SkillsTutor · synonyms and an antonym, or three antonyms. Students are instructed to click on the word that does not belong with the other words (the antonym or the vocabulary word)

B

SkillsTutor

Classroom Guide

ReadingVocabulary

Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................ 1

Vocabulary Building Lessons...................................................................................................................... 2

The Warm-Up ........................................................................................................................................2

The Review ............................................................................................................................................2

The Quiz ................................................................................................................................................5

Tests ......................................................................................................................................................5

Lesson Summaries ...................................................................................................................................... 6

Worksheets..................................................................................................................................................13

Assignment Sheets ....................................................................................................................................55

Table of Contents

6 1 6

SkillsTutor Reading Vocabulary provides comprehensive coverage of more than 1000 words andcontains six units. These units are broadly based on mathematics and science, social studies,hobbies, and other topics of interest to students. A variety of reading and vocabulary buildingactivities introduce and reinforce vocabulary related to these topics. Within each unit are vocab-ulary building lessons, tests, and worksheets for students. This chapter discusses the unit activi-ties in detail.

The SkillsTutor management system (OTS) provides several important features:

• Tests students’ skills, providing both pretests and posttests to make initial assessments and

gauge student progress

• Makes assignments, based on students’ pretest results

• Monitors student scores and completion of activities

• Produces reports for individual students

• Provides online documentation

This guide outlines the content and activities of SkillsTutor Reading Vocabulary B. Informationon the management system (OTS) is provided under separate cover in the SkillsTutor User’sGuide.

Getting Started

6 2 6

Vocabulary Building Lessons are built around a set of seven to ten words. Vocabulary words areintroduced in story-centered activities as well as in a variety of shorter, fast-paced activitieswhich encourage students to practice using a new vocabulary word in context.

In SkillsTutor Reading Vocabulary B, each lesson has three online parts: the Warm-Up, theReview, and the Quiz.

The Warm-UpThe Warm-Up begins with a story-centered activity. Some lessons begin with a single story,while others use two shorter stories to introduce the targeted vocabulary words. If the computerhas audio capabilities, students may click on each paragraph in the story to have it read to them.Stories are displayed with seven to ten blanks in place of targeted vocabulary words. Studentsdrag a word from a vocabulary list on the right side of the screen to the correct blank in thestory. Each vocabulary word is used only one time in this activity.

After students place all of the words and click Check, they are given feedback for their answers.Incorrectly placed words are dimmed. Students are prompted to click on each dimmed word.The correct word is inserted in the blank, and students are given a definition and, if audio isenabled, pronunciation for that word.

The ReviewThe Review presents a variety of activities in which students practice using all of the lesson’svocabulary words. Special emphasis is given to words that the student missed in the Warm-Up,and to words missed in the Review itself. Students receive more interactions for words they missthan for words they use correctly.

The following section provides detailed descriptions of the activities students may encounter inthe Review.

Context Sentence. In this interaction, a sentence is presented with a blank in place of avocabulary word. Context clues in the sentence guide students to select the correct wordfrom the list of vocabulary words. Students type the correct word in the blank. Guidanceis provided for incorrect typing.

The Big Bad Wolf tried to blow down the pigs’ brick house, but it was indestructible.

Multiple-Meaning Sentence. In this interaction, a sentence is presented with the vocabu-lary word underlined. Students select the correct definition of the underlined wordbased on the context clues in the sentence. This interaction only appears in MultipleMeanings lessons.

VocabularyBuilding Lessons

6 3 6

Match a Graphic to a Word, Phrase, or Sentence. In this interaction, students cyclethrough four graphics and select the graphic that best represents a single vocabularyword, a phrase using a vocabulary word, or a sentence including a vocabulary word.

Tip: You may want to clarify to students that it is the word that they are trying to match to the picture. Thephrase or sentence they see may not match the picture exactly. Students should focus on just the underlinedword when they choose a picture to match it.

Clickable Scene. This interaction begins with a large graphic. Within this graphic arerepresentations of at least four vocabulary words from the lesson. Students are promptedto click on the part of the graphic that represents a particular word.

Categories. In this interaction, a subset of four of the lesson’s vocabulary words is pre-sented. In one variation of this activity, students are instructed to click on the words thatbelong to a given category. In another variation, a vocabulary word is presented withsynonyms and an antonym, or three antonyms. Students are instructed to click on theword that does not belong with the other words (the antonym or the vocabulary word).

Match a Word to a Synonym or Antonym. In this interaction, students click on a vocabu-lary word in the list that matches the synonym or antonym presented.

Match a Word to a Clue or an Example. In this interaction, students click on a vocabu-lary word in the list that matches a clue, or one or more examples.

Similar Sentences. In this interaction, a context sentence containing a vocabulary wordis presented. From among three sentences, students select the sentence which is mostsimilar in meaning to the context sentence. Here is an example:

They reside in their father’s townhouse in the suburbs.A. They live in the suburbs all of the time with their father.B. They go to the suburbs for vacation to stay with their father.C. They often visit their father in the suburbs.

Paragraph. In this interaction, a sentence or short paragraph using two or more vocabu-lary words is presented. In one variation of this activity, the paragraph is presented withblanks. Students drag vocabulary words from the list to place in the blanks. In anothervariation, the paragraph is presented with underlined synonyms for vocabulary words.Students drag vocabulary words from the list to replace the underlined words with syn-onyms. In a third variation, the paragraph is presented with underlined antonyms.Students drag vocabulary words from the list to replace the underlined words withantonyms. Here is an example:

When the starter waved the green flag, the race car driver stepped on the gaspedal. The car began to accelerate. In an amazingly short time, the car reached avelocity of 175 miles per hour.

6 4 6

Imagine. In this interaction, an incomplete scenario is built around a vocabulary word.Students select one of three possible capabilities, consequences, or results of the sce-nario. Here is an example of the type of sentence students may see:

If I were in a drought, then I would ___.A. not be able to water my lawn whenever I wantedB. put on a coatC. be floating down a river

Predict. In this interaction, a situation is described using one of the lesson’s vocabularywords. Three possible consequences are provided for the situation. Students select theconsequence that would stem from the targeted vocabulary word. Here is an example ofthe kind of description and choices students will see:

A farmer planted a field of corn. Then there was a drought.A. The corn will not grow high this year.B. This could be the best year ever for corn.C. The corn will not sprout because the ground is too wet.

Analogy. In this activity, students are presented with a sentence that contains part of ananalogy. One word in the analogy is missing. Students select a word from the vocabu-lary list to fill in the blank and complete the analogy.

Non-Definitions. In this interaction, students see a vocabulary word posted on a streetsign. Under the sign are three or four bikers who are thinking of definitions for the post-ed word. Only one of the bikers has the correct definition. Using the mouse, studentsmove across the picture to see each biker’s definition for the word. By clicking on abiker, students select the definition they think is correct.

The Word Library. When a student incorrectly completes an interaction during theReview, a small icon (in this case, a picture of several books) appears above the vocabu-lary list to show the student that the Word Library is available. The student clicks on theicon and then clicks on the word to be researched. Once in the Word Library, the studentmay research any or all of the words in the vocabulary list. After clicking on a word, thestudent reviews the definition at the bottom of the screen and then clicks on a button toreceive more information about the word. Depending on the word selected, the studentmay be able to see a context sentence, synonym, picture, or other information related tothe word. In the event that a student misses several interactions for a single word, thestudent is sent directly to the Word Library for further study of that word.

