Wishtree

Vocabulary Instructional Resources

Section 1

Justice (pg. 6)

Aspiring (pg. 16)

Tolerate (pg. 29)

Neglected (pg. 34)

Acknowledgment (pg. 40)

Traditional (pg. 11)

Intervene (pg. 20)

Open-minded (pg. 24)

Acceptance (pg. 30)

Threatened (pg. 34)

Justice (noun)

Definition: to stand by what is right, fair, and just

In book context (pg. 6):

“”Red” doesn’t begin to do me justice.”

Out of book context:

• Justice is served in the courtroom when prisoners are found guilty.
• The picture of the girl did not do her beauty justice.

Justice

Synonyms:

-honest

-integrity

-fair

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Different Forms:

-Justify (verb, when used with an object)

Aspiring (adjective)

Definition: to want strongly; to aim towards a goal

In book context (pg. 16):

“Down the street lives an aspiring rock bank complied of four middle schoolers.”

Out of book context:

• There are lots of pee wee basketball players aspiring to become the next LeBron James.
• After the lesson on pollution in science class, it left a lot of the students aspiring to start a recycling club.

Aspiring

Synonyms:

-strive

-desire

-want

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Different Forms:

-Aspire (verb)

-Aspiringly (adverb)

Tolerate (verb)

Definition: to allow different views, opinions, thoughts, beliefs, lifestyles, etc. from yours to occur in peace

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In book context (pg. 29):

“Bongo keeps a stash of odds and ends in one of my smaller hollows (which the opossums kindly tolerate).”

Out of book context:

• The old man could tolerate the kids loud music from across the street.
• The teacher would not tolerate bullying in her classroom.

Tolerate

Synonyms:

-accept

-condone

-go along with

Different Forms:

-Tolerative (adjective)

-Tolerator (noun)

Neglected (adjective)

Definition: to not take care of or to pay little attention to

In book context (pg. 34):

“I have been under watered, overpruned, fertilized, and fussed over, ignored and neglected.”

Out of book context:

• I neglected to take care of my goldfish by not feeding it or cleaning its tank.
• I neglected to study for this test and i failed it.

Neglected

Synonyms:

-ignore

-overlooked

-unwanted

Different Forms:

-Neglect (verb, noun)

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Acknowledgment (verb)

Definition: something that is done to give credit or recognition that somebody did something

In book context (pg. 40):

“Not a hello, exactly. Just an acknowledgment.”

Out of book context:

• The acknowledgment that he gave to her was just a simple wave from across the room.
• The way the teacher knows that her students are paying attention is when they give acknowledgement by answering her questions.

Acknowledgment

Synonyms:

-notice

-affirmation

-recognition

Different Forms:

-Acknowledge (verb, when used with object)

-Acknowlegeable (adjective)

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Puzzles

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 193)

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Variation 1

Use the clues below to figure out which word it is describing.

1. Even though James had a different religion from Milo, he still respected it.
2. The teenage band had dreams of becoming a famous rock bank one day.
3. Jeffery waved at Sarah and she smiled and waved back.
4. The sad boy sat all by himself because nobody would talk to him.
5. Was the jail time the prisoner was given, too much?

Words: Justice, Aspiring, Tolerate, Neglected, Acknowledged

Example/ Non-Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pg. 23-24)

Give a thumbs up if the people in the statements are showing tolerance.

1. Rebecca respected Susan’s religion, even though it was different from hers.
2. During the Civil Rights movement African Americans were not treated fairly because of their skin color.
3. The old man next door couldn’t stand to hear the teenager play his music and would yell at them.
4. The teacher made it very clear in her classroom that each student would respect on another, even if their thoughts and opinions were different than theirs.

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Have You Ever?

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 14)

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Answer these questions based on your life.

1. Have you or have you ever seen somebody fight for justice and fairness?
2. What are you aspiring to be when you grow up? Why?
3. Have you ever had to tolerate somebody or something because they were different from you?
4. Have you ever felt neglected before? How or did you fix it?
5. What is one way that you have shown acknowledgment to your teacher?

Writing

Writing Activity:

Think about an event from history, the present, or one that you have seen in your own life that people were fighting for justice and fairness…..

-What was being fought for?

-What was the outcome?

-Did it affect you/does it affect you to this day?

Writing

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 192)

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Using one of the sentence stems below. Write for five minutes.

-The gentleman showed acknowledgment to the lady by…..

-What I am aspiring to be when I grow up is…..

-The commercials of all the sad neglected dogs makes me want to...

