Study the word CYCLE:
A cycle is a group of things that happen one after another, again and again, or over and over, as if those things are going around and around in a circle.
And when you cycle through things, you go through them, one by one, maybe forever, as if you're going in a circle.
For example, the seasons of the year are a cycle. That is, the seasons cycle: they change from one to the next over time, again and again. We cycle through spring, summer, fall, and winter; spring, summer, fall, and winter; spring, summer, fall, and winter... You get the idea!
You can think of your days and nights as a cycle, too. Every day, you cycle among activities, going from sleeping to eating to playing to working and back to sleeping again. You do those things over and over, day after day.
Lastly, let's think about how the word "cycle" appears in other words. When you look at a bicycle, and you watch the wheels go around and around, you can see how the movement of the wheels is circular, like a cycle is circular. In fact, the word "cycle" is very closely related to the word "circle"—and to words like "bicycle,"
Study the word TRANSFORM:
The prefix "trans-" often means "over, across, or beyond," and so words that start with "trans-" are often about moving and changing.
A form is the shape of someone or something. And, when something forms, it comes into being or takes shape.
Put "trans-" and "form" together, and you get "transform." To transform is to go beyond your current shape: to change into a very different shape. And when you transform something, you change it into a totally new thing.
For example, Transformers is a series of shows and movies about alien robots who can change their shapes. Here's Bumblebee transforming himself into a car.
For another example, Cinderella's fairy godmother transforms an old, dirty dress into a new, fancy one. You could also say that the dress transforms. It transforms from old and ragged to new and sparkling.
If your favorite season is winter, I bet you enjoy the frigid air. When the air is frigid, it smells clean and feels refreshing. I like it! Where I live, the autumn is always hot, so when the heat finally leaves, I welcome the frigidity of winter.
But maybe you hate being out in the frigid temperatures!
Although we usually talk about frigid air, frigid water, and frigid places, we can also say that people are frigid. That's a bad thing! It means they're cold-hearted. They're mean. They ignore you. They don't care about you. They act like you're not even there.
Lastly, have you noticed how the word "frigid" sounds a lot like "refrigerator" (and "fridge" for short)? Those words are related! They come from the same Latin word meaning "cold, or frost." Which makes sense, because your fridge can keep food nice and frigid.
Study the word VIBRANT:
To vibrate is to move back and forth just a little. If your phone vibrates, it buzzes and wiggles, letting you know you have a call or a message.
Vibrant dancers and musicians are bold, loud, and strong. Even if they're standing still, they seem to buzz with energy and life. Here's Florence Welch, known for her vibrancy as a singer, songwriter, and dancer. Even her hair is vibrant.
Vibrant places are full of noise, people, movement, and excitement. Places like New York City are known for their vibrancy: they're alive with loud sound and fast motion.
And vibrant tastes, flavors, and foods are bright and bold. Curry and masala are known for their vibrancy: their bold smells, beautiful colors, and delicious flavors that bring life and excitement to your meal.
So far, we've talked about crisp objects. We also talk about crisp weather. When the weather is cool or cold, crisp air and crisp breezes feel clean, sharp, and refreshing. On a crisp day, the air feels good on your skin, and it smells fresh and clean as you breathe it in.
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: cycles are events that take place in the same way, again and again.
(Source) Our book is about the cycle of seasons. What does this mean?
A) It means that the book is about how the seasons go around and around, changing from one season to the next, over and over.
2. Remember: transforming is the act of changing into something completely new.
(Source) In our book, when winter comes, it transforms the pond into a skating rink. What does this mean?
A) It means that the cold winter temperatures turn the pond from a liquid you could swim in into a solid you could skate on.
3. Remember: frigidity is extreme coldness. Frigid things are very cold on your skin, and frigid people are very cold to others.
(Source) In our book, in winter, the children dress for the frigid weather. What does this mean?
B) It means that the children bundle up into cozy coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, keeping warm in the winter air.
4. Remember: vibrant things and people seem to move with big, bold color or energy.
(Source)
As we can see in our book, in the spring and summer, the earth is vibrant with life. What does this mean?
A) It means that the trees are bustling with birds and squirrels, and the fields are alive with bright blossoming flowers.
5. Remember: crisp things are nice because they're clean, cool, dry, smooth, and neat.
(Source)
When fall comes, the air is crisp. What does this mean?
B) It means that the air feels fresh as the heat eases off and the leaves start to fall.