6 5 6

The QuizAfter completing the Review, students are given a quiz. Students are quizzed on five words fromthe lesson. Words that the students missed in the lesson are more likely to appear on the Quiz.These questions follow standardized-test formats and are randomly selected from a bank ofappropriate questions. Students receive feedback for each question.

TestsThere is a pretest and a posttest for each unit in SkillsTutor Reading Vocabulary B. Test ques-tions are presented in multiple-choice format to give students practice in answering standard-ized-test questions. After each test, students have the opportunity to review the questions theymissed. Feedback is provided for each missed question. Pretests provide data on students’ entry-level knowledge and give students an introduction to the vocabulary words in the unit. Posttestsmeasure students’ learning growth and mastery.

6 6 6

Lesson Summaries

In this section you will find lesson summaries for each of the lessons in SkillsTutor ReadingVocabulary B. The summaries are meant to provide, at a glance, a description of the story that isused to introduce vocabulary words, and a list of the words that are the focus of the lesson.

Lessons are grouped into six units that reflect the general themes expressed in the stories andother lesson activities. These units appear in the following order:

• Mathematics and Science

• Social Studies

• Family and Consumer Sciences

• Student Life

• Hobbies and Activities

• Special Words

6 7 6

Lesson Summary

This lesson is built around the story of a fieldtrip to the zoo. Lori and her mother use vocab-ulary words to discuss animal behavior andhabitats.

This lesson is built around the story of ananatomy lesson. Mrs. Green uses a full-scalehuman model and vocabulary words to teachstudents about the human body.

This lesson is built around a story about a spe-cial math teacher. Vocabulary words are usedto explain how a student learns to appreciatethe practical applications of mathematics.

This lesson is built around a story about a sci-ence fa i r. Stacy is introduced to her classmates,their scientific experiments, and vo c a bu l a rywo r d s .

This lesson features vocabulary words in anewspaper article that warns of a flu epidemic.

This lesson features vo c a bu l a ry words in thefamiliar format of a radio weather forecast.

This lesson is centered around an advertise-ment for a nature park. Vocabulary words areused to promote the different activities avail-able at the park.

Vocabulary Words

caribou orangutan exhibitscorpion habitat squidmuskrat zookeeper nuzzlezoology

abdomen organ anatomyposture digest thighforearm veins

a c c u r a t e f o rm u l a c a l c u l a t ek i l o m e t e r s m a t h e m a t i c a l c o m p a s sd i m e n s i o n s m i l l i m e t e r s

b a c t e r i a o b s e rva t i o n b i o l og yp r e d i c t p r o c e d u r e d e t a i lfi n d i n g s t h e o ry

f eve r i s h p n e u m o n i a f l u i d sr e m e d y s y m p t o m s i n f e c t e do u t b r e a k u n t r e a t e d p hy s i c a l

b a r o m e t e r h a i l s t o n e s b a s keva p o r a t i o n h u m i d i t y h a z ef o r e c a s t e r r a i n fa l l

algae driftwood soothingstranded ebb surfsandbar tidal snorkel

Lesson Title

A Zoo in MyBackyard

Bill: The HumanBody

M r. Morf

Friends andS c i e n t i s t s

Flu Hits the EastC o a s t

S o n ny Dew d r o p

Seascape

Mathematics and Science

6 8 6

Lesson Summary

This lesson is built around the story about dif-ferent geographical sites for houses. A studentuses vocabulary words to describe the differ-ent places where his family members live.

This lesson is built around a story about a stu-dent reenactment of the Salem Witch Trial. Astudent portraying a lawyer uses vocabularywords to describe the trial.

This lesson is built around a story about life ina frontier town. A sheriff uses vocabularywords to describe a band of outlaws and theiractivities.

This lesson is built around a story in which astudent muses about the future of space trave l .The student uses vo c a bu l a ry words to comparef lying in the past to flying in the future.

This lesson presents vocabulary words in anessay about mapmaking.

This lesson presents vo c a bu l a ry words in thef o rm of a typical political speech urging vo t e r sto give their support .

Vocabulary Words

cavern overlook coastalpeninsula continental ravinemainland mountainous summit

attorney gavel clientinjustice courthouse defendinnocence outcome evidence

a b a n d o n a d ve n t u r o u s f r o n t i e rf u g i t ive s b i n d l a r i a tc iv i l i z a t i o n m u s t a n g c o a r s er o u n d u p

a c h i eve m e n t o r b i t a l i e ns a t e l l i t e s a l t i t u d e s o l a rc o l l i d e t e c h n o l og y l u n a ru n ive r s e

d i s t r i c t l o n g i t u d e e q u a t o rp o p u l a t i o n l a n d m a r k s s c a l el a t i t u d e s u rvey

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c a n d i d a t e f e d e r a lp o l i t i c a l c o n s t i t u t i o n p r o p o s e dd e b a t e r e p r e s e n t a t ive u p h o l dd e m o c r a cy

Lesson Title

Where WouldYou Live?

Our SalemWitch Trial

The Wild We s t

Planet Hopping

The Mapmake r

Vote for Me!

Social Studies

6 9 6

Lesson Summary

This lesson is built around a story about anapartment building being demolished.Vocabulary words help to describe the demoli-tion as well as the new townhomes that willreplace the apartments.

This lesson is built around a story about a girland her sister who shop for used clothing.Vocabulary words help describe the choicesthe sisters make.

This lesson is built around a story aboutchoosing some jewelry for a birthday present.Keri and her father use vocabulary words toname and describe their choices.

This lesson is built around a story in which achild considers different occupations.Vo c a bu l a ry words name a variety of p r o f e s s i o n s .

This lesson presents vocabulary words in theform of a letter of recommendation written byan employer to a bank. Mr. Moore describeswhat makes Troy an exemplary employee.

This lesson is built around a story about ag o u rmet cook. Vo c a bu l a ry words tell aboutAunt Sarah’s culinary skill and imagination.

This lesson is built around a story about a stu-dent’s summer job in a flower shop.Vocabulary words name and describe the flow-ers used in bouquets.

Vocabulary Words

demolished linoleum masondismantled residents draftydwellings insulated restoresite

adorn secondhand assortedstockings suspenders drabdraperies wardrobe parka

e m e r a l d g l i m m e r e d e n c a s e dj ewe l e r e n gr ave m u s e dg e m s s a p p h i r e

a r c h a e o l og i s t a s t r o n o m e r p o rt e rs i l ve r s m i t h c o u n s e l o r ve n d o rve t e r i n a r i a n m e c h a n i c h i s t o r i a n

c o m m i s s i o n p ay m e n t s fi n a n c ep o l i cy j u d g m e n t ke e ns u p e rv i s e

g o u rm e t q u e n c h gr i d d l er ave n o u s h e r b s s avo ro rga n i c s p i cy p o u l t ry

bouquets lily cattailsperfume flourish petuniasfragrant porcelain junipers

Lesson Title

New Homes forOak View

The Used-Clothing Store

The Perfect Gift

When I GrowU p

A Letter A b o u tTr oy

S o m e t h i n gD i fferent Fr o mAunt Sarah

Smelling Like aRose

Family and Consumer Sciences

6 10 6

Lesson Summary

This lesson is built around a story in which aboy and his brother discuss a birthday present.Phil uses vocabulary words to coax Matt intotalking about a birthday present.

