STORYWORKS-

Skill Builder Critical Thinking
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
December 2019/January 2020

Think About It!

Critical-Thinking Questions: After reading “Silver Dollar Dreams,” think about the
whole story to answer the questions below.

1. Reread the last three paragraphs of the story. Why does the author include the line “I tell
him that being 75 is a poor excuse for not having any,” referring to dreams?
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2. It’s not enough for Alex to practice his karate punches. To have success, he also has to
change the way he thinks about breaking the board. What important idea do you think
the author wants you to learn from this?
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Vocabulary
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
Skill Builder December 2019/January 2020

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________

Pick Your Own Vocabulary Words

Directions: We’ve given you the definitions of five important words from this issue’s story
“Silver Dollar Dreams.” Look for the words as you read. Then pick out three more words that are
new to you. Write their definitions, using context clues or a dictionary to help you.

WORD PAGE IT MEANS . . .
1. bustle NO.

12 to rush around busily

2. elevated 12 lifted up; an elevated train is one that’s on tracks raised
above street level

3. promotion 13 advancement to a higher level

4. respectable 12 worthy of being taken seriously; honest and decent

5. scour 11 to search an area thoroughly
6. MY OWN WORDS:

7.

8.

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Core Skills Workout Character
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
December 2019/January 2020

All About Alex

Directions: Answer the questions in the chart below, comparing Alex at the beginning of the story with
Alex at the end. Use specific examples from the story.

At first By the end

1. H ow does Alex feel
about having to
break a board in the
orange belt test?

2. W hat thoughts come
to Alex’s mind when
he imagines trying to
break the board?

3. W hat seems most
important to Alex
about his outings
with his grandfather?

4. H ow does Alex feel
about silver dollar
dreams?

Your turn! Use your answers to help you respond to the writing prompt on page 14: Imagine you’re making a
video to introduce Alex to your class. Write a script that describes what he’s like, using evidence from the story.

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Core Skills Workout Plot
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
December 2019/January 2020

Alex’s Silver Dollar Dream

Directions: The action of a story is called the plot. Most plots involve a problem. After some complications
and important events, a solution is found. Fill in each block in the pyramid below to identify the problem
and solution that make up the plot of “Silver Dollar Dreams.” Use the prompts to help you.

2. The Problem 2 3 3. Climax
What is Alex’s silver
dollar dream? What What does Alex find out
happens when he first when he gets home from

takes his orange his karate test?
belt test?
4. The Solution
1. Setup What does Alex do at
Who do you meet Jocelyn’s house? What
at the beginning of
the story? What do 4 does he realize?
they talk about?
5. Conclusion
1 What has Alex
learned about silver
dollar dreams? How
do you know?

5

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Core Skills Workout Inference
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
December 2019/January 2020

Making Inferences

Directions: In the story “Silver Dollar Dreams,” the author does not always tell you how characters feel or
why they act the way they do. Instead, you must use text clues to make inferences. Read each set of lines
from the story. Think about the questions in small type on the sides. Then make an inference to answer each
question in bold.

1. Think about these lines from page 12:

What does this tell

A buried treasure dream is going for a black belt. That’s the highest rank in you about how
difficult it is to
martial arts. According to Sensei Foster, my karate teacher, only 1 in 800 make earn a black belt?

What does this it to that level. An orange belt means you’re no longer a beginner, but it also
tell you about how
difficult it is to earn means you have far to go. Since I’ve been studying for two years now, I should What do the words
have been an orange belt a long time ago. It’s hardly a dream at all. “hardly a dream”
an orange belt?
tell you?

How does Alex feel about his dream of earning his orange belt?

2. Look at these lines further down on page 12: What does this tell
you about whether
What I didn’t tell Grandpa was that I had more of a chance of finding Alex thinks he’ll
Uncle Jimmy’s treasure, and the ghost of Uncle Jimmy himself, than I had of achieve his silver

dollar dream?

What does this reaching my silver dollar dream.
tell you about how Everyone who goes for an orange belt has to break a board—with his bare
Alex feels about
hands. Boards are hard and solid. Even the thought of hitting one makes my
hitting a board? fingers numb.

Does Alex believe he can break a board with his bare hands? Explain your answer.

Continued on next page >

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Core Skills Workout Inference
Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________
“Silver Dollar Dreams”
December 2019/January 2020

Making Inferences, p. 2

3. Now think about these lines from page 14:

How does Alex After school, I go to Jocelyn’s house, where she helps me with my punches
feel about his
karate skills when and I pretend that pillows are boards.
he’s punching the
“If only Sensei Foster would let me take a pillow bashing test, I’d have
pillow?
that orange belt for sure,” I say as we walk to karate class. What does Jocelyn mean?
Does Alex think How do her words help
he’ll achieve his “Pillow. Board. What’s the difference?” asks Jocelyn. “You’ll break it this Alex see things in a new
silver dollar dream time.”

now? What is the difference, I wonder. Suddenly that little coin in my light?

pocket feels very heavy. “I will break it,” I whisper. “My punches and

kicks are good.”

What does Alex realize about breaking the karate board? How does this affect the way he feels about his
karate skills?

