The Swimming Hole Genre: Classic Historical Fiction Authors Purpose:
Inform, Entertain Reading Skill: Theme By Laura Ingalls Wilder Illustrations by Garth Williams
Summary Laura loves wading in the creek of her prairie home. But when Ma and Pa take her to the swimming hole, she realizes that she loves swimming even more. Laura knows that she is never supposed to go to the swimming hole
without a grownup to take her. One hot day, though, she just can't resist heading for the swimming hole's cool water. One thing that stops her from going in the water is a fierce badger that snarls at her and frightens her into returning home.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction is fiction that takes place in the past. The author makes up the characters and events, but the characters and events seem real. The setting is important, and the
problems and events are based on things that really did or could have happened during the time period. Comprehension Skill - Theme Theme is the underlying
meaning or big idea of a story. Sometimes an author states the theme directly. Sometimes readers have to figure out the theme on their own, using
evidence from the text to support their big idea. Vocabulary Skill Antonyms Antonyms
are words that have opposite meanings. Many writers create sentences in which a known word may be used as a clue to the meaning of an antonym.
Examples : Im not happy, Im distraught. She waded through the shallow creed because it wasnt too deep to cross. Comprehension Review
Cause and Effect An effect is something that happen Ask yourself the question What happens?
A cause is something that makes an effect happen Ask yourself Why did it happen? Click on the words Cause and Effect to practice the skill.
More Good Stuff Vocabulary Word Search Vocabulary Hang Man
Vocabulary Matching Internet Workshop Learn About Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Ingalls Wilder Scavenger Hunt
More on Fables Listen to Fables Aesop's Fables More Aesops Fables
Webquest Writing Assignment Write a paragraph telling whether you are more like Mary or more like Laura. Give
specific reasons for your answer. Be sure to proofread for punctuation and grammar. Weekly Fluency Check Read with Expression
Students should match the tone of voice to the tone of the piece. In this passage the tone of the story is light and cheery. But soon the tone becomes more serious when Laura gets dunked. This change
should reflect in the readers voice. Go to pages 203-204, beginning with Everything was watery. . .
Say It! bristled dugout jointed naughty
punish rushes shallow More Words to Know
badger tableland frightful bristled had one's hair stand up
straight dugout a shelter formed
by digging into the side of a hill Click on the word to see real pioneer dugouts. rushes
grasslike plants with hollow stems that grow in wet places jointed having places where
two parts join together; having joints naughty bad; not
behaving well punish to discipline;
cause pain for doing something wrong shallow
not deep badger
a gray hairy animal that feeds at night and lives in a hole Click on the word badger to hear his sound! Give it time to load.
tableland a high plain; a plateau
frightful causing fear or terror Long hair bristled
along the animals back. Long hair bristled along the animals back.
Laura lived in a dugout. Laura lived in a dugout.
The jointed rushes swayed in the wind. The jointed rushes swayed in the wind.
The naughty girl slapped William. The naughty girl slapped William.
They passed a high, almost straight-up wall of earth called a tableland. They passed a high,
almost straight-up wall of earth called a tableland. The man said, I will have to
punish you for hitting her. The man said, I will have to punish you for hitting her.
The pool is to shallow to swim in. The pool is too
shallow to swim in. That was a frightful experience when I heard that awful
sound. That was a frightful experience when I heard that awful sound.
I waded out into the water where the rushes grew. I waded out into the
water where the rushes grew. Review Questions Why do you think Laura and Mary are told never to go near the hole?
2. How does Laura act at the swimming hole? What does this say about her character? 3. Do you think Laura really understands why being good could never be as hard as being watched? Why or why not? 4. Why do you think Mrs. Wilder chose the
prairie as the setting of her books? 1. Review Questions 2 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. What part does the badger play in the story? Why do Ma and Pa not want the girls to go to
the swimming hole? What is the theme (big idea) of this story? What troubled Laura the most after returning home after going near the swimming hole? How does Laura probably feel about her parents?
Spelling Words Homophones wood their
would there too
theyre two your
to youre Spelling Words
Homophones beat close beet
piece break peace
brake thrown clothes
throne Lets review our words. Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just
a moment. We will clap as we spell the word. Dont be fooled this week. You have to get the correct homophone in the sentence!
throne thrown peace
piece close clothes
brake break beet
beat youre your
theyre there their
to two too
would wood GREAT JOB!