SECOND READING: TEXT AND VOCABULARY – SWIRL BY SWIRL: SPIRALS IN NATURE

 

The sparse text is free-verse poetry.

We’ll focus on use of the ellipsis (…) to tell us that the idea is either unfinished or the reader is to make a long pause .

There is great vocabulary to describe the spirals.

*Ask the questions after reading the pages.

 

Pages 1 – 2:

~ coiled: wound in a circle. Discuss what coiled means.

~Point out the ellipsis for the reader to make a long pause. What could the spiral be waiting for?

 

Pages 3 – 4:

~expand: spread out. Discuss what expand means.

 

Pages 5 – 6:

~How does the spiral get bigger?

 

Pages 9 – 12:

~What do these spirals have in common? (to protect)

~ On page 10, protect: defend. How might the spirals protect the animals?

~On page 11, what is another word that means the same as protect?

 

Pages 13 – 16:

~What word could we use in place of clings tight and grasping? (hold)

 

Page 17 – 22:

After reading these pages, talk about how a spiral can be clever, graceful, strong, and bold. Discuss other spirals in the book that are clever, graceful, strong, and bold.

 

Pages 23 – 28:

~On page 27, what does starry arms mean?

~On page 28, the word expand occurs again. What is expanding in the illustration?

~On pages 29 and 30, how is this illustration similar to the first illustration on pages 1 and 2?

 

Pages 31 and 32:

~These pages provide additional information. Why might certain words be in bold print?

 

Did the text answer all of your questions? How can you find the answers for any of your questions that remain?