Reading and Writing Sahara, Unit 1 Explorations

 By Nate Feldman

*Identifying facts and speculations in reading passages 

Example: Josh is the director of Camp World Friendship.  This brings people from around the world to build lifelong relationships and learn about one another's cultures.  He thinks it has a good influence on the campers.

Fact: Josh is the director of Camp World Friendship

Speculation: Camp World Friendship has had  a good influence on campers around the world 

A Short Story:

Last night, it was pitch black outside and I couldn’t see anything in front of me.  Suddenly, a mysterious creature came up in front of me and bit me!  It may have been a vampire or a werewolf.  It was so horrible and I lost some blood.  Now, I may have to visit a doctor because I may be changing into a horrible creature myself! 

Last night was very dark  F  S

A mysterious creature bit me  F  S

It was a vampire  F  S

I am changing into a horrible creature  F  S

 Activity: Make your own writing.  Write facts and speculations.  Share it with your partner.  See if they can identify the facts from the speculations. 

Grammar with Speculations: may be/may have been 

Present Tense: There is a person with a mask on their face.  I don’t know who it is.  It may be Teruyuki.  It may be Rodolfo.  It may be Ameen.  I don’t know.

Last night, a person with a mask came to my house, but I never saw their face.  Who was it?  It may/might have been Ali.  It may have been Alexander.  It may have been Yongjae.  I don’t know, so now I must find out.

 A person came to my door last night.  It was Faisal. 

A person came to my door last night.  It might have been Faisal.  

 

Vocabulary: 

Vast = huge; massive; very big

Heritage = things that celebrate the old culture and traditions

Threat = something that is dangerous to you