excel

Vocabulary Card 1.1

ex • cel (v.)
To excel at something is to be very good at it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Keep practicing and you will excel.
3 Use the word excel in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word excel.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
what it means to excel. Then discuss these questions:
What approach would you use to accomplish this goal?
What is something you excel at?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

illustrious
 Vocabulary Card 1.2

il • lus • tri • ous (adj.)

An illustrious person is famous for his or her
achievements.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The illustrious inventor was
known around the world.

3 Use the word illustrious in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word illustrious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what it means to be illustrious. Then discuss these
questions: What conclusions can you draw about this
illustrious inventor? What other illustrious people can you
think of?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

revere
 Vocabulary Card 1.3

re • vere (v.)
If you revere someone, you think very highly of
that person.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: I revere people whose inventions
improve the world.

3 Use the word revere in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word revere.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of what it means to revere someone. Then discuss these
questions: What characteristics does a person whom you
revere possess? Who is someone that you revere?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

transcend
 Vocabulary Card 1.4

tran • scend (v.)

If you transcend a boundary, you go above or
beyond it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Astronauts must transcend
limitations and challenges.

3 Use the word transcend in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word transcend.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
what it means to transcend a boundary. Then discuss
these questions: What qualities must people have to
transcend boundaries? What are examples of boundaries
that you could transcend?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

locomotives
 Vocabulary Card 1.5

lo • co • mo • tives (n.)
Locomotives are the engines that make a train
go forward.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Locomotives pulling freight cars
leave the railroad yard every thirty minutes.

3 Use the word locomotives in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

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word locomotives.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the use of locomotives. Then ask the question: In what
ways were locomotives an improvement in transportation
from the horse and wagon?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

chugged
 Vocabulary Card 1.6

chugged (v.)
If a machine chugged along, it moved slowly
and noisily.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The steam train chugged through
the mountain passes.

3 Use the word chugged in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word chugged.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about machines you have seen as they chugged.
Discuss these questions together: How could you use your
five senses to describe a machine as it chugged along? Why
do you think steam trains were slower than today’s trains?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

gadgets
 Vocabulary Card 1.7

gadg • ets (n.)

Gadgets are small, specialized machines or
electronic devices.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The toolbox at the hardware store
had various gadgets.

3 Use the word gadgets in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word gadgets.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think of some gadgets

that you would use to fix things, to make things, or to
cook. Describe some of them to a partner, without telling
what they are. See if your partner can guess each item.
Discuss how people might have performed these same
tasks before the gadgets were invented.

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

phonograph
 Vocabulary Card 1.8

pho • no • graph (n.)

A phonograph is a machine that plays recorded
music or sound.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Long ago people played music on
a phonograph.

3 Use the word phonograph in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word phonograph.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Ask small groups to
list the major differences between playing music on a
phonograph and streaming music on a computer. Have
them discuss these questions: How do you think music
sounded when it was played on a phonograph? What
other changes do you think will be made in the future?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

sputtered
 Vocabulary Card 1.9

sput • tered (v.)

If something sputtered, it worked in a rough or
uneven way and made popping noises.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The engine sputtered as the car
drove down the road.

3 Use the word sputtered in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word sputtered.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about a

machine that you have seen or heard that sputtered.
Discuss these questions with a partner: How would you
describe the machine that sputtered? Why do you think
this engine sputtered, and what could be done to fix it?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

flop
 Vocabulary Card 1.10

flop (n.)
Something that is a flop is a complete failure.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The cake he baked was a flop.
3 Use the word flop in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word flop.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
discuss something you tried to do or make that was not
successful, or was a flop. Then discuss these questions
together: How did you feel when you experienced your
flop? What could you do differently next time to change
the results?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

incandescent
 Vocabulary Card 1.11

in • can • des • cent (adj.)

Something that is incandescent gives off a lot
of light.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We replaced the burnt out light
bulbs with incandescent bulbs.

3 Use the word incandescent in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word incandescent.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about how an incandescent light may look. Make a list
of other sources of light, such as florescent, halogen, and
LED bulbs. Discuss these questions: Why do you think there
are many kinds of lights? Why might someone choose to use
an incandescent bulb?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

cylinder
 Vocabulary Card 1.12

cyl • in • der (n.)

A cylinder has circular ends and straight sides.
In an engine, a cylinder takes in gas to make other
parts move.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The mechanic replaced the leaky
cylinder with a new one.

3 Use the word cylinder in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word cylinder.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about why a working cylinder is important. Discuss
these questions together: Why would a leaky cylinder
need to be replaced? What might happen if a broken
cylinder is not replaced?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

patents
 Vocabulary Card 1.13

pat • ents (n.)

Patents are legal documents. If you get a patent for
an invention, no one else is allowed to make or sell it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Scientists protect their inventions
with patents so no one can copy them.

3 Use the word patents in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word patents.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about different inventions that have needed patents.
Discuss these questions together: What kinds of
information would you need to include when applying for
patents? Why is this information necessary?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 1

irrigate
 Vocabulary Card 1.14

ir • ri • gate (v.)
To irrigate crops is to supply them with water
through a system of pipes, sprinklers, or streams.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Farmers in some areas must
irrigate their fields in order for crops to grow.

3 Use the word irrigate in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

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word irrigate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about when and where farmers irrigate. Then discuss
these questions: Why is it important for farmers to irrigate
their fields? What conclusions can you draw about how our
lives are affected because farmers irrigate their fields?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

inspector
 Vocabulary Card 1.15

in • spec • tor (n.)

An inspector reviews or examines something
carefully.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  An inspector checked the
tomatoes to make sure they were clean.

3 Use the word inspector in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word inspector.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a small group,

make a list of things that may need to be checked by
an inspector. Then discuss these questions: Why is it
important for an inspector to come into places that serve
food to the public? What could happen if these places were
never inspected?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

photographed
 Vocabulary Card 1.16

pho • to • graphed (v.)

If someone or something was photographed, its
photo was recorded on film or as a computer file.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Leon photographed important
events for our school’s yearbook.

3 Use the word photographed in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word photographed.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner discuss

why it is important for things to be photographed.
Then answer these questions together: What are some
life events that should be photographed for future
generations? What makes a photo a work of art?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

prestigious
 Vocabulary Card 1.17

pres • ti • gious (adj.)

Something prestigious is impressive and important.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The most prestigious award in
our school is Student of the Year.

3 Use the word prestigious in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word prestigious.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a small group,
talk about different kinds of prestigious awards. Answer
these questions: What prestigious award would you
like your school to give out and why? What would be the
qualifications for winning such a prestigious award?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

auditorium
 Vocabulary Card 1.18

au • di • to • ri • um (n.)
An auditorium is a large room where an audience
gathers for a presentation or performance.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When there is an assembly,
our school uses the auditorium because it holds the
most people.

3 Use the word auditorium in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word auditorium.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Discuss events that

could take place in an auditorium with a partner. Talk
about these questions: What are some other places in your
community that may have an auditorium? Why might an
auditorium be needed to host certain events?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

impoverished
 Vocabulary Card 1.19

im • pov • er • ished (adj.)

To be impoverished is to be poor.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  In the 1930s, many people were
impoverished and lived in tent cities like this one.

3 Use the word impoverished in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word impoverished.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In a small group,
list items and resources that might be most helpful to
residents of an impoverished community. Discuss this
question together: How could you learn more about an
aid group that helps impoverished areas?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

maneuver
 Vocabulary Card 1.20

ma • neu • ver (v.)

To maneuver something is to move it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  In the Special Olympics,
competitors are able to maneuver their wheelchairs
in a variety of ways.

3 Use the word maneuver in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

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word maneuver.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of things you can maneuver. Then discuss this question:
How do the basketball players maneuver their wheelchairs
to play?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

specialized
 Vocabulary Card 1.21

spe • cial • ized (v.)

If a company specialized in something, it provided a
specific type of product.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My father used a company that
specialized in making wheelchairs.

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3 Use the word specialized in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word specialized.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Talk with a partner

about companies you know that have specialized in
certain products. Make a list. Discuss the following: Pick
one of the companies on your list, and describe the product
they have specialized in. Why do you think it is important
for companies to focus on making specific items?

Grade 5 • Module 1• Week 2

elite
 Vocabulary Card 1.22

e • lite (adj.)
Elite members of a group are those who are the best
or most skilled.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The most elite athletes are invited
to compete in the Olympics.

3 Use the word elite in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

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word elite.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about the

characteristics of people who are elite in their sport. Use
these questions as you talk with a partner: Name some
of the sports that you enjoy. What skills would you need to
be an elite player in each of those sports? How could you
gain these skills?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

objective
 Vocabulary Card 1.23

ob • jec • tive (n.)

An objective is a goal.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: His objective was to do his best at
the race.

3 Use the word objective in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word objective.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think of an objective
you would like to achieve. With a partner, talk about
your goal by using these questions: What steps could you
follow to achieve this objective? How long do you think it
will take to reach your objective?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

traditional
 Vocabulary Card 1.24

tra • di • tion • al (adj.)

