Section Four - Washing the Willow Tree Loon by Jacqueline Briggs Martin pp.2-28

This is a story that concentrates on the theme of environmental protection and conservation.  It gives the reader a view of the concerns of environmentalists through telling the story of one bird - the willow tree loon.  When the loon is caught in a bay full of spilt oil carried from a wrecked barge, it is taken on a journey through caring and unselfish hands who work diligently to try and nurse the loon back to health.  These hands belong to dozens of volunteers who are working around the clock not only to save the loon, but every other animal who was effected by the oil spill.  "The world is full of birds," they say, "and we have work to do."  Tediously, the volunteers each perform their specific tasks in order to help the loon get cleaned up and healthy, and finally the loon is ready to be re-released into a safer and cleaner location.
 
 

Discussion Director

The discussion director’s job is to develop questions for the group members to discuss about this section of the book.  The focus is on important ideas and issues in this section and designing questions that address them.

Your job is to ask the following types of questions:

1 MCEOG

1 Mood

1 Sequence

2 Cause/effect
 
 

Passage Picker

The Passage Picker's job is to select significant passages from the selections being read; determine why those passages are important; call other group member's attention to the passage; and lead a discussion about the passage.
   Steps:
        1.    Pick out a passage you would like to share.
        2.    Write down the page and paragraph number.
        3.    Write down the first two words and the last two words of your passage.
        4.    Write down the reason you chose the passage, and explain why!  (Descriptive, surprising, it contains figurative language, or it is  important)
        5.    Ask a question about your passage, and give an answer.
        6.    Write down the Author’s Purpose:  To Describe, To Entertain, To Inform, or To Persuade

Your job is to choose:

2 passages that are descriptive

2 passages that contain figurative language
 
 

Word Wizard
The Word Wizard's job is to search the section being read for words that are key to understanding what is happening in the story; note the page and sentence where it can be found; check the dictionary meaning of the word; lead a discussion about the meaning and intent of the word from context and what the word contributes to the importance of the passage.
Steps:
    1.  Write down the word, the page and paragraph number.
    2.  Copy the sentence from the book in which the word appears.
    3.  Write down the part of speech the word is in (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb) and what you think the word means.
    4.  Using the context clues from the sentence and the dictionary definition, write in your own words the
        definition of the word.
    5.  Tell how this word adds meaning to the story.
    6.  Make your Word Wizard card.  Be sure to include in big print, your word and the page and paragraph
        number.  On the other side of the card should be a picture, the word, and the definition of the word.

Your words are:

barge - p.2 par.1

loon - p.3 par.1

shallows - p.9 par.3

heron - p.16 par.1

preen - p.21 par.2
 
 

Character Sketcher
The Character Sketcher's job is to develop a character map of major characters in the section of text being read.
Steps:
1.  Pick out a character that interests you.  Choose three words to describe this character.  These should be implied character traits; that is, they are not directly stated within the text.
2.  For each trait, you will give proof (an example) from the book (write down page and paragraph).
3.  Write out the character's goal, problem, and solution (page and paragraph).
4.  Last, you will draw a picture of your character.

Your character for this job is the baker (only find two character traits, describe her goal, and sketch her since there is very little elaboration on this character.)
 
 

Investigator

The Investigator's job is to examine other sources (newspaper, web, encyclopedia, content texts, etc.) that have connections to the book being read and share that information with the group.

Your job is to research about the prevention of oil spills
 
 

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