This lesson is built around a story about twosisters arguing over some missing shoes. Theyuse vocabulary words as they discuss and thensolve the mystery.

This lesson is built around two stories con-cerning family life. In the first, vocabularywords are used to describe the qualities thatmake her aunt admirable. In the second, ateenager uses vocabulary words to discuss hernew curfew.

This lesson is built around a story about ayoung girl who is moving to the city with herfa m i ly. Vo c a bu l a ry words describe the neigh-bors she will miss.

This lesson is built around a story in which achild explains the reading choices that she andher family make. She uses vocabulary wordsto describe the books that they choose.

This lesson is built around a story in wh i c htwin brothers discuss a writing assignment.Damon and Devon uses vo c a bu l a ry words todiscuss possible topics for an essay.

This lesson is built around two items from thenewspaper. In the first, vocabulary words arepresented in the familiar form of a job descrip-tion. In the second, vocabulary words are pre-sented in an article about a celebrity marriage.

Vocabulary Words

bearable genuine defiantradiant dismal stingyfatal vague

bade persuade refercommented conclude revealdispute screeched

c h e r i s h i m m i gr a n t c o u rt e s yi n c o n s i d e r a t e c u r f ew m a t u r e dd i s a p p r ova l s o p h o m o r e d r e a m e r

a ff e c t i o n a t e s y m p a t h e t i c a t t i t u d es e n t i m e n t a l e a s y g o i n g s o m b e re n t h u s i a s t i c m i s c h i evo u s r i g h t e o u s

a u t o b i ogr a p hy i m a g i n a t ive fi c t i o n a lj o u rn a l i s t f o l k t a l e my t hi l l u s t r a t e s c i e n c e - fi c t i o n

a c c o m p l i s h m e n t e m b a rr a s s a s s i g nr e s c u e d a t t e n t ive s t a p l ec o n c e n t r a t e t ex t b o o k e s s ay

dark-haired respectable sensitiveinventive irresponsible shrewdlikable recognizable sincere

Lesson Title

Birthday Blues

The Case of theMissing Shoes

Pleasing Yo u rPa r e n t s

M oving On

The Fa m i ly W h oR e a d s

Write It Dow n ,D evo n

In the News

Student Life

6 11 6

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, vocabulary words help anannouncer describe the action in a “pee-wee”football game.

This lesson is built around an essay about theuses of computers. Vocabulary words are usedto describe some of the uses of computers andtheir accessories.

This lesson is built around a story about achild who is leaving for soccer camp. Theboy’s father uses vocabulary words to build hisson’s self-confidence.

This lesson is built around a story about ac h i l d ’s memories of his gr a n d fa t h e r.Vo c a bu l a ry words help tell the story of thisd u o ’s boating adve n t u r e s .

This lesson is built around a student’s essayabout her best friend. Vocabulary wordsexplain Erin’s talents and activities.

This lesson is built around a story about ac h i l d ’s hike in the foothills. She uses hervo c a bu l a ry words to describe her ex p e r i e n c e swith nature.

Vocabulary Words

aggressive competition heroicdefensive opposing lungefatigue survive

hardware command bootinternet data modemdisk software

e n e rg e t i c m a t u r e h a s t yp e r s i s t e n t h e s i t a n t r e a l i s t i ci m p r e s s ive u n i q u e i n t e n s e

b i l l ow p i e r bu oyru d d e r ga l e wav yh e r o n n av i ga t e y a c h t

b a l l e r i n a r e c e p t i o n c o n c e rt or e c i t a l d a i n t i ly r e h e a r s ed r a m a t i z e r hy t h m i c a l

bu t t e r c u p s c o l d - bl o o d e d k n a p s a c kove r c o m e wa rm - bl o o d e d fi r s t h a n dwo rt h wh i l e h i g h - p i t c h e d f o o t h i l l s

Lesson Title

The BoonevilleBlasts

The Power ofComputers

Soccer Standout

Summers Wi t hG r a n d p a

My Best Fr i e n d

W h o ’s Afraid ofa Little Mouse?

Hobbies and Activities

6 12 6

Lesson Summary

This lesson is built around a story about a tripto the movies. Homonyms are used to describethe movie and the theater.

This lesson is built around a story about ayoung man who can’t keep his room clean.Vocabulary words with the prefixes “dis-” and“non-” describe Kirk’s room.

This lesson is built around a story about a stu-dent who is learning about dinosaurs. Carlauses vocabulary words with the prefixes “pre-” and “re-” to discuss her lessons withMom.

This lesson is built around a story about ahaunted house. A d verbs are used to describeh ow Alisha and her friend enter and quicklyexit the house.

This lesson is built around a story about achild’s neighbors. Vocabulary words with mul-tiple meanings are used to describe their inter-esting careers.

This lesson is built around a story about ayoung man who witnesses a car accident.Vo c a bu l a ry words ending in the suffi xes “-ful”and “-less” are used to describe how Shanehelps the victims.

This lesson is built around a story about anoutstanding team member. Vocabulary wordswith the suffix “-tion” are used to describehow Pam’s sensitivity to her teammates makesher an excellent leader.

This lesson is built around the story of a girlwho adopts a dog. Words that are frequentlyconfused help tell the story of the dog’s sur-prising tricks and background.

Vocabulary Words

aisle foul islecolonel hardy kernelhearty

disagreeable nonexistent dislodgedischarged nonliving n o n p r o fi tdisregards nonsensical

p r e c a u t i o n r e a d j u s t p r e d a t er e d i s c ove r p r e h e a t r e i n f o r c ep r e h i s t o r i c r e p r o d u c e

c l u m s i ly r e a s o n a bly c r a z i lyr e a s s u r i n g ly s u rp r i s i n g ly h e a rt i lym o m e n t a r i ly wa r i ly

a l t e rn a t e m a n u a l n ove la s s o c i a t e f o c u s

bl i s s f u l m o t i o n l e s s d r e a d f u lr e l e n t l e s s s h a m e f u l r e c k l e s st a c t f u l s e l f l e s s

appreciation identification intentionconsideration demonstration isolationdistinction reaction

affect formally ceasedeffect formerly seizedrecent resent

Lesson Title

Homonyms

The Prefixes“non-” and “dis-”

The Prefi xe s“pre-” and “re-”

The Suffix “-ly ”

M u l t i p l eM e a n i n g s

The Suffi xes “-ful” and “ - l e s s ”

The Suffix “-tion”

EasilyConfused Words

Special Words

6 13 6

This section contains reproducible worksheets* for each lesson in SkillsTutor ReadingVocabulary B. Worksheets may be used by students to extend the classroom activity or as ahomework assignment. Worksheets include a synopsis of the article read on the computer. Theworksheets for the Vocabulary Building lessons repeat the story from the lesson Warm-Up forreview of the targeted vocabulary words. They also provide suggestions for creative writing,drawing, craft, or performance activities related to the story, theme, or vocabulary words pre-sented in the lesson.

Mathematics and ScienceA Zoo in My BackyardBill: The Human BodyM r. MorfFriends and ScientistsFlu Hits the East CoastS o n ny Dew d r o pSeascape

Social StudiesWhere Would You Live?Our Salem Witch TrialThe Wild We s tPlanet HoppingThe Mapmake rVote for Me!