Something that is traditional has been made or
done in a certain way for a very long time.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is traditional to wear red,
white, and blue on Independence Day.

3 Use the word traditional in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word traditional.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner think

of a traditional holiday that your family celebrates.
Then discuss these questions: Do you know why this
holiday is traditional? What traditional foods are served
at the celebration?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 2

passionate
 Vocabulary Card 1.25

pas • sion • ate (adj.)

To have a passionate feeling is to have strong
emotions about it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The researcher is passionate
about her work in the hospital laboratory.

3 Use the word passionate in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word passionate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about something you are passionate about. Then
discuss these questions: What is the reason you are
passionate about this subject? How can you pursue your
interests in subjects you are passionate about?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

impulse
 Vocabulary Card 1.26

im • pulse (n.)
An impulse is the desire to do something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our impulse was to take every
puppy in the pound.

3 Use the word impulse in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word impulse.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of an impulse you have had. Use these questions to talk
about this impulse: What have you done on impulse?
How did you feel afterwards? Would you follow this
impulse again? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

contribution
 Vocabulary Card 1.27

con • tri • bu • tion (n.)

A person who helps to make something has made a
contribution to that work.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The airplane was an important
contribution to long-distance travel.

3 Use the word contribution in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word contribution.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think of someone

who has made a contribution in the field of technology.
Discuss this person with a partner: What was the person’s
contribution? How has that contribution changed the
lives of people today?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

distinguished
 Vocabulary Card 1.28

dis • tin • guished (adj.)

A distinguished group is known and respected for
its excellence.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The distinguished inventor won
an award for excellence in airplane design.

3 Use the word distinguished in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word distinguished.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of someone you think is distinguished. Then discuss
these questions together: What has this person done
to make you think this? What are some qualities that
distinguished people may have in common?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

eccentric
 Vocabulary Card 1.29

ec • cen • tric (adj.)

Someone who is eccentric is odd.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The eccentric inventor was
always working on odd projects.

3 Use the word eccentric in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word eccentric.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, pick
a character from a book or story you have read who is
eccentric. Discuss these questions together: What do
you think is eccentric about this character? Describe a
characteristic you have that is eccentric.

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

circumstances
 Vocabulary Card 1.30

cir • cum • stanc • es (n.)

The way an event happened or the causes of it are
its circumstances.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Under the circumstances, the
picnic was cancelled.

3 Use the word circumstances in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word circumstances.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of some circumstances that caused a fundraising event
at your school or in your community to happen. Then
discuss this question: What did you do to raise money?
Explain how those circumstances made your school or
community aware of the needs of others.

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

evidently
 Vocabulary Card 1.31

ev • i • dent • ly (adv.)
If something happened evidently, it happened for
an obvious reason.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Evidently, Lilah had a very
bad fall.

3 Use the word evidently in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word evidently.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of some obvious reasons for your school to have rules
about running in the hallways. Discuss: Do you think rules
at school are important? Why or why not? Complete this
statement: Evidently, schools also have rules about having
cell phones in class because…

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

acceleration
 Vocabulary Card 1.32

ac • cel • er • a • tion (n.)

Acceleration is the act of moving faster.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The acceleration of the car
around the curve caused it to run off the road.

3 Use the word acceleration in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word acceleration.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Discuss with a partner
a time when the acceleration of the bus or car you were
riding in caused you to spill or drop something. What
happened as a result? How do you prevent acceleration
from knocking over your things when riding in the car?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

prototype
 Vocabulary Card 1.33

pro • to • type (n.)

A prototype is a rough model created to test
something before creating it in its final form.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We built a prototype to show
what the real robot would look like.

3 Use the word prototype in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word prototype.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about a

prototype that you have seen or heard about. With a
partner, answer these questions: What are some reasons
an inventor would build a prototype? What information
do inventors expect to learn from building a prototype?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

conceived
 Vocabulary Card 1.34

con • ceived (v.)

If you thought of the idea to create something, you
conceived it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Cora conceived an idea for a
safer bicycle helmet.

3 Use the word conceived in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

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hear the word conceived.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about why

different ideas may be conceived. With a small group,
discuss the safety features of your school playground.
Ask: Which features were conceived to keep children safe
on the swings? Which features were conceived to keep
children safe on the monkey bars?

Grade 5 • Module 1 • Week 3

prose
 Vocabulary Card 2.1

prose (n.)
Unlike poetry, prose is “ordinary writing,” in the form
of sentences and paragraphs.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Most stories are written as prose,
but some are written as poems.

3 Use the word prose in your own sentence.

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4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word prose.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the difference between prose and poetry. Which do you
like better, prose or poetry? Why? Have you ever written a
story in prose? Have you ever tried to write poetry?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

dialogue
 Vocabulary Card 2.2

di • a • logue (n.)
The dialogue is the conversation among characters
in a story.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The way this character speaks in
his dialogue helps me understand more about him.

3 Use the word dialogue in your own sentence.

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4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word dialogue.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about a story

or play you have read that contains dialogue. Discuss
these questions with a partner: What makes dialogue
in a story or play seem real? What does dialogue tell you
about the characters?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

climax
 Vocabulary Card 2.3

cli • max (n.)

The climax of a story is its most important event and
usually happens near the end.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  At the exciting climax of the story,
the hero ran into a burning building.

3 Use the word climax in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word climax.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think of a story you
have recently read. Discuss these questions with a
partner: What was the climax of the story? How did the
story end?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

foreword
 Vocabulary Card 2.4

fore • word (n.)

The introduction to a book is called its foreword.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  You should read the book’s
foreword before you read the rest of the story.

3 Use the word foreword in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word foreword.

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COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer
these questions: Why is it important to read the foreword
before beginning a story? Do all types of books need a
foreword? What types of stories do not need a foreword?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

panic
 Vocabulary Card 2.5

pan • ic (n.)
Panic is a feeling of strong fear that leaves someone
unable to think clearly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When the hero of the movie was
in danger, the audience had a feeling of panic.

3 Use the word panic in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Brocreative/Shutterstock

word panic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when you had the feeling of panic. What caused
this feeling of panic? Describe what happened to your body
when you felt panic.

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

favorable
 Vocabulary Card 2.6

fa • vor • a • ble (adj.)

Something that is favorable gives a benefit or
contributes to success.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He always makes a favorable
impression because he is so friendly.

3 Use the word favorable in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Don Couch/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word favorable.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the factors that make a favorable impression.
Then discuss these questions: How can you make a
favorable impression? Why do people say you only get
one chance to make a first impression?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

porthole
 Vocabulary Card 2.7

port • hole (n.)

A porthole is a small round window on a ship.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I looked out the porthole in my
room as the ship approached land.

3 Use the word porthole in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word porthole.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Eky Studio/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about where you have seen a porthole. What purpose
does a porthole serve? What do you think a porthole on a
ship must be able to do? How might a person’s experience
on a ship be different if the ship had no portholes?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

densely
 Vocabulary Card 2.8

dense • ly (adv.)
If something is covered densely, the covering is so
thick that it is difficult to see through.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The ivy densely covered the
house making it hard to see the window.

3 Use the word densely in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Creatas/Jupiterimages/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word densely.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about places that can be described as densely
populated. Then discuss these questions: Would you like
to live in a densely populated area? Why or why not? What
kind of places would not likely be densely populated?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

reasonable
 Vocabulary Card 2.9

rea • son • a • ble (adj.)

If something is reasonable, it is logical and easy
to understand.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is reasonable for this father
to think that his son knocked over the planter and
spilled dirt on the ground.

3 Use the word reasonable in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Radius Images/Alamy

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word reasonable.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the following questions: What is a reasonable time for
people your age to go to bed on school nights and on
weekends? What are some reasonable chores that you can
help out with at home?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

delirious
 Vocabulary Card 2.10

de • lir • i • ous (adj.)

When someone is delirious, he or she is confused
due to fever or illness.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Her fever was so high she was
delirious, and it was difficult for her to think or sleep.

3 Use the word delirious in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Pears2295/Getty Images/iStockphoto.com

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word delirious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a character in a book or movie who was delirious.
Then discuss these questions: What illness was the cause
of the character’s delirious feeling? How long did the
delirious feeling last?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

projected
 Vocabulary Card 2.11

pro • ject • ed (v.)

Something that is projected may appear to be real
but is not.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The snowboarder in the 3-D
movie was projected into the room.

3 Use the word projected in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Andrey Popov/Shutterstock

hear the word projected.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when a theater projected a movie that appeared
to be real. What was the movie? How did it make you feel?
Why does a movie that is projected in 3-D seem so real?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

contents
 Vocabulary Card 2.12

con • tents (n.)

The contents of a document are the topics or
subjects it includes.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The contents of the book were
several chapters.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Niclas Bomgren/iStockphoto.com/Getty Images

3 Use the word contents in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word contents.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the table of contents you have seen in a book.
Then discuss these questions: Do you read the table of
contents before you read a book? Why or why not? What
can you learn from the table of contents of a book?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

deficiencies
 Vocabulary Card 2.13

de • fi • cien • cies (n.)

