Earthquake Terror

Earthquake Terror by Peg Kehret

Summary:  The Palmer family is all ready for an exciting camping vacation on an isolated island in northern California. While on a hike, their mother falls and breaks her ankle. The father heads to the nearest hospital with the mother, while twelve-year-old Jonathan stays on the island with his partially paralyzed younger sister, Abby. The family dog is there to help. When an earthquake hits the island, Jonathan is faced with many problems while trying to keep his sister safe.

Review the story below: 

Genre:  Realistic Fiction 

Realistic Fiction is a fictional story in which the setting, plot, dialogue, and characters seem real.

Story Skill: Plot (Conflict and Events)

A plot is the action or series of events in a work of fiction.  Sometimes important events in a plot are changes in a character's feelings or attitudes. Other times they are action-packed events, such as earthquakes, space journeys, or shipwrecks.  In most stories the plot concerns one or more problems or conflicts.  To keep you reading, authors set up interesting characters and situations.  Then, they give their characters big problems or conflicts to deal with. 

Plots usually follow a pattern like this one:

1. Exposition - The characters, setting, and conflict, or problem, are introduced.
2. Rising Action - The characters try to solve the problem.  It usually gets worse.
3. Climax - Action, conflict, and tension reach a critical point.
4. Falling Action - The conflict gets worked out.
5. Resolution - The ending tells the outcome.

 To practice plot development.

 To practice making inferences about plot development.

 To practice placing the parts of the plot on a plot diagram.

Spelling List

Earthquake Terror –  short vowel patterns
bunk	bunch	fond	ditch
staff	swift	crush	split
dock	stuck	grasp	swept
slept	breath	dwell	deaf
mist	tough	fund	rough

Challenge Words
trek	frantic	summit	rustic	mascot

Build Background or Extend Your Knowledge

Earthquakes for Kids	Describing Earthquakes	Earthquakes and Maryland
FEMA Kids Earthquakes	Study Jams Earthquakes

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