Helping Your Child Get Ready: Week 10
These are the skills your child
will be working on this week.
.
.
.
.
Math
area and perimeter
reading a chart
Reading
using a graphic organizer to
find details
understanding cause and
effect
.
.
.
.
Writing
Cartoon Flip Books With a little bit of patience, your child
can make his or her own cartoon flip book. Explain that in a
cartoon, lots of images—one just slightly different from the last
—are put together to make it appear as though a character is
moving. For example, here’s how to draw a character jumping.
Have your child draw a character on the last sheet of a small
pad of paper. On the next sheet, have him or her draw the
character just a bit above where the character last was. Have
your child continue doing this until the entire act of jumping
is illustrated. When he or she flips the pages of the book, the
character will appear to be jumping.
Constellation Watch Help your child identify a few
constellations. Easy ones to start with are the Big
Dipper and Orion. Then have him or her research other
constellations and their names.
writing a persuasive
paragraph
writing a descriptive
paragraph
proofreading
Vocabulary
organizing words by their
meanings
.
.
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Here are some activities you and your child might enjoy.
Family Coat of Arms Have your child make a family coat
of arms on a piece of posterboard. Have him or her divide
a shield shape into quadrants. In each quadrant, he or
she can draw a symbol that represents one aspect of your
family. Then proudly display your coat of arms.
Grammar
diagramming sentences
forming plurals
Sign Your Name Invite your child to learn how
to spell his or her name in sign language. He or
she can use an encyclopedia or go online to find
the sign language alphabet.
Your child might enjoy reading the following
books:
C
Seasons: A Book of Poems
by Charlotte Zolotow
A
B
First in the Field: Baseball Hero Jackie Robinson
by Derek T. Dingle
James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl
117
Week 10 • Day 1
Reading for Details
Preview of Prefixes
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
A prefix is a word part that always comes at the
beginning of a word. When a prefix is added to a base
word, it changes the word’s meaning. The prefix dismeans “not.” Think about how dis- affects the meaning
of the words disloyal, dishonest, and disagree. One
meaning for the prefix re- is “again.” You see this prefix
in words such as redo, rebuild, reconsider, and renew.
The meaning of the prefix over- is “too much.” Some
examples of words containing this prefix are overjoyed,
oversleep, overflow, and overworked.
Write the topic and three
subtopics on the web. Complete
the web by writing details for
each subtopic.
Find out the meaning of the
prefixes ex-, trans-, and inter-.
119
Week 10 • Day 1
Diagramming Sentences
Diagramming Sentences
A. Underline the articles and adjectives in each
sentence. Circle any adverbs. Then diagram each
sentence. The model diagram will help you.
subject
verb
direct object
2. The tiny cricket slowly ate the green leaf.
B. Complete the diagram for the following sentence.
1. The playful kitten gleefully chased the red ball.
120
ive
ect
adj
erb
cle
arti
adv
cle
arti
1. The dancer made a graceful movement.
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Diagramming a sentence shows how all the words in the sentence work together.
Week 10 • Day 2
Persuasive Paragraph
A persuasive paragraph gives your opinion and tries to
convince the reader to agree. Its supporting ideas are
reasons that back up your opinion.
Reason 1
Topic sentence
Our family should have a dog for three reasons.
First, pets teach responsibility. If we get a dog, I will
feed him and take him for walks after school. The
second reason for having a pet is that he would
Reason 2
make a good companion for me when everyone else is busy. I won’t
drive Dad crazy always asking him to play catch with me. The third
Reason 3
reason we need a dog is for safety. He would warn us of danger and
keep our house safe. For all of these reasons, I’m sure you’ll agree that
we should jump in the car and head toward the adoption agency right
away. I don’t know how we have made it this long without a dog!
closing
sentence
Plan and write a persuasive paragraph asking your parents for something (such
as a family trip, expensive new shoes, or an in-ground pool).
1. Choose a topic._ __________________________________________________________
2. Write a topic sentence._ ___________________________________________________
3. Brainstorm three supporting reasons.
Reason 1__________________________________________________________________
Reason 2__________________________________________________________________
Reason 3__________________________________________________________________ On another sheet of paper, use your plan to write a persuasive paragraph.
121
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
I’m Sure You’ll Agree!
Week 10 • Day 2
Organizing Words
One item on each list below actually belongs in
another list. To get the item “out of here,” circle it.
Then write the number of the list where it really
belongs. When you’re done, write what each list
is about. The first one is done for you.
Circled Word
Belongs on
List #?