If something has deficiencies, it has weaknesses or
flaws.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Whole-grain pasta is a nutritious
food in many ways, but it has some vitamin and
mineral deficiencies.

3 Use the word deficiencies in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Ekaterina_Minaeva/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word deficiencies.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss ways that people might deal with nutritional
deficiencies. What are some foods that could help you
avoid vitamin deficiencies?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 1

mysterious
 Vocabulary Card 2.14

mys • te • ri • ous (adj.)

Something that is mysterious is not fully
understood or explainable.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Nobody knows what is in the
mysterious box.

3 Use the word mysterious in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©igorstevanovic/Shutterstock

word mysterious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a mysterious person, place, or thing. Why do you think
this person, place, or thing is mysterious? How do you feel
when you see something mysterious?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

matted
 Vocabulary Card 2.15

mat • ted (adj.)

Something that is matted is a tangled mess.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The dog’s fur was so matted that
we had to shave the dog.

3 Use the word matted in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Thomas Alexander Nagy/Shutterstock

word matted.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why it is important to get matted fur in animals or
matted hair in people untangled. Have you ever had
matted hair? How did you get it untangled?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

tendrils
 Vocabulary Card 2.16

ten • drils (n.)

Tendrils of plants are long, thin sections that often
twist around an object or another plant.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The plant had long tendrils that
wrapped around the other plant.

3 Use the word tendrils in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©soohyun kim/Shutterstock

hear the word tendrils.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe the tendrils of a plant. Then discuss these
questions: How do tendrils help plants climb? Can you
name a plant that has tendrils?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

fastenings
 Vocabulary Card 2.17

fas • ten • ings (n.)

Fastenings attach objects to other things.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Dad repaired the fastenings that
attached the door to the frame.

3 Use the word fastenings in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock

hear the word fastenings.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, list

as many types of fastenings as you can. Then discuss
these questions: What kinds of fastenings do you use
for clothing? What types of fastenings do you use to keep
papers together?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

awakening
 Vocabulary Card 2.18

a • wak • en • ing (v.)

If you are awakening someone, you are waking him
or her from sleep.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The child began awakening
at sunrise.

3 Use the word awakening in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©kwanchai.c/Shutterstock

word awakening.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about what you are like when awakening in the
morning. Then discuss these questions: Do you get up
quickly or slowly when awakening? Are you cheerful or are
you quiet shortly after awakening?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

witness
 Vocabulary Card 2.19

wit • ness (n.)

A witness is someone who appears in court to say
what he or she knows about a crime.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The witness saw what happened
and promises to tell the whole truth about it.

3 Use the word witness in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word witness.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when you were a witness. Have you ever been
a witness to an accident at school? Or were you ever a
witness to a traffic accident? Explain.

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

presiding
 Vocabulary Card 2.20

pre • sid • ing (gerund)

If you are presiding over an event, you are in
charge of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The judge is presiding over
the courtroom.

3 Use the word presiding in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock

hear the word presiding.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

times you have been asked to preside over a discussion
group. What is the role of someone who is presiding over a
group? If you are presiding over a group, how do you make
sure one person does not take over the discussion?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

attempted
 Vocabulary Card 2.21

at • tempt • ed (v.)
If you attempted something, you tried to do it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our dog attempted to dig a large
hole, but I stopped him.

3 Use the word attempted in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word attempted.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Ratikova/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about something you have attempted. Then discuss
these questions: If you were successful at something
you attempted, what helped you to succeed? If you were
unsuccessful, what was the cause?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

restrain
 Vocabulary Card 2.22

re • strain (v.)
When you restrain yourself, you stop yourself from
doing what you want to do.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our dog was able to restrain
herself from taking food off of the table.

3 Use the word restrain in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Eric Isselee/Shutterstock

word restrain.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

times when you have to restrain yourself from enjoying
too much of a good thing. What alternative choices can
you make when you restrain yourself from something, like
playing too many video games or eating fast food?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

contempt
 Vocabulary Card 2.23

con • tempt (n.)

When you show contempt, you show little or no
respect for someone or something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When people feel contempt, they
sometimes behave in ways that are angry or
disrespectful.

3 Use the word contempt in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word contempt.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

a time when you felt contempt for a rule or decision in
school, at home, during a game, or in the neighborhood.
Why did you feel contempt? Did you express this feeling of
contempt, or did you act respectfully?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 2

seized
 Vocabulary Card 2.24

seized (v.)
If you were seized by an idea or feeling, you were
suddenly overwhelmed by it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I was seized by fear when I
thought my puppy was lost.

3 Use the word seized in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©pathdoc/Shutterstock

word seized.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a time when you were seized by fear. Then discuss
these questions: What caused you to be seized by fear?
Was there another way you could have reacted? Explain
your answer.

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

hesitate
 Vocabulary Card 2.25

hes • i • tate (v.)

If you hesitate, you wait to speak or act because
you’re not sure what to say or do.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I saw Sam hesitate before he
jumped off the diving board.

3 Use the word hesitate in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Caravan Images/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word hesitate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

something that might make you hesitate. Why would you
hesitate? What could you learn from this experience? Are
there times when it might be wise to hesitate? If so, when?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

watchful
 Vocabulary Card 2.26

watch • ful (adj.)

If you are watchful, you pay attention to everything
around you.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  An owl is a watchful animal.
3 Use the word watchful in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word watchful.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

these questions: Why is being watchful an important
habit to get into? Can you think of situations when you
must be watchful?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

scrawled
 Vocabulary Card 2.27

scrawled (v.)
If you scrawled something, you wrote it quickly
and sloppily.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: He scrawled a note on a piece
of paper before he left the house.

3 Use the word scrawled in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©pelfophoto/Shutterstock

word scrawled.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What makes a scrawled note difficult
to read? In what situations do you find that you have
scrawled rather than used your best handwriting?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

ditty
 Vocabulary Card 2.28

dit • ty (n.)
A ditty is a song or poem that is short and cheerful.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The children sang a little ditty
at recess.

3 Use the word ditty in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word ditty.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©BraunS/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
these questions: What is your favorite ditty from early
childhood? What commercial ditty on television do you
remember, and what was being advertised?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

refrain
 Vocabulary Card 2.29

re • frain (n.)
A refrain is a verse or phrase that is repeated in a
song or poem.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Her mom sang the verses and
Emma sang the refrain.

3 Use the word refrain in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Martin Novak/Shutterstock

hear the word refrain.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: Can you think of a song or a poem that
has a refrain? Why do you think a poet or a songwriter uses
a refrain?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

restless
 Vocabulary Card 2.30

rest • less (adj.)

If you are restless, you find it hard to relax or stay still.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The child was tired after a restless
night’s sleep.

3 Use the word restless in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word restless.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©holbox/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
these questions: What do you do if you are restless at
night? What do you do if you are restless in class?

Grade 5 • Module 2 • Week 3

notable
 Vocabulary Card 3.1

no • ta • ble (adj.)
If something is notable, it is worth noticing.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The scientist measured a notable
increase in the hurricane’s strength.

3 Use the word notable in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Stocktrek Images, Inc./Getty Images

word notable.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when a natural disaster caused a notable event
in your area. What was the notable event? How did your
community react to it?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

spontaneous
 Vocabulary Card 3.2

spon • ta • ne • ous (adj.)

A spontaneous action is one that happens naturally
and isn’t planned.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She made a spontaneous
decision to jump into the lake.

3 Use the word spontaneous in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Olga Enger/Shutterstock

word spontaneous.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe a time when you gave a spontaneous answer
in class. What was the question? What made you give a
spontaneous answer, instead of taking time to think
about it?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

tremor
 Vocabulary Card 3.3

trem • or (n.)
A tremor is a small earthquake or uncontrolled
shaking in a body part.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The tremor knocked a few things
out of place but didn’t do any real damage.

3 Use the word tremor in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

word tremor.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a time when you have felt a tremor or have seen
one happen. What caused the tremor? What were the
conditions when the tremor happened?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

hazard
 Vocabulary Card 3.4

haz • ard (n.)

A hazard is a danger.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Watch out for the storm surge; it is
a major hazard.

3 Use the word hazard in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word hazard.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jacob Goodwin/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of a hazard that could cause an accident at home or on
the playground. How could you prevent the hazard from
becoming an accident? What could you do to warn others
of the hazard?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

seismographs
 Vocabulary Card 3.5

seis • mo • graphs (n.)

Seismographs are instruments that measure and
record details about earthquakes, such as their
strength and how long they last.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Seismographs tell us that
moderate earthquakes often last 10 to 30 seconds.

3 Use the word seismographs in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©hakandogu/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word seismographs.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about the type of damage that could happen in an
earthquake. Then discuss these questions: Why are
seismographs important tools for studying earthquakes?
How do you think seismographs work?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

evacuation
 Vocabulary Card 3.6

e • vac • u • a • tion (n.)

