Study the word LINGER:
When you linger somewhere, you stay there for longer than normal, or longer than you're supposed to. If you and your friends linger over lunch, then you're all done eating and you really should go, but you stay, because you're having a good time talking together.
Here, Romeo and Juliet have just caught sight of each other. They're strangers: they haven't met yet. They're staring at each other, thinking, "Whoa, that person is beautiful." It's rude to keep on staring at someone, but they don't care. They're lingering. It's a lingering stare. Here they are, lingering by the fish tank, enjoying the sight of each other.
(Source)
Things, too, can linger. If you got a splinter yesterday and it still hurts today, that pain is lingering. It should go away, but it's sticking around. It's a lingering pain.
If you cooked spaghetti in your kitchen last week and you can still smell it today, that smell is lingering. It should fade away, but instead it's still here. It's a lingering smell. All kinds of feelings and smells can linger, good or bad!
Study the word ACTIVE:
To act is to do something, and to be active is to be busy doing things: to be moving around, playing or working. If you're an active person, you're full of life and energy, and you're always on the go.
Active animals aren't sleepy or lazy: they're busy moving around. And active kids do not like to sit still.
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If you have an active mind, it's always busy thinking. If you have an active schedule, it's very busy, packed with activities. And if a thing is active, it's doing something. Here's an active volcano.
Study the word PACE:
Your pace is how fast you walk or move. Your pace can also be how fast you do something.
Anything that moves along, or seems to move along, has its own pace. A ballet dance might have a slow pace. A jet plane has a fast pace. A story can have a slow pace, with new things happening very slowly--or a story can have a fast pace, with new things happening very quickly.
If a ride, a game, or even a lesson moves too fast for you, or too slowly for you, that's the wrong pace for you. You like to go at your own pace. It can be hard and uncomfortable to keep up the pace when you'd rather go slower. And it can be boring to stick to the pace when you'd rather go faster.
Finally, if you're pacing, you're walking back and forth in one small spot, maybe because you're thinking, or you're nervous, or you just like to move.
Study the word URGE:
If you urge someone to do something, you push them to do it, or you tell them they need to do it because it's important. You might say, "Go! Go!" or "Come on! Come on!" or "Do it! You must!" You might urge your friends to try a new game, or urge your siblings to brush their teeth better.
Here, Sideshow Bob urges Bart up the stairs.
(Source)
If your friend has been working too long, you might urge her to get up and take a break.
(Source)
If you get an urge to do something, or you have or feel an urge to something, you suddenly want to do it. Imagine that someone tells you, "Don't push this button!" You might have an urge to push it! Suddenly, you really want to! If you get the urge to go outside, you suddenly feel like you've just got to get out there and breathe the fresh air. And if you get mad at someone and get an urge to smack them, you'll have to fight that urge so that you don't do it.
Study the word DISTINCT:
When something is distinct, it's easy to see it or easy to notice it. Distinct things are clear. They're often very different from the things around them, which makes them easy to see, or easy to pick out.
This red pencil is distinct. It's easy to notice it first among all the other pencils.
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This picture shows us that with our glasses off, we can't see shapes well: the trees are blurry. But with our glasses on, we can see distinct shapes: the trees are distinct.
5. The word that means "the speed at which things or people move along" is...
...
pace.
The Class Trip
Day 2: Understand
Let's understand how these words connect to our book!
Listen to each question, and decide which answer choice is correct. You can check your answer by clicking "Show Answer." If you make a mistake, don't worry! Just listen to the question again, then try again.
1. Remember: to linger is to stay in the same place even though you should be going.
(Source) In our book, Sam keeps lingering to watch the animals while the rest of his class moves along. What does this mean?
A) It means that Sam stays in one spot for too long, watching the chimps and the polar bears, and getting separated from his friends and teacher.
2. Remember: when people, animals, or things are active, they're lively and full of movement. To be active is to do things, or to move all around.
(Source) In our book, Sam has a wonderful time watching the animals, because the animals are so active. What does this mean?
A) It means that the animals fight, play, chatter, swing, climb, walk, and run.