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. It's a beautiful spring day, and you're at a friend's house, sitting outside by their pool. You wonder if the pool is warm enough to swim in. You dip one bare foot into the water, which stings like ice. You yelp, quickly yanking your foot out of the water. "This pool is freezing!" you shout.
Besides "freezing," there's another word that starts with F that describes the pool. What's the word?
frigid
2. You're at the bookstore. You pick up a heavy hardback book and open its cover, reading the title page. As you grasp the corner of the page to turn it, you feel how stiff and sharp the page is. Between your fingers, the page feels new, clean, and strong as you flip it, and it makes a satisfying little sound, like "whisk."
There's a word that starts with C that describes these pages. What's the word?
crisp
3. You're baking a cake for a friend's birthday. You've poured the liquid batter into the cake pan, and you've placed the pan in the oven. The batter, which started out wet and runny, is slowly changing in the oven, becoming drier, more solid, and more spongy, and rising into a beautiful puff.
There's a word that starts with T that describes what the cake batter is doing. What's the word?
transforming
4. At home, you help your family with the laundry. Every few days, you take the dirty laundry and put it in the washer. Then, you move it from the washer to the dryer. Next, you move it from the dryer back into the closets, so the clothes can be worn again. Eventually, the clothes go back into the washer, and the whole process starts over.
There's a word that starts with a soft C that describes what's happening with the laundry. What's the word?
cycle
5. You're at the library, browsing through the shelves, when you catch sight of a familiar book. You lift it with both hands. It's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, one of your favorites. On the cover is that bright, bold, beautiful green caterpillar, its alternating segments of forest green and emerald green seeming to pop into reality, its face shining and red and its bristles gleaming all across its body in shades of yellow, brown, and blue.
There's a word that starts with V that describes the caterpillar, and the cover of the book. What's the word?
vibrant
Round and Round the Seasons Go
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
cycle
a chain of things that happen again and again in the same order
transform
to take a totally different shape
frigid
icy and mean; or, very chilly
vibrant
seeming to buzz or wiggle with life, strength, color, or flavor
crisp
feeling, smelling, or looking clean, dry, and sharp
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!
Round and Round the Seasons Go
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 CYCLE:
Remember: cycles are events that take place in the same way, again and again.
Idea 1: "If I have a whole day to myself to do whatever I want, I'll cycle among (one fun activity), (another fun activity), and (another fun activity)."
Idea 2: "The more I try hard at (some skill or activity), the better I get at it; and, the better I get at it, the easier it is to do: it's a wonderful cycle."
(Source) 2. Write a sentence with the word TRANSFORM:
Remember: transforming is the act of changing into something completely new.
Idea 1: "It's amazing how you can start with (some ingredients) and transform them into a delicious (meal or dish of some kind)."
Idea 2: "In (some story, book, or movie), (some character) transforms into a stronger, smarter person."
(Source) 3. Write a sentence with the word FRIGID:
Remember: frigidity is extreme coldness. Frigid things are very cold on your skin, and frigid people are very cold to others.
Idea 1: "I (love, hate, like, or dislike) frigid weather, because (of some reason)."
Idea 2: "Suddenly my blood turns frigid as (something very scary happens)."
(Source) 4. Write a sentence with the word VIBRANT:
Remember: vibrant things and people seem to move with big, bold color or energy.
Idea 1: "My (home, school, town, city, or country) is vibrant with people (doing something loud or exciting)."
Idea 2: "(Some kind of game or sport) is vibrant: the players are always moving as they (do something)."
(Source) 5. Write a sentence with the word CRISP:
Remember: crisp things are nice because they're clean, cool, dry, smooth, and neat.
Idea 1: "On a crisp (fall or winter) day, I love to head outside and (do something)."
Idea 2: "At the (beach, zoo, fair, carnival, or any other fun outdoor place), a crisp breeze blows as I (do something)."
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?"
Round and Round the Seasons Go
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 Round and Round the Seasons Go? How does it connect? Next, which word connects second-best, and how? Finally, which word totally does NOT connect to Round and Round the Seasons Go, and why?
Our book is filled with vibrant illustrations of every season of the year. Tell me about the illustration you like best in our book. Maybe you like the drawing of the children skating on the frozen pond in winter, or maybe you like the drawing of the flowers blossoming on the hillside in the spring. Tell me all about this illustration: what's in it, what season it shows, and why you like it.
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 warm day suddenly turns frigid. Maybe a snowstorm closes all the schools, or maybe a snow monster terrorizes your town until you defeat him with a hot blow dryer from your bathroom. 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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