- Lesson 1 - The Hot and Cold Summer
- Lesson 2 - Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen
- Lesson 3 - Danitra Brown Leaves Town
- Lesson 4 - Kai's Journey to Gold Mountain
- Lesson 5 - Pedro Puts on a Play
- Lesson 6 - On the Banks of Plum Creek
- Lesson 7 - Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World
- Lesson 8 - Three Little Cyberpigs
- Lesson 9 - Weaving a California Tradition
- Lesson 10 - Emerald's Eggs
- Lesson 11 - Mimicry and Camouflage
- Lesson 12 - Mountains
- Lesson 13 - Fire Storm
- Lesson 14 - The Stranger
- Lesson 15 - The Adventurers
- Lesson 16 - So You Want to Be an Inventor?
- Lesson 17 - Just Like Me
- Lesson 18 - Hewitt Anderson's Great Big Life
- Lesson 19 - Juan Verdades: The Man Who Couldn't Tell a Lie
- Lesson 20 - The Case of the Too-Hot Apple Cider
- Lesson 21 - Because of Winn-Dixie
- Lesson 22 - My Diary from Here to There
- Lesson 23 - The Cricket in Times Square
- Lesson 24 - Mangrove Wilderness
- Lesson 25 - Welcome to Chinatown!
- Lesson 26 - Dragons and Dinosaurs
- Lesson 27 - Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time
- Lesson 28 - The Bunyans
- Lesson 29 - John Muir and Stickeen: An Icy Adventure with a No-Good Dog
- Lesson 30 - Discovering the Atocha
Lesson 1 - The Hot and Cold Summer
pact - an agreement between people or countries in which they
promise to do certain things
queasy - you have a sick feeling in your stomach
foisted - it is given to you whether you want it or not
venture - a project that is exciting and even risky
annoyed - somewhat angry about something
depriving - you are being kept from having something
Lesson 2 - Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen
lengendary - especially famous for something he or she did a long
time ago
muttered - you said something nery quietly because you did not
want to be heard
gaped - you stared open-mouthed in surprise
flinched - he or she quickly moved away from something dangerous
or painful
snickering - laughing quietly at something because they did
something silly
glared - you stared at them in an angry way
stunned - shocked or even speechless by something amazing
fluke - something unusual that happens by accident
Lesson 3 - Danitra Brown Leaves Town
surrender - you stop fighting something or someone
particular - one specific thing of its kind
sparkling - shining, clear, bright
clusters - small groups of people or things that are close
together
sizzles - very hot and makes a hissing sound
stroll - walk in a slow, relaxed way
Lesson 4 - Kai's Journey to Gold Mountain
averted - if you averted your eyes, you looked away from
something instead of directly at it
fury - extremely strong anger
interrogation - a long period of intense questioning to get
information from someone
stern - very serious and strict
accusing - you are showing that you think he or she has done
something wrong
solemnly - you say something in a very serious way
cringed - you moved or flinched slightly because of discomfort or
fear
craned - if you craned your neck, you stretched it to let you see
or hear something better
Lesson 5 - Pedro Puts on a Play
culinary - culinary skills or tools are related to cooking
downcast - someone who is downcast is feeling sad and has no hope
consternation - someone who feels consternation is upset or
worried about what is happening
vivid - something that is vivid has very bright colors
extensive - something extensive includes a large amount of things
serenely - if something is done serenely, it is done is a calm
and quiet way
reminiscent - is something is reminiscent of something else, it
brings back memories of that other time or place
pensive - someone who is pensive is thinking deeply about
something
recruit - when you recruit someone, you get him or her to join a
group for a special purpose
commenced - something that has commenced has begun
Lesson 6 - On the Banks of Plum Creek
responsible - that person can be trusted to do a job on their own
darted - an animal that darted moved suddenly and quickly in a
particular direction
jostling - if the people in a crowd push or knock against you,
they are jostling you
swerved - if a car swerved, it turned suddenly to avoid hitting
something
attentive - if someone is attentive, that person is carefully
listening to or watching something
pounced - a person or animal that pounced on something jumped on
it eagerly in order to take it
contradicting - contradicting someone is saying that what a
person had said is wrong
Lesson 7 - Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World
reluctant - if someone is reluctant to do something, he or she
does not want to do it
rumpled - something is rumpled if it is wrinkled or messy
surge - if you feel a surge of a particular feeling, you feel it
suddenly and very strongly
inspecting - someone who is inspecting something is looking at it
very carefully
taut - something that is taut has been stretched or pulled very
tightly
untangled - if you untangled something, you untied knots in it or
straightened it if it was twisted
resounded - if a place resounded, then it became filled with sound
