Study the word APPETITE:
When you have an appetite, or a good appetite, it means you feel hungry and ready to eat. If you don't have an appetite, it means you're not hungry--you could be feeling sick, or maybe you're just still full from your last meal. If something makes you lose your appetite, it's grossed you out so much, or made you so sad or angry, that you don't want to eat anymore.
Ron has a big appetite as he sits down to dinner:
(Source)
When you exercise for a long time, or play hard or study hard for a long time, you work up an appetite. That means you get more and more hungry and ready for food. If you have an appetite for some specific food, then you want only that one. I've always got an appetite for mac and cheese.
(Source)
You can have an appetite for something that isn't food. You could have an appetite for adventure, meaning you're "hungry" for adventure: you crave it, you want it, and you can't wait to get it. You could have an appetite for books, meaning you're "hungry" to read: you crave books, and you can't wait to read them. Lots of them!
Michelle is gobbling down her spaghetti. As you can see, it's messy, and bad manners, to gobble food. She really needs to slow down and chew, because she might choke.
Finally, you can "gobble" something that isn't food! You might gobble up books, meaning you read them really quickly. You might say that a fire gobbles up a forest: the fire isn't really "eating" the trees, but it seems that way because the fire is burning through the trees in a fast, messy way.
Study the word REPLY:
A reply is an answer, or a response. To reply to someone is to answer them. When they ask you something or tell you something, and then you say something in response, you're replying.
Your teacher might ask the class, "Are you ready for recess?" And everyone will reply: "Yes!" When you shout "Yes," that's your reply.
If someone writes you a letter or an email, and then you write back, you're replying.
Your reply doesn't have to be written down or spoken aloud. You could reply with a smile, a shrug, or a high five. Below, someone has asked Marissa a question. But instead of replying with words, she replies with a shrug, as if to say, "I don't know" or "Whatever."
Study the word GREED:
Greed is a bad thing. To have greed is to have a strong wish for more than you need, or more than your fair share. A greedy person wants to have and keep lots of money, lots of food, or lots of something else... and they don't care if other people have less. Someone might be greedy for money, greedy for snacks, or greedy for the teacher's attention: they want it all, and they don't care about other people's needs.
If you're sharing a cake with your friends, one of your friends might show greed by grabbing most of the cake, not caring that the others will be hungry.
Study the word ASTONISH:
When something astonishes you, it shocks you or amazes you. It makes you stop and stare. It makes you think, "WOW." Or "WHOA." Or "WHAT?!" Or "REALLY?!"
Astonishing things can be good OR bad, but they're always surprising.
You'd be astonished if your dog suddenly spoke to you in English. You'd be astonished if your parents told you, "We're moving to a different country tomorrow." And if your friends teach you to play a new game, and you're extremely good at it right away, you'll astonish them.
5. The word that means "to make someone go 'WHAT?!'" is...
...
astonish.
The Greedy Python
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 have an appetite for something is to be hungry for it, or very ready for it and wanting it.
(Source) In our book, the narrator says that the snake "had a big, huge appetite." What does this mean?
B) It means that the snake wants to eat lots and lots of other animals.
2. Remember: if you gobble something, you eat it up in a greedy, sloppy way.
(Source) In our book, the snake gobbles every animal he sees. What does this mean?
B) It means that the snake devours each animal in one big, messy bite.
3. Remember: a reply is an answer, like "Yes," "No," "Okay," or "Ha, ha!"
(Source) In our book, after the elephant tells the snake that he's too big to eat, the snake replies, "No, you are not!" What does this mean?
A) It means that the snake responds to what the elephant said, telling the elephant that he's wrong.
4. Remember: greed is an urge to get lots of stuff for yourself, not caring about who you hurt.
(Source)
In our book, after the snake stuffs himself, gets sick, and coughs up all the animals, he soon becomes greedy for more to eat. What does this mean?
A) It means that the snake is eager to eat more and more, even though he just got sick from overeating.
5. Remember: to astonish someone is to shock them, amaze them, or surprise them so much that they think, "What?! I can't believe it!"
(Source)
In our book, the narrator says that the snake's greed is "quite astonishing." What does this mean?
B) It means that the snake is so greedy that we, the readers, are thinking, "Oh my gosh! How can he possibly be so greedy?"
