Cliff hanger By: Jean Craighead George Illustrated By: Wendell Minor Grade 4.5 Reading Street Student Edition pgs. 234-247

“What does it take to be a hero?” Share your ideas by completing a QUICK WRITE! Using a short amount of time and a separate sheet of paper, write the answer to this question while building your writing stamina! Here are a few rules: Keep writing till time is up…don’t stop! Share examples. Don’t worry about your spelling…get your IDEAS down! When time is up, place your pencil down. Give the students a reasonable amount of time (for instance 3 minutes.) Students are encouraged to “keep writing,” even if they write down “I don’t know what to write about.” Have students share out loud with the class or within their learning group.

Now that you know what makes a hero…let’s see if you mentioned any of these words in your writing.

coil descent foresaw rappel ridge shaft trekked void “Heroic” Vocabulary: coil descent foresaw rappel ridge shaft trekked void Teachers: Have the students recite each word aloud in unison.

Do these words get you thinking? How about taking them to whole new level! Your challenge is to think of a synonym for each vocabulary word! Let’s Go!

Using Context Clues! Read “Climbing New Heights” on page 233. Next, divide your paper or mini white board into 8 groups, and write a highlighted word in each box. Then, using your context clues…write a synonym for each vocab word. Vocabulary destruction expected We’ll compare your work at the end of the lesson!

Now…let’s take a look at your new vocabulary words.

To wind around and around, forming a pile. Coil To wind around and around, forming a pile.

Used in the text… Pg. 239 “Dag had no choice. His son was climbing. He picked up the top coil of Axel’s rope and took a deep breath.”

Discuss with your elbow buddy the following question… Should cords or cables at school/home be coiled up? Why or why not? Team Talk!

The act of moving down from a higher to a lower place. Descent The act of moving down from a higher to a lower place.

Used in the text… Pg. 243 “No nut, carabiner, or rope was there to save him if he made a mistake. From this moment on, he must free climb. He began his descent.”

Foresaw Saw or knew beforehand. Studying =

Used in the text… Pg. 242 “He swung back. Dag foresaw a disaster.”

Discuss with your elbow buddy the following question… Do you believe it’s possible to foresee your future? Why or why not? Team Talk!

Rappel To lower yourself down the face of a cliff by means of a rope fastened to the top of the the cliff and placed around your body, so that the rope can be gradually lengthened.

Used in the text… Pg. 242 “Axel,” he shouted, “when you double your rope to rappel, you’ll only have enough rope to get halfway down.”

The long, narrow upper part of something. Ridge The long, narrow upper part of something.

Used in the text… Pg. 238 “No, “ said Dag. “We can’t make that climb. It’s too difficult. We’ll go back up the trail split and up the ridge.”

A long, narrow, usually vertical hole. Shaft A long, narrow, usually vertical hole. Opening of holes.

Used in the text… Pg. 238 “…and finally arrived at the bottom of the shaft of rock that is Cathedral Wall. A lightning bolt split open the black cloud.”

Traveled slowly by any means. Trekked Traveled slowly by any means.

Used in the text… Pg. 238 “Axel and Dag trekked steadily up the wooded trails, climbed over rock avalanches, and finally arrived at the bottom of the shaft…”

Void An empty space.

Used in the text… Pg. 242 “Axel wrapped the rope around an outcrop and clipped it to his harness. Then he put his back to the void and leaned out.”

Alright, let’s exercise our brain! Let’s see what you’ve learned.

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words I could not fill the _______ in my stomach, as I continued to worry about my dog. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words I could not fill the _______ in my stomach, as I continued to worry about my dog. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words Due to my fear of heights, I eventually began my _________ towards the base of the tree. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words Due to my fear of heights, I eventually began my _________ towards the base of the tree. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words As a warning, the rattlesnake began to shake its rattle and ________ up near the rock. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words As a warning, the rattlesnake began to shake its rattle and ________ up near the rock. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words They ________ in the morning, to avoid the heat radiating off of the canyon walls. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words They ________ in the morning, to avoid the heat radiating off of the canyon walls. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words I wonder why my brother is studying more often? Could it be he __________ his future? coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words I wonder why my brother is studying more often? Could it be he __________ his future? coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words The mountaineers vanished from the mountainside. It was believed they fell through an icy _______. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words The mountaineers vanished from the mountainside. It was believed they fell through an icy _______. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words We walked along the _________ of the cliff to see the beautiful sunrise. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words We walked along the _________ of the cliff to see the beautiful sunrise. coil descent foresaw ridge shaft trekked

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words It was awesome to see the firefighters _______ down from the 4th floor of the burning building. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Review Time! Sentence Vocabulary Words It was awesome to see the firefighters _______ down from the 4th floor of the burning building. coil descent foresaw rappel shaft void

Are you ready to compare your synonyms to mine? Using Context Clues! Are you ready to compare your synonyms to mine? Vocabulary destruction expected

Possible Synonyms: coil  spiral descent  drop foresaw  predict rappel  descend ridge  edge shaft  crevice trekked  hiked void  hole Teachers: Have the students recite each word aloud in unison.

I hope you enjoy reading…