Study the word FORM:
The word "form" has many, many, MANY meanings! Don't worry; you'll learn them over time. For now, let's focus on the most common meanings.
Often, a form is the shape of someone or something. And, when something forms, it comes into being or takes shape.
If you look closely at the frost on a leaf or a branch, you can see its beautiful form: the lovely, complicated shape that the frost has taken.
In stories, a regular person sometimes takes the form of a superhero. That means they change their appearance: they take on a new look, a new shape, a new form.
At school, when you and your classmates form a line to walk to recess, you're creating a line with your bodies. These people have formed a line to dance!
Vivid dreams and vivid memories are bright, detailed, and easy to picture in your head. In this movie, long after Dorothy travels home from the Land of Oz, she'll vividly remember her trip. That means she'll have a strong, bright, clear memory of being in Oz.
Dazzling things are often sunny, sparkly, or shiny. But they don't have to be. You might be dazzled by a beautiful dark green forest, or be dazzled by a brilliant ballet or an incredible concert. If you visit this huge and fascinating aircraft exhibit at this museum, you might stand there and stare at the planes, dazzled.
Study the word DEPEND:
When you depend on someone, you need that person and trust that they'll help you or be there for you.
This baby depends on her parents for everything. That means she needs her parents to feed her, bathe her, change her diapers, play with her, and keep her safe.
If you have a dog, your dog depends on you. That means your dog leans on you and knows that you'll take good care of him. In this situation, your pet is dependent on you, and you're a dependable pet owner.
Your family probably depends on you to work hard at school, or to do your chores, or to help out with your little siblings. That means your family needs you, relies on you, and counts on you. They're dependent on you. And you're dependable.
Although we often talk about people depending on each other, we also talk about things depending on other things. To depend on something is to change, or to be different, based on that thing.
Will we eat lunch outside today? It depends on the weather. If it's sunny and warm, sure. If it's raining, nope. Our plans depend on the weather. However, this guy doesn't care! He's going to eat outside no matter what: his plans don't depend on the weather.
What color is the sand at the beach? It depends on where you are. Some beaches in Florida have white sand; some beaches in Texas have brown sand; some beaches in Hawaii have black sand. The color of the sand depends on the beach.
5. The word that means "clear or alive with color" is...
...
vivid.
Rainbow
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: something's form is the way it looks, or the way it takes up space. And when something forms, it appears, or it comes into being.
(Source) In our book, we learn how rainbows form. What does this mean?
A) It means we learn how rainbows come to be: they appear when sunlight hits raindrops.
2. Remember: arcs are shapes that could fit onto a circle's edge.
(Source) Our book says that "a rainbow arcs across the sky." What does this mean?
B) It means that a rainbow stretches itself across the sky in the shape of a curve.
3. Remember: something vivid is easy to see or easy to remember because it's so sharp, bright, real, or colorful.
(Source) Our book includes many vivid illustrations. What does this mean?
B) It means that the illustrator used strong, clear shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
4. Remember: something dazzling shines or sparkles in a way that hurts your eyes—or, in a way that amazes and impresses you.
(Source)
Our book describes a double rainbow, which is especially dazzling. What does this mean?
A) It means that a double rainbow is so bright and gorgeous that it'll make you smile and feel lucky.
5. Remember: when people depend on you, they trust you to do what you have to do. And when one thing depends on a second thing, it changes along with that second thing.
(Source)
As the author explains, the exact shape of a rainbow that you see "depends on where you are standing." What does this mean?
B) It means that the same rainbow will look different to people standing in different places.
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. Your friends are coming over today after school to play. If they feel energetic, then you'll go outside and jump on the trampoline together. Or, if they feel tired, then you'll chill out and watch a movie. Your plans can easily change based on how your friends are feeling.
There's a word that starts with D that describes your plans. What's the word?
depending, or dependent
2. You have a strong, sharp, clear, bright memory of going to preschool for the very first time. In your mind, you can still see the classroom with its heaps of glossy books and its stacks of tiny blue chairs. You can still smell the crayons and the glue and the chocolate milk. The memory is as easy to see inside your head as a photo or a video.
