ANTARCTIC JOURNAL:FOUR MONTHS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD

Written by Jennifer Owings Dewey

Day 1 Day 4Day 2 Day 5Day 3

Vocabulary DefinitionsVocabulary SentencesAdditional Resources

Study Skills Genre: Journal Comprehension Skill: Main

Idea Comprehension Strategy:

Text Structure Review Skill: Draw

Conclusions Vocabulary: Word

Structure

Genre: Journal A journal is a record of

thoughts and events that are important to the writer. Think about what is important to Jennifer Owings Dewey as you read entries from the journal she kept in Antarctica.

SummaryJennifer Owings Dewey is given a wonderful opportunity—the chance to see Antarctica herself. During her four-month trip, Jennifer witnesses the life cycle of penguins, watches orca whales swim by her boat, experiences life without night, and narrowly escapes a deadly fall into a glacier crevasse.

Comprehension Skill Main Idea

A topic is what a piece of writing is about.

The main idea is the most important idea about the topic. Think about the overall idea of a paragraph, section, or article.

The main idea is often the first sentence of a passage or paragraph.

Supporting details give small pieces of information about the main idea.

Day 1 - Question of the Week

What does a person sacrifice to explore the unknown?

Vocabulary - Say It

anticipation continent convergenc

e depart forbidding heaves icebergs

More Words to Know abundance

exposure splendor supply survived wily

Comprehension Strategy Text Structure

Good readers use text structure, or the way text is organized, to help them understand why they read.

For example, a non fiction article may compare and contrast two things, put events in sequence, or be a series of clear main ideas.

When you preview, look for text feature such as titles, heads, and underlined words to help you know what to expect.

Listen to the Story

STEPS IN A PROCESS• Telling the steps in a process

means telling the order the steps needed to complete an action.

• Identifying the steps in a process helps you understand exactly what you need to do to complete a task.• Look for clue words such as first,

next, then, and last to help you identify and order steps in a

process.

Comprehension Skill Review Draw Conclusions

A conclusion is a decision you reach after thinking about what you have read.

Good conclusions can be supported with facts

and details from the story.

Think about how the author feels about whales and how you know her feelings.

Main Idea and Details1. Main Idea

Scientist know much about the distant continent of Antarctica.

2. DetailThey have explored the continent and walked upon its ice.

3. Detail They have discovered mountain ranges.

4. Detail They have mapped out the mountains.5. Detail

They have used special equipment to study hidden features of Antarctica under the ice.

1. Do you need a pasport to

travel to Antarctica.

2. I don’t know if its easiest to go by ship or by plane.

How Do Adjectives Function?

Adjectives add specific information to noun forms:

Guys with slow cars want faster ones.

Adjectives tell us what kind of:

What kind of test is it going to be?

Is it a hard one or an easy one?

How Do Adverbs Function?

Adverbs tell us when, how or to what degree.

They modify verbs and adjectives:

1. Kalil drove quickly to college.2. Rocio went rapidly past the

police car.3. Vera is very pretty.4. Khan sees poorly without

glasses.

Do All Adverbs End with -ly?

1. Is the professor __ upset?

2. The semester ends __.

3. We were __ in the afternoon.

4. The team played __ enough to win.

5. __ is the last day to enroll.

• Fill in the blanks with the words:

A.soon B. there C. well D.very E. tomorrow

Here are the answers:1. Is the professor

very upset?2. The semester

ends soon.3. We were there

in the afternoon.4. The team played

well enough to win.

5. Tomorrow is the last day to enroll.

• Fill in the blanks with the words:

A.soon B. there C. well D.very E. tomorrow

How About Comparative Adjectives?

In the comparative, short, one syllable adjectives and adverbs add –er.

1. Chinese is tougher than English.

2. Maria studied harder than I did.

3. Gabriella looks better than her younger sister does.

4. Do you feel worse today than yesterday?

What About Longer Comparatives?

