Aug.16, 2011- Questioning

Hello, Friends!  

Welcome back to the "Busy Brains at Sea"  website.  Our journey began a couple of weeks ago when we left our home at the Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle, WA.  We'll be sailing south to Mexico, then on to Central and South America.  But first, we have traveled north to Canada to "shake out" any last minute problems we might discover with our trusty boat, Anna. 

Today, let's practice a skill that strong readers use whenever they read.

Busy Brains love to read!

Questioning:

Strong readers use their busy brains to wonder and ask questions while reading.  It helps us check for understanding.  Read this sentence:

The tiny dog whimpered for help under Farmer Jackson's clay flower pot.

I'll bet your busy brains are popping with questions already!  Did your brain ask questions like this:

• I wonder what kind of dog it is?
• Is it a puppy?
• Why is it whimpering?  Is it scared?
• How did it get under the flower pot?
• Is it trapped?
• Who is Farmer Jackson?
• Is he a mean man, or a nice man?

Wondering and questioning are important for helping us understand what we're reading.  Try it with the sentence below:

The children leapt to their feet when Miss Beale entered the room.

What questions come to your mind from reading this sentence?  Can you think of 3 or 4 questions?   Great job!

Now let's read a short story about a little girl and her boat.  Remember to let your brain wonder and ask questions while you're reading!

The Perfect Name

Once upon a time, a little girl with three names lived by the sea.  When she was born, her mother, her father, and her tia could not agree on what her first name should be.  So they gave her all three names.  She became: Rosita Anita Rosaria Perez.  

The family lived on the shore of a tiny, turquoise inlet next to the sea.  When she was eight years old, her father built Rosita a small but sturdy sailboat of her very own.  She painted it red and yellow, orange, blue, and green.  But when it came time to name her sailboat, Rosita Anita Rosaria could not decide.  Her father said, "Give it a name of strength.  Like Valor, or Protector."  Her mother said, "Give it a name of beauty.  Like Serenity, or Wind Dancer."  Her tia said, "Give it a name of hope.  Like Happy Days or Endless Journey."  The three of them argued through the day and into the night, but they could not agree on the best kind of name a boat should have.

Rosita Anita Rosaria knew that she had to find just the right name for her special boat.  The next day, she packed a lunch and some water.  She told her family she was going to take her little boat for a sail across the inlet.  When she came back, she would know the boat's name.  Her family knew Rosita was a good sailor and a strong swimmer, but they said, " Take Pepita with you.  She will keep you safe."  Pepita was Rosita's trusty little dog and most loyal friend. 

 All afternoon, the two friends sailed back and forth across the tiny inlet.  When the wind picked up, the colorful boat slid, dipped, glided, and swayed among the waves.  It reminded Rosita of the mambo dancing she loved to do at fiestas and on holidays.  When the boat leaned into the wind, slicing the surface of the water, she held Pepita tight, laughing.  It was a thrilling, exciting ride, like when her father swung her in the air to dance the salsa.  The tiny boat was dancing, in a way, too.  The wind and the waves were the music.

That evening, Rosita Anita Rosaria Perez told her family she had chosen a name for her special little boat.  The boat had helped her find the name.  She named her boat Mambo-Tango for the way it danced happily on the water and for the way it made her feel free and wild, like when she danced.  Everyone smiled because they knew she had found just the right name for her boat.

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Names are important to us.  To a sailor, a boat’s name has special significance.  Our boat is named “Anna”, honoring our grandmothers who were both named Anna.  Grandmothers are caring and protective.  We trust our boat to protect us and keep us safe as we venture into the open sea. 

Busy Brain Challenge:

Have you ever named something that was important to you?

A pet?

Your bike?

A favorite stuffed animal?

A doll?

Tell us about something you named and explain why you chose that name:   


1.  First, click on the title of this post.  
2.  Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on!  It's easy and fun!  You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!