Section 2

lanky (p. 43)

grimaced (p. 57)

lore (p. 63)

sly (p. 67)

optimist (86)

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fretted (p. 68)

pirouetted (p. 54)

customs (p. 54)

prosecuting (p. 59)

passive (p. 82)

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lanky (adjective)

Someone who is tall and thin and moves awkwardly.

Context from book (p. 43):

“By this time, the lanky boy had walked past me, swiveled, and returned.”�

Outside the book context:

He was a very tall and lanky man.

lanky

Synonyms:

• Bony
• Lean
• Scrawny
• Thin
• Twiggy

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Forms:

• Lankier (adj.)
• Lankiest (adj.)
• Lankily (adverb)
• Lankiness (noun)

grimaced (verb)

An ugly facial expression that is used when someone is annoyed, disgusted, or in pain.

Context from book (p. 57):

“They grimaced and shook their heads and murmured.”

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Outside the book context:

I grimaced when my mom told me I would have extra chores this week because I got in trouble at school.

grimaced

Synonyms:

• Frown
• Smirk
• Sneer
• Scowl

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Forms:

• Grimace (verb)
• Grimacing (verb)
• Grimacer (noun)
• Grimacingly (adverb)

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lore (noun)

Traditions and knowledge from a group of people that is passed down by word of mouth.

Context from book (p. 63):

“My father almost cut this tree down years ago. My mother wasn’t having it. Family lore or such thing.”

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Outside the book context:

Lore was passed around the campfire.

lore

Synonyms:

• Wisdom
• Tradition
• Knowledge

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Forms:

• Loreless (adj.)

sly (adjective)

A look on someone’s face that shows that they know something that other people don’t know.

Someone who keeps their feelings hidden and are clever at telling a lie.

Context from book (p. 67):

“All skunks name themselves after pleasant scents. I am not sure if this is because they’re a bit defensive about their reputation, or if they just have a sly sense of humor.”

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Outside the book context:

Swiper from Dora was a sly fox because he secretly stole from others.

sly

Synonyms:

• Subtle
• Artful
• Mischievous
• Deceitful
• Cleaver
• Sneaky
• Secretly

Forms:

• Slyer (adj.)
• Slyest (adj.)
• Slyly (adverb)
• Slyness (noun)

optimist (noun)

Someone who is hopeful about the future.

Context from book (p. 86):

“She’d always said I was a busybody, not to mention an optimist.”

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Outside the book context:

My sister is not an optimist because she always expects the worst case scenario.

optimist

Synonyms:

• Dreamer
• Idealist
• Hoper
• Believer
• Positive thinker

Forms:

• Optimistic (adj.)
• Optimistically (adverb)
• Optimism (noun)
• Optimists (noun)
• Optimising (verb)

Example/

Non-Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(pp. 184-185)

Variation 3:

Which could make you grimace?

• Getting extra recess, or getting recess taken away
• When your mom tells you that you have to go to bed early, or when she lets you stay up late
• When your dad forces you to eat your vegetables or when your dad lets you eat all the candy you want

Returning to the Story

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 192)

Find examples of characters demonstrating optimism throughout Wishtree. Record what they SAY and DO that offers you clues to how they are feeling.

Generating Situations, Context, and Examples

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 188)

Variation 3:

Develop comments that people might make that are associated with target words.

• What might someone who is an optimist say about a glass of water that has water in it?
• How might someone who is lanky move around the room?
• What might someone who is sly do when there is money in the room?

Writing

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 192)

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Variation 1:

Using one of the sentence stems below, write for 5 minutes.

• The boy was lanky because…
• The fox was sly because…
• The child grimaced because…
• The man was optimist because…

Puzzles

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 193)

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Variation 1:

Using the clues below, figure out which word best fits the statement.

• My grandparents told me about the traditions in their family.
• This word describes someone who is tall and skinny.
• This word describes someone who is sneaky.
• She had an ugly look on her face.
• This word means “someone who is hopeful about the future.”

Section 3

Pages 87-126

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Inquisitive (pg. 90)

Adaptation (pg. 91)

Vacated (pg. 92)

Meddling (pg.100)

Appreciated (pg.118)

Weary (pg. 87)

Generous (pg. 89)

Cautiously (pg. 90)

Boisterous (pg.91)

Bickering (pg. 101)

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Inquisitive (Adjective)

Someone showing an interest in learning things or a feeling of being very curious

Context from the book:

“They’re too...inquisitive,” said FreshBakedBread. “Always poking their noses where they shouldn’t be. Grabbing things with those little paws of theirs.” (pg. 90)

Outside contexts:

The inquisitive cat smelled the stranger carefully.

She looked at him inquisitively, with thousands of questions in her mind.