List
1. thigh, cylinder, calf
6
What Is This
List About?
parts of a leg
2. slingshot, pavement, tomahawk
3. pond, palette, lagoon
4. bog, town, village
5. jaguar, panther, creek
6. cube, sphere, triathlon
7. swamp, marsh, puma
8. easel, canvas, catapult
9. blacktop, hamlet, asphalt
10. decathlon, marathon, shin
Your Turn
Create a chart of your own like the one above but using only four lists. See
whether someone in your family can figure out which item doesn’t belong,
where it should go, and what each list is all about.
122
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Out of Here!
Week 10 • Day 3
Area and Perimeter
Math’s Got It Covered
width: 50 yards
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
This soccer player sure has a lot of ground to cover. Just how much exactly? Look at
the picture and answer the questions.
length: 100 yards
1. a. What is the length of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
b. What is the width of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
c. What is the perimeter of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
d. What is the area of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
2. a. What is the perimeter of half of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
b. What is the area of half of the field?
yards _______
feet _______
3. Imagine a field with a length of 130 yards and a width of 75 yards.
a. What is the perimeter of that field? _________
b. What is the area of that field? _________
All-Star Math!
Is the perimeter of half the field what
you expected? Why or why not?
length: 1 unit
length: 1 unit
area = 1 square
unit
perimeter = 4 units
area = length x width
perimeter = sum of the sides
123
Week 10 • Day 3
Reading a Chart
Adorable Animals
Names for baby animals
AnimalName for BabyAnimalName for Baby
1.
2.
3.
124
Bear
Cub
Fox
Kit
Cow
Calf
Goat
Kid
Deer
Fawn
Kangaroo Joey
Dog
Pup
Sheep
Lamb
What is the name for a baby deer?
a. cub c. fawn
b. calf
d. pup
What is a baby fox called?
a. kit c. cub
b. kid
d. lamb
Which kind of animal has cubs?
a. goat c. kangaroo
b. sheep
d. bear
4.
5.
A “joey” is what kind of animal?
a. cow
c. kangaroo
b. fox
d. sheep
A baby goat is a —
a. kid
c. pup
b. lamb
d. calf
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Do you know what a baby goat is called? The chart below provides the names for
many baby animals. Use the chart to choose the best answer to each question.
Week 10 • Day 4
Plurals
Herman Hound is a smart and successful storekeeper, but he sure needs help spelling
plurals! Herman knows that you usually add -s to the singular form but that sometimes
you must add -es or change the final y of a word to i and then add -es. Help Herman
by finding and correcting 15 misspelled plurals in his store.
Warning
Signes
Magazines and Books
Dog
Life
Teen
Puppys
Doghouse
Beautiful
Twelve Monthes
in the Doghouse
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Canine
Digest
Couchs Are for Sleeping
Kittys Beware!
A Bird in the Bushes
Bath Toies
Outfoxing Foxs
Snackes
Beware the
Owner
Skunks
Crossing
Danger:
Porcupines
Trail Mixs
Human Being
Crackers
Kitten
Kisses
Cat Cookys
Grooming Department
Powders for Fleas,
Ticks, and Flys
Collars and
Leashes
Combs and Brushs
Hunting Supplys
Bowls and Dishs
Duck Decoies
Earplugs
Backpacks
and Pouchs
Sweaters
125
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Week 10 • Day 4
Descriptive Paragraph
A descriptive paragraph creates a vivid image or picture for readers. By choosing just the right
adjectives, you can reveal how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels. Compare the
sentences from two different paragraphs. Which one creates a more vivid picture?
The pizza with sausage and onions tasted so good.
The smooth, sweet sauce and bubbly mozzarella topped
with bite-sized chunks of extra hot sausage and thin
slivers of sweet onion on a perfectly baked, thin crust
delighted my taste buds.
Cut out a picture of something interesting and paste
it in the box. Then brainstorm a list adjectives and
descriptive phrases to tell about it.
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Now, write a paragraph about the picture. Begin your paragraph with a topic sentence
that will grab readers. Add supporting sentences that include the adjectives and
descriptive phrases listed to create a vivid picture.
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
126
Here is a set of adjectives: bumpy, dusty, narrow, steep, curvy, unpaved, well-worn.
Think about what they might describe. Then on a sheet of paper use the words to
write a descriptive paragraph that paints a picture.
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
A Vivid Picture
Week 10 • Day 5
Cause and Effect
If you visited Iceland, would you look for elves?
Many people in Iceland believe in elves and
other magical folk that can cause mischief. Some
Icelanders consult a person called an elf-spotter
before building a home. The elf-spotter ensures
that the land is elf free. The country’s Public
Roads Administration has been known to reroute
highways because of angry elves. Some Icelandic
tourist groups have even made maps charting elf
haunts for curious visitors!
Read the cause and one of its effects on the map.
Find two other effects in the passage. Write them
on the map.
Effects
People consult elf-spotters
before building homes.
