OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS

CHAPTER 1

• Afloat• Harbor• Gather• Gaze• Trembled• Kelp• Ravine• Ornaments• Mesa• Spear

CHAPTER 2

• Leagues• Sparingly• Spring• Glistening

CHAPTER 3

• Pelts• Carcasses

CHAPTER 4

• Scattered• Bundles• Chest• Barred• Pursue

CHAPTER 5

• Fateful• Fowl• Shirkers• Perish• Burdens

CHAPTER 6

• Pondering• Dunes• Stern

CHAPTER 7

• Urging• Masts• Forlorn

CHAPTER 8

• Snarling• Rites• Vowed

CHAPTER 9

• Crept• Stunted• Slain• Pace• Forbade• Bound• Sinews• Scarce• Crevices

CHAPTER 10

• Dusk• Leaking• Planks• Pitch• Fortune• Omen• Chafing

CHAPTER 11

• Sheltered• Brackish• Specks• Hut

CHAPTER 12

• Legend• Quarreled• Wove

CHAPTER 13-14

• Pierce• Waddling• Wary• Stunned• Swollen• Stalking• Venturing

CHAPTER 15

• Bolder• Quivering• Wound• Matted• Mending

CHAPTER 16-17

• Roost• Barbed• Heed• Flank

CHAPTER 18-19

• Plentiful• Clustered• Coils

CHAPTER 20-22

• Jagged• Deserted• Squinting

CHAPTER 23-26

• Gash• Fledglings• Hobble• Notched• Snares

CHAPTER 27-29

• Shimmered• Vanquished

DEFINITION OF WORD SENTENCE USING WORD

SYNONYMS ANTONYMS

PICTURE OF WORD

WORD: _______________

ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS

VOCABULARY

1) In this chapter, we are introduced to Karana and her brother, Ramo. How does Karana describe her brother’s movements?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Karana states that Ramo’s eyes are similar to those of what creature? __________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) As the Aleut ship approached, Karana continued to dig roots. Why? ________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Why did the Aleuts come to the Island of the Blue Dolphins?_________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Why is the book and Karana’s island called “The Island of the Blue Dolphins”? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What good fortune was encountered by Karana’s people? Why did Karana’s people not want to share this good fortune with the Aleuts? _______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate a key scene from this section of the novel.

1) Why were Karana’s people worried about the Aleuts leaving the island? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In your opinion, do you think the Aleuts will keep up their end of the bargain? Explain your answer. _________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


1) In this chapter, there is a battle between Karana’s people and the Aleuts. How does it end? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why do Karana’s people think the chief’s power was reduced? ________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


1) What was Karana and her sister Ulape’s job after the battle? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In this chapter, the chief leaves the island. Why? _________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


1) What were Karana’s people most concerned about? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In this chapter, a ship full of white men comes to the island. Why? ___________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What do you think the ship looks like? Draw it in the space below.

1) List the items that Karana packs for the boat trip.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What happens to Ramo? Why? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Why does Karana jump from the boat? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Karana notices wild dogs running through the huts. Why were they doing this? _________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What do the dogs do to Ramo? What does Karana want to do in response? _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Fill the box below with words describing the wild dogs.

1) Karana is now all alone on the island. Predict what you think will happen to her. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Karana looks into the chest left behind by the Aleuts. Why? _____________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Karana chooses to sleep on a rock ledge. Why? _________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) The wild dogs stop trying to attack Karana. Why? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In this chapter, Karana decides to leave the island. Why? _________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What does Karana use to patch the leak in her canoe? ___________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Why does Karana decide to turn back to the island? ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Is this chapter, Karana decides to not leave the island again. Why? _______________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Do you think the island would be a good place to live? Explain. _______________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate a key scene from this section of the novel in the space below.

1) What does Karana use to build the fence around her house? ___________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Illustrate Karana’s house.

1) Why does Karana want to kill a Bull Elephant Seal? __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In your own words, describe Karana’s encounter with the Bull Elephant Seals.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What does a Bull Elephant Seal look like? Illustrate one in the space below.

