Akiak Vocabulary - CC Version

Teacher Provides Definition

•The following words do not have enough contextual clues provided in the text.

limping•Definition: Walk with difficulty typically because of a damaged or stiff leg or foot.

•“By the Ophir checkpoint, Akiak was limping.” (p.37)

layover•Definition: A stop or brief stay in the course of a journey.

•“Here the teams had to take an eight-hour layover to rest before the final dash for Nome.” (p. 44)

rugged•Definition: having a rough or uneven surface.

•“1,151 miles of wind, snow and rugged trail lay ahead, from Anchorage to Nome.”

descent•Definition: a downward incline or slope.

•“Through steep climbs and dangerous descent…Akiak always found the safest and fastest way.”

volunteer•Definition: someone who helps or works free of charge.

•“Akiak tore at the leash as the volunteer brought her to the airplane.”

steep•Definition: rising and falling sharply

•“Through steep climbs and dangerous descents, icy waters and confusing trails, Akiak always found the fastest and safest way.”

interpreter•A person who translates different languages

Students Use Context

•The following words have enough contextual clues for students to figure out their meaning.

break out•“Akiak and Squinty, Big Boy and Flinty, Roscoe and the rest of the team pounded across the snow for three days. The dogs were ready to break out but Mick held them back.”

•Read page 34 then write a definition below.

•Break out means _______________________________________________________________________________________________

blizzard•Read page 39 then write the definition below.•Blizzard means _____________________________________________________

•Akiak ran while the storm became a blizzard.”

rooting•“Almost everybody was rooting for Akiak to catch her team.”

•Read page 42 and write the definition of “rooting” below.•_______________________________________________________________________________________________

squinted•Read page 46 and write the definition of squinted below.•Squinted means__________________________________________________________________

•“Mick squinted through the snow, looking for a sign.”

wandered•“They wandered about tangling up the lines.”

•Read page 46 and write the definitions below.•Wandered means___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

tangling•“They wandered about tangling up the lines.”

•Read page 46 and write the definitions below.•Tangling means________________________________________________________________________________________

courageous•Read page 50 and write the definition below.•Courageous means____________________________________________________________________________________

•“People had come from everywhere to see the courageous dog that had run the Iditarod trail alone.”

musher•Read page 33 and write the definition below.•Musher means__________________________________________________________________

•“Mick was the musher but the team followed the lead dog.”

pounded•The rest of the team pounded across the snow for three days.”

•Read page 34 and write the definition below.•Pounded means ____________________________________________________________________________

grip•…Akiak twisted out of the handler’s grip.”

•Read page 39 and write the definition below.•Grip means________________________________________________________________________________________

experienced•Read page 40 and write the definition below.•Experienced means____________________________________________________________________________________

•“Trail volunteers knew than an experienced dog would stick to the trail.”

struggled•“She struggled into Shaktoolik in the late afternoon.”

•Read page 42 and write the definition below.•Struggled means _______________________________________________________________________________________________

raided•“Akiak raided the mushers’ discard pile for food.”

•Read page 42 and write the definition below.•Raided means _______________________________________________________________________________________________

discard•“Akiak raided the mushers’ discard pile for food.”

•Read page 42 and write the definition below.•Discard means _______________________________________________________________________________________________