Cause
Icelanders believe in elves.
Locate Iceland on a
globe or world map.
127
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
The Elves of Iceland
Week 10 • Day 5
Proofreading
This Day in History
One Year Ago
National Eat Lunch with a Tree Day was
declared a holiday on monday, April 2. No
one has figureed out how you would actually
eat lunch with a tree. If they do, this will be a
great celebration.
37 Years Ago
The excuse, “The dog ate my homwork” was
first used by Timmy Murtz of ogden, ohio.
Timmy don’t actually have a dog—or any
homework, for that matter! His techer didn’t
believe the excuse for even one second.
50 Years Ago
On august 7, the annoying telephone call were invented in Newark, New Jersey.
Homeowners were called and ask if they would like a free offer.
100 Years Ago
Scientest Alexander Graham Baloney said that water is actually not wet. It just seems wet
because the other things around it are very dry. His idea were later proved to be purely
preposterous.
128
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Find and mark the twelve errors. They may be spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, or grammar errors.
’s lncentive Chart: Week 10
Name Here
This week, l plan to read
minutes each day.
Week 1
Day 1
l read for...
minutes
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
minutes
minutes
minutes
minutes
Put a sticker
to show you
completed each
day’s work.
Congratulations!
#
1
Wow! You did a great job this week!
Place
sticker here.
Parent or Caregiver’s Signature
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
S HERE.
CHART YOUR PROGRES
7EEK s $AY Diagramming a sentence shows how a l the words in the sentence work together
First pets teach responsib lity If we get a dog I wi l
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Choose a topic
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120
page 119
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
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121
page 121
page 120
7EEK s $AY 7EEK s $AY 7EEK s $AY Area and Perimeter
Organizing Words
Reading a Chart
Math’s Got It Covered
Out of Here!
One item on each ist below actua ly belongs in
another list To get the tem “out of here ” circle t
Then wr te the number of the ist where it really
belongs When you’re done wr te what each list
is about The first one is done for you
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and
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rap hs will
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Brainstorm three supporting reasons
3
lly
efu
gle
l
yfu
119
chased
pla
e
Th
Find out the meaning of the
prefixes ex trans and inter
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
1
Scho a t c nc
overworked
B :fdgc\k\ k_\ [`X^iXd ]fi k_\ ]fccfn`e^ j\ek\eZ\%
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
renew
away I don’t know how we have made it this long without a dog!
Plan and write a persuasive paragraph asking your parents for something (such
as a family trip expensive new shoes or an in ground pool)
Scho a t c nc
overflow
gra
reconsider
we should jump in the car and head toward the adoption agency right
en
gre
disagree
the
oversleep
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rebu ld
keep our house safe For all of these reasons I’m sure you’ll agree that
leaf
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dishonest
I\Xjfe *
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movement
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make a good companion for me when everyone else is busy I won’t
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second reason for having a pet is that he would
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2
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Adorable Animals
This soccer player sure has a lot of ground to cover Just how much exactly? Look at
the picture and answer the questions
Do you know what a baby goat is called? The chart below provides the names for
many baby animals Use the chart to choose the best answer to each question
parts of a leg
length 100 ya ds
9
8
7
weapons
bodies of water
communities
3
10
big cats
three-d mensional objects
8 easel canvas catapult
5
2
wet areas of land
painting terms
9 blacktop hamlet aspha t
4
road surfaces
10 decath on marathon shin
1
track and field events
agoon
4 bog town village
5 jaguar panther creek
6 cube sphere triathlon
7 swamp marsh puma
1 a What is the length of the field?
100
50
300
yards 5,000 sq.
300
150
900
feet 45,000 sq.
yards
feet
b What is the width of the field?
yards
feet
c What is the perimeter of the field?
yards
feet
d What is the area of the field?
2 a What is the perimeter of half of the field?
b What is the area of half of the field?
200
yards
yards 2,500
sq.
feet
feet
600
22,500 sq.
3 Imagine a field w th a length of 130 yards and a width of 75 yards
410 yards
9,750 square yards
a What is the perimeter of that field?
All Star Math!
Is the perimeter of half the field what
you expected? Why or why not?
Answers wi l vary.
area leng h x width
perimeter sum of the sides
Warning
Signes
Canine
Digest
7EEK s $AY Cause and E fect
es
Trail Mixs
K tten
Kisses
Grooming Department
Powders for Fleas,
Ticks, and Flysies
ies
Cat Cookys
Read the cause and one of its effects on the map
Find two other effects in the passage Write them
on the map
Joey
Sheep
Lamb
1
What is the name for a baby deer?
a cub
c fawn
b calf
d pup
4
A “joey” is what kind of animal?
a cow
c kangaroo
b fox
d sheep
2
What is a baby fox called?
a kit
c cub
b kid
d lamb
5
A baby goat is a
a kid
b lamb
3
Which kind of animal has cubs?
a goat
c kangaroo
b sheep
d bear
0ROOF EADING
Find and mark the twelve errors They may be spelling punctuation
cap talization or grammar errors
DcZ NZVg 6\d
Nat onal Eat Lunch w th a Tree Day was
cap declared a ho iday on monday
April 2 No
one has f gureed out how you wou d actual y
great ce ebration
Icelanders believe in elves.