1) Describe why Karana stays in the cave.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why does Karana decide to go back to the scene of the seal battle?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) In this chapter, Karana decides to try and get rid of the wild dogs. What does she do to their cave? How many dogs remain? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Karana decides to not kill the leader of the wild dogs, and instead takes it home to nurse it. Why do you think she does this?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What does Karana name the leader of the wild dogs? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) In this chapter, Karana discovers that she is no longer lonely. Why? _______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In this chapter, Karana and Rontu make an excellent discovery. What is it?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate the discovery in the space below.

1) In this chapter, Karana goes Devil fishing. Why doesn’t Rontu go with her? ______________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In detail, describe the fight between Rontu and the wild dogs.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate a key scene from this section of the novel in the space below.

1) In this chapter, Karana clips the wings of two wild birds. Why? _____________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What did Karana use to make her skirt and sandals? _____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate the wild birds in the space below.

1) In this chapter, Karana gives Rontu a fish, which he drops. Why? _______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) What happens to Rontu when he tries to grab the Devil fish? How does Karana save him?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate a key scene from this section in the space below.

1) In this chapter, Karana kills ten cormorants. Why? _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) At this point in the story, how many years has Karana been on the island?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) When had the Aleuts come back? How did Rontu and Karana escape them?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) In this chapter, Karana chooses not to take Rontu with her when she leaves the cave. Why? _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why is Karana afraid of the Aleut girl? Why doesn’t she kill the girl when she is spotted?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What was the girl’s name?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) What does Karana tell Tutok her name is? Why? _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) How do you think Karana feels when Tutokleaves the island? Explain your thoughts.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Illustrate Tutok in the space below.

1) What did the Aleut hunters leave behind? What does Karana do in response?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2) Why did Karana have to fish every day

through winter?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) How did Karana try to take care of the young gull?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why memories prevent Karana from being totally happy?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Why did Rontu go to the abandoned cave of the wild dogs?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) In your own words, explain how you think Karana felt about Rontu’s death.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) In the winter, Karana does not leave her home very often. Why? ______________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) The red fox did not make a very good pet for Karana. Why? ____________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) How did Karana eventually capture Rontu’s son? __________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) What does Rontu-Aru mean? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) In your own words, describe what Karana sees and hears after she is awoken from her nap. ___________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Explain how Karana manages to save herself from the waves. ______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What was the wave of earth that Karana felt? __________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Describe what Karana took with her when she went to meet the white man.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why was Karana willing to leave the island?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Why didn’t Karana leave the island?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1) Instead of her usual clothes, what did the men want Karana to wear? __________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Why didn’t the white men come back for Karana after the tribe left? __________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Before her rescue, how long did Karana live on the island alone? _________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A complete set of reading strategy questions to go along with the novel have been included. These questions ask students to look closely at the novel, and respond to questions that ask them to infer, predict, question, connect, evaluate, summarize, determine importance, and synthesize.

A full page of information explaining the different reading strategies has been included. Also included is a full page describing a variety of thinking stems that students can use to help them complete the questions.

As there are no right or wrong answers to the questions, no answer key has been included for this section.

READING STRATEGIESAll readers should use these strategies to help them make sense of what they are reading. These important strategies include:

Predict: Use evidence and prior knowledge to help you think about what will happen in a text.

Infer: Use evidence and prior knowledge to help find out important details that the author doesn’t specifically tell you.

Visualize: Use the words and details in the text to make pictures in your head.

Question: Ask questions while reading to help monitor your understanding

Connect: Make connections between what you read, your own experiences, other books, and the world

Evaluate: Use your own opinions to talk about a text Summarize: Brainstorm and write about the most

important details about a text Determine Importance: Come up with what is the

most important things about a text Synthesize: Organize, recall, and recreate

information, and fit it in with what you already know.

