Island of the Blue Dolphins Vocabulary Words

Island of the Island of the Blue DolphinsBlue Dolphins

Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words

Island of the Island of the Blue DolphinsBlue Dolphins

Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words

Fifth GradeFifth GradeUnit 1 Week 3Unit 1 Week 3

Words to Knowgnawed

headland

kelp

lair

ravine

shellfish

sinew

a water animal with

a shell

shellfishgnawedheadland

kelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

any of various large, tough,

brown seaweeds

kelpgnawedheadland

kelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

a narrow ridge of high land jutting out into the

water

headlandgnawedheadland

kelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

den or resting

place of a wild animal

lairgnawedheadland

kelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

a long, deep, narrow, valley

ravinegnawed

headlandkelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

bitten at or worn away

gnawedgnawed

headlandkelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

tendon

sinewgnawedheadland

kelplair

ravineshellfishsinew

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

We ran out onto the headland of the island to meet Dad’s ship.

land on a cliff land that sticks out into the

sea

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

Casey caught a shellfish in her net while she was fishing.

necklace made of shellsa sea creature with a shell

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

We hoped that the bear was long gone since we camped by his empty lair.

hidden trail animal’s den

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

The stuffed animal had been gnawed on by the playful puppy.

chewed hugged

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

We saw brown fish that were almost hidden in the kelp.

coral reefsseaweed

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

The natives used sinew from animals to make clothing.

tendons connecting muscle and bone

wool from sheep

Which means the same thing as the underlined word?

We were told to stay far back from the ravine.

distant mountainsdeep valley

You’ve got it!

Theme• The theme is the underlying

meaningof a story.

• The theme is often not stated. You can figure out a theme when you have finished reading from events and other evidence in the story.

Setting• The setting is where and when the

story takes place. Writers use details, such as sights and sounds, to describe it.

• I love to visit my grandmother. The air is her house is always filled with soft, soothing music and the smell of hot, sweet desserts. My feet feel so good when they sink into her thick, warm carpet.

*What place is being described?*What is the person trying to say about the place?

ALONE Jesse heard the horses trotting and the wagon wheels creaking even after the wagon disappeared into the think forest. Soon, those familiar sounds faded. Then he heard nothing but the summer wind rustling the tall prairie grass surrounding his family’s lof cabin. Jesse was all alone.

*What do you think the theme might be?

*Take a minute to visualize.

Jesse’s parents had gone to town to buy supplies for the winter. They would be gone several days. His father insisted Jesse was old enough to stay alone and manage the work on the farm, but Jesse wasn’t so sure. Even so, he set about doing his chores. Jesse milked the cow, weeded the vegetable garden, and fixed the latch on the barn door. He cooked his own potato soup and sliced some bread for dinner.

That night, alone, Jesse had a hard time sleeping. Wolves were howling in the distance. He was trained to use his father’s musket and kept it nearby just in case.

*What are some events in the story that would happen only in this setting, not at your house today?

Each day Jesse was too busy to think of anything but farm chores. Each night, he lay in bed, nervous. On the sixth day, Jesse had just heard the first cry of a wolf at dusk when he noticed an even more familiar sound. It was the wagon coming down the trail. His parents were home!

*How might Jesse look at the beginning of the story? How

might he look at the end?