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. In the mail, you've received a letter from your best friend who recently moved to another country. Your friend has told you all about his new home and his new school, and about how much he misses you. Eagerly, you sit down and grab some paper and a pen. There's so much you want to tell your friend, and so many questions you want to ask! There's a word that starts with R that describes what you're about to write. What's the word?
reply
2. You're at the grocery store, helping your parents shop, when suddenly you see your teacher from school. You're shocked, because you never imagined that she ever left the school. Instead of wearing her usual fancy dress and high heels, she's wearing sweatpants and flip-flops. And instead of wearing her hair in a high, neat bun, she's wearing it in a big, messy ponytail. She looks like a totally different person, and for a moment, you're confused, not sure if you should go hug her or hide behind your grocery cart. There's a word that starts with A that describes how you feel. What's the word?
astonished
3. It's almost dinnertime, but you feel a little sick, and you don't want to eat anything. Even though your family has ordered a pizza, which you usually love, you say "No, thanks" when they offer you a slice. Your head hurts, and you cough. You don't have any desire to try the pizza. There's a word that starts with A that describes what you've lost. What's the word?
appetite
4. Every morning, you open a can of cat food and spoon it into a bowl. Your cat dashes over, shoves her faces into the bowl, and eats the food so fast that you pet her gently, saying, "Slow down, kitty. Don't give yourself a stomach ache." There's a word that starts with G that describes what your cat is doing. What's the word?
gobbling
5. In art class, you sit next to a student who hates to share. This classmate always grabs all the best paint colors and all the nicest paint brushes before anyone else can use them. There's a word that starts with G that describes what you dislike about this classmate. What's the word?
greed
The Greedy Python
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
appetite
your sense of feeling hungry and being ready to eat
gobble
to eat something really quickly
reply
to say something back when someone else talks
greed
the desire to grab or keep lots of things all for yourself
astonish
to make someone think "WHAT? WOW!" in a good way or a bad way
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 Greedy Python
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 APPETITE:
Remember: to have an appetite for something is to be hungry for it, or very ready for it and wanting it.
Idea 1: "(Doing something active) makes me work up an appetite, and I can't wait to eat (some specific meal)."
Idea 2: "Even when I'm pretty full, I always have an appetite for (my absolute favorite food)."
(Source) 2. Write a sentence with the word GOBBLE:
Remember: if you gobble something, you eat it up in a greedy, sloppy way.
Idea 1: "I watch as (some animal) gobbles down (some kind of food)."
Idea 2: "I like (some series of books, comic books, movies, or videos) so much that I just want to gobble up the whole series."
(Source) 3. Write a sentence with the word REPLY:
Remember: a reply is an answer, like "Yes," "No," "Okay," or "Ha, ha!"
Idea 1: "When (someone) suggested that we (do something fun), I replied, 'Great idea!'"
Idea 2: "I didn't know how to reply when (someone) asked me a hard question about (something)."
(Source) 4. Write a sentence with the word GREED:
Remember: greed is an urge to get lots of stuff for yourself, even if other people need it, too.
Idea 1: "(Someone's) eyes sparkled with greed as (he or she) grabbed a whole bunch of (something)."
Idea 2: "(Someone) stared greedily at (something), wondering how to get it all for (himself or herself)."
(Source) 5. Write a sentence with the word ASTONISH:
Remember: to astonish someone is to shock them, amaze them, or surprise them so much that they think, "What?! I can't believe it!"
Idea 1: "I was astonished to learn that (something amazing is true)."
Idea 2: "I watched, astonished, as (something extremely crazy, dangerous, or beautiful happened)."
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 Greedy Python
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 Greedy Python? How does it connect? Next, which word connects second-best, and how? Finally, which word totally does NOT connect to The Greedy Python, and why?
At the very end of our book, something surprising and impossible happens. I was astonished when I read that part! First, write about what happens to the snake at the very end of the story. Next, tell me if you liked this ending, and why. Were you astonished? Do you think the snake got what he deserved? Do you wish something different had happened at the end?
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 exciting. Imagine that you're exploring the jungle when you meet the greedy python! Use the three words you picked to tell me a story about what happens between you and the python. Do you talk to him? Does he try to gobble you up? Your story can be as realistic or imaginative as you like.
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.
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