READ

ING

AN

D CO

MPREH

ENSIO

N STRA

TEGIES

COMPREHENSION STRATEGIESWhen stuck on a challenging piece of text, all readers must do the following in order to help understand what they are reading. Some examples include:

Making pictures in your head Re-reading challenging sections Reading more slowly Asking questions Making notes of important details

THIN

KIN

G STEM

S

LEVEL ONE: THINK AND SEARCHThe answer for these types of questions are found in different parts of the text. Some examples of ways to start these types of questions include:

How do you… What are three or four…What happened to… What happened before/after…How many times… What examples…Where did…

LEVEL TWO: AUTHOR AND YOUThe answer is not in the text. Use what you know to decide what the author wants you to believe. Some examples of ways to start these types of questions include:

Why did…If you were a/an…Why do you think…What would you do if you were …Which character would you like to be…why?What part of the text made you angry/smile/sad? Why?What was the most important event/idea in the text? Why?What do you feel the author is trying to tell us?

LEVEL THREE: ON MY OWNThe answer is not in the text. Tell what you think.

Have you ever…If you could…If you were going to…In your opinion…Do you agree with… Why?Do you know anyone who…How do you feel about…

PREDICT-Based on what you’ve read and what you know, what do you think will happen next?-What clues helped you to think about what will happen next?-Is your prediction logical?

VISUALIZEChoose a scene from the reading that you were able to visualize clearly in your head. Using your own words, describe it in the space below.


CH

APTERS 1-5

QUESTIONChoose and answer a level one thinking stem from the list provided. Your answers should be detailed, and should reflect your understanding of the reading.

CONNECTMake a Text to Text, Text to Self, or Text to World connection. Explain it in the space below.

SUMMARIZEMake a list of the 5 most important things that happened during the reading

CH

APTER 6-10

QUESTIONChoose and answer a level twothinking stem from the list provided. Your answers should be detailed, and should reflect your understanding of the reading.


CONNECTWho is the main character in the story? Compare them to someone in your own life. How are they the same? How are they different?

CH

APTERS 11-15

QUESTIONChoose and answer a level three thinking stem from the list provided. Your answers should be detailed, and should reflect your understanding of the reading.

SUMMARIZEUsing a maximum of thirty words, summarize the most important details of the reading.


CONNECTDo the characters remind you of anyone in your own life? Explain.

CH

APTERS 16-20


ANALYZEChoose a quote from the novel that you found to be important or meaningful. Why do you think it is important (both to you personally, and to the story as a whole)?


SUMMARIZEUsing a maximum of 30 words, summarize the most important details of the reading.

CH

APTERS 21-26

QUESTIONChoose and answer a level two thinking stem from the list provided. Your answers should be detailed, and should reflect your understanding of the reading.

VISUALIZEChoose and list three quotes from the novel that really helped you to visualize the story.


CH

APTERS 27 -29

ANALYZEChoose a quote from the reading that you think is really important. Why is it so important? Explain your answer.


CONNECTMake a Text to Text, Text to Self, or Text to World connection. Explain it in the space below.


COMPREHENDThink back to a part of the reading that was difficult for you to understand. What comprehension strategies did you use to help you?

BON

US


PREDICTWhat do you think will happen in the upcoming chapters? Why do you think that?


EVALUATEIf you had to rate the story from 1-10, what would you give it at this point? Explain.

BON

US

QUESTIONChoose and answer a level two thinking stem from the list provided. Your answers should be detailed, and should reflect your understanding of the reading.

INFERWould the main character make a good friend? List some details from the story to support your answer.


CONNECTDo any of the settings in the novel remind you of anywhere you have visited? Explain your answer.

BON

US


VISUALIZEMake a list of words the author has used to describe the setting. Did these words help you to visualize it? Explain.


VISUALIZEIllustrate your favorite character.

BON

US


SUMMARIZEWrite a brief summary of the main events from this section.


SURVIVAL LIST

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLEUsing the template provided, write a letter from Karana to her tribe, discussing her adventures on the island.

