Watching in the Wild *Robust Vocabulary* Created By: Agatha Lee March 2009

extinct If an animal is extinct, then there are no more of that kind of animal alive.

The great apes are in danger of becoming extinct. Would you be more likely to see an extinct animal at a zoo or at your school? extinct

* True or False: It’s a good idea to help an endangered animal become extinct. * Why might scientists be interested in extinct plants and animals? extinct

pledge When you make a pledge, then you promise to do something. I pledge to collect $100 for the St. Jude Math-a-Thon.

I made a pledge to be kind to all living creatures. Which would you make a pledge to do- drive a car or clean your room? pledge

* What is something you might pledge to do everyday? * What kind of pledge might be hard to keep? pledge

patience If you can wait for something without complaining or getting restless, then you have patience.

Jane shows patience when she watches the chimps for hours. Is it easier to have patience while waiting for a TV show to begin or while waiting for your mom to shop? patience

* Why do people need patience when learning to do something? * How can you tell if someone has patience? patience

tedious When something is boring and takes a long time to do, then it is tedious. Waiting in a long line is a tedious activity.

Jane didn’t mind the tedious job of taking notes on everything the chimps were doing. When I have a tedious job, I play music that I like. tedious

* Tell about a tedious task you’ve had to do. * Is writing your name on a piece of paper a tedious activity? tedious

blended When things are blended, then they are mixed together so you can’t tell there are separate parts.

A deer would blend into the woods because it is brown. I like it when my dad makes me a smoothie with blended fruit. blended

* Would it taste good if you blended peanut butter and broccoli? * If someone said you blended into the environment, what might you be wearing? blended

cradled If you cradle something, then you hold it closely as if you were taking care of it.

My son cradled his baby sister in his arms. I cradled my camera in my lap because it was an expensive object and I wanted to keep it safe. cradled

* Why do babies need to be cradled? * Are you too old to be cradled? * Should you cradle a box of noodles? cradled

raggedy When something is raggedy, then it looks rough and torn at the edges.

My mother wore raggedy clothes when she cleaned our house. Would a new dress look raggedy? raggedy

* Is an old t-shirt with holes in it a raggedy piece of clothing? * Would you get rid of a favorite blanket if it became raggedy? raggedy

distance Distance is how far away something is.

Is there a long distance between your teacher’s desk and your classroom door? Carson does not enjoy running long distances. distance

* If someone lived in Hawaii, would you have to travel a long distance to visit that person? * What stores are good to have only a short distance from home? distance

personalities People’s personalities are made up of all the ways they act, think, and feel that make them special.

How many different personalities are in our classroom? My sister and I have different personalities. personalities

* Would you rather be with people who have quiet or noisy personalities? * Would you enjoy being friends with someone who had a grumpy personality? personalities

crumpled If you crumple something, then you gently crush it or bunch it up.

Gabrielle found a crumpled dollar bill on the playground. Would a marker look crumpled? crumpled

* Where do you place crumpled pieces of paper? * Do you prefer your school clothes to be crumpled or neatly pressed? crumpled

I travel a long ________ every summer when I drive from Florida to Michigan. A. patience B. distance C. tedious D. cradled

My friends and I made a _______ that we will never never do drugs. A. crumpled B. extinct C. pledge D. cradled

If I had to count a big jar of coins, then that would be a ________ job. A. distance B. extinct C. tedious D. raggedy

My mom was upset because my sister _______ up her homework. A. blended B. pledge C. personalities D. crumpled

Is a blue whale an example of an ___________ animal? A. raggedy B. extinct C. tedious D. cradled

My family has a lot of different _________. A. personalities B. patience C. blended D. extinct

My father had ________ while trying to teach me how to ride a bike. A. tedious B. pledge C. personalities D. patience

The nurse _________ the newborn baby at the hospital. A. blended B. cradled C. crumpled D. pledge

I _________ chocolate syrup with my vanilla ice cream. A. distance B. cradled C. blended D. tedious

My old bathrobe looked very ________. A. extinct B. raggedy C. personalities D. distance

Can you read these words? 1. extinct 2. pledge 3. patience 4. tedious 5. blended 6. cradled 7. raggedy 8. distance 9. personalities 10. crumpled

Can you read these words? 1. thickens 2. plentiful 3. role 4. diligent 5. pattern 6. sealed 7. carefully 8. attack 9. crowd 10. disappear

Can you read these words? 1. acquired 2. assumed 3. absurd 4. attempt 5. serious 6. extremely 7. admit 8. barely 9. hilarious 10. witty

Can you read these words? 1. allowance 2. rosy 3. thrifty 4. industrious 5. bargain 6. spoiled 7. comfortable 8. boost 9. exchanged 10. delivered