Adjectives and adverbs of more than one syllable become comparative by adding the word more.

1. My accident was more expensive than yours was.

2. Your car drives more smoothly than mine does.

3. Students are more comfortable writing on the computers.

What About Words Ending with -y?

Comparatives ending in –y become –ier.

1. Ana is happier than ever before.

2. Michelle seems funnier than her older brother does.

3. Your ink pen is messier than mine.

4. This joke is funnier than that one.

Can We Use Double Comparatives?

People sometimes use incorrect double comparatives.

1. McDonalds is more better than Burger King.

2. Express Avenue is more nosier than Solitude Lane.

Do Comparatives Use That or Than?

Some ESL writers use that instead of the proper than in comparatives.

1. The ESOL class in high school was easier (that, than) college ESL.

2. US football players are most often clumsier (that, than) soccer players.

3. No one knew (that, then) our class ended next month.

What Is Beyond Comparative?

Comparatives note differences between two things.

Superlatives make differences among three or more things.

1. Her bell is loud. Our bell is louder. Your bell is the loudest of all. Superlatives indicate

extremes: Who was the meanest teacher

that you ever had?

What About Longer Superlatives?

Superlatives of one syllable add –est.

Of the girls, her skin is the darkest.

Superlatives of two or more syllables add “most.”

Of all the students in this class, he is the most dependable.

When Can We Use the Superlative?

1. The superlative is used only for more than two things.Between red and blue, red is the (hotter, hottest) color.

2. This is the (funnier, funniest) picture of the two you have.

3. Of the three papers, this one is (a better, the better, the best).

Can We Use “Most” and -est?

Never combine most with –est.

1. Prince Charles did the (best, most best) thing that he could for her.

2. Everyone likes Adri because she has the (nicest, most nicest) smile and disposition.

Can You Use the Superlative?

Jose is the ___ person I know. a. funny, b. funnier, c.

funniest. The champions won the ___

games. a. many, b. most, c. more. An orange is ___ a lemon. a. sweet, b. sweeter, c.

more sweet.

Spelling Words Latin Roots

dictionary abrupt predict import locally

• verdict• locate• portable• transport• bankrupt

Spelling Words Latin Roots

dictate location erupt passport export

• contradict• rupture• interrupt• disrupt• dislocate

CHALLENGE vindictive portfolio

jurisdiction corruption

interruption

Day 2 - Question of the Day

What are some reasons to travel to Antarctica?

anticipation act of anticipating; looking forward to; expectation

continent one of the seven great

masses of land on Earth. Can you name the 7

continents?

convergence act or process of meeting at a point; joining

depart to go away; leave

forbidding causing fear or dislike; looking dangerous or unpleasant; threatening

heaves rises; rises and falls alternatively; hoist

icebergs large masses of ice

detached from glaciers and floating in the sea. About 90 percent of an iceberg’s mass is below the surface of the water.

abundance quantity that is much more than enough

exposure condition of being without protection; condition of being uncovered

splendor magnificent show; glory

supply quantity ready for use; stock

survived continued to exist; remained alive

wily using subtle tricks to deceive; crafty; cunning; sly

Weekly Fluency Emotion

Reading with emotion keeps listeners interest in a story and help them understand characters better.

Good readers adjust their tone of voice, volume, pitch, and tempo to convey emotions expressed in the story, such as sadness, joy, pride, determination, surprise, and love.

Read p. 582m to model for students.

3. It is hard to lokate our tent in all these ice and snow.

4. If we had an orange tent we could see it more easier.

Group Work

Readers & WB 234 Spelling WB 94 Language WB 93 Trifold Section 2 SmartBoard Vocabulary

Game

SmartBoard Vocabulary Game

Day 3 – Question of the Day What are some of the dangers and the excitements of exploring Antarctica?

Review Questions1.How is the author different from the

woman on the airplane?

2.What is the main idea of the November 17th entry?

