Latin Roots Generalization Many words are formed with the Latin roots spec meaning look, scrib or scrip meaning write, rupt meaning break, and ject meaning throw. Word Sort Sort the list words by their Latin root. ject scrib or scrip 1. 10. 2. 11. 3. 12. 4. 13. Spelling Words 1. describe 2. interruption 3. inspection 4. scribble 5. respectful 6. bankrupt 7. project 8. injection 9. manuscript 10. suspect spec 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 14. 15. rupt 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 11. subscription 12. spectacular 13. eruption 14. eject 15. abruptly 16. prescribe 17. reject 18. aspect 19. rupture 20. inscribe Home Activity Your child is learning about Latin roots. Have your child explain what each Latin root in this lesson means. DVD 272 Latin Roots
Summary Journey to the Center of the Earth In Jules Verne s classic tale of underground adventure, young Harry, his professor uncle, and their guide Hans encounter a raging battle between two multi-headed monsters. The monsters look like combinations of dinosaurs and mammals. The explorers watch in fear and amazement as they realize they are the first to see these incredible creatures. Activity What Could It Be? Imagine you are exploring the Earth s core. What kind of animals (or monsters) might you see there? With a family member, draw an imaginary monster and write a few sentences about the beast. Comprehension Skill Cause and Effect A cause is what makes something happen. An effect is what happens. An effect may have one or more causes. Sometimes authors will use words like because and so to show cause and effect. Activity Why Oh Why? With a family member, recall an event that happened at home recently. Maybe something spilled, or you did a great job cleaning your room. The event itself is the effect. Now make a list of the causes that brought the event about. Family Times DVD 273
Lesson Vocabulary Words to Know Knowing the meanings of these words is important to reading Journey to the. Practice using these words. Vocabulary Words armor any kind of protective covering encases covers completely; encloses extinct no longer existing hideous very ugly; frightful; horrible plunged fell or moved suddenly downward or forward serpent snake, especially a big snake Conventions Comparative and Superlative Adjectives A comparative adjective is used to compare two people, places, things, or groups. Add er to most adjectives to make them comparative. For example: Ben is faster than Ellen. A superlative adjective is used to compare three or more people, places, things, or groups. Add est to most adjectives to make them superlative. For example: Alice is the fastest sprinter on the team. Remember that there is no need to combine the word more with comparative or superlative adjectives in your writing. Practice Tested Spelling Words Activity Better-Best With a family member, write out five statements about people you know family, friends, teachers, etc. that use adjectives. For example: My sister is loud. Uncle Steve is funny. Then go back and make all of the adjectives comparative. After that, change them all to superlative adjectives. DVD 274 Family Times
Cause and Effect A cause (what makes something happen) may have several effects. An effect (what happens as a result of a cause) may have several causes. Sometimes clue words such as since, as a result, caused, thus, therefore, and consequently are used to show cause-and-effect relationships. Directions Read the following passage. Then answer the questions below. Why are people so fascinated with dinosaurs? Young and old alike, people are interested in the great beasts that once roamed this planet. Museums have been built to showcase what dinosaurs might have looked like, thousands of books have been written on the subject, and many television shows and movies have been made about them. Are we fascinated by dinosaurs because they are so strange and unlike any animal we know? Is it because many of them were so huge? Maybe it s because some dinosaurs seem scary, and some people find it thrilling to be scared. Some scientists have made their life s work studying dinosaurs, and maybe that same curiosity is at the heart of all dinosaur fans. 1. What are two causes for people to be fascinated with dinosaurs? 2. What are two effects of people s fascination with dinosaurs? 3. Using your own experience, what might be the most important reason we like dinosaurs? 4. Why do you think older people and young people are interested in dinosaurs? 5. Write a summary of this passage in one or two sentences. Home Activity Your child read a short passage and answered questions about causes and effects. With your child, discuss the reasons you think dinosaurs are fascinating. Ask your child to summarize your thoughts on dinosaurs. Comprehension DVD 275
Author s Purpose Directions Read the following passage. Then answer the questions below. In 1912, a German scientist named Alfred Wegener suggested a theory to explain why the Earth s continents came to be in the places they are today. According to Wegener s theory, a large landmass he called Pangaea covered more than half the planet. It drifted apart slowly over many millions of years. One example he uses as evidence is that the west coast of Africa appears to fit exactly into the east coast of South America. Another example he uses is that the coasts of both countries share many similar fossils of plants and animals, suggesting they were once joined together. 1. What is the author s purpose for writing this passage? 2. How do you know that this is the author s purpose? 3. How did the author s purpose affect your reading rate? 4. Why might Africa and South America have been joined together at one point in time? 5. Write a sentence or two to persuade people to take a vacation on Pangaea. Home Activity Your child read a short passage and has answered questions about the author s purpose. Together read an article from the travel section of the newspaper or from a travel book. Ask your child to identify the author s purpose for the article. DVD 276 Comprehension