Inquisitive

Synonyms: curious, nosy, questioning, interested.

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Forms:

Inquisitively (adv.)

Inquisitiveness (noun)

Adaptation (Noun)

An adjustment or change to become or fit better

Context from the Book:

“Playing possum is a useful adaptation,” said HairySpiders, her pink nose twitching. (pg.91)

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Outside contexts:

Some plants and animals have adapted to live in very hot or very cold places.

An adaption of a polar bear is that their fur is white so they blend in with the snow which acts as camouflage against predators.

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Adaptation

Synonyms: Modifications, Change, Variation

Forms: Adaptational (adj.), Adaptationally (adv.)

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Vacate (Verb)

To vacate or go away so that something is empty

Context from the Book:

“There’s a nice looking linden tree two blocks away, just vacated by a gray squirrel family. (pg.92)

The animals that live in the wishtree are discussing where they will go if Red is cut down.

Outside contexts:

The family vacated their apartment to move to a different city.

The mayor vacated his position so it the position was open for a new person to be elected.

Vacate

Synonyms: Abandon, Dissolve, Evacuate, Move Out, Empty

Forms: Vacated (verb), Vacating (verb)

Meddling (Verb)

To intrude or involve yourself in something that does not concern you like someone else’s business

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Context from the Book:

“Meddling isn’t as easy as I thought it would be, I confessed to Bongo. (pg.100)

Red and Bongo are trying to get Samar and Stephen to become friends.

Outside contexts:

A friend is meddling in someone’s business or butting in to their business.

A mom is meddling or snooping in to her daughter’s love life.

Meddling

Synonyms: Pyring, Snooping, Interrupting, Nosy

Forms: Meddle (verb), Meddled (verb), Medler (noun)

Appreciated (Verb)

To be very thankful for something/someone or to understand the value of something

Context from the Book:

“It was a joint effort,” I said. “Teamwork. And much appreciated, both of you.

Red is thanking Bongo and Agnes for working together to take Samar’s wish off her branch.

Outside contexts:

I appreciated my mom making me soup when I was sick.

She appreciated the beauty of a sunset in the mountains.

Appreciated

Synonyms: Grateful, Thankful, Indebted, Obliged, Value

Forms: Appreciate, Appreciative, Appreciating

Example/

Non-Example

As I read, if I say something that you would appreciate, say “I would appreciate that”. If it is not something you would appreciate, do not say anything.

• My friend baked me a cake for my birthday.
• When my car broke down, my friend drove me to school.
• Someone bumped a grocery cart in to my car.
• I appreciate the beauty of that painting.
• My roommate ate my leftovers in the fridge.

Generating Situations, Contexts and Examples

Have students answer these questions…

• What is a situation in which you were appreciative?
• Have you ever meddled? Has someone ever meddled in your life?
• What is an example of a situation where you vacated somewhere?
• What would be a useful adaptation for humans in today’s world?
• What is something you are inquisitive about currently?

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Word Relationships

Describe how these words could be related…

• inquisitive/meddling
• appreciated/inquisitive
• adaptation/appreciative
• vacate/inquisitive
• meddling/vacate

Word Associations

Listen to these sentences. Which of our vocabulary words do you think of when you hear each sentence? Can you revise the sentence to include the vocabulary word?

• Yesterday, as I went to grab my wallet, I realized I had lost it. A stranger behind me offered to help me buy my milk and I was very thankful.
• My family and I are moving. We cleaned our apartment completely and left it empty.
• I decided to do some research on different art from Italy because I was very curious.

Puzzles

Listen to these clues and try to figure out what word they match.

• The gang from Scooby Doo have been caught doing this.
• To leave somewhere so that it is empty
• This describes a giraffe’s long neck that it has so it can reach the leaves at the top of tall trees.
• This is a feeling I would have if someone were to give me a handmade card.
• Another word for curious.

Section 4

Pages 127-167

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fretful (p. 131)

melancholy (p. 135)

meek (p. 143)

righteous (p. 144)

deliberately (p. 155)

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murmured (p. 128)

remedies (p. 131)

confidant (p. 131)

quizzical (p. 154)

saturated (p. 157)

fretful (adjective)

When someone is behaving in a way that shows they are worried or upset about something.

Context from the book (p. 131)

When word spreads about Maeve’s abilities to care for the sick.

People brought her their sick piglets and their lame horses, their coughing children and fretful babies.

Outside the book contexts:

• Her anxiety was making her fretful all day.
• I am fretful about my upcoming tests.

fretful

Synonyms:

• edgy, uneasy, worried
• out of sorts

Forms:

• fret (verb)
• fretfully (adverb)
• fretfulness (noun)

melancholy (adjective)

When you see or hear something that gives you an intense feeling of sadness.

