TheDanRiverTwinsTeachingGuide
StorywrittenbyCyndyUnwinandillustratedbyWillFowler
TeachingGuidedevelopedby:
CyndyUnwin,Ph.D.,authorandreadingspecialist
Incollaborationwith:
AmyBaynes,WoodberryElementarySchool,DanvilleCitySchoolsWendyBradner,ChathamElementarySchool,PittsylvaniaCountySchoolsLaurenHearp,ChathamElementarySchool,PittsylvaniaCountySchoolsShelleyMayhew,ChathamElementarySchool,PittsylvaniaCountySchools
DebraRojas,ForestHillsElementarySchool,DanvilleCitySchoolsTaftonTrent,SchoolfieldElementarySchool,DanvilleCitySchools
Pre-ReadingActivities
DiscussionStarters:
• Basedonthetitleandthecover,whatdoyouknowandwhatcanyoupredictabouttheDanRivertwins?
• Whatwillbethesettingofthestory?• Willthisbookbefictionornon-fiction?Howdoyouknowthis?Whatdoes
thistellyouabouttheauthor’spurpose?(Highlighthowmostofthetextisfiction,butthattherearealsonon-fictionFunFactsattheendandontheDanRiverTwinswebsite.)
• WhatdoyouknowabouttheDanRiver?WhatdoyoupredictthisstorywillhelpyoulearnabouttheDanRiver?
• HaveyoueverbeenontheDanRiverRiverwalk?Ifso,whatwasitlike?• Haveanyofyouseenariverotter?Ifso,where?Whatareriverotters’
personalitieslike?• Areyouatwinordoyouhaveanytwinsinyourfamily?Doyouknowanyone
whoisatwin?Whatdoyouthinklifeislikeinafamilywithtwins?ELA4.1b,4.5a,b,i,4.6a,b,c,iActivity:SeenextpageforAnticipationGuide
AnticipationGuide
Directions:TrytoanswerthesequestionsbasedonwhatyoualreadyknowaboutNorthAmericanRiverOtters,theDanRiver,andDanville.Then,whenyou’refinishedreadingthestoryandhaveexploredtheDanRiverTwinswebsite,tryagainandseehowmuchyou’velearned!
1. TrueorFalse:NorthAmericanRiverOttersfloatontheirbackswhen
theyswim.
2. Whataretwokindsoftroubleriverotterpupscouldgetinto?
3. Whatdothesewordsmean?
Nocturnal:Diurnal:Crepuscular:
4. Whatspecialthingcanriverotters’nosesandearsdo?
5. TrueorFalse:NorthAmericanRiverOtterscanholdtheirbreathforeightminutesunderwater.
6. Whatisafishladder?
7. TrueorFalse:AbatteauisaspecialbatthatwasusedbyDanvillebaseballplayersduringtheCivilWar.
8. ForhowlongwasDanvillethecapitalcityoftheConfederacy?
9. Whataretextiles?NamethreewaystheyhaveaffectedDanvilleandtheDanRiver.
10. WhatareyourexperienceswithandfeelingsabouttheDanRiver?
Activities,Questions,Vocabulary(bypage)
Note:Question10fromtheAnticipationGuideandhighlightedquestionsbelowarealsoincludedintheseparatestudentjournal.