An evacuation is the act of moving from a
dangerous area to a safer one.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The governor ordered an
evacuation of their city, so Linda and her mom packed
up their car and left.

3 Use the word evacuation in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word evacuation.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what types of situations would call for an evacuation
of citizens from their homes. When people are asked to
evacuate, where do they go? What emergency preparations
should you have in case of an evacuation?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

reservoir
 Vocabulary Card 3.7

res • er • voir (n.)

A reservoir is a place where a supply of something
is collected.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The water behind the dam formed
into a reservoir.

3 Use the word reservoir in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©ChiaraPoggi/iStock/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word reservoir.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: Why is a water reservoir important for
a town? How do you store water in case of an emergency?
Where do you keep your personal reservoir of water?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

conferring
 Vocabulary Card 3.8

con • fer • ring (v.)

If you are conferring with someone, you are
discussing an idea or trying to make a decision.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I saw them conferring about
which plan to put into action.

3 Use the word conferring in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Stephen Coburn/Shutterstock

word conferring.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when students were conferring with the teacher
about an idea or plan for the class. What idea were
you conferring about? Describe a time when you were
conferring with your family to make a plan.

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

consequences
 Vocabulary Card 3.9

con • se • quenc • es (n.)

Consequences are the outcomes or effects of events.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Jay faced the consequences of
being late when he found the store had already closed.

3 Use the word consequences in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word consequences.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
some of the consequences of these actions: What are
the consequences of not putting your things away? What
are some consequences of not being prepared for school?
What are some consequences of not getting enough sleep?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

widespread
 Vocabulary Card 3.10

wide • spread (adj.)

If something is widespread, it happens over a large
area or among many people.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The ash that spewed from the
volcano was widespread.

3 Use the word widespread in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word widespread.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PhotoAlto sas/Alamy

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
some situations that would be widespread and affect an
entire community. What situation are you aware of where
there has been widespread damage or harm? How did
people come together to help in this situation?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

alarming
 Vocabulary Card 3.11

a • larm • ing (adj.)

Something that is alarming makes you worry that
something bad may happen.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The funnel cloud was an
alarming sight.

3 Use the word alarming in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Justin Hobson/Shutterstock

word alarming.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What weather conditions would be
an alarming sight where you live? When conditions are
alarming, what do you do? What plan do you have in place?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

victim
 Vocabulary Card 3.12

vic • tim (n.)

If you fall victim to something, you suffer or die
because of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Rescuers carried a victim of the
storm’s devastation.

3 Use the word victim in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Kazlova Iryna/Shutterstock

word victim.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What does it mean to be a victim of
nature’s forces? How is it similar to and different from being
a victim of a crime?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 1

prior
 Vocabulary Card 3.13

pri • or (adj.)
Prior means coming before, in time or order.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Prior to driving, my mother
checks to see that I have fastened my seatbelt.

3 Use the word prior in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word prior.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Image Source/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
why schools take precautions prior to an emergency.
Why is it important to prepare prior to an actual event?
What measures does your school have in place in case of
an emergency?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

magnitude
 Vocabulary Card 3.14

mag • ni • tude (n.)

Magnitude refers to the size of something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The magnitude of the Alaskan
earthquake was 9.2.

3 Use the word magnitude in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word magnitude.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©John Nakata/Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
what you should do if there were an earthquake of great
magnitude in your town. If you were at school, what
would you do? If you were at home, what would you do?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

literally
 Vocabulary Card 3.15

lit • er • al • ly (adv.)
If you say something literally happened, that means
it actually happened, and you aren’t exaggerating or
using a metaphor.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: It literally rained for five days in
a row.

3 Use the word literally in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Dark Moon Pictures/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word literally.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of an idiom, or an expression that is not meant literally,
such as once in a blue moon. Discuss the meaning of the
idiom. How can you figure out the meaning of an idiom?
How would you know the meaning is not intended literally?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

maintenance
 Vocabulary Card 3.16

main • te • nance (n.)

The maintenance of something is the act of taking
care of it and repairing it when needed.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The maintenance needed to keep
the school in good condition requires everyone’s help.

3 Use the word maintenance in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word maintenance.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Phovoir/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of things in your school that require maintenance. Who
is responsible for the maintenance of your school building?
How can you help share this responsibility?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

destruction
 Vocabulary Card 3.17

de • struc • tion (n.)

Destruction is the act of destroying or
ruining something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The destruction of buildings is
often widespread during an earthquake.

3 Use the word destruction in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©deepspace/Shutterstock

word destruction.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

think about a time when you have seen or read about
destruction in a city or town. What needs do people have
when their town suffers destruction? How might other
communities help?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

triggered
 Vocabulary Card 3.18

trig • gered (v.)

If you triggered an action or event, you did
something to start it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My hand triggered the
dominoes falling.

3 Use the word triggered in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©JGI/Blend Images/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word triggered.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe a time when one event triggered another.
What was the original event? What events were
triggered by it?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

thrust
 Vocabulary Card 3.19

thrust (v.)
To thrust is to push something with great force.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The violent movement of
the earthquake thrust the ground up through
the pavement.

3 Use the word thrust in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©James Ogg/Shutterstock

word thrust.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: Have you ever been on a carnival ride
when you felt it thrust you forward? What was the ride?
How did it make you feel?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

radiate
 Vocabulary Card 3.20

ra • di • ate (v.)
To radiate is to spread out in waves or rays.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Shock waves radiate from the
epicenter of an earthquake just as ripples radiate in
a pond.

3 Use the word radiate in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word radiate.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©idiz/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, make a
list of things that radiate from a point of impact. Would
waves that radiate be stronger or weaker from point of
impact? Give specific examples such as pain from a wound,
music in a house, or heat from a stove.

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

parallel
 Vocabulary Card 3.21

par • al • lel (adj.)

If two or more things are parallel to each other, they
move in the same direction.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The highway was marked with
yellow parallel lines.

3 Use the word parallel in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Photo 24/Getty Images

word parallel.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, give

examples of things that are parallel. How do parallel
lines appear as they move toward the horizon?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

lateral
 Vocabulary Card 3.22

lat • er • al (adj.)
If something moves in a lateral way, it moves side
to side.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Some chess pieces can only make
a lateral move.

3 Use the word lateral in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Leah-anne Thompson/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word lateral.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, give

examples of games played on a board or online that
allow lateral moves. When is it a good time to make a
lateral move?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

modified
 Vocabulary Card 3.23

mod • i • fied (adj.)

A modified version of something is a revised, or
changed, version.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The plans for the house were
modified in case of flooding.

3 Use the word modified in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©donross/Shutterstock

word modified.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

how houses are modified based on the weather in the
area. How are houses modified for very cold weather? How
are houses modified for very hot weather?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 2

surge
 Vocabulary Card 3.24

surge (n.)
A surge is a sudden powerful movement forward
or upward.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  A surge of water from the
hurricane flooded coastal areas.

3 Use the word surge in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word surge.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lisa S./Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
think of different types of surges. Then discuss these
questions: How can a surge of water from a hurricane
cause damage? What is another type of surge that can
cause damage?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

eventually
 Vocabulary Card 3.25

e • ven • tu • al • ly (adv.)
To state that something will happen eventually
means that it will happen at some time, usually after
a series of other events.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The horse will eventually reach
the finish line.

3 Use the word eventually in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©gabriel12/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word eventually.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of things that will eventually happen to you this school
year. What will you eventually be able to accomplish in
gym class? What will you eventually learn in math class?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

regions
 Vocabulary Card 3.26

re • gions (n.)
Regions are areas.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Many regions in the western
United States had damage due to wildfires.

3 Use the word regions in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Drew Rose/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

word regions.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

which regions of the United States are most likely to be
affected by hurricanes. What types of extreme weather
would likely affect the other regions of the country?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

mobile
 Vocabulary Card 3.27

mo • bile (adj.)
Something that is mobile is able to move or be
moved easily.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Mobile news vans cover the latest
stories as they happen.

3 Use the word mobile in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Josep Curto/Shutterstock

word mobile.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the role of mobile units, such as mobile command units
in local emergencies or natural disasters. What other
mobile units help out during these times?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

anchored
 Vocabulary Card 3.28

an • chored (adj.)
Something that is anchored is firmly attached
to something else or weighed down so it won’t
move easily.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The anchored boat could not
drift out to sea.

3 Use the word anchored in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©isarescheewin/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word anchored.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about anchored boats you have seen in real life or in
movies. Where would you expect to see several anchored
boats all in one place? How do you think an anchored boat
stays in place at sea?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

foundations
 Vocabulary Card 3.29

foun • da • tions (n.)

Foundations are the base pieces houses and
buildings are built upon.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Workers laid the foundations
before the houses could be built.

