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Copywork
About This Passage
Two sentences where a rock becomes a wonder. Stanley rubs away dirt, and a fish appears — a real fish, from the time when the dried-up lake was full of water. Notice how the writer makes the moment grow: first an outline, then the sun rises, then 'tiny lines where every one of the fish's bones had been.' Even the sun seems to help, peeking over the horizon just in time to light up the bones. Copy both sentences exactly, with the apostrophe in 'fish's.' This is the happiest moment of Stanley's morning — copy it carefully, because the chapter is about what the camp does to it.
He rubbed off some dirt, and the outline of the fish became clearer. The sun peeked over the horizon, and he could actually see tiny lines where every one of the fish’s bones had been.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell the story of Stanley's morning in order: waking up sore, starting the second hole, the cap trick for his hands, finding the fossil, hiding it face down, the line at the water truck, and showing the fish to Mr. Pendanski. Then tell the saddest part and the most wonderful part of the chapter — and say which one the writer put first.
Discussion Questions
- When Stanley finds the fossil, the chapter says, 'He'd found his miracle.' What makes it feel like a miracle to him then? After he shows it to Mr. Pendanski, what changes, and what part of the chapter shows you that?
- Stanley notices something about the water line: 'They always lined up in the same order... no matter who got there first.' X-Ray is always first, and Zero is last before Stanley. Why do you think the boys always keep the same order? Use the chapter's words about the line to explain what the order shows about D tent.
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
The shape of an ancient plant or animal saved in rock
Item 2
A wonderful thing that seems impossible
Item 3
A bottle for carrying drinking water
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Critical Thinking
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