Page# QuestionorActivity Vocabulary1 WhatdoyouthinktheOtterFrolicsare?ELA4.5i WhattypeoffishmightMommahavefedthetwins?ELA
4.9b
2 Highlightsuffixesinwordslike“swimmiest”ELA4.4b Sensorywords:wet,slimyELA4.5g 3 Multiple-meaningword:zipELA4.4a tensed crouched4 Whereisthe“BigDam”inDanville?Whatisitsreal
name?Ifyouhavebeenthereorseenit,describewhatit’slike.ELA4.5h
Whywouldthewaterberunningmorequickly? 5 UsingamapofDanvilleandtheDanRiver,retracethe
otterfamily’sroutefromtheirden(alongsidetheSandyRiver)totheBigDam(SchoolfieldDam).VS1i
upstream
6 Locateand/ordescribethehabitatsofthevariousanimalsencounteredinthestory.Science4.5d
Whatarewebbedfeet?Whymighttheybeusefulasanadaptation?Science4.5a
Compareandcontrasttheanimalsinthestory(e.g.,beaversandotters)ELA4.5h
7 scrambled8 WhatisDannylike?(highlighthiscompetitiveness)
WhatconnectionsdoyouhavetoDanny?ELA4.5kbounded
pinged9 Compare/contrastotters’mud-slidingtopenguins’
tobogganing,humans’sledding,etc.ELA4.5hlunged
Whatdoes“neckandneck”mean?ELA4.4a 11 SPLOOSH--onomatopoeia nuzzled Writeaboutasituationinyourlifewhensomeoneelse
hasbeatenyouinacompetition.Howdidyoufeel?ELA4.7
Make“OtterCharacterTraits”graphicshapedlikeanotter.Usetodescribeeachottercharacter.ELA4.5k
Causeandeffect:WhateffectdidwinninghaveonMist?ELA4.5j
12 Internetresearch:findexamplesofwhatotterbarks somersaulted
(andothernoises)soundlikeELA4.9b,c,d Multiple-meaningword:currentELA4.4a launched13 Synonymsandantonyms:furiouslyELA4.4b WhydidMist’sheartsink?Howwouldyouhavefeltif
youwereMist?Describeasimilarsituationinyourlife.ELA4.5j
14 pelting peered15 Multiple-meaningword:rapidELA4.4a
15-16 Suffixes:-ing,-ed,-ly,-erELA4.4b 16 massive17 Whatwouldyouhavedoneifyourfriendwentoverthe
falls?ComparethistowhatDannyandMistdid.ELA4.5e,h,i
precipice
18 HowisDannychanging?Howdoyouknowthis?ELA4.5h
crevices
Suffixes:-nessELA4.4b murky boulders19 Shareatimewhenyouhadtoholdyourbreathforalong
time.Describehowitfelt.frantically
19-20 Suffixes:-ally,-ly,-es,-mentELA4.4b 20 Multi-meaningword:sailingELA4.4a surge
21-22 IdentifytheDanvillelandmarkstheotterspassbyinthispartofthestory.ELA4.5k
22 Describeatimewhenyouwereseparatedfromyourparentsorlovedones.Howdidyoufeel?ELA4.7
island
24 Sequencing:Usingvisualization,describethestepsDannyandMistusedtosaveSplash.ELA4.5e,k
insistent
Whoarethestrangecreaturestheotterssaw?ELA4.5h Describe(ordraw)whatanislandinthemiddleofa
riverwouldlookiftherewasflooding.ELA4.5h,j,k
25 Howcouldtwo-leggedcreaturesbedangeroustootters?Ifyouwereoneofthosecreaturesinthatsituation,whatwouldyoudo?ELA4.5h,j
jolt
Howlongisanotterlength?Calculatewhatthedistancewouldbeinfeet.Howfarweretheottersfromthetwo-leggedcreatures?ELA4.5h,Math4.7a
halt
Multiple-meaningword:banksELA4.4a swayed Vocabularygame:Studentsactoutthesewords,and
studentsguesswhichonetheirclassmatesarepantomiming:frantic,flung,thrashed,launched,quivering,glancedELA4.4a,d
Seeactivity
Whatarethemusicalnoises?ELA4.5h Whatdoesananimallooklikewhenitsteetharebared?