4. Now think about the end of the story: How do Alex’s

When he tells me he’s not sure, I tell him that being 75 is a poor excuse for words to Grandpa
echo the words
not having any. And I bring him his cane and hand him back his silver dollar.
Grandpa says

What do you “It’s a little dream, Grandpa. To take one step on your cane. But put enough of to Alex at the
think happened these silver dollar dreams together and you might have a treasure.” beginning of
at karate class? Then I take the broken board from my knapsack and add, “Wait till I tell you
the story?

what happened in karate class today.”

How does Alex feel about silver dollar dreams now? Has Alex achieved his silver dollar dream? How can
you tell?

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December 2019/January 2020 Name: Practice Assessment
LL
Date:

“Silver Dollar Dreams” Quiz

Directions: Read the story “Silver Dollar Dreams” in the December 2019/January 2020 issue of Storyworks.

Then fill in the bubble next to the best answer for each question below.

1. Which is a “buried treasure dream” for 4. At what point does Alex finally realize that
Alex? he’s able to break the karate board?
A getting his orange belt in karate A during a talk with Grandpa Nick
B finding his Uncle Jimmy’s hidden life savings B while thinking about things made of wood
C being on American Idol C when he hears that Grandpa Nick is hurt
D helping his grandfather take a first step after D after punching pillows at Jocelyn’s house
his injury
5. What does Alex give to Grandpa Nick at
2. In the phrase “while people bustle by,” the the end of the story?
A a silver dollar
word bustle tells you that the people are B his broken karate board
C the white belt from his karate uniform
moving in a ______ way. D a silver spoon from Uncle Jimmy’s treasure

A slow C scared

B amusing D lively

3. When Alex tries to break the board during 6. What big lesson does Alex learn by the end
of the story?
the first orange belt test, you can tell that A It’s better to be safe than to be sorry.
B Most dreams never come true.
he feels ______. C It’s important to believe in yourself.
D Dream big or don’t bother dreaming at all.
A confident C nervous

B bored D excited

Constructed Response
Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write your answer to each question in a well-organized response.
Make sure you support your answers with details from the story.

7. In your own words, explain what a 8. What kind of relationship do Alex and his
“silver dollar dream” is. Include grandfather have? How can you tell?
examples from the story in your answer.

©2019 by Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. Permission granted to teachers and subscribers to make copies of this page to distribute to their students.

December 2019/January 2020 Name: Practice Assessment
HL
Date:

“Silver Dollar Dreams” Quiz

Directions: Read the story “Silver Dollar Dreams” in the December 2019/January 2020 issue of Storyworks.
Then fill in the bubble next to the best answer for each question below.

1. When Alex comes home with “a monster 5. When Alex tries to break the board during
of a stomachache,” you can infer that he
______. the first promotion test, you can tell he
A ate too much candy
B is worried about his grandfather feels ______.
C had a bad time during his karate class
D hurt himself while digging for treasure A confident C bored

B nervous D excited

2. In the phrase “What you’ve got is a good, 6. Which line from the story supports the
answer to question 5?
respectable little dream,” respectable A “Not hard. See.”
B “ ‘Wait till I tell you what happened in karate
means ______. class today.’ ”
C “. . . the rest of his words get drowned out by
A amusing C worthwhile my worries.”
D “. . . I jump up to the front of the class.”
B old-fashioned D unimportant

3. Alex shrugs twice when Jocelyn asks him if 7. At what point does Alex finally realize that
he’s going for his orange belt. The author he’s able to break the karate board?
includes this to show that Alex . . . A during a talk with Grandpa Nick
B while thinking about things made of wood
A doesn’t hear Jocelyn’s question. C when he hears that Grandpa Nick is hurt
B doesn’t understand Jocelyn’s question. D after punching pillows at Jocelyn’s house
C f eels relaxed about taking the orange belt test.
D feels unsure about taking the orange belt test.

4. What does Jocelyn suggest that Alex should 8. At the end of the story, why does Alex give
pretend when he’s trying to break the a silver dollar to Grandpa Nick?
karate board? A He is ashamed that he couldn’t achieve his
silver dollar dream of getting his orange belt.
A that the board isn’t there B He is paying back money he borrowed.
B that he is Superman C He is encouraging Grandpa Nick to have his
C that the board is a pillow own silver dollar dream.
D that he is using a baseball bat D His mother asked him to.

Constructed Response
Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write your answer to each question in a well-organized response.
Make sure you support your answers with details from the story.

9. Explain the difference between a “buried 10. W hat important lesson does Alex learn by
treasure dream” and a “silver dollar the end of the story?
dream.” Include at least one example of
each from the story.

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Silver Dollar Contest

My name:

Teacher’s name:

School name:

School address:

(Remember to include city, state, and ZIP code!)

School phone:

Parent’s name and email (optional): _____________________________________________________________

See page 14 of the December 2019/January 2020 issue of Storyworks for more information about this contest.

My Response

Imagine you’re making a video to introduce Alex to your class.
Write a script that describes what he’s like, using evidence from the story.

Entries will be judged on: a good organization and transitions

a a clearly stated main idea

aeffective use of supporting evidence a grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Continue on another piece of paper
if you need more room.

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