Sal is terrified of facing the final reality of her mother being gone. She irrationally convinces herself that if they arrive before her mother's birthday, she can undo the loss and bring her back."
Teacher Annotation: Clear claim (panic and denial), accurately integrated and cited text evidence, followed by high-level explanation showing why Sal feels this urgency.
Anchor Paper: Score Point 1 (Partial) 1 / 2 TEA Points
"Salamanca is really sad and anxious about her mother leaving her. She keeps thinking about how fast they are driving and she says the car is whispering 'rush, rush, rush' to her."
Teacher Annotation: Identifies correct emotion and quotes text, but fails to explain how or why the quote proves her desperation about her mother's birthday.
Anchor Paper: Score Point 0 (Insufficient) 0 / 2 TEA Points
"Sal is taking a road trip across the country to Idaho with her grandparents Gram and Gramps and they want her to tell a funny story."
Teacher Annotation: Merely summarizes plot without addressing Sal's internal feelings about her mother's departure; lacks any analytical claim or valid textual evidence.
Walk Two Moons • Scoring Guide Day 2 Page 2 of 2
