Vocabulary
After weeks of heavy rain, the town's water worries began to diminish. The blazing summer sun beat down for days, causing the massive puddles to shrink, the overflowing creeks to drop back to normal levels, and the overall threat of flooding to finally lessen.
What does diminish mean?
Lessen, Reduce
To become smaller
Watch the first 20 seconds of this video.
How does Mr. Bean feel? Why?
He feels nervous to take the test!
During a 9th-grade English group project, Tyler suggests an idea for their presentation. Sophia immediately rolls her eyes, crosses her arms, and sighs loudly, saying, "Whatever, let's just do that so we can be finished."
How is Sophia feeling about Tyler's idea right now? What clues tell you that?
If you are Tyler, what is a helpful or appropriate way to respond to Sophia?
When the teacher assigned the massive research project, Liam’s mind became a tangled ball of yarn. He had so many different ideas overlapping, his thoughts felt messy, and he couldn't find a single clear thread to start his opening paragraph.
Feeling very confused.
During the debate tournament, Jada knew her adversary would be tough to beat. The girl sitting across from her was a skilled opponent who had won first place last year, and she was completely ready to argue against everything Jada’s team proposed.
Opponent
The person going against her.
Watch from 1:08 - 1:40.
Does Patrick really want to go jellyfishing with Spongebob and Patrick? How do you know?
He does not. He is using sarcasm.
A group of friends are standing in a circle by the lockers talking about a party they all went to over the weekend. Chloe is standing on the very edge of the circle. She keeps looking down at her shoes, shifting her weight, and pulling at the sleeves of her hoodie without saying a word.
What do you think Chloe is thinking or feeling while standing on the edge of the circle?
If you are one of the friends in that circle and you notice Chloe, what is an appropriate action you could take?
Tanya knew she was skating on thin ice when she walked into the classroom ten minutes after the bell rang. She had already received two warnings for lateness this week, and her teacher's strict expression made it clear that any more rule-breaking would lead straight to detention.
The text message Leo received about where to meet was incredibly vague. It simply said "meet by the park," but it didn't give a specific time, a street name, or any clear details, leaving him completely confused about where he was actually supposed to go.
Unclear or lacking in details.
Start watching at 3:30.
How do Chandler and Rachel feel? How does Ross feel? How do you know? Identify nonverbal body language cues.
They're all feeling frustrated trying to get the couch up the stairs. Chandler and Rachel are annoyed at Ross.
The math teacher hands back a difficult algebra exam. Jordan looks at his grade, quickly flips the paper face down on his desk, and rubs his temples. When his friend asks him, "Hey, how'd you do?", Jordan snaps back aggressively, "Mind your own business! Why do you care so much?"
Why did Jordan snap at his friend? What emotion is driving his aggressive response?
How should the friend respond to Jordan's outburst so they don't get into a bigger argument?
As the hiker reached the mountain peak, a fierce wind howled in his face. The blast of cold air roared through the trees and aggressively pushed against his jacket, making it difficult for him to even stand upright or take a step forward.
The weather in the mountains during the spring can be incredibly volatile. One minute the sun is shining brightly, but the next minute a sudden blizzard can roll in, causing temperatures to drop instantly. Because conditions change so fast and unpredictably, hikers must always be prepared for anything.
Unpredictable
Maya sends a long, excited text message to Liam about a movie she wants them to see together. Two hours later, Liam sends back a single-word reply: "K."
How might Maya feel when she sees Liam's one-letter response? What might she assume he is thinking?
What is a mature action Maya can take instead of assuming Liam is angry with her?
Before the school play started, Marcus was completely terrified and felt sick to his stomach. But as soon as he stepped under the stage lights, he found his strides. He delivered his lines perfectly, his voice sounded confident, and he moved across the stage with total ease.
Performing with confidence.
Sarah was meticulous when it came to building her science fair project. She carefully measured every single piece of wood to the exact millimeter, double-checked her data charts for any tiny errors, and made sure not a single drop of glue was out of place.
Sam drops his lunch tray in the middle of the crowded cafeteria. The plates clatter, milk spills everywhere, and a few students nearby start laughing and pointing. Sam freezes, his face turns bright red, and he starts picking up the trash as fast as he can.
What is Sam experiencing in this moment? How is he feeling?
If you are sitting at a nearby table and witness this, what is an appropriate response or action you could take to help the situation?
The new student, Ethan, was an open book. Within five minutes of sitting down at the lunch table, he had already told everyone his favorite hobbies, revealed his fear of spiders, and shared exactly how much he missed his old school in Chicago.
He was very open and transparent.