Family and Consumer SciencesNew Homes for Oak ViewThe Used-Clothing StoreThe Perfect GiftWhen I Grow UpA Letter About Tr oySomething Different From Aunt SarahSmelling Like a Rose

* These worksheets are provided with the onlinedocumentation and may be printed from your computer.

Worksheets

Student LifeBirthday BluesThe Case of the Missing ShoesPleasing Your Pa r e n t sM oving OnThe Fa m i ly Who ReadsWrite It Down, Devo nIn the News

Hobbies and ActivitiesThe Booneville BlastsThe Power of ComputersSoccer StandoutSummers With GrandpaMy Best Fr i e n dW h o ’s Afraid of a Little Mouse?

Special WordsHomonymsThe Prefixes “non-” and “dis-”The Prefi xes “pre-” and “re-”The Suffix “-ly ”Multiple MeaningsThe Suffi xes “-ful” and “-less”The Suffix “-tion”Easily Confused Words

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A Zoo in My Backyard

Lori ran into the house, yelling “Mom, guess what! We went to the zoo today! The

zookeeper

, Mrs. Perez, showed us around. She showed us all sorts of animals! One was a

caribou

. It looked like a huge deer. I saw a

muskrat

too. It was dark and furry with webbed feet. In the Great Apes area, there was a baby

orangutan

. We saw its mother hug and

nuzzle

the baby. It was so cute!”

“Did you see a spider or a stinging

scorpion

?” her mother asked.

“No, but we did see a giant

squid

. It was on display in the new ocean

exhibit

,” Lori explained. “Oh, Mom, I want to study

zoology

to learn more about animals. Wouldn't it be great to work at the zoo? I think it would be even more fun to study animals in their natural

habitat

. Mom, I think we should move to a jungle or forest—someplace that has wild animals. What do you think?”

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Bill: The Human Body

“Today we will begin our study of human

anatomy

,” said Mrs. Green, my science teacher. “Here to help us learn about the arrangement of the parts of the body is my good friend, Bill.”

Mrs. Green wheeled in a life-sized model of the human body. Bill was a big help right from the start. We sat him at a desk and checked the position of his bones to learn about

posture

.

Later, we took a look at his muscles. Bill is in great shape. We bent his leg to show off the large muscles in his

thigh

. We also turned his arm over to display the

veins

in his

forearm

. Sure, there was no blood in them, but they still looked real.

Each student has to write a report on an

organ

of the body and tell its function. I'm going to choose the stomach because I'm interested in how I

digest

food.

When I examine Bill’s

abdomen

to get a look at his tummy, I just hope he doesn’t laugh too loudly.

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Mr. Morf

Mr. Morf is our new math teacher. He is a special teacher who has a way of making

mathematical

problems exciting. I'm usually bored in math class, but not this year.

On the first day of class, he told us that we were going to measure objects using shapes. I said to myself, “Mr. Morf is crazy! You can't measure with shapes.”

He helped everyone create a small square that was 10

millimeters

on each side. I was very careful to make my measurements

accurate

.

We worked together and used these squares to measure the

dimensions

of objects in our classroom. Later, Mr. Morf pointed out that each little square was equal to a centimeter. I'm not sure if we're going to measure things using

kilometers

. We would need some pretty large objects!

Next week we're going to learn about circles, using a tool called a

compass

. There's a

formula

we can use to

calculate

the distance around a circle. I can't wait! I love math now. Well, maybe “love” is too strong a word. But, at least I'm not bored.

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Friends and Scientists

Everything was new to Stacy — the school, the class, and the science fair. “I like studying plants and animals,” she thought. “So, I'll work on a project on

biology

! But first, I'll see what other kids are doing.”

David said, “I'm using a microscope to study tiny germs, or

bacteria

.” Lamont bragged about the rain, sleet, snow, and other weather that he was studying. Jackie's project seemed to be a big secret.

Michelle told Stacy every

detail

of her whole project. She was trying to prove the

theory

that sunlight improves plant growth. “I

predict

that if a plant receives twice as much light, it will grow twice as fast,” she said. Then she explained the steps of the

procedure

and the equipment she would use.

Michelle smiled at Stacy and said, “Why don’t you work with me? You might make an

observation

about something that I don’t even notice.

Then, we can describe our

findings

when our project is finished. We’ll become friends and scientists at the same time!”

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Flu Hits the East Coast

For the past two weeks, doctors and nurses have worked around the clock. They are trying to stop a sudden

outbreak

of flu along the East Coast. So far, no

remedy

has cured the victims or stopped the spread of this illness. Last week, the flu

infected

thousands, and hundreds more are catching the disease each day. The

physical

signs of the illness are felt all over the body. These

symptoms

include chills, fever, and aches.

If you feel

feverish

, doctors recommend that you drink lots of

fluids

to bring down your temperature. Should your case of flu worsen, see your doctor as soon as possible. If it is left

untreated

, flu can move to the lungs and turn into

pneumonia

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Sonny Dewdrop

Good morning! I'm Sonny Dewdrop, your WFOG weather

forecaster

. I'm here to tell you about the weather we can expect today. Right now it's 88 degrees here at our studios, and the

humidity

is high. That's right folks, it is sticky! We were hoping for some

evaporation

to dry up the puddles from last night's storm. Sorry, but it isn't going to happen today.

It's definitely not a good day to relax outside and

bask

in the sun.

Haze

has settled over the valley, making it hard to see your lawn chair, let alone relax in it. The

barometer

shows that the air pressure is falling. Heavy storm clouds are headed our way from the west. In fact, folks in Merrin County are dodging hard, cold

hailstones

the size of plums. Wow! They've had 4 inches of rain in the last few hours.

Rainfall

in our area could amount to as much as 6 inches. Grab your raincoats and umbrellas before you leave today!

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Seascape

Visitors to the Seascape Nature Park have many activities from which to choose. If you like exploring, grab your

snorkel

and swim under the water. If you prefer more gentle waters, try one of the

tidal

pools left behind by the high tide. You can see all kinds of colorful living things, like fish and algae. I'll bet you never guessed these underwater plants were so colorful. If you go out to the sandbar, you can pretend you're stranded on a deserted island. Do you like to surf? The ocean has some great waves to offer. Get your board and ride a wave of fun!

Those who enjoy a slower pace can relax on the beach. You can soak in the sun or watch the birds perch on a piece of driftwood that has washed up on shore. You'll enjoy watching the tide ebb. The back and forth motion is very soothing. Seascape has something for everyone. Come on down and have a good time!

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Where Would You Live?

If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would you live?

I live in a coastal town. From our house, you can walk to the ocean. We live on a peninsula, so there's water in three directions. I love it here. I don't want to live anywhere else.

Grandma used to live on an island in the ocean. She didn't like it. She now lives on the mainland. No more islands for her! She says continental areas are the only place to be.

Uncle Dan thinks mountainous areas are best. He is building a house on the summit of a mountain. It will overlook a large lake from the highest point around. He's pretty happy there.

Aunt Beth does not like high places. Her house is in a valley at the base of a mountain. She teases Uncle Dan. She says that even a ravine is better than his hill. He teases her too. He says she would be happy living in a dark cavern, like a bat!

I guess most of us like living right where we are!