3. Remember: someone's pace is how slowly they go, or how quickly they go.
(Source) In our book, Sam has a hard time keeping pace with his class. What does this mean?
B) It means that Sam's friends are moving faster than Sam prefers. Sam wants to wait and watch the animals for longer.
4. Remember: to urge someone is to remind them or encourage them to do something. You can also urge someone NOT to do something, if it's a bad idea.
(Source)
In our book, Sam's teacher urges Sam along. She urges him NOT to be slow. What does this mean?
A) It means that Sam's teacher keeps telling him, "Keep up with the group. It's time to go."
5. Remember: when a shape or an object is distinct, you can tell what it is right away, or you can tell it apart from other things around it.
(Source)
At the end of our book, Sam spots his teacher by the distinct bow that she wears on her hat. What does this mean?
B) It means that the teacher's bow is easy to see, even from far away, because it's bright and polka-dotted. No one else is wearing one!
Finally, let's understand how these words can connect to other situations!
Listen as I describe each situation, and shout out the vocabulary word that comes to mind. You can check your answer by clicking "Show Answer." Remember, if you make a mistake, don't worry! Just listen again, then try again.
1. You are loving the movie that you're currently watching. Everything is exciting and happening really fast. The characters are zipping around from place to place, fighting off one villain after another. They never even slow down to talk! There's a word that starts with P that describes what you like about this movie. What's the word?
pace
2. One day, after your sixth hour of watching television, you realize you want your life to be more fun and more exciting. You get up, text your friends, go outside, and start a game of dodgeball. You run. You get sweaty. You laugh. You have such a good time that you decide to do it again tomorrow, and the next day. There's a word that starts with A that describes your new life. What's the word?
active
3. You've just remembered that in your refrigerator, there's a piece of chocolate cake that's been in there for three weeks. It's growing mold. It's very nasty. You head to the kitchen to go throw it away, but you see your dad holding the slice of cake, about to take a big bite out of it. You've got to tell him not to! There's a word that starts with U that describes what you're about to say. What's the word?
urge
4. Even before you walk into the school cafeteria, you can smell that warm, salty, cheesy, bready, wonderful aroma of pizza. You'd know that smell anywhere. It's like nothing else. You'd never mistake it for the smell of nuggets, or meatloaf, or enchiladas. There's a word that starts with D that describes the smell of the cafeteria's pizza. What's the word?
distinct
5. It's your best friend's birthday, and you're at his party at a trampoline park, having the time of your life. The party was supposed to be over about twenty minutes ago, and your parents are all waiting for you, but everybody's still jumping and having a blast. There's a word that starts with L that describes what you and your friends are doing. What's the word?
lingering
The Class Trip
Day 3: Illustrate
Grab some index cards, or open Quizlet.com. It's time to illustrate some flash cards!
If you're using index cards, write your word on the front, and on the back, write the definition and draw a picture: something that'll help you understand what the word means. If you're using Quizlet, simply add your words and definitions to your set, and choose any picture you like.
You can copy my definitions below, or you can write your own. And, you can use the pictures I've suggested, or pick your own.
When you're done illustrating your words, be sure to scroll down and tell me about the pictures you picked!
Term
Definition
Picture
linger
to stick around for a while, instead of moving on along
active
full of motion, not still, and not resting
pace
the speed at which things or people move along
urge
to tell someone what they should do; or, a feeling of wanting to do something
distinct
clearly different from other things
Tell me about your pictures!
Take your pictures one at a time, and tell me: what's in the picture, and how does it connect to the word? For example, let's say I just studied the word "frantic." I could write: "Mickey is throwing clothes into his suitcase as fast as he can. He's frantic because he's worried he'll be late."
For another example, let's say I just studied the word "triumphant." I could write: "The girl just won a contest, and she's holding a big trophy. That's why she's triumphant."
Let's see one more example! Let's say I just studied the word "dumbfounded." I could write: "This girl is dumbfounded because she sees a gigantic birthday cake that's taller than she is; now, she's so shocked that she doesn't know what to say." Maybe that's not REALLY what's happening, but it's okay to use your imagination!