In your letter, be sure to discuss the following:• Members of the tribe you miss• What the best thing is about

living on the island• What the worst thing is about

living on the island• Whether or not you want to

leave the island• Your experiences with Rontu • At least 3 different adventures

you have had.

Be sure to have someone proofread you work before you hand it in!

When you are done, color up your page and make it look amazing!

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CREATE YOUR OWN SURVIVAL KIT

5W’S NEWS REPORT

KARANA

RAMO

KARANA

TUTOK

RONTU

RONTU-ARU

RESPONSE STARTERSRE

SPO

NSE

STA

RTER

S THE NOVEL REMINDS ME OF…

I NOTICED…

I WONDER WHY…

I WAS SURPRISED BY…

ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS…

Cut out the template and glue into your Interactive Notebook. Answer the topics under each flap of the

foldable.

IMPORTANT CHARACTER

SELFIEChoose a significant event and character from today’s reading. In the template provided, draw and color a “selfie” that the character could have snapped during the event. Next to the phone, write what happened at the time the selfie was taken, from their point of view.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SERIES OF EVENTSDraw 4 key scenes from the reading, in order, in the space provided. Below your drawing, explain what happened and why.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COMIC BOOK CREATORCreate a comic book page for a scene from your

reading. Use text bubbles to help explain what is going on in each scene. On the back of this page, write a paragraph explaining why you chose this scene to

portray.

WH

AT

ARE

TH

EY T

HIN

KIN

G?

Choose an important character and event from today’s reading. Inside the head, write and illustrate things that you think they were thinking during the event. Be sure to include a lot of details!

TWENTY QUESTIONSUse the space below to write and answer 20

questions about today’s reading.

QUESTION ANSWER

Choose two important characters from today’s reading. In the phone above, write a series of text messages, in which the figures discuss an important event from the reading.

TEXT ME

BEFORE AND AFTERThe character of Karana goes through many changes as the story progresses. Reflect back on the way she was at the start and end of the novel. Complete the graphic organizer below from each of these perspectives.

I THINK…

I FEEL…

I HEAR…

I THINK…

I FEEL…

I HEAR…

BEFORE AFTER

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssock/html/images/kid_outline.jpg

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssock/html/images/kid_outline.jpg

Choose one important event from the reading. What one image best represents the event? In the middle of the camera below, illustrate your chosen image. In the box,

explain the significance of the event - how does it relate to the novel?


A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

KARANA

PERSONALITY TRAITS:

DID THEY CHANGE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY TO THE END OF THE STORY? EXPLAIN.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

RAMO

PERSONALITY TRAITS:

DID THEY CHANGE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY TO THE END OF THE STORY? EXPLAIN.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE FOLDABLEStudents will create this foldable to show their understanding of the elements of literature as seen in the novel.

First, students need to cut out the templates. The bottom template gets glued to a fresh page in their Interactive Notebook. The top strip of the top template needs to be glued over top. Then, have students cut each of the flaps.

On each of the flaps, have students draw an image relating to literary element listed. On the inside space, have students write about how the element can be seen in the novel. Remind students to use text evidence to prove their ideas.



ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE FOLDABLE

ISLA

ND

OF

THE

BLUE

DO

LPH

INS:

EL

EMEN

TS O

F LI

TERA

TURE

CON

FLIC

TPL

OT

CH

ARA

CTE

RSSE

TTIN

G

CLOSE READINGWHAT IS IT?

Close Reading is a highly effective Common Core strategy that helps students better understand text. It asks them to dig deeper into what they have been reading, and to back up their thinking with text evidence.

Close Reading is a strategy that can be done in many different ways. It will probably look a little differently is every classroom you see it done in. My advice is always to do what works best for you. The strategies included in this package have worked very well for me in the past, but the beauty of this package is that the variety of resources can be switched around to meet the needs of your own individual classroom or teaching style.