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Our Salem Witch Trial

We held our own Salem Witch Trial in school today. Some students played the people accused of being witches. I played the attorney hired by Sarah, one of the so-called witches. At first, there was no order in the court. The people in the courthouse who came to watch the trial were out of control. The judge finally banged his gavel, and everyone became silent.

When the evidence was presented, I was sure it would prove that Sarah was not guilty. The jury would be convinced of Sarah's innocence. I worked hard to defend Sarah. After all, she was my client and had paid me well for my services.

“She was telling the children stories, not casting spells on them,” I argued. “She is not a witch!”

It was time for the jury to decide. We waited nervously, unsure of the outcome of the trial. When the jury finally made its decision, it was announced that Sarah was not guilty of being a witch.

In our trial, Sarah was set free. In the real Salem Witch Trials, a great injustice was done to many men and women. In all, 20 ordinary people were unfairly punished because people thought they were witches.

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The Wild West

I'm the sheriff of a town out on the frontier. Life is tough when you're surrounded by wilderness. That's what helps to bind our townspeople together, I guess. We only have each other. We are the only civilization around. There isn't another town for hundreds of miles.

Right now, I'm out on the range searching for a band of fugitives who escaped from my jail. Last night, they held their own roundup and stole 40 head of cattle. We found a lariat that must belong to one of the gang; it was looped around a stray cow's neck.

They're a coarse bunch of men who are rude and nasty to anyone who gets in their way. On the other hand, they sure are adventurous. I've heard that they can tame a wild mustang and ride it right into town the same day.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to ride off into the wilderness like them. Then I think, “Nah.” I could never abandon my family and the people of this town. They mean so much to me.

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Planet Hopping

Scientists are learning new things every day. With their help, technology is improving our lives. Take space travel, for example. One day we may travel to a star, planet or another part of the universe just for groceries.

Way back when the Wright brothers first learned to fly, the highest altitude they reached was a few hundred feet above the ground. Just getting the propeller to turn was a great achievement. Now, astronauts have gone to the moon and taken lunar walks. What would old Wilbur and Orville Wright think about that?

We send satellites into space every day now. Some circle the earth so that we can watch television programs from across the world. Others orbit the earth in the same way, but send us information about the weather. We've even sent spacecraft to explore other planets in the solar system. We share the same sun with these planets, so we'd like to know more about them. With all of this space traffic, I just know that one day we're going to collide with a space creature out there. And when we do bump into an alien, just imagine what things we might learn from him!

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The Mapmaker

Maps help people find their way. Maps can be of a large area like a country, as well as a smaller area like a district. The first thing to do when making a map is to survey the land. This provides mapmakers with the correct measurements of the area. A mapmaker also needs to know an area's latitude. This tells how far the area is north or south of the line going around the center of the earth's surface. The line is called the equator. An area's longitude is also important. It is the distance east or west of the 0º line at Greenwich, England.

Almost all maps include a scale. It tells how the distance between objects on the map relates to their real distance. Sometimes the population is included on a map. Mapmakers sometimes use colors to represent the different numbers of people who live in an area. Many maps also include landmarks. Mapmakers use symbols to represent these important buildings and sites. Creating a map takes a lot of time and effort, but without maps, we might never find our way.

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Vote for Me!

I, George Braun, am your candidate for the office of President. I hope that all of you will exercise your rights under our great democracy, and vote for the person you think is best. If you choose me, I promise to serve you well. I will choose smart and honest people to work in my administration. As the governing body, we will work hard to improve this nation. In the past as your state representative, I have spoken on your behalf. I have proposed laws that improved your daily lives. In addition, I fought to uphold the laws of the state constitution. As the leader of the federal government, I will do the same for all the people of the nation. Tomorrow night, I will debate Mr. Jones on important political issues. You will see that he and I do not agree on many of the issues facing our government. I think you will find that my solutions are the best for our country.

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New Homes for Oak View

After workers dismantled, piece by piece, the parts of the buildings that would be used again, the Oak View apartments were demolished. First, heavy machines smashed the walls. Then, bulldozers pushed away all that was left. The old buildings were cold and drafty. Major repairs were needed. Families complained of the torn carpets, and the cracked and peeling linoleum on the floors.

There is hope for Oak View, however. The city plans to restore the neighborhood. Once again, the area will be a pleasant place to live. New townhomes will be built on the site where the buildings were knocked down. These new dwellings will be made out of brick, by a mason.

The new plans call for the walls to be thickly insulated against the cold. The new homes will have large windows and brand-new carpeting. The residents of Oak View can hardly wait to move into their new homes.

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The Used-Clothing Store

My sister Erin and I love to shop at the secondhand clothing store. Even though the clothes are used, they fit anybody's wardrobe. The store has assorted clothing including pants, dresses, and shirts. Erin likes to wear old, drab clothes without much color. She even made some gray draperies into a dress. I think they looked better on the window!

I go for more lively stuff. Last winter I bought a bright pink parka for skiing. You sure couldn't miss me on the slopes!

I bought my favorite outfit at that store. It's a skirt with wide suspenders to hold it up. When I wear it, my mother lets me wear stockings on my legs. Next time, I'm going to ask Mom if I can adorn myself with her pearl necklace. I'll be so beautiful!

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The Perfect Gift

“Keri, your mother's birthday is coming up, and we should get her something special,” said Dad.

“Well, you know how she loves precious gems. Let's go to the jewelry store and find something with her favorite stones in it,” said Keri.

When they arrived at the store, they spoke with Mr. Holden, the jeweler. He was repairing a watch.

“We're looking for a special gift for my wife,” said Dad.

“And my mom,” Keri piped in.

“Hmmmm,” said Mr. Holden as he mused over possible gifts. “I have just the thing!”

Mr. Holden brought out a black, velvet box and gave it to Keri. When she opened it, she couldn't believe her eyes. It was a beautiful gold bracelet with one dark-blue sapphire next to a dark-green emerald. It glimmered in the light. Keri was stunned. “It's b-b-b-beautiful,” she choked.

“I think Mr. Holden should engrave it with her birthdate,” said Dad. “What do you think?”

Keri said, “That's a great idea, Dad! She'll love it!”

Mr. Holden carved the numbers in it and brought it back, encased in the black velvet box.

“This will be her best birthday ever!” exclaimed Keri as they started home.

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When I Grow Up

What will I be when I grow up? I could be a hot dog vendor and sell lunch to folks on city streets. As a porter on a train, I could carry people's bags. Being an archaeologist would be fun. I could dig up old bones. I might become a veterinarian. I like to take care of all kinds of animals.

My mother is a counselor. She helps people solve their problems. My aunt was a silversmith. She made beautiful silver jewelry.

I like to fix things, so maybe I could be a mechanic. If I wanted to study the stars and planets, I could be an astronomer. That would be a neat profession. My dad, who is a historian, has the most interesting job, though. He studies past events and even teaches history on TV.

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A Letter About Troy

Dear Ms. Kane:

Troy Barnes has worked in my bike shop for two years. He has a keen mind and gives me great ideas for running the shop.

One of Troy's ideas helped us sell more bikes. It had always been my policy to sell bikes for cash only, but Troy thought of a different plan. He suggested that we also finance bikes. Troy believed that if the store provided the money for the bikes, more people could afford them. He was right! It is easier for people to make several payments than to pay for a bike all at once. I now pay Troy a $10 commission for every bike he sells!

