Sixth Grade

Unit One, Week One Summer of the Swans

1. I dont think I can make it. What is some evidence that would support the difficulty of the hike? (Pgs. 22-23)

2. Compare Sarahs feelings to the setting. Use specific references from the text. (Pg. 24)

3. Now her eyes remain dry. What things in Sarahs life brought her to the point of having no more tears? (Pgs. 25-26)

4. How does the slipper help Sarah feel that Charlie is close to her? How does she handle the slipper? (Pg. 26)

5. How did routines help Charlie function in the world? What happened when he didnt have routine? (Pg. 27)

6. When Charlie felt the twigs pressing his face, he wanted to make sense of it. What familiar things did he recall? (Pg. 28)

7. What is the evidence of Sarahs joy after hearing Charlies cry? (Pg. 30)

8. How have Sarahs emotions changed from the beginning of the story to when she hears Charlie? (Pg. 30)

9. Describe the relationship between Sarah and Charlie. How is Sarah and Joes relationship similar to/different from Sarah and Charlies relationship?

10. Why was Sarah finally able to cry when she found Charlie? (Pg. 32)

Unit One, Week Three Gecko Glue

1. How can scientists relate geckos to math? (Pg. 70)

2. Describe how a geckos feet help them stick to surfaces. (Pgs. 70-71)

3. According to the text, how can a cockroach save your life? (Pg. 71)

4. In the text, the question is asked, Why the big interest in gecko glue? According to the text, why is there such an interest in gecko glue and how is it useful? (Pg. 70)

5. Other than cockroaches, what other insects were used for testing and how were they used? (Pg. 71)

6. Why did Brinker use cockroaches in his projects? (Pg. 71)

7. How does nature provide inspiration for scientists and researchers? Find examples in the text.

8. From the text, list some things that make spider silk so remarkable. (Pg. 72)

9. In the final paragraph, chemist John OBrien states, I never step on spidersI have too much respect for them. Using examples from the reading, tell why he would make this statement. (Pg. 73)

Vocabulary:

Tell how innovations have affected your life. What innovations have you seen in your lifetime? Ask for root word. Innovations is a noun, innovate is a verb.

Concentrated- Use concentrated and regular orange juice to show an example of what concentrated means. Ask for root word. Concentrate is a verb, concentrated is an adjective.

Unit One, Week Four The Magic Gourd

1. What caused the famine? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. (Pg. 84)

2. Who are the two main characters and what are their problems? (Pg. 85)

3. Why does the chameleon give the magic gourd to Rabbit?

4. On page 90, what does it mean when the author says, The rock played music on the heads of the king and his soldiers?

5. Rabbit rummaged for the gourd and scrounged for food. Use evidence from the story to suggest a difference in the definitions of each word.

6. Explain why different characters used the gourd for different purposes. Use evidence from the text to support your answers.

7. Why do you think the author chose a chameleon and a rabbit as the main characters instead of an elephant or any other animal?

8. How would the story be different if there were other animals (like an elephant) chosen to be the main characters?

Vocabulary:

Rummaged-Name a time when you would need to rummage through something.

Undetected-Write about a time when you think you went undetected.

Generosity-Root word = generous.

Pathetic-OriginHow would you use the word in a sentence?

Ricocheting-Draw a picture.

Famine-What would happen to people during a famine? Cause and effect.

Scrounging-Compare and contrast scrounging and rummaged. Scrounging is a need, rummage is to find.