Discussion Director
Your job is to write down questions that your group can talk about.
1 setting
1 narrative
1 problem solution
1 author’s purpose
1. Setting
Where does this story take place?
(Pg 1 pp At daybreak . . . and still.)
In the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
2. Problem Solution
Describe the Lions problems in this section of the book. What
attempts does he make to solve his problem?
(pg 2 pp1 The lion . . . and drink.)
The lion had been shot by a poacher’s bullet. He had laid
in his den for two weeks. Now he had to get out and find food and
water.
3. Narrative
Who is telling this story?
(third person)
4. What is the author’s purpose of this passage?
(To teach us all about the desert)
One Day in the Dessert pg 1 pp1 – pg 1 pp2
5. Who is the author of this story?
Jean Craighead George
___________________________________________________________________________________
One Day in the Desert
By: Jean Craighead George
Passage Picker
Pg 1-19
Your job is to pick passages from this section that you and your
group can talk about. Choose passages that satisfy these 2 reasons.
· informative
· informative
· descriptive
· scientific
1. The passage I picked is on pg 6 pp 1
2. The Sonoran Desert . . . square miles
3. I chose this passage because it was informational e North
American Desert.)
4. Where is the Sonoran Desert located? (It is important
to have some factual
information about the environment in which the story takes place.)
The Sonoran Desert is in Arizona and the great
North American Desert.
5. The Authors purpose: to inform
1. Descriptive
2. The passage I picked is on pg 8 pp2
3. The fourth . . . the world.
4. I chose this passage because it was descriptive.
5. What is the outstanding plant of this desert?
The giant saguaro cactus, a tall plant that resembles
a telephone pole with upturned arms.
6. Author’s purpose: to describe
1. Informative
2. The passage I picked is on pg 14 pp 3
3. He stopped . . . best insulation.
4. The reason I chose this passage was to inform.
5 How does the roadrunner keep cool in the hot desert?
He lifts his feathers to keep cool.
6. Author’s purpose: to inform
1. Inform with a scientific flair
2. The passage I picked is on pg 18 pp1
3. A headstand . . . tarantula’s door
4. The reason I chose this passage was to inform with
a scientific flair.
5. How does a headstand beetle protect itself?
It stands on its head aims his rear end
of mixed chemical in his abdomen.
It shoots a blistering-hot stream a of
quinonaid chemical at it's prey.
6. The author’s purpose was to inform.
______________________________________________________________________________________
One Day in the Desert
By: Jean Craighead George
Word Wizard
Pg 1 – 19
Find these 4 words in your section of reading. Give the page
and paragraph where you found the word and the sentence in which the word
appears. Give your own definition of the word and also the part of
speech in which the word is being used. Then make up your own sentence
with the word in it. For two of the words, you are going to make
a word card with the word on one side along with the page and paragraph
of where the word was found. On the other side of the card, write
the word, the definition, part of speech, and a picture.
Memorable pg 5 pp 1
Summit pg 4 pp 1
Deluges pg 8 pp 2
Saguaro pg 9 pp 10
1. Summit pg 4 pp 1
2. Near its summit were pools where beaver and fish lived in the desert
and which the mountain lion normally visited
to hunt and drink.
3. The highest point top
4. The top of the mountain had pools of water on it.
5. Noun
6 Where did the mountain lion visit to hunt and drink?
The summit
7. Card
1. Deluge pg 8 pp2
2. Unlike the other deserts, it has two raining seasons, showers in
March and deluge in July and August.
3. A great flood
4. Noah in the Bible is remembered for his ark and the flood.
5. Noun
6 Why did Noah build an ark?
Because God told him a flood was coming.
7. Card
1. Saguaros pg 9 line 10
2. The outstanding plant of this desert is the giant saguaro cactus,
a tall plant that resembles a telephone pole with upturned arms.
3. An arborecent cactus of the desert regions of the Southwestern United
States and Mexico that has tall column simple or sparsely branched trunk
of up to sixty feet and bears white flowers and edible fruit.
4. A very tall unusual looking cactus.
5. Noun
6 What kind of cacti is found in the Sonoran Desert of Mexico
and Arizona?
The Saguaro Cactus.
7. Card
1. Memorable pg 5 pp 1
2. This day would be memorable
3. Note worthy, events
4. Something to remember
5. Adjective My 10th birthday was very memorable.
6. What kind of day was July 10th going to be?
Memorable
7. Card
One Day in the Desert
By: Jean Craighead George
Character Sketcher
Pg 1 – 19
Your job is to find an interesting character from the section you read today. You will find three words that describe the character. For each word or character trait, you will give the proof or example (including page and paragraph).
The next thing you will do is tell one of your characters goals, or what the character wanted to do in this section.
Then you will find one of the characters problems in this section and the solution or possible solution to the problem.
Finally, you get to have fun and do an illustration of your character!
Headstand beetle
Character traits:
1. curious pg 18 pp 1 He was wary of
2. brave pg 18 pp 1 He was not afraid
3. talented pg 18 pp 1. He stood on his head and
shot a hot stream of quinonoid chemical at the spider.
Goal: to take care of himself:
Problem: The spider is coming after him.
Solution: He sprays the spider.
One Day in the Desert
By: Jean Craighead George
Artful Artist
Pg 1 - 19
Your job is to draw a picture about what you liked best about the
story.
Investigator
Your job is to find some background information about something
related to the book, such as:
Ask Jeeves about The Sonoran Desert.
Then click on The Sonoran Desert USA
Ways to gather information
- look in the “Note from the Author” section in the back of the book
- other books, magazines, or newspapers
- encyclopedias
- textbooks
- internet