3 Use the word foundations in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lev Kropotov/Shutterstock

word foundations.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about foundations of buildings that you have seen in
real life or in photographs. Then discuss these questions:
What material is commonly used to make foundations?
Why do you think this material is chosen for foundations?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

category
 Vocabulary Card 3.30

cat • e • go • ry (n.)
A category is a group of things that are similar to
each other in some way.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We place each ball in a different
color category.

3 Use the word category in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jenn Huls/Shutterstock

word category.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why we put things that are alike into a category. If you
had to pack up your classroom, what categories would
you have? Name one category and tell what you would
put in there.

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

track
 Vocabulary Card 3.31

track (v.)
To track something is to watch it and see where it
moves and how it changes.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Meteorologists track storms to
warn people in their path.

3 Use the word track in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©EHStockphoto/Shutterstock

word track.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss why the information storm chasers track is
so valuable. What can we learn from the information
they track? What type of information do you track? Do
you track your test scores?

Grade 5 • Module 3 • Week 3

native
 Vocabulary Card 4.1

na • tive (adj.)
A person, animal, or plant that is described as native
to a place, was born in that place.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Sunflowers are native to the
northern regions in the United States.

3 Use the word native in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mikael Damkier/Fotolia

word native.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what it means to be native to an area. What place are
you native to? What are some things that remind you of
that place?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

epic
 Vocabulary Card 4.2

ep • ic (adj.)
An epic event is very large and impressive, and
sometimes heroic.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Thousands of workers faced
great danger during the epic construction of the
Egyptian pyramids.

3 Use the word epic in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mark Karrass/Corbis

word epic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why the building of the pyramids of Giza was an epic
project in history. What other epic projects can you name?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

midland
 Vocabulary Card 4.3

mid • land (n.)

The middle of a country is sometimes called
the midland.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Many pioneers began their journey
west at Independence, Missouri, in America’s midland.

3 Use the word midland in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Getty Images/PhotoDisc

word midland.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a state that is in the midland of America. Then discuss
these questions: What are two other states you can
name in the midland? What is one state that is not in
the midland?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

victory
 Vocabulary Card 4.4

vic • to • ry (n.)
When you achieve a victory, you overcome a
challenge or win against a competitor.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Reaching the end of the long and
difficult tournament was a victory for the winning
soccer team.

3 Use the word victory in your own sentence.

©Hero Images/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word victory.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 

discuss why winning a difficult sports game would be
an important victory for the players. Can you think of a
time in your life when you achieved a victory?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

knowledge
 Vocabulary Card 4.5

knowl • edge (n.)

If you have knowledge, you have information or
understanding about something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our teacher gave us the
knowledge we need to succeed in class.

3 Use the word knowledge in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©gradyreese/E+/Getty Images

word knowledge.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a situation where you needed knowledge to help you.
Then discuss these questions: What knowledge did you
need that you did not have? What lesson did you learn?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

posts
 Vocabulary Card 4.6

posts (n.)
Posts were forts or stopping places along the trail
where people could buy supplies.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Pioneers found posts along the
major trails where they could buy supplies.

3 Use the word posts in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jeff Schultes/Shutterstock

hear the word posts.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss the importance of trading posts along the trails.
Compare the trading posts of long ago to the mini-
marts attached to gas stations along highways today.
How are they similar? How are they different?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

hardships
 Vocabulary Card 4.7

hard • ships (n.)

Hardships are difficulties or suffering caused by not
having enough of something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Some people face hardships like
not having enough water.

3 Use the word hardships in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©seamind224/Shutterstock

hear the word hardships.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think of

some hardships people have had to endure throughout
history. What do you think gave them the strength to go on
in the face of these hardships? Can good things ever come
out of hardships? If so, what?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

patriotic
 Vocabulary Card 4.8

pa • tri • ot • ic (adj.)
People who act in a patriotic way toward a country
show that they love that country.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When people say the Pledge of
Allegiance, it shows that they are being patriotic.

3 Use the word patriotic in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Comstock/Getty Images

hear the word patriotic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What does it mean to be patriotic? What
other ways can you act in a patriotic way besides saying
the Pledge of Allegiance?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

slogans
 Vocabulary Card 4.9

slo • gans (n.)

Slogans are short phrases that are catchy and easy
to remember.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We saw several billboards with
eye-catching slogans advertising products.

3 Use the word slogans in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Goodshoot/Jupiterimages/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word slogans.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

ideas for positive slogans that describe your class. The
slogans should be simple phrases or sentences. What is
your message? What words would you use in your slogan?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

handy
 Vocabulary Card 4.10

han • dy (adj.)
Something that is handy is very useful.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  A lasso is a very handy item for
a rancher.

3 Use the word handy in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word handy.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lisa Dearing/Alamy Ltd.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
a gadget or a tool you use every day that is handy. What
do you use the handy tool for? What do you do when you
cannot use your handy tool? What was life like before you
got the tool?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

typical
 Vocabulary Card 4.11

typ • i • cal (adj.)

If something is typical, it is usual or normal.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  On a typical day, these students
ride the bus to school.

3 Use the word typical in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©SDI Productions/E+/Getty Images

word typical.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a typical day at school. What is your typical schedule?
What types of food would a typical school lunch include?
What is the typical amount of homework you receive
each night?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

consisted
 Vocabulary Card 4.12

con • sist • ed (v.)

If something consisted of certain items, it was made
up of those things.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The salad consisted of lettuce,
carrots, broccoli, celery, tomatoes, and olives.

3 Use the word consisted in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Alex Cao/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word consisted.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe what your dinner consisted of last night. Then
discuss these questions: Your breakfast this morning
consisted of what? What does your favorite meal consist of?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 1

celestial
 Vocabulary Card 4.13

ce • les • tial (adj.)

Something that is celestial is heavenly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  On our trip out west, we viewed
the star-filled celestial sky.

3 Use the word celestial in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word celestial.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Traveller Martin/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name
some of the celestial bodies you can see in the sky day
or night without a telescope. How is viewing the celestial
sky in the city different from viewing it out in the country?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

complaint
 Vocabulary Card 4.14

com • plaint (n.)

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction
or pain.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: His complaint was that the
waiter brought him the wrong dinner.

3 Use the word complaint in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock

word complaint.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe the right ways to make a complaint. How
should you tell someone that you are not happy about
something? How can you state a complaint without
showing anger?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

employed
 Vocabulary Card 4.15

em • ployed (v.)
If you hired people to do a job, you employed them.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She is employed at a local
coffee shop.

3 Use the word employed in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

word employed.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss what common responsibilities any person who
is employed should have. Why is a person expected to be
on time for their job? Why must someone who is employed
get along with others?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

sacrifice
 Vocabulary Card 4.16

sac • ri • fice (n.)

A sacrifice is the act of giving up something valued
for something or someone else.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Janice made a sacrifice when she
gave up her blankets and other supplies to help the
victims after the storm.

3 Use the word sacrifice in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©asiseeit/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word sacrifice.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a sacrifice you made to help someone in your class or at
home. What was your reward for making a sacrifice? What
impact did your sacrifice make on others?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

homestead
 Vocabulary Card 4.17

home • stead (n.)

In the late 1800s, a homestead was a piece of land
in America’s western regions that was claimed, lived
on, and settled by a pioneer.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  After many long years of living on
this land, the homestead became ours.

3 Use the word homestead in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Paul Tessier/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word homestead.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

answer these questions: How would you describe the life
of a pioneer on a homestead? What modern conveniences
do you think a homestead lacked?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

primary
 Vocabulary Card 4.18

pri • mar • y (adj.)

Something that is primary is the highest
in importance.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My uncle’s primary home is
downtown, but he also has a house on the lake.

3 Use the word primary in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jupiterimages/Getty Images

word primary.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss these questions: What is your primary goal for
this school year? What steps can you take to accomplish
your primary goal?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

domain
 Vocabulary Card 4.19

do • main (n.)
Someone’s domain is the land or territory that he or
she owns and controls.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This farm has been our family
domain for many years.

3 Use the word domain in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Kevin Eaves/Shutterstock

hear the word domain.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

how your bedroom is your domain. How does your
domain reflect your personality? What do you do that
shows pride in your domain?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

residence
 Vocabulary Card 4.20

res • i • dence (n.)

A residence is a place in which people live.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Our residence is on the west side
of town.

3 Use the word residence in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word residence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Hurst Photo/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer
these questions: What types of residences do people live
in today? What types of residences did people live in long
ago? What makes a residence a home?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

ideology
 Vocabulary Card 4.21

i • de • ol • o • gy (n.)
An ideology is a set of beliefs.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Her ideology about the company
did not always match her boss’s, but they found a way
to work together.

3 Use the word ideology in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jupiterimages/Getty Images

hear the word ideology.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: How does your ideology about school
affect the way you study? How does your ideology about
school affect the way you behave at school?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 2

frolics
 Vocabulary Card 4.22

frol • ics (n.)

Frolics are fun acts, such as dances or parties.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  All of us enjoy nice frolics in the
meadow on a warm spring day.