While Close Reading can be done successfully in the classroom in many different ways, I suggest developing a routine and sticking with it for the duration of the school year. This provides structure for the students. Once they get comfortable with the routine, the process becomes much easier.

CLOSE READINGWHAT IS IT?

The main purpose of Close Reading is to encourage students to develop their own understanding. Teachers provide students with the structure, and help facilitate the process, while encouraging students to come up with their own understandings.

Text annotation is an important step in the Close Reading process. While students read, they make marks right on the page to aid their understanding. I have included a text annotation guide with this package. This guide helps provide students with a structure to facilitate the process. Once they become more comfortable with text annotating, the guide will become less necessary, and they will mark up their pages in ways that best help them learn.

The Close Reading Process asks students to provide text evidence to support their answers. With each read, students are asked to dig a little deeper into the text. A set of question stems to help students include text evidence in their answers has been included.

TEXT ANNOTATIONA STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO INCREASE

READING COMPREHENSION

Step One:Number

Number each paragraph.

Step Two: Chunk

Divide the text into chunks.• Draw a line between

paragraphs that are similar, to divide the page into smaller section.

Step Three:Key Words

Circle key words.• Key terms are words like:

repeated words, figurative language,powerful verbs, descriptive words

Step Four:Left Margin

For each chunk of text, do the following in the left margin:• Summarize in your own

words (10-15 words or less)• Draw a key next to any

key ideas. Explain why you think it is important.



Step Five:Right Margin

For each chunk of text, do the following in the right margin:• Circle words you don’t

know. Look up the wordsand write the definitions.

• Write a question or make a statement about something you read. Draw an arrow to the relevant part in the text.

Step Six: Extras

For each chunk of text, do the following as you see fit.• Underline any sections you

found surprising. Draw a big “!” next to these sections. In the margin, write about why you found it surprising.

• Underline anything you disagree with, and write a few sentences in the margin explaining why.



Step Six: Extras

• Underline any sections you particularly enjoyed.

Draw a big “” next to these sections. In the margin, write about why you enjoyed it.

• Underline any sections you found confusing. Draw a big “?” next to these sections. In the margin, write about why you found it confusing.

• Draw a quick sketch to help you visualize something that is going on in the text. Draw an arrow to the part of the text you illustrated.

• Draw a star next to any connections you can make, and explain why in the margin.

CLOSE READINGPARTNER DISCUSSION TIPS

Use these tips to helps facilitate effective partner discussions!

• Be sure to face the person you are talking to.

• Only one person should speak at a time.

• Ask each other questions about the text.

• Make sure everyone has a chance to share their ideas.

• Piggyback off of each others ideas, and add new information.

• Make sure you are discussing back and forth.

• Be caring and respectful when sharing ideas.

• Compliment each other when you share great information!

CLOSE READINGTHINGS TO LOOK OUT FORWhen using Close Reading strategies

while reading short stories, you should be on the look out for the following:

• What is the first thing you notice?• Which parts give you important

details about the characters?• Where are the characters introduced, and who are they?

• What is the mood of the story?• What is the setting of the story?

• Can you make any inferences about the narrator?

• What is the conflict, and where is it introduced?

• Is ay figurative language used?• What details are provided by the author that help me to visualize the

text?• Are there any unfamiliar words?

Thank you so much for downloading this package of activities. I hope you are

able to make good use of it in your classroom! If you get a chance, please

provide some feedback on it at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store for numerous ready to use units and lessons for English, Social Studies, and Art! I also

frequently post free items!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middleschoolteacher

The fonts can found here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/KG-Second-Chances-

Font-Personal-Use-716428http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/

Clipart can be found here:http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Clip-Art-

Bundle-1238904https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Candy-Classhttps://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Educlips

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middleschoolteacher

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/KG-Second-Chances-Font-Personal-Use-716428

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Clip-Art-Bundle-1238904

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Candy-Class

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Educlips

OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS - Imagine South Vero Teachers

Documents

Transcript of OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS - Imagine South Vero Teachers