lurked - if something lurked somewhere, it waited there quietly
hidden, usually before doing something bad
Lesson 8 - Three Little Cyberpigs
slick - if something is slick, it is presented in an attractive
way
nimble - if someone is nimble, he or she moves quickly, lightly,
and easily
impressed - to be impressed with someone means to admire that
person
cease - to you cease to do something, you stop doing it
exist - it is a real thing that is present in the world
fierce - a fierce person or animal is angry, violent, or ready to
attack
Lesson 9 - Weaving a California Tradition
unique - it is the only one of its kind
infest - if insects or animals infest a place, they are there in
large numbers and usually cause damage
intervals - something that happens at regular intervals is
repeated over and over with a certain amount of time in between
delicate - if something is done in a delicate way, it is done
with great care so that nothing is broken or hurt
flexible - it can bend or be bent easily
bond - a feeling interest that unites two or more people or groups
inspires - if something inspires you, it makes you excited about
doing something good
preserve - to preserve something is to keep it from being harmed
or changed
Lesson 10 - Emerald's Eggs
comprehend - you understand it
pliable - is easy to move or bend without breaking
solitary - to live in a solitary way is to be alone most of the
time
scan - to scan a place is to look carefully over the entire area
for something specific
vulnerable - a person or animal that is vulnerable is weak and
unprotected and at rish of being harmed
exuberant - he or she is full of excitement, energy, and happiness
mature - fully grown and behaves like an adult
lumbers - moves in a slow and clumsy way
encircle - surround it
nurture - you care for it while it is growing and developing
Lesson 11 - Mimicry and Camouflage
predators - predators are animals that kill and eat other animals
traits - traits are particular qualities or characteristics of a
person or thing
lure - if something lures you, it makes you want to go to it,
even though it is dangerous or could get you in trouble
avoid - if you avoid a person or thing, you keep away from them
mimic - if you mimic a person or thing, you try to act or look
exactly like that person or thing
obvious - if something is obvious, it is so easily seen or
understood that no one has to explain it
resembles - if one person or thing resembles another, the two
look similar to each other
deceptive - a deceptive person or thing tries to make you believe
something that is not true
Lesson 12 - Mountains
eruption - an eruption happens when something bursts through a
surface
depths - the depths of something are its deepest parts
gradually - something that happens gradually happens slowly over
time
revealed - when something is revealed, it was hidden but can now
be seen
contract - to contract means to get smaller by shrinking
constant - if something is constant, it happens without stoppping
immediate - an immediate event is one that happens right away
Lesson 13 - Fire Storm
treacherous - something treacherous is dangerous and unpredictable
drudgery - drudgery is hard, unpleasant, boring work
plunge - if you plunge into something, you rush into it suddenly
smoldering - something smoldering is burning slowly from the
inside, without flames
altered - when something has been altered, it has been changed
scoffed - if you scoffed at something, you spoke about it in a
mocking or critical way
skeptically - if you talk skeptically about something, you
express doubt about whether it is true
discouraged - if something discouraged you, if made you believe
that things weren't going to turn out as you hoped
Lesson 14 - The Stranger
hermit - a mermit is a person who lives alone, often far from a
community
fascinated - when you are fascinated by something, you are very
interested in it an pay close attention to it
occasionally - if something happens occasionally, it happens once
in a while
timid - a timit person is shy and unsure of himself or herself
peculiar - something peculiar is something that is very strange
and unusual, usually not in a good way
drab - something drab looks dull and lacks color
trembling - if something is trembling, it is shaking slightly
dashed - if someone dashed away, they quickly and suddenly ran
away
Lesson 15 - The Adventurers
intrepid - a person who is intrepid acts brave because he or she
has no fear
seasoned - a person who is seasoned at something has a lot of
experience with that thing
guidance - someone who gives guidance provides help and advice
undoubtedly - if something will undoubtedly happen, if will
definitely happen
cherish - if you cherish something, it means a lot to you and you
care for it lovingly
hoist - it hoist something is to raise it, often with mechanical
help
delectable - a food described as delectable tastes very good
pristine - if a place is pristine, it is clean and untouched
fragile - if a thing is fragile, it is easily broken or damaged
privilege - a privilege is a special advantage or right that only
certain people can have
Lesson 16 - So You Want to Be an Inventor?