Troy is a leader too. He has shown such good judgment in making decisions that I asked him to supervise two other workers in the shop.

Sincerely,

Mr. Moore

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Something Different From Aunt Sarah

My aunt Sarah went to cooking school to become a gourmet. She owns a restaurant in Boston. People come from miles around to eat her special roasted duck. She buys the meat from a special farm that raises geese, chickens, and other poultry. Aunt Sarah says that the farm is organic because they grow their own feed without chemicals.

Aunt Sarah uses herbs that give her foods a sweet flavor. Her customers savor the meals she cooks. They take their time eating and often send compliments to the kitchen. Just the smell of her cooking can make you ravenous. In fact, I get hungry just thinking about it.

Once, I asked Aunt Sarah to cook “something different.” She fried catfish on the griddle, using lots of spices. When I took my first bite, it was so spicy that my mouth felt like it was on fire. I drank at least five glasses of water, but nothing could quench my thirst! That was the last time I asked for “something different” from Aunt Sarah.

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Smelling Like a Rose

This summer I worked in a flower shop. It was nice to work in such a fragrant place. I wish they made perfume with the same smell. I know I would wear it.

The best part of my job was making bouquets of cut flowers. The white lily is my favorite flower. It looks just like a little trumpet. I used to arrange bunches of these flowers in fragile vases made of porcelain.

One day we received a large order for bushes and garden flowers. We delivered 100 junipers, and 600 multi-colored petunias. The strange thing about this order was that the customer also wanted 250 cattails. We searched all over the city for those tall, furry plants! Since they flourish by the water, we called a shop by the lake. Sure enough, they had some. We wondered all summer what he was going to do with them!

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Birthday Blues

“What's wrong?” Phil asked his brother Matt. “I can tell that you're depressed. You've had that

dismal

look on your face all week! Did you get in trouble because you haven't cleaned up the garage like Dad told you to?”

“I have not had any ‘look' on my face, and I don't want to clean the garage!” Matt replied, feeling a little

defiant

.

Phil was worried. He looked at his brother with

genuine

concern. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. Matt mumbled something. So Phil said, “C'mon Matt, don't be so

vague

. It won't kill you to talk about it. Whatever it is, it's not

fatal

!”

Telling his problems to Matt always made them more

bearable

. Maybe he'd feel better this time too. “Dad is so

stingy

!” Matt began. “He said he won't buy me a bike. It's not fair. He promised he would. Now he says he can't afford it.”

“Is that what's bothering you?” Phil asked, grinning. His

radiant

smile lit up the room. “I know something you don't know!” Phil teased.

“What?” begged Matt.

“Wait until your birthday,” said Phil. “You'll see.”

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The Case of the Missing Shoes

Lisa was angry.

“Julie, it is my opinion that you took my shoes,” she

commented

to her sister. “Where are they?”

“I don't have them!” Julie replied. Although she tried, Julie could not

persuade

Lisa to believe her. “You always lose things and find them later, Lisa. I know those shoes will turn up somewhere.”

In a loud, sharp voice, Lisa

screeched

, “You're the only other person here who wears size 6 shoes! I can only

conclude

that you took them!”

“You have no proof,” Julie cried. “You have no right to blame me for losing your shoes!”

Their mother

bade

them to stop fighting. “If you don't stop, you'll both end up in the doghouse!” When they heard their mom

refer

to the doghouse, the girls jumped up and ran outside.

“We found the shoes!” they called.

Their mother asked, “Did your search

reveal

anything else?”

Lisa said she learned that Julie was telling the truth. “Next time, I won't be so quick to

dispute

her,” Lisa promised.

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Pleasing Your Parents

My hero is my great-great-aunt Sophie. Aunt Sophie is an

immigrant

from Poland. She came to the United States in 1930, when she was five.

Aunt Sophie calls me a

dreamer

. I like to imagine what my life will be like when I grow up. As a girl, Aunt Sophie dreamed about being a doctor when she

matured

. Her father's

disapproval

of women doctors kept her from that goal. He thought being a nurse was more correct for a woman. Though she was disappointed, Aunt Sophie came to love her job as a nurse and also

cherish

her patients.

“I can't believe it! My parents gave me a

curfew

! I have to be in by 10:00 p.m.!” complained Tori.

“You're in your second year of high school now,” said Polly. “A

sophomore

shouldn't have to be home at 10.”

“I know,” said Tori. “My dad said that I was

inconsiderate

when I came home late without calling. He said that when my manners improve and I show them some

courtesy

, they'll ease up on the time.”“Sounds like they have a good reason,” replied Polly.“Maybe you're right. Next time, remind me to call,” said Tori with a sigh.

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Moving On

The mood in our house is

somber

today. My parents and I are sad because we're moving to the city. Only my sister Beth is

enthusiastic

about the move. She can't wait to leave!

I'll miss the Greenes next door. They're such

easygoing

neighbors. I could stop by their house at anytime, and they were always happy to see me. Their four-year-old twin girls are so

affectionate

.They always greeted me with a hug. Sometimes their

mischievous

tricks bothered me, but they didn't mean any harm. Mrs. Greene is one of the nicest people I know. She volunteers with a local soup kitchen. Her

righteous

actions made her an excellent role model for me.

I know I'm going to miss this neighborhood. I feel very

sentimental

about it. My friend Katie, who lives down the street, is

sympathetic

. She said she felt the same way when her family moved to this neighborhood. Her move turned out well! I'm going to learn from Katie's experience and have a positive

attitude

about the move. I'm sure we'll be happy in our new home in the city.

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The Family Who Reads

My whole family loves to go to the library. We go at least once a week. I like to read

fictional

stories about dogs, especially those stories that could never happen. There are lots of books about space creatures in the

science-fiction

section. I also enjoy reading the Greek

myth

about Hercules. Zeus is my favorite Greek god. I wish I had his powers!

My stepsister just read an

autobiography

. She likes to read what a person has to say about their own life. She would like to be a

journalist

and write about other people's lives for a newspaper.

My brother chose an English

folktale

to read last night. This story had been told person to person until someone finally wrote it down. My brother wants to

illustrate

books by drawing colorful pictures.

People say my family is an

imaginative

bunch. If that's true, we must get our ideas from reading books.

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Write It Down, Devon

“I don't know what to write! Why couldn't Ms. Taylor ask us to write an

essay

about baseball? I wish she'd

assign

something from our creative writing

textbook

, instead of asking us to write about ourselves.” Although he was usually

attentive

in class, Devon was having trouble listening today.

Damon saw the frown on his twin brother's face. He leaned toward Devon's desk and asked, “What's the problem, Dev?”

“I can't

concentrate

! I'm just not thinking clearly today,” Devon grumbled. “I don't want to write a story about myself. I haven't done anything special. Everyone will think my story is stupid, and I'll

embarrass

myself!”

Damon replied, “Remember the time we were lost at the zoo? You found Mom and Dad by climbing a tall tree. And what about the time you

rescued

our cat from the roof of the house? That was quite an

accomplishment

! I could never climb that high. You have lots of stories like that. Just choose one. You can do it, Devon. Just write it down,

staple

the pages together, and hand it in!”

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In the News

Wanted: A

respectable

person whom I can trust to properly care for an older man. You must be

sensitive

to the feelings of older people. You must be

sincere

in your desire to help, because this is not an easy job. A

likable

person who can get along with anyone would be best for this job. Some training is needed. I need someone I can depend on, so those who are

irresponsible

need not apply.

