EXPLORATION: Around the World Read-Aloud | Whole Class
Peak By Roland Smith Summary & Info
Excerpt, pp. 222–231 . Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello plans to become the youngest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. But just as he’s about to achieve his goal, he turns back, giving a young Nepalese climber the chance to set the record and win important endorsements that will pay his school fees. Genre : Fiction I GRL : Y I Pages : 256
Question of the Day Why aren’t children everywhere guaranteed an education? Ask students to think about the idea of education as a privilege versus education as a right.
Guide students through the steps outlined here, instructing them to fill in their Student Handbooks along the way. Students can work independently, with partners, or in small groups. Pause after each step to share responses. #1: Form a First Impression Preview: Show the book cover and read the title. Discuss different definitions for the word peak with students and have them consider which fits the story and why. (“Top of a mountain” and “high level of achievement” fit.) #2: Show What You Know Activate prior knowledge: Have students discuss what they have heard or read about the sport of mountain climbing, and whether they would enjoy taking part in this activity. #3: Make a Prediction Ask students to predict whether the main character will achieve his goal. #4: Learn Some Words Here are some words from this book that are connected to main ideas from the unit and book. Discuss these words with your students, and then ask them to complete the sentences. (Answers provided here.} Unit Question Remind students that this unit focuses on real and fictional people who travel the globe to find new futures for themselves, reveal hidden histories, or protect others, and asks: How can reading expand our worlds?
VOCABULARY summit (noun) the highest point, or peak, of a mountain (p. 223) avalanche (noun) a huge mass of rock, snow, or ice that falls rapidly down the side of a mountain (p. 227) buttress (noun) a piece of rock that projects outward from a cliff or the side of a mountain (p. 227) majestic (adj.) impressively beautiful (p. 228) SENTENCES a. When the alarm sounded, we knew an avalanche was coming and quickly ran inside to escape the dangerous conditions. b. The climber grabbed the buttress that was jutting out and lifted herself up as she scaled the mountain. c. Wind swirled snow around the summit of the mountain, making it difficult for the climbers to see as they neared the top. d. The view from the top of mountain was majestic as we looked out on the town in the valley below.
14 Scholar Zone Summer: Reading & Writing
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