3.What would happen to the whales if the ships did not stop for them?

4.Why did the author want to go to Antarctica?

5.What is a generalization about the environment in Antarctica?

Review Questions6. What information can you

gather from the pictures on page 592?

7. Why does the author tell you about the moss in Antarctica?

8.What term did the author use to describe the lack of sleep caused by it never being dark in Antarctica?

9.Why did the author survive falling through the crack on her hike?

Review Questions10. What fact from the journal

entries supports that icebergs are dangerous?

11. Why did the author choose a egg that would never hatch to take home?

12. What did the author likely use to protect the egg on her journey home?

Antarctica is the windiest, coldest, most forbidding region on Earth, and I am heading straight for it.

Antarctica is the windiest, coldest, most forbidding region on Earth, and I am heading straight for it.

I depart from home in the morning to go to school.

I depart from home in the morning to go to school.

The airplane heaves off the ground with a shuddering roar.

The airplane heaves off the ground with a shuddering roar.

Antarctica has the coldest climate of all the other continents.

Antarctica has the coldest climate of all the other continents.

I shiver with anticipation when we leave the calm waters and enter Drake Passage.

I shiver with anticipation when we leave the calm waters and enter Drake Passage.

Joe became a clever and wily hunter.

Joe became a clever and wily hunter.

The lady survived the dog attack.

The lady survived the dog attack.

They sail through fields of icebergs to the frozen poles.

They sail through fields of icebergs to the frozen poles.

It may be the convergence of two needs: the hunger to know and the desire to be the first.

It may be the convergence of two needs: the hunger to know and the desire to be the first.

You will need to take a supply of warm clothing to Antarctica.

You will need to take a supply of warm clothing to Antarctica.

Many penguins and their chicks will die of exposure to the cold and wet.

Many penguins and their chicks will die of exposure to the cold and wet.

7. The sun shine, all day and night in December.

8. Each day the sun rises highest in the sky than the day before?

Group Work

Partner Read & WB 237-238

Trifold Section 3 Language Arts WB 94 Spelling WB 95 SmartBoard Game Synony

ms

SmartBoard Synonym Game

Day 4 – Question of the Day• What sacrifices

did Lynne Cox make to prepare for her swim to Antarctica?

Academic Vocabulary Terms – Reading

genre – a particular type or category of literary, musical, or artistic composition

audience – group that listens or watches

Academic Vocabulary Terms

author’s purpose-the reason for writing; may be more than one reason; reasons include to inform, to entertain, express feelings, and to persuade

Academic Vocabulary Terms

myth – is a story often describing the adventures of super human beings that attempts to describe the origin of a people’s customs or beliefs or to explain mysterious events

fable – a short fictitious story especially one intended to teach a lesson and in which animals speak and act like human beings

SmartBoard Spelling Game

5. I sees weller with these snow goggles.

6. The director gived a pair of goggles to Meg and I.

Can We Use “Most” and -est?

1. What’s your __ moment of all? a. most anxious, b. more anxious.2. Which is your __ season?

a. good, b. better, c. best, d. bester.3. Let’s avoid __ sentence errors! a. a bad, b. some worse, c. the worst4. Who has __ errors on the essay?

a. the more, b. the fewest, c. the less

5. When is __ that you can come tomorrow?a. the earliest, b. the earlier, c. the more early

Answers to “Most” and –est:

1. What’s your __ moment of all? a. most anxious, b. more anxious.2. Which is your __ season?

a. good, b. better, c. best, d. bester.3. Let’s avoid __ sentence errors! a. a bad, b. some worse, c. the worst4. Who has __ errors on the essay?

a. the more, b. the fewest, c. the less

5. When is __ that you can come tomorrow?a. the earliest, b. the earlier, c. the more early.

Here are the comparative answers:

__1. Which river is __ in the world?a. the longer, b. the more long, c.

the longest__2. Eva has studied here __ Eduardo

has.a. longer than, b. more long that, c.

long as.__3. It is __ to learn English as it is to

learn math.a. so hard, b. as hard, c. too hard.