Sorry, all you guys out there! We have just gotten word that the lovely, sometimes blonde and sometimes

dark-haired

actress, Robyn Glow, was married today at St. John's Church. She is so

recognizable

that many people reported seeing her leave the church. You may remember her as the silly, but

inventive

Professor Jenks in “The Mad Scientist.” Some thought this film, about a woman who creates a magical drink, was a bad choice for her. She has proven them wrong. It turns out that Robyn is

shrewd

in her business dealings. She made over 10 million dollars on the film. Best wishes, Robyn!

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The Booneville Blasts

“Hi folks! We're back at the Booneville Stadium. There is only a minute left in today's football game. Many Booneville Blast players are hurt. The rest are fighting to survive this tough game. The opposing team is wearing the red shirts. They are the meanest group that the Blasts have ever played. These guys are so aggressive; they just keep charging at the Blasts. We can only hope the Blasts will pull through.”

“To win this competition, our boys are fighting the defensive players to get into the other team's end zone. They are also fighting their own fatigue. This has been a long, hard game. Frankly, it's past nap time for some of these fellows. This has been . . . Wait a minute! The Blasts' tight end just tried to lunge into the end zone, surrounded by dangerous tacklers! He made it! What a heroic move! That means the Blast have won the game! The Blasts are the Pee Wee Football League's 5-year-old champs!”

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The Power of Computers

If you want to feel powerful, use a computer! As long as you give a computer the proper command, it will do just what you want. The very first thing to do is boot the computer. Do this by turning the power switch to “On.”

You're not just the boss of the power switch, either! You control all of the hardware, from the monitor to the mouse. If you have a modem, a few clicks will dial the telephone. You can connect to the Internet and get data, like reports, lists, and numbers from computers all over the world.

By purchasing some software, you will have all sorts of computer programs under your power. Just place the disk that holds all of the program's information into your computer. You can become a weatherman, a city planner, or a space alien. After a few hours with a computer, you'll be ready to take on the world.

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Soccer Standout

“I'm worried about soccer camp, Dad,” groaned Shaun. “I was so hesitant about signing up, I almost missed the deadline. I didn't want to rush and make a hasty decision. Now, I'm afraid I've done just that. Let's be realistic and look at the facts. My scoring record is not very good.”

“Well, in my opinion, you made a very mature decision for such a young man,” said Dad. “You're the most energetic player on your team. Why, you never stop moving! You show intense concentration when others have lost focus. You're just what they're looking for at the soccer camp.”

“Do you really think so?” asked Shaun. “I'm afraid I'm not such an impressive player. In fact, they may not even notice me.”

“Don't let your nerves get in the way of what you want. You can do it!” encouraged Dad.

“Coach Byrd did say that I'm persistent. If I can't get it right the first time, I keep trying until I do,” said Shaun.

“That's right,” said Dad. “That's what made you unique last year, and that's what will set you apart at the soccer camp.”

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Summers With Grandpa

When I was little, we spent summers at the beach with my grandparents. I loved to go out to sea with Grandpa on his yacht. He used to race it and almost always won. He would let me take the steering wheel and navigate around the harbor. Once, I was admiring the long legs and beak of a heron instead of steering the boat. We almost ran into a buoy that was marking a channel! I let Grandpa steer after that.

One summer, Grandpa and I sailed along the coast for a whole week on a big sailboat. The boat had three huge sails. When the sails would billow in the wind, they looked like giant balloons. The captain let Grandpa turn the rudder to steer the boat. On the third day of our trip, we ran into a gale with winds so strong that they almost blew us over! The water was very wavy, and most of the passengers got seasick. I couldn't wait to get back to the pier where the boat docked. I only sailed on small boats from then on.

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My Best Friend

My best friend Erin has many talents. She is a gifted pianist. Can you believe she wrote a concerto for the school orchestra? They are going to play it at the spring recital. They rehearse every day, but Erin is still nervous about it.

She's even more nervous about the school play. Erin is the lead ballerina in “Swan Lake.” She's afraid that when she tries to dance daintily across the stage, she'll trip and fall. Do all performers dramatize things the way Erin does?

“Just focus on the rhythmical beat of the music, and not on the audience,” I tell her.

We are going to give her an award at the big reception after the show. I'll tell her then just how proud I am of her.

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Who’s Afraid of a Little Mouse?

I had no idea how much of an adventure hiking up and down the foothills of Tennessee would be. It was a worthwhile trip. What made it so valuable was getting firsthand knowledge about some wild animals. By that, I mean I learned a lot about the animals by watching them myself. I learned that cold-blooded animals, like snakes, enjoy warming themselves on rocks. They do this in order to raise their body temperatures. I learned this the hard way. I sat down on a rock without seeing the snake that was sunning himself there. I was overcome with fright and let out a high-pitched squeal. The snake just slid quietly away.

I also found out about warm-blooded animals. Unlike snakes and lizards, they keep a fairly constant body temperature. I met one of these animals when a field mouse hitched a ride in my knapsack. I reached in to get my water bottle and pulled out a little mouse instead. This time I was not the frightened one.

Later, we reached a meadow that was full of buttercups. It was a pretty sea of yellow. I'll never forget it. And, I'll never forget my two animal friends.

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Homonyms

We went to the movies last night. The film was about a tall, strong U.S. Marine colonel. The hardy man was lost at sea and washed ashore on a deserted isle. He had to hunt for his food. He caught geese and other kinds of fowl. It was foul to watch him pluck and eat the birds raw. In the middle of that scene, I almost choked on a popcorn kernel. Finally, the marine was rescued. He gave his rescuers a hearty greeting and a big hug!

When the movie ended, everyone got up at once. There were so many people crowding the aisle that it took us 15 minutes to leave the theater. It was a good movie, but I was glad to get out of there.

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The Prefixes “non-” and “dis-”

Mom and I finished making dinner. Then, she discharged me to find my brother, Kirk. I knew where he was. He was in his messy room where normal human beings don't go. Even nonliving things, like books, aren't safe in there. Kirk disregards the mess. He thinks his room is fine and that cleaning is a nonsensical task. He ignores dust rags and waste baskets as if they were nonexistent. Oh, it's pretty bad.

One time, Mom tried to dislodge some socks from under his bed. She couldn't do it! The socks were glued to the rug by an old, half-eaten candy bar. Yuck!

Mom told Kirk that if he didn't pick up his things, she would pack them up and give them to a nonprofit group, like Goodwill. He's so disagreeable though, that he would not do it. He thought that at least that way he would get an empty room that he could fill up again. Can you believe him?

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The Prefixes “pre-” and “re-”

“Did you know that dinosaurs predate human beings? They lived here long before we did,” said Carla. She had been learning about prehistoric creatures all day in school.

“You're kidding,” said her mother, as she began to preheat the oven for dinner.

“No, I'm not,” said Carla. “We learned all about them in school. Mrs. Sparks said she wants us to study a dinosaur in this book. Then she wants us to reproduce a picture of the dinosaur by making a drawing. The dinosaur I've chosen to draw is a really big one. If we tried to keep him in the house, we'd have to reinforce the floor so that it would not cave in.”