Context from the book (p. 135)

When Red is talking about Maeve being lonely after her work all day.

At night, she’d gaze out an open upstairs window, and her sighs would float to us on the breeze, melancholy as the call of a mourning dove.

Outside the book contexts:

• She felt melancholy after seeing the ending to the show she had been binging.
• The empty room filled me with a sense of melancholy.

melancholy

Synonyms:

• gloomy, mournful, sorrowful
• down in the dumps, low-spirited

Forms:

• melancholily (adverb)
• melancholiness (noun)

meek (adjective)

When someone is gentle and quiet, and likely to do what other people say.

Context from the book (p. 143)

When someone leaves the baby inside of Red’s hollow, and the baby starts crying.

Not the meek peep of a wren chick.

Outside the book contexts:

• She often described herself as being as meek as a mouse.
• I felt able to say no, despite my usually meek nature.

meek

Synonyms:

• gentle, subdued, timid
• peaceful, unresisting

Forms:

• meeker/meekest (adj.)
• meekly (adverb)
• meekness (noun)

righteous (adjective)

When someone behaves or lives in a way that is morally good.

Context from the book (p. 144)

The baby inside of Red’s hollow starts crying, and it’s describing the sound of the cry.

No: This was a cry of righteous indignation.

Outside the book contexts:

• The injustices of the world filled her with a righteous anger.
• I felt righteous when I stood up for what I believed in.

righteous

Synonyms:

• ethical, honorable, virtuous
• law-abiding, right-minded

Forms:

• righteously (adverb)

deliberately (adverb)

When you plan or decide to do something before hand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance.

Context from the book (p. 155)

When Red tells Maeve’s story to Samar and Stephen, breaking the rule about talking to people.

I’d deliberately spoken to people.

Outside the book contexts:

• She felt betrayed after he deliberately broke her trust.
• I deliberately put away anything that could distract me so that I could work.

deliberately

Synonyms:

• knowingly, purposely, willfully
• by design, on purpose

Forms:

• deliberate (adj.)
• deliberateness (noun)

Example/Non-

Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pp. 184-186)

Variation 1:

“If I say something that sounds like it would make you feel fretful, say ‘Fretful’. If not, don’t say anything.”

• Homework being due in every subject tomorrow.
• Taking a walk along a beach.
• The family dog running away and getting lost.

(Students should always be asked ‘Why?’ they responded as they did)

Example/Non-

Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pp. 184-186)

Variation 2:

“If any of the things I say are examples of people being righteous, pump your fist in the air and say, ‘Righteous.’ If not, don’t say anything.”

• Standing up for someone being bullied
• Cheating on a test
• Lying to your parents
• Turning in a wallet you found with money in it

“If any of the things I say are examples of things being done deliberately, say ‘On purpose.’ If not, don’t say anything.”

• Tripping on the playground while running around
• Giving a high-five to a friend
• Helping a classmate pick up books they dropped
• Dropping your pencil on the floor

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Example/Non-

Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pp. 184-186)

Variation 3:

“Which would make you feel fretful?”

• Going on a family vacation tomorrow or taking a test in school tomorrow

“Which would make you feel melancholy?”

• Celebrating your birthday or losing your favorite toy
• Having your pet get sick or getting a new phone for Christmas

“Which would you do if you were meek?”

• Stay quiet around new people or make friends with new people
• Stand up for yourself or do what you’re told

“Which would you do if you were righteous?”

• Steal things from your classmates or creating a project to help the homeless people in your community

“Which would you do deliberately?”

• Fold your laundry or drop a plate on the kitchen floor

Generating Situations, Contexts, and Examples

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pp. 188-189)

Variation 2:

“What might happen at school to make you feel melancholy?”

“Why might being meek make it hard to make new friends?”

“What might you do to be a righteous member in your community?”

Writing

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan

(pp. 191-192)

Variation 2:

“Think of a time when you felt either fretful or melancholy. Write a little bit about what made you feel that way.”

“Think of someone you could describe as meek. Tell what that person is like.”

Section 5: Chapter 43-51

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Ominously (p.170)

Insensitive (p. 171)

Inquired (p. 174)

Eluded (p. 181)

Sympathetically (p. 179)

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Addled (p. 176)

Metaphorically (p. 176)

Caked (p. 177)

Philosophize (p. 182)

Accurate (p. 187)

ominously (adverb)

Describes or suggests that something bad is going to happen

[threatening]

Context from the book (p. 170)

Red has just met the workers who are going to cut her down.