There's a word that starts with V that describes your memory. What's the word?
vivid
3. You're standing on a boat, watching as a dolphin leaps gracefully out of the water, its long slim body flashing in the sunlight in the shape of a curve before diving back under the surface. You imagine that the dolphin completes the circle underwater.
There's a word that starts with A that describes what the dolphin is doing. What's the word?
4. You pour some cold water into a tall glass, then add a handful of ice and a cold wedge of lime. Carrying your icy drink, you step outside, where it's hot and sunny. You notice that your cold drink seems to be sweating: lots of droplets of water are starting to appear on the outside of the glass. These droplets of condensation are taking shape as water in the warm air condenses around your cold glass.
There's a word that starts with F that describes what the water droplets are doing on your glass. What's the word?
forming
5. It's Saturday afternoon, and you've just watched a movie with your friends inside a dark theater. Now, as you step outside into the bright sunlight, you throw one arm across your eyes to shield them, and you shout, "Ahh! It's too sunny! My eyes hurt!"
There's a word that starts with D that describes this painfully bright light. What's the word?
dazzling
Rainbow
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
form
the way something is made or shaped; or, to make or shape something
arc
a curve that could make a circle if it keeps going
vivid
seeming very real or very alive, with strong colors and clear shapes
dazzle
to totally amaze someone, especially by being bright or brilliant
depend
to lean on someone for their help; or, to be affected by something else
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!
Rainbow
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 FORM:
Remember: something's form is the way it looks, or the way it takes up space. And when something forms, it appears, or it comes into being.
Idea 1: "If I could take the form of any animal, it would be (this animal), because I would love to (do something)."
Idea 2: "A smile slowly forms on my face as (something nice happens)."
(Source) 2. Write a sentence with the word ARC:
Remember: arcs are curves that could fit onto a circle, and to arc is to make a curve.
Idea 1: "(Some kind of animal, dancer, or video game character) moves in a smooth arc across (a place)."
Idea 2: "I watch as (something) arcs through the air, landing (somewhere)."
(Source) 3. Write a sentence with the word VIVID:
Remember: something vivid is easy to see or easy to remember because it's so sharp, bright, real, or colorful.
Idea 1: "Suddenly, I remember a vivid dream from the night before about (something interesting happening)."
Idea 2: "I'm going to create a vivid drawing of (something), so I select several rich shades of (one or more colors)."
(Source) 4. Write a sentence with the word DAZZLE:
Remember: something dazzling shines or sparkles so brightly that it hurts your eyes—or, it amazes and impresses you.
Idea 1: "I was so dazzled by (something beautiful or amazing) that I stood still, staring at (some part of it)."
Idea 2: "When (something wonderful happened), I gave a dazzling smile."
(Source) 5. Write a sentence with the word DEPEND:
Remember: when people depend on you, they trust you to do what you have to do. And when one thing depends on a second thing, it changes along with that second thing.
Idea 1: "(At school, at home, or somewhere else), you can always depend on me to (get some important job done)."
Idea 2: "Depending on how I feel tomorrow, I might pick (some kind of food or activity), or I might pick (some other, very different kind of food or activity)."
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?"
Rainbow
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 Rainbow? How does it connect? Next, which word connects second-best, and how? Finally, which word totally does NOT connect to Rainbow, and why?
Our book explains the science behind a dazzling sight: rainbows. Tell me about another dazzling sight: something you stared at because it was so amazing or so beautiful. It might be a frothy white waterfall, or a brilliant red and orange sunrise, or the bright blue ocean water at the beach. Tell me all about it: where you were, what it looked like, and why it dazzled you.
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 challenging. Then, use those three words as you tell me a story about what happens when a rainbow follows you around all day. Maybe the rainbow brings you extremely good luck, or maybe it causes car crashes, or maybe it attracts enormous numbers of chipmunks and songbirds. Use your imagination, and have fun!
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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