3 Use the word frolics in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word frolics.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about some frolics you have enjoyed in your spare time.
Then discuss these questions: What was one of your
favorite frolics? Why do you think it is important for people
to have frolics?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

stubble
 Vocabulary Card 4.23

stub • ble (n.)

Stubble is the short, stiff stalks of plants that remain
in a field after harvesting.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  After the tractor moved across
the field, all that was left of the corn plants were rows
of stubble.

3 Use the word stubble in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Orientaly/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word stubble.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: Can you think of a reason why a farmer
would leave plant stubble in a field? Why do you think
the word stubble is used to describe the early growth of
a beard?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

indispensable
 Vocabulary Card 4.24

in • dis • pens • a • ble (adj.)

Something that is indispensable is necessary.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The mayor proved that he was
indispensable by solving the city’s big problems.

3 Use the word indispensable in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Blend Images/Hill Street Studios/Getty Images
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word indispensable.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: Can you think of things in your life that are
indispensable? What would you do without those things?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

dainty
 Vocabulary Card 4.25

dain • ty (adj.)
Something that is dainty is delicate.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The bee landed on the dainty
petals of the flower.

3 Use the word dainty in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word dainty.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Paul Melling/Alamy

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
these questions: What are some other things you could
describe as dainty? How would you take care of those
dainty things?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

plod
 Vocabulary Card 4.26

plod (v.)
To plod is to move heavily and slowly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We watched the horse plod
through the snow.

3 Use the word plod in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word plod.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PhotoDisc/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
these questions: Can you think of a time when your walk
could be described as plodding along? How did it feel to
plod along?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

oblivious
 Vocabulary Card 4.27

o • bliv • i • ous (adj.)

If someone is oblivious to something, he or she is
unaware of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He was oblivious to the person
behind him.

3 Use the word oblivious in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word oblivious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: Can you think of a time when you were
oblivious to someone joking with you? What was the joke?
How did you become aware of it?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

proportions
 Vocabulary Card 4.28

pro • por • tions (n.)

When you talk about the proportions of something,
you talk about its size.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The proportions of the furniture
fit the size of the dollhouse perfectly.

3 Use the word proportions in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PhotoDisc/Getty Images

hear the word proportions.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Describe some

things that come in different sizes to match different
proportions. With a partner, discuss this question: Why
do you think dog bones come in many sizes to match the
body proportions of different dogs?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

regaled
 Vocabulary Card 4.29

re • galed (v.)
If you regaled someone, you entertained them.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Chen regaled her family with
funny stories about her day.

3 Use the word regaled in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Caroline Woodham/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word regaled.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time you regaled your friends with a funny story. What
was your story? When have you been regaled with a funny
story? What was the story?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

thresh
 Vocabulary Card 4.30

thresh (v.)
To thresh a plant is to beat it in order to separate its
grain or seeds from the rest of the plant.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Neighbors often helped one
another thresh the wheat.

3 Use the word thresh in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Banana Republic/Adobe Stock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word thresh.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

how machines have helped farmers thresh wheat. What
advantage do you think a machine that can thresh wheat
has over humans who perform the same task?

Grade 5 • Module 4 • Week 3

contaminate
 Vocabulary Card 5.1

con • tam • i • nate (v.)

To contaminate something is to add a harmful
substance to it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Some weed killers are harmful
chemicals that contaminate soil and water.

3 Use the word contaminate in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©hedgehog94/Shutterstock

word contaminate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the word contaminate by answering these questions:
What are ways that people can contaminate gardens?
What might people do to stop contaminating plants?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

benevolent
 Vocabulary Card 5.2

be • nev • o • lent (adj.)

A benevolent person or thing is kind.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Volunteering to plant trees is a
benevolent act.

3 Use the word benevolent in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock

word benevolent.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: Why is planting a tree a benevolent act?
What other benevolent acts can you name that help your
community? How do these acts help others?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

imperil
 Vocabulary Card 5.3

im • per • il (v.)
To imperil someone or something is to put it
in danger.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Firefighters imperil their own
lives to protect others.

3 Use the word imperil in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©StockPhotosLV/Shutterstock

word imperil.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

different jobs where people imperil their lives. Why do
you think they do this? What kind of person is willing to
imperil his or her life for others?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

endangered
 Vocabulary Card 5.4

en • dan • gered (adj.)

To be endangered is to be at risk of great harm
or death.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (tl) ©Martin Strmiska/Alamy Images; (tr) ©Corbis/SuperStock; (bl) ©Getty Images;
1 Read the word and its meaning above.
2 Read this sentence:  Animal species that are
endangered might disappear from the planet forever.

3 Use the word endangered in your own sentence.

(br) ©Johan Swanepoel/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word endangered.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, make

a list of endangered species. Discuss the following
questions: How can endangered species be saved? What
would you say to a person who does not know about
endangered species?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

urban
 Vocabulary Card 5.5

ur • ban (adj.)
Something that is urban is related to a city.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  As our population grows, urban
areas expand.

3 Use the word urban in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Gino’s Premium Images/Alamy Images

word urban.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of the advantages of living in an urban area. Then
discuss these questions: What are some good things
about living in an urban area? Would you rather live in an
urban area or a rural area? Why?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

humble
 Vocabulary Card 5.6

hum • ble (adj.)

If something is humble, it is simple and
not impressive.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The country cottage looked
humble when compared to the splendid palace nearby.

3 Use the word humble in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©MedioImages/Getty Images

word humble.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what it means to describe something as humble. What
are some characteristics of a humble cottage? Why can
something that is considered humble, such as a cottage, be
as good if not better than something described as grand?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

plots
 Vocabulary Card 5.7

plots (n.)
Plots are small sections of land that are used for a
certain purpose.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our neighborhood shares small
plots of land to grow vegetables.

3 Use the word plots in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Hannamariah/Shutterstock

you hear the word plots.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what you could grow if you had small plots of land. Then
discuss these questions: What could you grow on large
plots of land? What else could you do with plots of land?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

alternative
 Vocabulary Card 5.8

al • ter • na • tive (n.)

An alternative is a choice or option that can take
the place of something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Micah chose an apple as a
healthier alternative to cookies.

3 Use the word alternative in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©pixelheadphoto digitalskillet/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word alternative.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why an alternative sometimes involves making a better
choice. What is your favorite alternative to fast foods?
What is an alternative to having a messy room?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

transform
 Vocabulary Card 5.9

trans • form (v.)

If you transform something, you change it from one
thing to another.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Kayla is able to transform a sheet
of paper into a paper animal.

3 Use the word transform in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word transform.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
discuss things you wish you could transform. How could
you transform someone’s bad mood? How could you
transform your community to make it better?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

artificial
 Vocabulary Card 5.10

ar • ti • fi • cial (adj.)
If something is artificial, it was created by humans
rather than nature.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Artificial turf looks almost like
real grass but never has to be mowed.

3 Use the word artificial in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©red mango/Shutterstock

you hear the word artificial.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name

some things that are artificial that either look real or
perform tasks that a human could perform. If you could
create a computer program using artificial intelligence,
what task would you have your program do? Why would
this be helpful to humans?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

yield
 Vocabulary Card 5.11

yield (v.)
To yield means to produce or create something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The field will yield a larger crop
because there has been plenty of rain.

3 Use the word yield in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word yield.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Ron Chapple/Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
the factors that affect the growth of plants. What might
cause an apple tree to yield more fruit? What might cause a
wheat field to yield less wheat?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 1

influence
 Vocabulary Card 5.12

in • flu • ence (v.)

If you influence something, you affect it or cause a
certain outcome.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Store managers influence
customers to buy certain products by choosing which
items to display.

3 Use the word influence in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Eyewire/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word influence.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss an ad on television and explain how the ad can
influence you to buy a product. What words in the ad
influence you? What images in the ad influence you?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

reduce
 Vocabulary Card 5.13

re • duce (v.)
To reduce something is to decrease the size or
amount of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  You can reduce waste when
you recycle.

3 Use the word reduce in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Meg Wallace Photography/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word reduce.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about some things people have been able to reduce.
Then discuss these questions: What are some good reasons
to reduce the amount of garbage and waste? What are
some challenges we face if we do not reduce waste?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

conscious
 Vocabulary Card 5.14

con • scious (adj.)

To be conscious of something is to be aware of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Mario is conscious of how
recycling reduces waste.

3 Use the word conscious in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word conscious.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Fuse/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
how the students in your school are conscious of taking
care of the planet. How can you help others become
conscious of the need to recycle and reuse materials? What
are some other ways you and your family can be conscious
of taking care of the planet?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

implying
 Vocabulary Card 5.15

im • ply • ing (v.)

If you are implying something, you are expressing it
without stating it directly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  By pausing the story and looking
up at us, our teacher was implying that we should
stop talking.

3 Use the word implying in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Getty Images RF

you hear the word implying.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about what people may be implying when they shrug
their shoulders. What are some other types of body
language that help you understand what someone is
implying? Act out the body language you discuss.