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Directions Write a comparative or superlative form of the adjective in ( ) to make each sentence precise. 1. I think Jules Verne was a writer than Philip K. Dick. (inventive) 2. From childhood, he had been of all when observing how things worked. (happy) 3. He always researched the very scientific ideas. (new) 4. I like his books than those of Charles Dickens. (good) 5. Verne included the details possible in his novels. (realistic) 6. The submarine, motorcar, and navigable airship are just three inventions he anticipated from a age. (late) Directions Write a paragraph to persuade a classmate to read one of your favorite books. Include comparative and superlative adjectives. Home Activity Your child learned how to use comparative and superlative adjectives in writing. Ask your child to compare two of his or her favorite book characters using comparative and superlative adjectives. Comparative and Superlative Adjectives DVD 277
Latin Roots Spelling Words describe interruption inspection scribble respectful bankrupt project injection manuscript suspect subscription spectacular eruption eject abruptly prescribe reject aspect rupture inscribe Alphabetize Put the list words in the box below in alphabetical order. describe interruption respectful bankrupt project injection suspect subscription eject prescribe 1. 4. 7. 9. 2. 5. 8. 10. 3. 6. Crossword Puzzle Use the clues to find the list words. Write each letter in a box. Across 1. distinct feature or element 3. burst, split, or break 8. organized or official examination 9. refuse to accept 10. dramatic, sensational in appearance Down 2. sudden violent outbreak 4. quickly and without warning 5. scratch or cut into a material 6. write carelessly 7. handwritten book or document 8. 7. 4. 9. 3. 1. 2. 5. 6. 10. Home Activity Your child has learned to read, write, and spell words with Latin roots. Challenge your child to think of other words that use these Latin roots. DVD 278 Latin Roots
Cause and Effect A cause (what makes something happen) may have several effects. An effect (what happens as a result of a cause) may have several causes. Sometimes clue words such as since, as a result, caused, thus, therefore, and consequently are used to show cause-and-effect relationships. Directions Read the following passage. Then complete the diagram below. good way to understand how a A volcano erupts is by shaking a bottle of soda. The shaking causes pressure to build up inside the bottle. When you open the bottle splat! The soda bursts out of the top. Volcanoes work in a similar way. The Earth s magma, which is a thick liquid between the crust and the fiery core of the Earth, is like the soda pop. When the tectonic plates that sit below the continents shift and move, it s like shaking up the soda bottle. After enough pressure builds up, the magma rises to the Earth s surface, eventually causing volcanoes to erupt. Cause Effect 1. Volcanoes erupt. Effect Pressure builds inside the bottle. 2. Effect 5. Write a summary of this passage in one or two sentences. Cause 3. Tectonic plates Cause 4. Magma rises Home Activity Your child read a short passage and identified causes and effects. Based on one of your child s favorite movies, discuss the causes and effects. Comprehension DVD 279
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Directions If the adjective forms are correct, write Correct on the line. If they are not correct, write the comparative and superlative forms correctly on the line. Adjective Comparative Superlative 1. happy more happier most happiest 2. hungry hungrier hungriest 3. beloved beloveder belovedest 4. sad more sadder most saddest Directions Underline the adjective form in ( ) to complete each sentence correctly. 5. Jules Verne was (most unhappy, most unhappiest) as a stockbroker. 6. He was (happier, more happier) writing plays. 7. However, he was a much (more better, better) novelist than a playwright. 8. He left business and went on to become the (more successful, most successful) writer of his time. 9. He wrote more books than other authors, and they were of (higher, most highest) quality. 10. They were scientifically accurate, but readers found them (entertaininger, more entertaining) than educational. Directions Write the correct forms of the adjectives in ( ) to complete the sentences. 11. The Earth has three layers. Which layer is? (thin) 12. The outer layer, called the crust, is the layer of the three. (rigid) 13. The middle layer, called the mantle, contains melted rock and is much than the crust. (hot) 14. The core, in the Earth s center, is under the pressure of all. (intense) 15. Jules Verne s idea for a journey to the core is than realistic. (fantastic) Home Activity Your child reviewed comparative and superlative adjectives. Reread the selection with your child. Have him or her describe the fighting monsters using comparative and superlative adjectives. DVD 280 Comparative and Superlative Adjectives