25-26 SNAP:Onomatopoeia 27 Predictwhatyouthinkwillhappennextwiththetwo-
leggedcreatures.Whatwouldyoudo?ELA4.5iclutching
Talkorwriteaboutatimewhenyou,likeDanny,reallywishedyourmotherorfatherwaswithyou.ELA4.7
WhatdidDanny’smommameanwhenshetoldhim,“Thinkbeforeyouact?”Doyouusuallydothis?Describeatimewhenyouhaveorhaven’tthoughtbeforeyouacted.Whatdidyoulearn?ELA4.5h,j
Dannyaskshimself,“Whathappensnow?”WhatdoYOUthinkhappensnow?ELA4.5i
28 Whatisself-defense?HowisMistusingself-defenseinthispartofthestory?Isitrightorwrong?ELA4.5e
lurched
ferociously30 Whatisteamwork?Howhavetheottersusedteamwork
duringthisstory?Canyouthinkofatimewhenyouhaveusedteamwork?Whatwastheresult?ELA4.5c,d,h,j
foes
Rewritethelastfewpagesofthestoryfromthetwo-leggedcreatures’pointofview.ELA4.7,4.8
WritethenextDanRiverTwinsadventure!ELA4.7,4.8
ContentAreaLessonIdeasMath:
• UsemeasurementdataorpHtestingdatatocomparenumberswithdecimals.Math4.3a,c
• UsemeasurementwheelsinDanDanielsPark(availablefromDanvilleParksandRecreation).Math4.7a
• Measurementconversion:Calculatehowlonganotterlengthis(non-standardmeasure)andconverttofeet/inchesandmeters/centimeters.Thiscanalsobedoneforlevelsoffloodstages,thedistanceontheDanRivertheotterstraveled(milestofeet,kilometerstometers,etc.).Math4.7a,b
• ResearchtheliquidvolumeandthespeedofflowoftheDanRiverwhenitisatnormallevelsandwhenitisflooding.Math4.8a,b
• Calculateflowrate(cubicfeet/second)oftheDanRiver;compareagallonofwatertoabasketball.Math4.8a,b
• Trackelapsedtimeduringthestoryusingatimelineorchart.Math4.9• Geometry:perpendicularandparallellines—theDanRiverbridges.Math
4.10b• Studyhowmathisusedinpredictingandmeasuringtheweather.Math4.9,
4.13,4.14• GraphthepossiblewaterleveloftheDanRiverasitflooded(canuseactual
flooddatafrompreviousfloods).Math4.14• Usevarioustypesofgraphs(bar,line,etc.)tochartinformationoreventsin
thestory(e.g.,alinegraphwithwaterlevelgaugereadings;usgs.gov—NOAsitethathashistoricflooddata).Math4.14
Science:
• Whatarethedifferenttypesofotters?CompareandcontrastNorthAmericanRiverOttersandSeaOtters.Science4.5a
• Whatadaptationsdoriverottershavethatmakeriversandthelandnearbytheiridealhabitat?(webbedfeet,thickcoat,abilitytoholdbreathunderwaterforlongperiodsoftime,etc.)Science4.5a
• Creatediagrams,models,ormobilestoillustratevariousfoodwebsorchainsassociatedwiththeDanRiver.Science4.5b,c
• ParticipateintheCatfishintheClassroomprogramthroughDanvilleParksandRecreation.Science4.5b,f
• Whoareproducers,consumers,anddecomposersintheDanRiverecosystem?Science4.5c,e
• Weather—Whatsortofweatherconditionsleadtoriverflooding?Howisflashfloodingdifferentfromothertypes?Howisweathermeasured?(Connecttomath)Science4.6a,b,c
• StudythewaterqualityoftheDanRiver:Watertemperature,dissolvedoxygenandpH,howtheyaffectriverlife.ConducttestingatvariouspointsalongtheDanRiver(canalsoconnectwithmath).HowdoesfloodingaffectdissolvedoxygenandpHlevels?(DanvilleParksandRecreationortheDanvilleScienceCentermaybeabletoassistwiththistesting.)Science4.9a
• WhatisthewatercycleandwhyisthisimportanttotheDanRiver?Science4.9a
• Researchthehabitatofriverotters,beavers,greatblueherons,andotherwildlifedependentontheDanRiver.Science4.5d,4.9a,b
• DescribethevariousecosystemsinandalongtheDanRiver.(DanRiverBasinAssociationhasmaterialsandpossibleguestspeakers)Science4.5b,c,4.9a,b,d
• Whatarehumaninfluencesonrivers?HowhastheDanRiverbeeninfluencedbyhumansingoodandbadways?(fabricdyes,coalashspill,riverwalk,recreation,fishing)Science4.5f,4.9a,b