__4. The __ you study, the __ you will learn.

a. hard…better, b. more…more, c. less…fewer.

__5. No one knows __ about the lottery as Joe does.

a. as much, b. more, c. the most.

Can you use comparatives?

__1. Which river is __ in the world?a. the longer, b. the more long, c.

the longest__2. Eva has studied here __ Eduardo

has.a. longer than, b. more long that, c.

long as.__3. It is __ to learn English as it is to

learn math.a. so hard, b. as hard, c. too hard.

__4. The __ you study, the __ you will learn.

a. hard…better, b. more…more, c. less…fewer.

__5. No one knows __ about the lottery as Joe does.

a. as much, b. more, c. the most.

Group Work Reading Computer Test Language Arts WB 95 Trifold Section 4 Essay Questions Create a Food Web for

the Artic Biome

Essay Questions How was the author different

from the woman traveling to San Antonio, Texas?

What did the author probable do to make sure the penguin egg did not get broken on the way home?

Why was it important to the author to take home a penguin egg that would never hatch?

Day 5 - Question of the Week

What does a person sacrifice to explore the unknown?

Research/Study Skills

SPQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Predict, Read, Recite, and Review.

Survey: Look at the text to get an idea of what is in it. Look at the title, author, headings, illustrations, maps, and any questions or word lists.

Question: Ask yourself questions as you survey, such as, What does the title mean? What is the author’s purpose?

Research/Study Skills SQP3R

Predict: Say what you think the text will be about.

Read: As you read, look for answers to your questions. Confirm your predictions.

Recite: After reading, summarize what you learned.

Review: Look back at the text. Did you find answers to your questions? Did your prediction match the actual content of the text? What did you learn from the text? What are the main ideas?

1. After surveying the title and illustration, did you think the information would be

fiction or nonfiction?Nonfiction because it was about a scientific

topic.2. What are two questions you had before

reading?What are glaciers? How do glaciers

move?3. Before reading, what did you predict the

text would be about?I predicted that it would be about

glaciers.4. How far do some glaciers move in a day?

They move hundreds of feet.5. What is the middle layer in a glacier

made up of?This layer is made of snow and ice.

6. What makes the unique features of the land?

They are made by the movements of glaciers.

7. Why is walking on a glacier dangerous?

You might not see crevasses that are covered with snow.

8. What did you learn from this text that you did not know before?

I learned that glaciers have three different layers.

9. How does making predictions before you read help you?

It lets you predict the author’s purpose, then set your reading

pace.10. How does reviewing your questions and information help

you?It helps me to make sure I found answers to my questions, and to remember the information from

the article.

Writing Assignment Letter of Acceptance

Good writers keep in mind their audience.

The audience can be a friend, class, teacher, or a large group of people you don’t know.

You use different language when you write to different audiences.

You would use more formal language when you write a letter of acceptance.

Writing Assignment Letter of Acceptance

A letter of acceptance is a response to an opportunity.

A letter of acceptance should be brief, respectful, and written in formal English.

Writing Prompt Imagine that you lived long ago

and have been asked to accompany a famous traveler or explorer on a journey. Write a letter accepting the offer.

9. Meg and me think this is the more incredible place wehave ever visited.

10. W’ed like to return to antarctica one day.

Group Work

Reading WB 239-240 Language 96 SmartBoard Game –

synonym Writing Assignment Trifold Section 5

SmartBoard- Synonym Game (Tooth Fairy)

SmartBoard Game- Adverbs

Additional Resources

Other books by this author ANTARCTICA:

the Frozen Continent at the South Pole

Discover Antarctica – National Geographic

So you want to be a Polar Explorer!

Reading Review Vocabulary Five Things:

Elements of a Short Story-RAP SONG