“That's interesting,” said her mother. “I may just rediscover some facts that I had forgotten about dinosaurs. Let me readjust the oven timer to add a few minutes, so we can look at your book together.”

“Great, Mom, but as a precaution, I'd better check the pictures first,” said Carla sternly. “Then I can warn you if any of them are scary.”

“Thanks, Carla,” her mother said, just as seriously.

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The Suffix “-ly”

My friend, Alisha, tried to calm my fear. She couldn't believe I was afraid. She told me that going into the haunted house was no big deal. All the way up the walk, she talked to me and patted my arm reassuringly. On the outside, the haunted house was surprisingly normal. I expected the outside to look a little spooky. Instead, it looked like all the other houses, so I momentarily believed Alisha's claim that it was “no big deal.” Maybe we would be greeted heartily by a kind, old woman. Then, as I stepped slowly and warily through the door, a ghost screamed crazily! I almost jumped out of my skin. Alisha held on to my arm. I tried to behave reasonably, but I couldn't think sensibly anymore. I broke free from Alisha and stumbled clumsily down the walk. I'll never go to another haunted house as long as I live!

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Multiple Meanings

The people in my neighborhood have very interesting jobs. Mr. Johnson is an associate at a computer store. We bought a neat computer from him. My dad won't let me use it every day, so I use it on alternate days of the week. It came with a huge manual that tells how to use it.

Mr. Davidson is a writer. He wrote a popular novel. The focus of the story is a farm family, but it also includes some romance. Can you believe Mr. Davidson used a manual typewriter to write it? He said that when he's ready for a computer, he'll see Mr. Johnson.

Ms. Harting is a wildlife photographer. She travels all over Africa. She's my favorite neighbor. I associate her with lions because she has taken so many pictures of them. I don't know how she can focus her camera with the animals so close. She is always inventing novel ideas to get closer to the animals. She and another photographer once had to alternate hanging from a tree to photograph some lions. Ms. Harting said that when it wasn't her turn, she hid in the truck.

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The Suffixes “-ful” and “-less”

Shane couldn't believe what had happened right before his eyes. He was motionless. He had to move, but his body wouldn't cooperate. A reckless driver had just crashed into another car and then into a telephone pole. The driver just wasn't paying attention. The accident ended what had been a blissful day for Shane. It was the last day of college classes. Shane was celebrating with his friends. Finally, he sprung into action. Shane and his friends began to help the victims get out of both cars.

Shane's relentless rescue efforts took many minutes. He didn't stop until everyone was safe. At one point, without thinking, he climbed into a burning car to get a child. Selfless actions like that saved many people that day.

The shameful man who caused the accident kept apologizing. He felt bad about it. Shane tried to be tactful when speaking with him so that he didn't hurt the man's feelings. The man felt guilty enough.

The police officer said that this is the kind of dreadful accident that he fears. He said that everyone is lucky to have survived. They all had Shane to thank for that.

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The Suffix “-tion”

There are a lot of shortstops, but Pam has the distinction of being the best shortstop in her softball league. Pam has a lot more than that to offer, however. She has a lot of consideration for the feelings of her teammates. Before the first practice, Pam saw the isolation of a new teammate who was standing alone and looking a little sad. Pam's reaction to the new girl's distress was to walk over to her new teammate and welcome her to the team. You could see the young girl's appreciation. She couldn't stop smiling after that. Pam's intention was to make the girl feel like part of the team, and her plan succeeded.

Pam is also a leader. She helped the coach with the identification of some problems the team was having. She pointed out things that the coach had never noticed. This demonstration of kindness and leadership is just as important to the team as being a great shortstop. I think Pam would make a great team captain!

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Easily Confused Words

Janie made a recent trip to an animal shelter. Just yesterday, she adopted Dudley, an English sheepdog. Janie had forgotten to ask the people at the shelter if Dudley had been formally trained. Janie suspected that he'd taken some classes, however, when he howled along with the car radio on the way home. When she turned off the radio, Dudley ceased “singing,” and sat quietly.

When they arrived home, Dudley jumped into the back seat and seized Janie's bag. Instead of running off with it, however, he carried it into the house for her. Janie applauded. The clapping had a strange effect on Dudley. He bowed!

Watching Janie's brothers toss a ball also seemed to affect Dudley. He ran between them and caught the ball on his nose! Who had trained this dog?

Janie hoped the shelter didn't resent her for calling so soon after adopting Dudley, but she had to know.

“What can you tell me about the people who used to own Dudley?” she asked.

“Dudley was formerly a member of the Gold Star Circus!” was the answer.

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The following are assignment sheets for SkillsTutor Reading Vocabulary B, which list the avail-able activities. The SkillsTutor management system (OTS) will monitor your lesson assignmentsand the activities your students complete. However, it may be helpful to photocopy the assign-ment sheets to help you plan lesson assignments or to help your students keep track of the activ-ities they complete.

Assignment Sheets

Family & Consumer Sciences

• Pretest on Family & Consumer Sciences Vo c a b u l a ry

1 New Homes for Oak View

2 The Used-Clothing Store

3 The Perfect Gift

4 When I Grow Up

5 A Letter About Troy

6 Something Different From Aunt Sarah

7 Smelling Like a RoseAnything Else?

• Posttest on Family & Consumer Sciences Vo c a b u l a ry

6 56 6

Assignment Sheets

A c t i v i t y Date Assigned Date Completed S c o re / P ro g re s s

Mathematics & Sciences

• Pretest on Mathematics & Science Vo c a b u l a ry

1 A Zoo in My Backyard

2 Bill: The Human Body

3 Mr. Morf

4 Friends and Scientists

5 Flu Hits the East Coast

6 Sunny Dewdrop

7 Seascape

• Posttest on Mathematics & Science Vo c a b u l a ry

Social Studies

• Pretest on Social Studies Vo c a b u l a ry

1 Where Would You Live?

2 Our Salem Witch Trial

3 The Wild West

4 Planet Hopping

5 The Mapmaker

6 Vote for Me!

• Posttest on Social Studies Vocabulary

6 57 6

Assignment Sheets

A c t i v i t y Date Assigned Date Completed S c o re / P ro g re s s

Student Life

• Pretest on Student Life Vo c a b u l a ry

1 Birthday Blues

2 The Case of the Missing Shoes

3 The Case of the Missing Shoes

4 Pleasing Your Parents

5 Moving On

6 The Family Who Reads

7 Write It Down, Devon

8 In the News

• Posttest on Student Life Vo c a b u l a ry

Hobbies & Activities

• Pretest on Hobbies & Activites Vo c a b u l a ry

1 The Booneville Blasts

2 The Power of Computers

3 Soccer Standout

4 Summers With Grandpa

5 My Best Friend

6 Who’s Afraid of a Little Mouse?

• Posttest on Hobbies & Activites Vo c a b u l a ry

Special Words

• Pretest on Special Words Vo c a b u l a ry

1 Homonyms

2 The Preffixes “non-” and “dis-”

3 The Preffixes “pre-” and “re-”

4 The Sufffix “-ly”

5 Multiple Meanings

6 The Suffixes “-ful” and “-less”

7 The Sufffix “-tion”

8 Easily Confused Words

• Posttest on Special Words Vo c a b u l a ry

Documents

SkillsTutor · synonyms and an antonym, or three antonyms. Students are instructed to click on the word that does not belong with the other words (the antonym or the vocabulary word)