tinker - when you tinker with something, you try to fix or adjust
it
hoaxer - someone who tries to trick people is a hoaxer
trampled - if you trampled something, you stepped on it very hard
and damaged it
forged - if you forged something together, you did it with great
effort and you hope it lasts a long time
perfect - to perfect something is to improve it so that it is the
best it can be
quest - a quest is a journey with a specific purpose
barriers - barriers are objects or people that keep you from
moving ahead
Lesson 17 - Just Like Me
ancestors - the people who came before you in your family are
your ancestors
brilliant - things that are brilliant are very bright, and often
shiny
exotic - something exotic is unusual and interesting because it
came from a faraway place
graceful - if a person is graceful, he or she moves in a smooth
way that is nice to look at
mischievous - someone who is mischievous likes to play tricks on
other people
participate - if you participate in a game, you are involved in it
Lesson 18 - Hewitt Anderson's Great Big Life
bountiful - if you had a bountiful amount of something, you would
have a lot of it
vast - something that is vast is so wide it would be hard to get
across it
stature - a person's stature is his or her height
relentless - someone who is relentless in trying to do something
keeps at it and refuses to give up
roused - if you roused someone, you work up or alerted that person
resourceful - a resourceful person is good at finding ways to
solve problems
intentions - intentions are ideas about what a person means to do
inadvertently - if you do something inadvertently, you do it
without meaning to
Lesson 19 - Juan Verdades: The Man Who Couldn't Tell a Lie
magnificent - something magnificent is very beautiful and
impressive
insisted - if you insisted on something, you said it very firmly
and you refused to change your mind
declared - something that has been declared has been announced in
a clear way
confidently - when you do something confidently, you are sure
about what you are doing
distressed - someone who is distressed feels very sad and helpless
gloated - if someone gloated, he or she bragged about something
in a mean way
anxiously - if you waited anxiously for something, you worried
about how it would turn out
Lesson 20 - The Case of the Too-Hot Apple Cider
ominous - something ominous is a sign of trouble or a warning
that something bad is going to happen
confound - if you confound a person, you surprise or confuse him
miserable - a person who feels miserable feels uncomfortable or
unhappy
gracious - someone who is gracious is pleasant and polite
beams - someone who beams is grinning
self-assurance - people who have self-assurance are confident and
sure of themselves
monitor - when you monitor something, you regularly check its
progress
exposed - a thing that has been exposed has been uncovered and
has lost its protection from its surroundings
installed - if you installed a piece of equipment, you put it in
to make it ready for use
looming - when an event is looming, it seems likely to happen soon
Lesson 21 - Because of Winn-Dixie
consisted - if something consisted of several things, it was made
up of those things
prideful - a person is prideful if he or she feels very satisfied
because of something he or she has done
intends - when someone intends to do something, he or she plans
to do it
snatched - if you snatched something, you grabbed it or pulled it
away quickly
recalls - when a person recalls something, he or she remembers it
select - a select group is one that is special and among the best
of its kind
Lesson 22 - My Diary from Here to There
burst - when a person feels ready to burst if he or she doesn't
say something, it means that the person is very excited and
cannot wait to say that thing.
opportunities - opportunities are chances to do something you
want to do
huddle - when people huddle together, they gather close to each
other in a tight group
comforted - if a person comforted a friend, he or she helped that
friend feel better about something
recognizes - if someone recognizes you, it means they know who
you are when they see you
journey - a journey is a trip from one place to another that
usually takes a long time
Lesson 23 - The Cricket in Times Square
forlornly - if you do something forlornly, you do it in a way
that shows you feel sad and lonely
fidget - people might fidget, or move around restlessly, when
they are bored or nervous
pathetic - a person or thing that is pathetic is sad or helpless.