• Howdoesfloodingaffectariver,itsbanks,thesurroundingland,theplantsandtrees,andwildlife?(sediment,erosion,displacementofwildlife)Science4.6a,4.9a,b,d
• ResearchwaysordinarypeoplecancarefortheDanRiver.Whatcanchildrendo?CreateaserviceprojectthatwouldhelptheDanRiver.Science4.5f,4.9a
• ResearchthewaysinwhichtheDanRiverisanimportantwaterresource(drinkingwater,irrigationsource,recreation,habitatforfish,plants,andotherwildlife).Science4.4d,4.5b,c,d,f,4.9a,b,d
VirginiaStudies
• CollectvarioustypesofmapsofDanvilleandtheDanRiver,includinghistoricalmaps.Studycharacteristicsofmaps(scale,compassrose,mapkey,etc.).VirginiaStudies1a,c,i
• StudytheDanRiverAtlas.Whatisanatlas?Whatsortsofinformationcouldyoufindinthisatlas?VirginiaStudies1a,i,2b,
• Whatisthedifferencebetweenariverandacanal?WhenandwhywerecanalsbuiltalongtheDanRiver?VirginiaStudies1a,d,g,i
• HowwastheCityofDanvillefounded?HowwasthisconnectedtotheDanRiver?VirginiaStudies1a,b,f,i
• HowdidtheDanRivergetitsname?VirginiaStudies1a,d,g• HowdidthetobaccoandtextileindustriesaffectDanville?Howdidthey
affecttheDanRiver?VirginiaStudies1a,b,d,e,g,h,i,9a,10b,c• Studythebatteau.Createmodelsofthistypeofboat.HowwastheDanRiver
modifiedtomakerivertransportationeasier?VirginiaStudies1a,b,i• MakeaphotocollageofhistoricfloodsoftheDanRiver.VirginiaStudies1a,
c,i• ExplorethebeginningandtheendoftheDanRiver.WhatVirginia(and
NorthCarolina)regionsdoesittravelthrough(Mountain,Piedmont)?VirginiaStudies2b
• WhatNativeAmericanslivedneartheDanRiver?Whathappenedtothem?(TheMonaccanTribe…whatmightyoufindifyoudidanarcheologicaldignearDanville?Whatwouldtheartifactsofthistribelooklike?)VirginiaStudies2e,f,g
• HowwasDanvilleinvolvedintheCivilWar?(TheDanRivertransportedmaterialsandsuppliesforthewar;DanvillewasthecapitalcityoftheConfederacyforaboutaweekattheendofthewar.)VirginiaStudies7a,b
LanguageArts:
• Pointofview:Discussandwritescenesfromdifferingpointsofview(Momma,thehumans,theotheranimalcharacters).ELA4.1b,4.2d,4.5h,4.7
• Vocabulary:Makeadictionaryofallthevocabularywordsinthestory;teachguidewords,alphabeticalorder.ELA4.4a,c,e
• UtilizetheglossaryontheDanRiverTwinswebsite.ELA4.4c• Grammar:prefixes/suffixesELA4.4b• Verbs—Listalltheactionverbsinthestory;discussimportanceofverbsin
effectivewriting.ELA4.4d,4.5b• Fictionvs.non-fiction(storyandnon-fictionFunFacts)ELA4.5,4.6• Comparison/contrast:fictionvs.non-fiction,differentanimalsinthestory,
personalityofthecharacters,changesinthecharactersovertime,settingatvariouspointsalongtheDanRiver.ELA4.5f,h,4.6f
• Exploreauthor’spurpose(thestory—toentertain;non-fictionelements—toinform)ELA4.5a,4.6c
• Graphicorganizers:compare/contrast,sequencing,storyelements,charactertraitsELA4.5,4.6(varies,dependingongraphicorganizer)
• Exploredifferenttextfeaturesinthenon-fictionFunFactsELA4.6a• Functionaltexts:Collectlocalflyers,mapstoreadandinterpretELA4.6a,
4.9b• Writeapersuasiveletter(tothelocalnewspaper,citycouncil,etc.)about
preservingthehealthoftheDanRiverELA4.7,4.8• WritefriendlylettertoafriendorfamilymemberabouttheDanRiverELA
4.7,4.8• Journal(seeseparatesectionofTeachingGuidewithquestionsinjournal
format)ELA4.5h,i,j,k,4.7• WritethenextchaptertheDanRiverTwinssaga.ELA4.7,4.8
OtherIdeas:
• Fieldtrip:Visitalltheplacesinthestorythattheotterstraveled.Goonyourown,orcontacttheDanvilleParksandRecreationDepartmentforadditionalfieldtripoptionsandideas.
