“Camping with the President”

1. Skills and Strategies “Camping with the President”

2. Essential Question How can experiencing nature change the way you think about it?

3. Turn and Talk… What have you discovered in nature that was like nothing you have seen before?

4. Discuss… What kinds of things can we learn from our encounters with nature?

5. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 1 on page 51. Why does Thoreau need to find a place of his own?

6. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 2 on page 51. Why might the woods be a better place for Thoreau to write?

7. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 3 on page 51. Why did Emerson decide to let Thoreau use part of his land?

8. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 1 on page 52. Was Thoreau alone in the woods? Give text evidence to support your answer.

9. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 2 on page 52. Why did Thoreau think the loon was silly?

10. “A Life in the Woods” Reread paragraph 1 on page 53. What did Thoreau notice about the animals he observed?

11. Questioning • To check your understanding of what you read, you should stop and ask yourself questions such as What just happened? and Why did that happen? • To check your understanding of a whole selection, you might ask What are the main ideas in this selection?

12. Collaborate… Work together to write two questions that a reader might ask while reading “A Life in the Woods.” Then, write the answers to your questions.

13. Cause and Effect • To explain how and why things happen, authors may organize information to show cause and effect. • A cause is an event or action that makes something happen. • An effect is what happens as the result of a cause. • To identify cause and effect relationships, look for signal words and phrases, such as because, so, and as a result.

14. Cause and Effect The ideas in “A Life in the Woods” is organized by causes and effects. This is its text structure. CAUSE Emerson and Thoreau shared an interest in nature. EFFECT Emerson let Thoreau use his land.

15. Collaborate… Work together to find cause and effect relationships in “A Life in the Woods.” List the relationships you find in a graphic organizer in your notebook.

16. Narrative Nonfiction • Gives facts about real people and events • Tells about events in the sequence that they happened • May include both primary and secondary sources

17. Narrative Nonfiction • Primary source: provides first-hand information about a topic. Autobiographies, journals, and letters are examples. • Secondary source: retells or interprets information from a primary source

18. Collaborate… Reread the passage “Cabin Life” on page 52. Find a sentence that must have come from a primary source. How is a primary source unique?

19. Vocabulary Strategy: Homographs • homograph: words that are spelled the same but have different meanings • Two homographs may or may not sound the same. • When you see a homograph in a sentence, use sentence clues to find the correct meaning of the word.

20. Vocabulary Strategy: Homograph Thoreau tried to get a close look at a loon, but the bird quickly dove into the pond. The word dove has two meanings. What clues in the sentence help you know the correct meaning?

21. Collaborate… Use sentence clues to figure out the meanings of the following homographs in “A Life in the Woods.” • felt (page 52, paragraph 2) • wind (page 52, paragraph 3) • moles (page 53, paragraph 1)

22. Reading Preview ActivityTheodore Roosevelt: The Young Naturalist

23. Reading Preview ActivityThe National Parks: America’s Best Idea

24. Reading Preview Activity“Camping with the President” Trailer

25. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread page 48. Why does President Roosevelt want to go camping with John Muir? Cause Effect Roosevelt is fascinated by Muir’s book. Roosevelt wants to meet Muir and learn from him. GO

26. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread page 48. What causes Roosevelt to write to John Muir? Cause Effect Roosevelt wants to talk with Muir and visit Yosemite National Park with him. Roosevelt writes to John Muir and asks him to go camping. GO

27. Turn and Talk… How do you think John Muir felt when he received Roosevelt’s letter? Would you feel the same way? D

28. “Camping with the President” Authors choose words that help readers visualize events in a narrative. What do the words escorted, presidential party, important men, and posed in paragraph 1 on page 51 lead you to picture? P

29. “Camping with the President” Discuss how this scene contrasts with the natural setting of where they are. D

30. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraphs 3 and 4 on page 51. What is the cause of the reporters’ disappointment? Cause Effect Roosevelt announces that he won’t be talking about politics for four days. Reporters are disappointed because they won’t have much to write about. GO

31. “Camping with the President” Reread paragraph 1 on page 52. Why was Charlie Leidig the perfect person to be in charge of the camping trip? P

32. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraphs 1 and 2 on page 53. The president hears a squirrel chatter and a bird sing? What effect does this have on Roosevelt? Cause Effect Roosevelt hears a squirrel chatter and a bird sing. Roosevelt whistles back, hoping to get a look at the bird. GO

33. “Camping with the President” On page 53, it says, “Roosevelt pulled out a pocket-sized notebook he always carried.” What can you infer about Roosevelt from this detail? P

34. “Camping with the President” Reread paragraphs 4 and 5 on page 54. What was the President surprised to learn? P

35. “Camping with the President” Reread paragraph 3 on page 55. What can you infer about President Roosevelt based on this text? P

36. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraphs 3 and 4 on page 56. How does Roosevelt react to the spectacular views of Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley? Cause Effect Roosevelt views Yosemite Valley from high above on Glacier Point. The view leaves him speechless. GO

37. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraph 5 on page 56. What causes the President’s jaw to snap shut? Cause Effect Reporters have followed Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s jaw snaps shut. GO

38. “Camping with the President” Narrative nonfiction tells about real events and usually puts them in sequence. What chronological signal words and phrases does the author use on pages 56-57? F

39. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraphs 1 and 2 on page 58. What causes Roosevelt to be so happy? Cause Effect Snow falls during the night. Roosevelt is very happy when he awakes. GO

40. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraph 7 on page 58. What causes Charlie to “disappear into the dark”? Cause Effect Charlie hears a mule bray and tree twigs snap. Charlie disappears into the dark to investigate. GO

41. “Camping with the President” Narrative nonfiction often includes images that help you understand the information in the text. What clues does the illustration on page 59 give you about Roosevelt? P

42. “Camping with the President” Complete the graphic organizer. Reread paragraph 2 on page 60. What sort of effect does camping in Yosemite have on Roosevelt’s sleeping? Cause Effect The sounds of nature are peaceful for Roosevelt. Roosevelt sleeps soundly and snores each night. GO

43. “Camping with the President” When Roosevelt mentions his work with Congress to Muir on page 61, what do you think he means when he promises to “wake them up”? P

44. “Camping with the President” How do John Muir’s ideas and his trip to Yosemite affect the President? P