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Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark — Chapter 9

Study guide for 4th – 6th Grade

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Copywork

About This Passage

These four short sentences show how a writer can paint a complete sensory experience in very few words. Jack feels (like a bird), feels (the wind), smells (the air), then expresses (whoops and laughs). Each sentence picks one sense or one action and gives the reader a single piece of the moment. Together they build the joy of flying. Students will practice writing a multi-sensory moment using one short sentence per sense, and ending with the character's response.

Jack felt like a bird. The wind was rushing through his hair. The air smelled sweet and fresh. Jack whooped and laughed.

Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.

Discussion Questions

Narration Prompt

In your own words, tell the story of this chapter. What were the most important moments? What made them important — and how do you know?

Discussion Questions

  1. Jack tells himself 'Don't think, just do it' before climbing on the pteranodon's back. These are the EXACT words Annie said to him in chapter 4. What does it mean that Jack now uses ANNIE'S words inside his own head? Has he learned something from her?
  2. When Jack is flying, the chapter says 'Jack felt like a bird... Jack whooped and laughed.' Cautious, bookish Jack is having the most JOYFUL moment of the entire book. What is Mary Pope Osborne saying about who gets to feel joy? Is she rewarding Jack for finally taking a risk?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide

Vocabulary Builder

Item 1

Moved smoothly without applying force, the way a glider descends through the air.

Item 2

Moving unsteadily back and forth, on the verge of falling.

Item 3

Biting down hard and noisily with a snapping motion.

+ 7 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide

Critical Thinking

+ 5 more questions in the complete study guide

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More chapters of Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark

Chapter 1 (10th – 12th)Chapter 1 (7th – 9th)Chapter 1 (1st – 3rd)Chapter 1 (Adult)Chapter 1 (4th – 6th)Chapter 2 (10th – 12th)View all chapters

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