• Otherfieldtripideas:theDanvilleWaterTreatmentPlant(willalsodoclassroomvisits),theDanvilleScienceMuseum(waterqualityorDanRiverwildlifefocus)
• InvitespeakersfromtheDanvilleHistoricalSociety,theDanvilleFoundation,theDanvilleScienceCenter,ortheDanRiverBasinAssociationtocometoyourclassroom.
• DanRiverStewards:StudentsdevelopaserviceprojectrelatedtotheDanRiver.
• StudentsworkwithlocalcommunitygroupstoadvocatefortheDanRiver(DanRiverBasinAssociation,DanvilleFoundation,DanvilleScienceCenter,etc.)
’sDanRiverTwinsJournal(Beforeyoureadthestory)WhatareyourexperienceswithandfeelingsabouttheDanRiver? (Afterpage4)Whereisthe“BigDam”inDanville?Whatisitsrealname?Ifyouhavebeenthereorseenit,describewhatit’slike.
(Afterpage8)WhatisDannylike?WhatconnectionsdoyouhavetoDanny? (Afterpage11)Writeaboutasituationinyourlifewhensomeoneelsehasbeatenyouinacompetition.Howdidyoufeel?
(Afterpage13)WhydidMist’sheartsink?HowwouldyouhavefeltifyouwereMist?Describeasimilarsituationinyourlife. (Afterpage17)Whatwouldyouhavedoneifyourfriendwentoverthefalls?ComparethistowhatDannyandMistdid.
(Afterpage22)Describeatimewhenyouwereseparatedfromyourparentsorlovedones.Howdidyoufeel? (Afterpage25)Howcouldtwo-leggedcreaturesbedangeroustoriverotters?Ifyouwereoneofthosecreaturesinthatsituation,whatwouldyoudo?
(Afterpage27)WhatdidDanny’smommameanwhenshetoldhim,“Thinkbeforeyouact?”Doyouusuallydothis?Describeatimewhenyouhaveorhaven’tthoughtbeforeyouacted.Whatdidyoulearn? (Afterpage30)Whatisteamwork?Howhavetheottersusedteamworkduringthisstory?Canyouthinkofatimewhenyouhaveusedteamwork?Whatwastheresult?
Websites
CityofDanvillehttp://www.danvilleva.govCityofDanvilleParksandRecreationhttp://www.playdanvilleva.comDanRiverBasinAssociationhttp://www.danriver.orgDanvilleRegionalFoundationhttp://www.drfonline.orgDanvilleHistoricalSocietyhttp://www.danvillehistory.orgHistoricalInformation:http://www.danvillehistory.org/saponi-indians.htmlhttp://www.victorianvilla.com/sims-mitchell/local/native/redis.htmhttp://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Wreck_of_the_Old_97#start_entryhttp://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Tobacco_in_Colonial_Virginia#start_entryInformationaboutNorthAmericanRiverOtters:www.otters.nethttp://www.otterpaddlefoot.com/facts/index.htmhttps://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/North-American-River-Otter.aspxhttp://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/otter.htmwww.animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-river-otter/
Spelling“Demons”(commonlymisspelledwords)inTheDanRiverTwins
said(p.1)excited(p.1)favorite(p.2)caught(p.3)muscles(p.3)enough(p.4)answered(p.4)once(p.5)whispered(p.7)
friends(p.8)disappeared(p.8)though(p.9)finally(p.11)yeah(p.11)climbed(p.11)could(p.12)might(p.14)straight(p.16)
searched(p.18)suddenly(p.19)opposite(p.20)building(p.22)island(p.23)dangerous(p.23)creatures(p.23)approached(p.25)companions(p.29)