section 1
P168
P168
What does an ant scout go looking for?
The scout goes looking for food. It also looks for trails the other ants can follow.
How are the two ants most likely feeling about staying behind in this new place? Why?
They are probably sorry now that they stayed behind because they keep facing so many dangers.
How do the ants work together?
Why do they do this?
The ants work together by gathering food.
They work together to keep the queen happy. If the queen is happy, the whole nest is happy.
What is the first event of the story that makes the ants leave the nest?
The queen ant wants more of the crystals that the scout brought her. The ants leave the nest in search of more in order to make her happy.
After the ants reach their goal, what do the two small ants do? Tell how you know.
They stay behind and then eat and fall asleep.
The text says "two small ants who stayed behind" and "ate crystal after crystal until they were too full to move, and fell asleep."
P178: Where are they now?
I read for clues. The text talks about a fountain and water pouring from a silver tube. I look at the picture. The text and the picture together show that the ants are on a faucet.
How is the behavior of the two bad ants different from the first time they crawled into the sea of crystals?
The first time they stayed and ate, but this time they each take a single crystal and head home with the group.
What is the story's setting?
Who are the characters so far?
ant kingdom late in the day/night
the queen ant, the scout ant, other ants
How are the two small ants different from the other ants?
They would rather stay and eat rather than head back with the other ants.
After P178, where do the ants go? Tell how you know. P179
They go into a garbage disposal. I know this because they land on fruit and other soggy things, there are loud sounds, and it spins. There is shredded food and a whirling storm.
Point of view?
Everything in the story is described as an ant would see it. All thoughts, feelings, and events are from an ant's point of view. The story would have been very different if written from a human 's perspective.
I read that the ants are in the woods, but in the picture they are walking through grass. I realize that the grass must seem like trees to the ants. Then I read that the ants are at a tall mountain. When I look at the picture, I see a brick wall. Ithink that the author is describing things the way they would look to an ant.
What language does the author use to help you clearly see that the ants are in danger after they are dropped into the liquid?
Crushing waves fall over them; they have to paddle hard to keep their heads above the water; they get sucked into a whirlpool and come up gasping for air.
Why might an ant find a ceiling puzzling ?
Other than being in the ant tunnels, an ant has likely spent its whole life outdoors and never been inside a building before.
What problem do you think the two ants will face in this new place?
They are in a strange place. Everything around them is dangerous and scary. Somehow, they will have to survive.