Who and Where
Who is the main character and the prize she wanted to win?
Who is Maya and what is the Golden Trowel?
What was the main problem that stopped Maya from finishing her display?
What is the giant, tangled pile of thorny vines that blocked the path to the Sunstone Moss?
Name one feeling Maya had when she first saw the vines blocking the creek.
What is worry, or nervousness, or disappointment?
What final action did Maya take with the secret path?
What is keeping the path a secret/not telling the other villagers?
In the story, the creek was seldom-visited. What does seldom mean?
What is "not often" or "rarely"?
Describe the Oakhaven Forest setting using the two words the story uses to describe it
Name three things Maya tried to do to get past the vines before she talked to Mr. Henderson.
What are pushing, pulling, and cutting with her dull clippers?
Why did Maya feel 'a knot of worry' in her stomach? (Infer the reason beyond just needing the moss).
What is because she had promised to win the Golden Trowel and was afraid of losing/letting people down?
What lesson did Maya learn about keeping things safe by the end of the story?
What is that some special places/secrets are best left untouched or hidden?
Maya's clippers were dull. What does dull mean in this sentence? Use the word in a new sentence about a pencil.
What is "not sharp" or "blunt"? (New sentence example: "My pencil is so dull I can't write with it.")
Who is the secondary character and what was the clue he gave Maya earlier in the story?
Who is Mr. Henderson, and the clue was that the forest "has more secrets than a cat has whiskers?"
What was the hint or clue Mr. Henderson used to help Maya find the solution?
What is the heavy, dust-covered book with a faint, hand-drawn map tucked inside?
Predict what Maya will do the very next time she needs Sunstone Moss for the fair.
What is immediately go to Mr. Henderson or use the secret path again?
Why was the ending important for the community of Oakhaven, even though they didn't know Maya's secret?
What is because Maya was able to finish her famous floral display, which was a special and prize-winning part of the fair?
The vines were menacing. Which word means the opposite of menacing?
What is "friendly," "safe," or "welcoming?"
Describe the setting of the Shadow Creek area using three specific details from the story (besides the vines).
What is a quiet haven, where the air is damp and cool, and where the moss glitters and is untouched?
Why was the big pile of vines a hard problem for Maya, even though she had clippers? (Tell us the text evidence).
What is because the vines were described as too thick, too thorny, and firmly entrenched, making them impossible to cut with dull clippers?
Why did the author include the detail about Mr. Henderson whittling a stick while Maya spoke to him? (Infer the author's purpose).
What is to show that Mr. Henderson was calm, wise, and didn't rush, which is why he was able to help Maya when she was frantic?
Explain why the old map was important, starting your answer with the word "Because" and using at least 15 words.
Target Answer: "Because the map showed an old water channel, it provided the precise, forgotten location of the narrow, dark path that went underneath the creek bank to the moss."
Create a sentence about Mr. Henderson using the word nostalgia to show his feeling when he looked at the old map.
(Accept sentences like): "Mr. Henderson felt nostalgia when he saw the map because it reminded him of his own adventures long ago in the forest."
Summarize the beginning of the story, making sure to include who the protagonist is, where they were, and what their main goal was.
What is: "Maya, the main character, was at her workshop near the Oakhaven Forest, feeling worried because she had promised to win the fair prize and needed the rare Sunstone Moss to finish her floral display."
Tell the full solution to the problem, making sure to say what Mr. Henderson did, what the special map showed, and how Maya finally got the moss.
What is: "Mr. Henderson used the map in the old book to show Maya the tiny, underground path created by old water channels that led right to the Sunstone Moss patch, avoiding the thorny vines entirely."
Predict what will happen to Shadow Creek ten years from now, based on Maya's final action. (Must use text evidence to support the prediction).
What is: "The creek will probably stay quiet and untouched because Maya, who is a good person, had decided to keep the secret and allow the area to remain a haven."
Tell us the Beginning of the story and the End of the story. Include how the character's feelings changed from the start to the finish.
What is: "The story began with Maya feeling nervous and worried about the prize, but it ended with her winning the Golden Trowel and feeling determined and wise because she had learned to keep some treasures a secret."
Maya had promised she would win. Use the correct past perfect tense to explain what Mr. Henderson had done before Maya came to him for help.
Target Answer: "Before Maya came, Mr. Henderson had put the old map into the book, or he had given the warning about the forest's secrets."