That Left-Out Feeling
“The three of you said something to each other pretty fast, huh?” Kash retorted.
What does the verb retort mean?
To reply in a sharp or angry way.
“Now Alex and Maria had to figure out how to make sure the log was secure on both sides of the bank before they walked across it to reach the other side of the river.”
What is the meaning of the word secure in this sentence?
stable
What kind of battle is Ms. Chow’s class planning on having?
Battle of the Books
How is Kash feeling after finding out that his friends made a team without him? Highlight two pieces of text evidence that prove your answer.
Sad/left-out/upset
'I see how I rank in the friendship lineup,’ Kash muttered.”
"I'll save that for my team... whoever that is."
Highlight a detail that supports the idea that Alex and Maria used teamwork to build the bridge?
“Together, she and Alex hefted the branch onto their shoulders and walked it to the water.”
What is the significance of Kash saying "Hey guys, is this seat available" at the end of the text?
It shows that Kash has forgiven his friends and wants to stay friends with them.
Come up with the main idea for this story.
One friend in the group feels upset and left-out when he realizes that his friends did not include him for their project. Feeling guilty, Rian decides to try and make it up to him.
Come up with the main idea for this story.
After realizing the water was too shallow to swim in, two friends decide to build a bridge so that they can swim in a nearby fountain instead.
What do stage directions look like in a play script, and what is their purpose?
They are typically written in italics and they tell the actors what they should be doing with their body language or with the props. The audience does not see or hear the stage directions.
How do Rian's feelings towards the Kash issue change throughout the story?
At first, Rian does not seem to understand why Kash is upset about the teams, but then Wyatt and Liya help him to understand why Kash's feelings are hurt.
Highlight one detail from the story that provides evidence that Maria was deliberate and thoughtful in her plans?
“Maria wondered if they could measure the distance from the riverbank they stood on to the other shore.”
If Alex and Maria had not worked together to solve their problem, what might have happened?
Without Alex, Maria might not have secured the log, which could have come loose when she tried to cross it. Without Maria, Alex might not have measured the distance across the river, so she wouldn’t have known whether the log was the right length for a bridge. If the girls had not carried the log together, it might have been impossible for either of them to move it.
Come up with a theme for this story.
True friendship can withstand challenges and problems, as long as you put in the work to make up with eachother
Why was it important to measure the distance across the river before putting the log in the water?
It was important to measure the distance across the river. If the distance had not been measured, the log might have gotten stuck or swept away, as Maria realized.
She has been gone for weeks now and I miss her so much! You know what they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder!"
What does the phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder" mean?