2. From Children of the Wild West by Russell Freedman Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary

3. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The purpose is to share information with the reader or to persuade the reader to think or act a certain way. Facts about real events or real people are included. Information is presented in a straightforward way. Events are presented in the order in which they happened. Writing may be organized by topics. Diagrams, photographs, maps, or other illustrations may be included.

4. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary Half a million people moved out West in search of farmland and gold. The Oregon Trail, which cut through Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, was the only feasible way for pioneers to travel across the mountains.

5. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The following words are comparative and superlative adjectives. Comparative adjectives describe a comparison of two things. The –er ending is added to an adjective. What two words are comparative adjectives? Superlative adjectives describe the highest degree or quality of something. The –est ending is added to an adjective to make a superlative. What two words are superlative adjectives? The pool is deeper than the Jacuzzi. The baby is the youngest of the three children.

6. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The following words contain the suffix –ness, which means “the quality or state of being”. state of being dark state of being wild state of being kind state of being sore Can you name other words with the suffix –ness?

7. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The following words contain words with the Long e sound. What Long e spelling does each word contain?

8. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The following words contain the Greek prefix tele-, which means “distant”. What other words have the Greek prefix tele-?

9. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary Identify the verb in this sentence. “Rode” is an irregular verb. What is the present-tense form of “rode”?

10. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary Vivid verbs help make a sentence more interesting. What verb was used in place of “started” to make the sentence more interesting?

11. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The word “creaked” in this sentence is an onomatopoeia; that is, the sound of the word gives its meaning. What other examples of onomatopoeia can you think of? The snakes __________________. The annoying flies ______________ around the room.

12. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary Identify the word with the Greek prefix tele- in this sentence.

13. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary plodding parched sturdy jolted sentries plodding parched sturdy jolted sentries

14. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The swaying wagons, plodding animals, and walking people stretched out along the trail for almost a mile. The plodding child was always last to get on the bus. plodding (adjective)—walking in a slow, heavy way

15. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary It clogged the boy’s nose, parched his throat, and coated his face. The blazing sun parched the wilting flowers. parched (verb)—made hot and very thirsty

16. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The wagon creaked and groaned, but it was still sturdy. Is the deck sturdy enough to support this heavy hot tub? sturdy (adjective)--strong

17. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary Hanging from a rope was a sealed pail of milk that bounced steadily as the wagon jolted along. The old roller coaster jolted up the slope. jolted (verb)—moved in a sudden, violent way

18. Fourth Grade, Open Court Unit 6: A Changing America Vuthny Prak, Palmetto Elementary The pioneers had been up since that morning, when the sentries started the day by firing their rifles. The sentries watched for intruders from the lookout tower. sentries (noun)—people stationed to keep watch; guards