You usually feel sorry for pathetic people or things
resolved - when you have resolved to do something, you have made
up your mind to do it
scrounging - if an animal is scrounging, it is looking around
trying to find food
noble - if you describe someone as noble, you thing that person
is honest and unselfish
stingy - someone who is stingy doesn't like to spend money or
share what they have
suspicion - if you think someone is guilty of doing something
wrong, you have a suspicion about him or her
Lesson 24 - Mangrove Wilderness
remarkable - a remarkable thing is something very special in a
way that makes other people notice it
suitable - something is suitable if it is right for whatever it
is being used for
advantage - when someone takes advantage of something, he or she
makes good use of it
extract - when you extract something, you carefully pull it out
of something else
withstand - if you withstand a difficult time, you are able to
get through it all right
stealthy - a stealthy animal is one that stays quiet and hidden
as it moves about, so that others do not notice it
Lesson 25 - Welcome to Chinatown!
destinations - destinations are the places people are going to
aspects - the aspects of a place or thing are its features and
elements
vigorously - if you do something vigorously, you do it with
energy and enthusiasm
reconstruct - to reconstruct something that has been damaged or
destroyed means to rebuild it
gorgeous - a gorgeous person or thing is attractive and stunning
festive - something that is festive is colorful and exciting
ornate - something that is ornate is decorated with a lot of
complicated patterns
symbolize - if an animal or an object symbolizes something, it
represents that thing
expectantly - when you wait expectantly for something, you
eagerly look forward to it
misfortune - misfortune is something unlucky or unpleasant that
happens to someone
Lesson 26 - Dragons and Dinosaurs
contraption - a contraption is a strange-looking machine or device
roamed - if a creature roamed an area, it wandered around there
massive - something massive is very large and heavy
submerged - if something is submerged, it is beneath the surface
of a body of water
elegant - something elegant is graceful and pleasing to look at
obstacles - obstacles are things that get in your way when you
are going somewhere or trying to reach a goal
complicated - something that is complicated has many parts that
are connected in ways that make it hard to understand
eerie - something that is eerie is strange and makes people feel
afraid
Lesson 27 - Grand Canyon: A Trail Through Time
ancient - something ancient is very, very old
distant - something distant is very far away
sentries - sentries are people who stand as guards around a camp,
building, or other area
glistens - something that glistens looks wet and shiny
embedded - if an object is embedded in something, it is stuck
firmly in it
cascading - cascading water falls or rushes downward very fast
weary - if you are weary, you are very tired from working hard at
something and you want to stop
eroding - something that is eroding is being slowly scraped away
a little at a time, often by the force of moving water or strong
wind
Lesson 28 - The Bunyans
behemoth - something called a behemoth is extremely large
cordially - to say something cordially is to say it in a warm,
friendly way
hearty - if a meal is hearty, it is satisfying and includes
plenty of good food
fanciful - something that is fanciful is not real but comes from
the imagination
scenic - a scenic place has lovely natural features, such as
trees, cliffs, or bodies of water
colossal - something that is colossal is huge
illusion - an illusion is something that is not really when it
appears to be
Lesson 29 - John Muir and Stickeen: An Icy Adventure with a No-Good Dog
dedicated - if you are dedicated to achieving a goal, you are
devoting yourself to that purpose
determined - a determined person will do everything possible to
try to accomplish a task
dainty - something that is dainty is small and delicate
coddled - someone who has been coddled has been treated too
kindly or protected too much
pitiful - if something is pitiful, it is so sad and weak that
people feel sorry for it
endured - someone who has endured hardships has used personal
strength to survive them
memorable - if something is memorable, it is worth remembering
Lesson 30 - Discovering the Atocha
distinguished - a distinguished person stands out from others in
a job or field of work
verify - if you verify something, you check to make sure that it
is true by using very careful research
discern - if you discern things, you are aware of them and are
able to tell differences betweeen them
dubious - a person who feels dubious is doubtful or unsure of
something
descend - when you descend, you move downward
frantically - to behave frantically is to behave in a wild,
energetic way
estimate - when you estimate an amount of something, you make a
careful guess about how many things there are in it
vicinity - if something is in the vicinity, it is nearby
abruptly - if you do something abruptly, you do it very suddenly
scrutinize - when you scrutinize something, you examine it
carefully to find out some information about it