The Class Trip
Day 4: Apply
Today, you'll apply the vocabulary words to your own life! I'll help you write a sentence using each word that expresses your own thoughts, ideas, wishes, and experiences.
For each word below, write your own sentence. You can use either of the two ideas I'll suggest, or you can invent your own. Include as much detail as you can!
(Source) 1. Write a sentence with the word LINGER:
Remember: to linger is to stay in the same place even though you should be going.
Idea 1: "I know I should get up and go (somewhere else), but I linger because I'm really enjoying (doing something)."
Idea 2: "In (some place), there's the lingering smell of (something)."
(Source) 2. Write a sentence with the word ACTIVE:
Remember: when people, animals, or things are active, they're lively and full of movement. To be active is to do things, or to move all around.
Idea 1: "I've had an active day, packed with (one exciting activity) and (another exciting activity).”
Idea 2: "My active mind is always asking questions about (something), (something else), and (something else)."
(Source) 3. Write a sentence with the word PACE:
Remember: someone's pace is how slowly they go, or how quickly they go. If you pace yourself, you make sure that you go at the right speed. And if you pace around, or pace a room or a hallway, you're walking back and forth again and again.
Idea 1: "I pace the room, wondering if (something would happen) and hoping that (something else would happen)."
Idea 2: "When I (do some kind of exercise or activity), I have to pace myself, because going too fast would (make something bad happen)."
(Source) 4. Write a sentence with the word URGE:
Remember: to urge someone is to tell them or remind them to do something because they really should. To urge someone against something is to tell them or remind them NOT to do it, because they really shouldn't. And, to get an urge to do something is to get a sudden desire to do it.
Idea 1: "On a very (hot or cold) day, I often get the urge to (do something)."
Idea 2: "I urged my friend against (doing something dangerous), because (he or she could get hurt somehow)."
(Source) 5. Write a sentence with the word DISTINCT:
Remember: when a shape or an object is distinct, you can tell what it is right away, or you can tell it apart from other things around it. When one thing is distinct from other things, it's not like them at all: it's different, separate, and easy to tell apart.
Idea 1: "You always know when you hear (some toy, device, vehicle, or musical instrument), because it makes a distinct sound."
Idea 2: "It's hard to draw a distinct (thing), because you have to get (some part or piece of it) just right."
When you're ready, paste your sentences into the form below. Now is a good time to read your sentences out loud, and think, "Do I like my sentence? Does it sound good? Do I need to fix anything? Could I add any more details?"
The Class Trip
Day 5: Free-Write
You've studied hard! Today, before you write, please take a few minutes to play with your flash cards.
Try looking at your pictures and recalling your words. Be sure to say them out loud! If your flash cards are in Quizlet, play the Match game.
When you feel comfortable with all your words, you're ready to write!
Pick one topic below:
Look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently. First, which word in your deck best connects to the book The Class Trip? How does it connect? Next, which word connects second-best, and how? Finally, which word totally does NOT connect to The Class Trip, and why?
In our book, Sam and his friends enjoy an active day. They sing on the bus, they explore the zoo, they get ice cream: they just go, go, go, the whole day long, and they love it. Do you love active days, too? Or do you love quiet, peaceful days, sitting inside with a good book? Tell me about the kind of day you love best, and how active it is.
When you’re done with your draft, look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently, and pick one word that could fit into your paragraph. Add it in.
Look through your flash card deck of all the words you’ve studied recently, and pick three words that seem fun or weird. Imagine that you're going on a field trip to the zoo with your friends, and use those three words to tell me a story about something crazy or surprising that happens on your trip.
When you're all done, it's a good idea to take a little break! Come back later, and paste your first draft (above) into the box below.
Read your work out loud, and think, "Do I like this? Does it sound good? Do I need to fix anything? Could I add any more details?" Please try for three or more sentences.
When you're happy with your second draft below, click the Submit button.
Enroll in "Make Your Point, Jr." for one-on-one tutoring.