‘When a truck carrying powerful chainsaws, along with something ominously called a stump grinder, shows up, well, you know you’re in trouble.’

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Outside the book contexts:

• Thunderclouds approached ominously overhead.
• Because of the ominous music, we knew something bad was about to happen in the movie.

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ominously

Synonyms:

Threateningly, menacingly, unfavorably

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Forms:

Ominous (adjective)�Ominousness (noun)

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insensitive (adjective)

Describes someone who does not care about someone else’s feelings

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Context from the book (p. 171)

Francesca and the men are discussing the cost and time it will take to cut Red down.

‘Talk about insensitive.’

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Outside the book contexts:

• He’s a rude, insensitive jerk.
• I’m sorry I came off insensitive, I didn’t mean to ignore your feelings.

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insensitive

Synonyms:

Unkind, callous, heartless, inconsiderate

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Forms:

insensitively (adverb)�insensitiveness (noun)�Insensitivity (noun)

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inquired (verb)

To ask, �To find out, �To learn

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Context from the book (p. 174)

Francesca told the families that the tree would be cut down after Wishing Day. The parents were okay with it, but Samar and Stephen ran up to Francesca to tell her she couldn’t cut down the tree.

“I can’t?” Francesca inquired. “And why is that, dear?”

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Outside the book contexts:

• “Grandma, why is the dog barking?” Sasha inquired.
• In Spanish class, I inquired about the word for ‘cat’.

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inquired

Synonyms:

Ask, question, investigate

Related Words: curious, wonder

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Forms:

inquire (verb)�inquiring (verb)

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eluded (verb)

The act of getting away from or escaping

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Context from the book (p. 181)

Red is talking about how trees don’t sleep like animals or humans do, they simply rest.

‘Unfortunately, that night rest eluded me.’

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Outside the book contexts:

• The cat eluded the noisy room of people.
• I eluded school today by pretending to be sick.

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eluded

Synonyms:

evade, flee, dodge, escape

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Forms:

eluding (verb)�elude (verb)�eludes (verb)�eluder (noun)

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sympathetically (adverb)

Describes the way you feel for someone who is in a bad situation, you are sorry/sad for them, and show this in the way you behave toward them.

�[Describes when you agree with someone’s ideas.] �

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Context from the book (p. 179)

Samar is talking to Stephen about the whispering and note passing she observed during school today and how it felt like everyone was talking about her and staring at her.

“Things aren’t always what they seem.” stephen said sympathetically. “Come on. Let’s go check out that shed.”

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Outside the book contexts:

• Rose sympathetically nodded when her student told her that her cat went missing.�
• The teacher sympathetically gave an extension on the assignment because the student’s grandmother passed away.

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sympathetically

Synonyms:

Affectionately, appreciatively, �kindly, warmly, emotionally, heartily, humanely, kindheartedly, understandingly

Forms:

sympathetic (adjective)�sympathy(noun)�

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Returning to �the Story

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 192)

Find examples of characters demonstrating sympathy throughout Wishtree. Record what they SAY and DO that offers you clues to how they are feeling.

There are many instances of a character inquiring something in Wishtree. Identify three times a single character inquired during the story.

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Word Associations

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(pp. 186)

DIRECTIONS: Students hear a sentence that has something to do with one of the words, and then indicate which word. Then they revise the sentence in a way that includes the word.

The squirrel escaped the vicious, barking dog in the backward. Which new word goes with that sentence? Revise it.

On the rainy, cold day, I had a shivering chill run down my spine when a black crow mysteriously flew to the window. Which new word goes with that sentence? Revise it.

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Example/ Non-Example

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(pp. 184-185)

Variation 1:

If I say something that sounds insensitive, raise your fist and yell “insensitive” If not, don’t say anything.

• Olivia was crying and Mike walked away laughing.
• Jenna gave Emily a hug when Emily had she was feeling sad.
• Kelly handed Stacy her glasses after she tripped on the sidewalk.
• The large company cut down part of the rainforest to build a hotel.

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Puzzles

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 193)

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Variation 1:

Using the clues below, figure out which word best fits the statement.

• My brother broke my barbie doll and didn’t apologize.
• Clara purposely knocked Ellie’s books off the table.
• This word describes someone who is unkind.
• She laughed when her sister fell off her bike.
• This word means “someone who does not care about another person’s feelings”

Word Relationships

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan �(p. 189)

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Describe how these words could be related…

• insensitive/sympathetically
• eluded/ominously
• insensitive/eluded
• inquired/insensitive
• sympathetically/eluded