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

contradict
 Vocabulary Card 5.16

con • tra • dict (v.)

To contradict something is to say or do the opposite
of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When we contradict each other
about which way to go, we will likely get lost.

3 Use the word contradict in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©IMG Stock Studio/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word contradict.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when you have experienced contradicting
information. How would you handle a situation in which
two pieces of information contradict each another?
How could you contradict someone without hurting the
person’s feelings?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

cascading
 Vocabulary Card 5.17

cas • cad • ing (v.)

Something that is cascading is falling or flowing in
a way similar to a waterfall.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The water from the stream was
cascading down the rocks.

3 Use the word cascading in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Grace5648/Dreamstime

hear the word cascading.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss some other things you have seen cascading in
real life or in photographs. What kind of plants might be
cascading over a fence? If a person’s hair is cascading,
what does it look like?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

depleted
 Vocabulary Card 5.18

de • plet • ed (adj.)
Something that is depleted is worn out.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The artist could not finish her
painting with her depleted set of paints.

3 Use the word depleted in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Natalia Golubnycha/Shutterstock

word depleted.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

depleted supplies. What does a teacher do about a
depleted supply of classroom materials? How can you
make the most quickly depleted supplies last longer?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

spectacle
 Vocabulary Card 5.19

spec • ta • cle (n.)

A spectacle is an unusual or interesting sight.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The fireworks show was an
amazing spectacle.

3 Use the word spectacle in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock

word spectacle.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

think of a spectacle you have seen. Then discuss these
questions: What did the spectacle you have seen look like?
Why was the spectacle an unusual sight to see?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

toddles
 Vocabulary Card 5.20

tod • dles (v.)

When a child toddles, he or she walks with short,
unsteady steps.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My little sister toddles when
she walks.

3 Use the word toddles in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word toddles.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Alina R/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about a young child you have seen who toddles. Why
do you think a child toddles when he or she first begins to
walk? Have you ever seen a baby animal that toddles? How
would you describe the baby animal’s first steps?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

packet
 Vocabulary Card 5.21

pack • et (n.)
A packet is a small container or envelope.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Aunt Jane poured the seeds from
the packet into the planter.

3 Use the word packet in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word packet.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lucky Business/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
name some things that come in a packet. Then discuss
this question: If you were planning a field trip, what
information would you put in the packet to send home?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

retreat
 Vocabulary Card 5.22

re • treat (v.)
If you retreat, you move back or away from
something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The tortoise will retreat into its
shell when it feels threatened.

3 Use the word retreat in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Steffen Foerster/Shutterstock

word retreat.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about situations in which it is wise to retreat. Then
discuss these questions: What is happening when
soldiers retreat? What do you think it means to say that
glaciers retreat?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 2

flight
 Vocabulary Card 5.23

flight (n.)
Flight is the act of flying through the air.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We stood at the water’s edge and
watched the birds in flight.

3 Use the word flight in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word flight.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Digital Vision/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
why aviation experts watch birds in flight. How do you
think their observations helped humans fly? Why do you
think people became so interested in flight?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

toil
 Vocabulary Card 5.24

toil (v.)
To toil is to work.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The worker had to toil to collect
all of the vegetables.

3 Use the word toil in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Alexander Egizarov/Shutterstock

word toil.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about how you feel when you toil at physical labor. Then
discuss these questions: How does it feel to toil mentally?
Would you rather toil physically or toil mentally? Why?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

merchant
 Vocabulary Card 5.25

mer • chant (adj.)

A merchant ship carries products to sell, usually to a
foreign country.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The merchant ship is loaded with
cargo at the dock.

3 Use the word merchant in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word merchant.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©jurand/Fotolia

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
these questions: Why do merchant ships transport cargo?
Why might products travel on a merchant ship instead of
an airplane?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

fort
 Vocabulary Card 5.26

fort (n.)
A fort is a strong building usually protected by
guards and a wall.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We toured an old, stone fort while
we were on vacation.

3 Use the word fort in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jörg Hackemann/Fotolia

you hear the word fort.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a fort you have seen in real life or in movies. Then
discuss these questions: Why do you think someone would
build a fort? What do you think is inside a fort?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

jabbing
 Vocabulary Card 5.27

jab • bing (v.)

If you are jabbing something, you are poking it
quickly with a great deal of power.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My sister began jabbing me to
get my attention.

3 Use the word jabbing in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©goldenKB/iStock/Getty Images Plus

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word jabbing.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about how it feels when someone is jabbing you.
Then discuss these questions: What can you do to get
someone’s attention without jabbing them? Is jabbing
ever polite?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

captivity
 Vocabulary Card 5.28

cap • tiv • i • ty (n.)

If something is kept in captivity, it is held in a place
and cannot get out.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The aquarium holds many types of
marine life in captivity.

3 Use the word captivity in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Digital Vision/Getty Images

hear the word captivity.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What is the purpose of keeping animals in
captivity? Under what circumstances do you think it might
be helpful for an animal to be in captivity? Under what
circumstances might captivity be harmful?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

aggressive
 Vocabulary Card 5.29

ag • gres • sive (adj.)

If someone is aggressive, he or she is often angry
and ready to attack.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The guard dog took an
aggressive posture when he saw the intruder.

3 Use the word aggressive in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©The Len/Shutterstock

word aggressive.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What warning signs do you see when an
animal is being aggressive? What should you do when an
animal is being aggressive? What warning signs do you see
when a person is being aggressive? What should you do?

Grade 5 • Module 5 • Week 3

classic
 Vocabulary Card 6.1

clas • sic (adj.)

A classic piece of art, music, or literature is one that
people appreciate for many years. Its popularity is
not just temporary.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Mona Lisa is a classic painting

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Stuart Gregory/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images

that people have been admiring for hundreds of years.

3 Use the word classic in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word classic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about something that is considered classic. Then discuss
these questions: What makes it classic? What current art,
music, or literature do you believe will become classic?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

tribute
 Vocabulary Card 6.2

trib • ute (n.)

A tribute is something that is said or done to show
respect for someone’s work or actions.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The ceremony included a tribute
to the respected woman.

3 Use the word tribute in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Neustockimages/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word tribute.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about things that are said or done as a tribute. Then
discuss these questions: What would you include in a
tribute to someone you respect? How would you select a
student at your school for a tribute?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

striking
 Vocabulary Card 6.3

strik • ing (adj.)

If you describe something as striking you mean it’s
very impressive or noticeable.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The huge, colorful mural on the
side of the school building is very striking.

3 Use the word striking in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Gary Russ/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word striking.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about something that you would describe as striking.
Then discuss these questions: What characteristics make
something striking? If you were to create a striking work of
art, what would be the subject and what would it look like?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

provoking
 Vocabulary Card 6.4

pro • vok • ing (adj.)

Something that is provoking causes a reaction,
such as a thought-provoking book.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  A thought-provoking story can
make you think about things in a whole new way.

3 Use the word provoking in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Romrodphoto/Shutterstock

word provoking.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about something that is provoking. Then discuss these
questions: What makes something provoking? How does
something thought-provoking make you feel?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

gracing
 Vocabulary Card 6.5

grac • ing (v.)

If a photo is gracing the cover of a magazine, it is
making the cover attractive.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The posters our class made for
Earth Day are now gracing the chalkboard for
everyone to see.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Blend Images/Ariel Skelley/Vetta/Getty Images

3 Use the word gracing in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word gracing.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about who you have seen gracing the cover of a
magazine. Then discuss these questions: Who would you
like to see gracing the cover of a magazine today? Why did
you choose this person?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

controversy
 Vocabulary Card 6.6

con • tro • ver • sy (n.)

If something is a controversy, people have strong
feelings and disagreements about it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The teenagers discussed the
recent controversy about the school dress code.

3 Use the word controversy in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Daniel M Ernst/Shutterstock

hear the word controversy.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of different issues that may create a controversy. Use
these topics: Discuss a controversy that might arise in
your school cafeteria, such as students having the power
to give themselves grades. Discuss the different sides of
this controversy.

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

skeptical
 Vocabulary Card 6.7

skep • ti • cal (adj.)

If you are skeptical about something, you have
doubts about it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Jackson was skeptical that the
tower would stand.

3 Use the word skeptical in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Kdonmuang/Shutterstock

hear the word skeptical.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time when you were skeptical about a situation at
school, such as winning a game or passing a test. Then
discuss these questions: What were the reasons that you
were skeptical? What happened?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

manufactured
 Vocabulary Card 6.8

man • u • fac • tured (adj.)

Something that is manufactured was made in
a factory.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Cars are manufactured in
a factory.

3 Use the word manufactured in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Rainer Plendl/Shutterstock

hear the word manufactured.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss why cars are manufactured on an assembly line.
Then answer these questions: Can you think of anything
that is manufactured that is not made on an assembly
line? Which method is faster and why?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

incorporated
 Vocabulary Card 6.9

in • cor • po • ra • ted (v.)