Timmy don t actual y have a dog
a
*% NZVgh 6\d
cap On august 7
was
the annoying telephone call were invented in Newark New Jersey
asked
Homeowners were ca led and a k if they would like a free offer
&%% NZVgh 6\d
i
Sc entest Alexander Graham Ba oney sa d that water is actua ly not wet t just seems wet
was
because the other things around it are very dry His dea were later proved to be purely
Locate Iceland on a
globe or world map
preposterous
Scho a t c
c
Scho a t c nc
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
cap
bel eve the excuse for even one second
Earplugs
Sweaters
oh o
or any
homework for that matter! H s techer didn t
Public Roads Administration
reroutes highways
tourist maps show
elf haunt
Backpacks
es
and Pouchs
e
The dog ate my homwork was
cap fi st used by T mmy Murtz of ogden
didn’t
Cause
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 3 & 4
7EEK s $AY The excuse
Effects
ies
Hunting Supplys
decoys
Duck Decoies
127
125
page 125
c pup
d calf
124
(, NZVgh 6\d
Collars and
Leashes
Combs and Brushs es
es
Kangaroo
Pup
eat lunch w th a tree If they do this w ll be a
People consult elf spotters
before building homes.
Bowls and Dishs
Fawn
Dog
Scho a t c nc
toys
Deer
This Day in History
If you visited Iceland would you look for elves?
Many people in Iceland be ieve in elves and
other magical folk that can cause mischief Some
Icelanders consult a person called an elf spotter
before building a home The elf spotter ensures
that the land is elf free The country s Public
Roads Administration has been known to reroute
highways because of angry elves Some Icelandic
tourist groups have even made maps charting elf
haunts for curious visitors!
Human Being
Crackers
Skunks
Bath Toies
Kid
The Elves of Iceland
Snack s
Beware the
Owner
es
Crossing
Couch A e for Sleeping
Twelve Monthes
in the Doghouse
ies
Kittys Beware!
Danger:
Mad Dogs and Engl shmen
es Porcupines
Outfoxing Foxs
A Bird in the Bushes
Goat
page 124
Plurals
Herman Hound is a smart and successful storekeeper but he sure needs help spelling
plurals! Herman knows that you usually add s to the singular form but that sometimes
you must add es or change the final y of a word to i and then add es Help Herman
by finding and correcting 15 misspelled plurals in his store
Doghouse
Beautiful
123
7EEK s $AY What’s Wrong With This Picture?
n
Teeies
Puppys
Calf
page 123
page 122
Magazines and Books
Kit
Cow
area 1 squa e
un t
perimeter 4 un ts
122
Dog
Life
0COG HQT $CD[
c
Scho a t c nc
Crea e a chart of your own like the one above but us ng only four lists See
whe her someone n your fami y can f gure out which i em doesn t be ong
whe e it shou d go and what each l st is a l about
Fox
leng h 1 unit
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
9/52 452.
Scho a t c nc
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
b What is the area of that field?
Cub
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 3 & 4
3 pond palette
#PKOCN
Bear
Scho a t c
2 slingshot pavement tomahawk
0COG HQT $CD[
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
6
1 thigh cyl nder ca f
What Is This
List About?
ength: 1 un t
Circled Word
Belongs on
List #?
List
w dth: 50 yards
0#/'5 (14 $#$; #0+/#.5
#PKOCN
page 127
128
page 128
Summer Express (between grades 3 & 4) © Scholastic Teaching Resources
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Zc\
Xik`
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 3 & 4
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I’m Sure You’ll Agree!
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Prefixes
dis- (not)
Persuasive Paragraph
D agramming Sentences
Diagramming Sentences
A prefix is a word part that always comes at the
beginning of a word When a prefix is added to a base
word it changes the word s meaning The prefix dis
means not Think about how dis affects the meaning
of the words disloyal dishonest and disagree One
meaning for the prefix re is again You see this prefix
in words such as redo rebuild reconsider and renew
The meaning of the prefix over is too much Some
examples of words containing this prefix are overjoyed
oversleep overflow and overworked
Write the topic and three
subtopics on the web Complete
the web by writing details for
each subtopic
7EEK s $AY 7EEK s $AY Reading for Details
Preview of Prefixes