If items are incorporated into something bigger,
they are included in it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The cook incorporated water
into the flour to make dough.

3 Use the word incorporated in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word incorporated.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©ffolas/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
what flavor is incorporated into your favorite ice cream.
Talk about these questions: If you made a new ice cream,
what flavor would you have incorporated into it? What
ingredients might it take?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

persistence
 Vocabulary Card 6.10

per • sis • tence (n.)

A person who has persistence keeps doing
something even when it is hard and takes a
long time.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The rock climber showed
persistence as she tried to reach the top.

3 Use the word persistence in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Greg Epperson/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word persistence.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

something you need persistence to do. Talk about these
questions together: How have you shown persistence in
things you’ve done? How has that persistence paid off?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

ambitious
 Vocabulary Card 6.11

am • bi • tious (adj.)
If a project is ambitious, it is large and requires a
lot of work.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The ambitious project will be
long and hard to do, but we believe that we can do it.

3 Use the word ambitious in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Konstantin Chagin/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word ambitious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a small group

discuss the most ambitious school project you have ever
worked on. Then talk about these questions: What is an
ambitious project that you have helped your parents with at
home? How did you feel when it was completed?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

ingenious
 Vocabulary Card 6.12

in • gen • ious (adj.)

If an idea is ingenious, it is very clever or has not
been tried before.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Hannah, Carlos, and Linda had
an ingenious idea to create a new electronic toy.

3 Use the word ingenious in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock

hear the word ingenious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, make

a list of great ideas that you consider to be ingenious.
Answer these questions: Why do you consider these ideas
to be ingenious? What is an ingenious idea that you have
thought about?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

opinion
 Vocabulary Card 6.13

o • pin • ion (n.)

Your opinion is what you think or believe about
something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  In my opinion, this green shirt is
too bright for me.

3 Use the word opinion in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Arina P Habich/Shutterstock

word opinion.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of an issue that a student at your school may have an
opinion about, such as school uniforms. Discuss these
questions: What are the pros of wearing a uniform?
What are the cons? What is your opinion about whether
uniforms should be worn?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

traversed
 Vocabulary Card 6.14

trav • ersed (v.)

A gate that traversed a path extended across it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  A bridge traversed the small river.
3 Use the word traversed in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word traversed.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Bplanet/Shutterstock

of other ways people have traversed rivers and rain
forests, such as jungle vines and zip lines. Discuss the
following: How are the ways you talked about alike and
different? Explain how a fictional character from your
favorite adventure story traversed rugged areas.

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 1

exposure
 Vocabulary Card 6.15

ex • po • sure (n.)
If someone gets a lot of exposure, he or she
becomes well-known by performing in many places.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My sister has received a lot of
exposure since she started singing on stage.

3 Use the word exposure in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jason Doly/iStock/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word exposure.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a famous person who has a lot of exposure. Then
discuss the question: Why do you think this person has
had so much exposure?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

willful
 Vocabulary Card 6.16

will • ful (adj.)

A person who is willful is very determined to get
what he or she wants.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The willful dog refused to
go for a walk this morning.

3 Use the word willful in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jamie Grill/age fotostock

word willful.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe how a willful little brother or sister would act.
Talk about the situation by using these questions: If a
willful child threw a tantrum, what would you do? Would
you tell the child’s parents? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

stereotypical
 Vocabulary Card 6.17

ster • e • o • typ • i • cal (adj.)

A stereotypical idea is one that is false about a
particular group, even though many people believe it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is stereotypical to believe that
all mechanics are men.

3 Use the word stereotypical in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Zero Creatives/cultura/Corbis

hear the word stereotypical.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Have small groups

think of stereotypical ideas people might have about
children their age. Then, discuss these questions: Why do
you think people have stereotypical ideas about students?
How can you change their minds?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

authentic
 Vocabulary Card 6.18

au • then • tic (adj.)

A person who is authentic is real and true to himself
or herself, not fake or phony.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Each of us has our own authentic
smile and hairstyle.

3 Use the word authentic in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Monkey Business/Fotolia

word authentic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about people

you know who are authentic. Then answer these
questions with a partner: How can you tell whether a
person is authentic? What characteristics would you look
for in an authentic person?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

discriminatory
 Vocabulary Card 6.19

dis • crim • i • na • to • ry (adj.)

Rules, laws, or practices are discriminatory if
they leave out a group of people or treat that
group unfairly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is discriminatory for a public
place to not have wheelchair access.

3 Use the word discriminatory in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word discriminatory.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about rules that you think are discriminatory. Then
discuss this question: How do people make sure that rules
are not discriminatory and apply to everyone?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

bars
 Vocabulary Card 6.20

bars (n.)
Bars are short sections of a longer piece of music.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The musician practiced the more
difficult bars of music before his performance.

3 Use the word bars in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Masterchief_Productions/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word bars.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about the relationship between bars of music and an
entire piece of music. Then discuss these questions:
Why is it useful to practice bars of music versus the entire
piece of music? How do musicians learn to play difficult
bars of music?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

contagious
 Vocabulary Card 6.21

con • ta • gious (adj.)

If a feeling is contagious, it spreads quickly
among people.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The excitement of the crowd was
contagious as they waited for the singer to arrive.

3 Use the word contagious in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word contagious.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©DWP/Fotolia

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of some times when a contagious feeling spreads
through a crowd, such as at a concert. Pick one of the
events to talk about: Describe the situation. Was the
contagious feeling good or bad? Did the contagious
feeling change?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

fever
 Vocabulary Card 6.22

fe • ver (n.)
A fever is a feeling of great excitement.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  There was a fever in the crowd
before the start of the game.

3 Use the word fever in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word fever.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©LuckyImages/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
describe a time when you felt the fever of excitement
spread throughout the crowd by using these questions:
What caused this feeling? What events besides sporting
events can cause a fever of excitement?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

duets
 Vocabulary Card 6.23

du • ets (n.)
Duets are pieces of music that two people sing or
play together.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Laney and Clara prefer to sing
duets instead of singing alone.

3 Use the word duets in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©karelnoppe/Shutterstock

hear the word duets.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name

a famous singer you would like to sing duets with. Use
these questions to discuss your performance: What
songs would your duets include? Why would you choose
this singing partner?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

solos
 Vocabulary Card 6.24

so • los (n.)
Solos are pieces of music that one person sings or
plays alone.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Theodore has performed many
piano solos at his school.

3 Use the word solos in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word solos.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Piti Tan/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
name several songs you would sing if you were going
to perform solos on stage. Discuss these questions
together: Why would you choose those solos to sing? How
would you feel about singing solos on stage?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 2

consented
 Vocabulary Card 6.25

con • sent • ed (v.)

If you consented to something, you agreed to it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My dad consented by agreeing
to take our dog along on our family vacation.

3 Use the word consented in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word consented.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©gorillaimages/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of a time you consented to help others. Then discuss
these questions: What did you consent to do? Would you
consent to do it again? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

sheaf
 Vocabulary Card 6.26

sheaf (n.)
A sheaf of papers is a bundle of sheets held together.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Kelly misplaced the sheaf of
papers that was held together with a large black clip.

3 Use the word sheaf in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Svetlana Lukienko/Shutterstock

word sheaf.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Many students keep

a sheaf of papers in a binder. With a partner describe
several ways you could organize important documents.
Then discuss these questions: Why is it important
to organize a sheaf of papers? If your papers were
disorganized, what could happen as a result?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

outcome
 Vocabulary Card 6.27

out • come (n.)

An outcome is the way something turns out or what
happens at the end of it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The outcome of the storm was
flooding in large areas.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  (l) ©serkan senturk/Shutterstock; (r) ©iStockPhoto.com
3 Use the word outcome in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word outcome.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the outcome of one of your favorite stories. Use
the following questions as a guide: What was the story’s
outcome? What clues did the author give that helped you
to predict the outcome?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

homeland
 Vocabulary Card 6.28

home • land (n.)

Someone’s homeland is the place where he or she
was born.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She enjoyed each sunrise since her
return to her homeland.

3 Use the word homeland in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock

word homeland.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about someone

you know who has a homeland outside of the United
States. With a partner, discuss these questions: What is
the name of this person’s homeland? Where is it located in
the world? What clothing or traditions are common in his
or her homeland?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

advised
 Vocabulary Card 6.29

ad • vised (v.)
If you advised someone, you told your ideas about
what he or she should do.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When we needed help, our
teacher advised us.

3 Use the word advised in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©monkeybusinessimages/iStockphoto.com

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word advised.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about things

that you have been advised to do. Discuss these
questions with a partner: What is something your teacher
has advised your class to do in order to be better students?
Did you follow this advice? What happened as a result?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

content
 Vocabulary Card 6.30

con • tent (adj.)

If you are content with something, you accept it or
agree with it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Melanie was content to play with
the toys the babysitter gave her.

3 Use the word content in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

word content.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about different things that make you feel content.
Discuss these ideas together: Describe a time when you
were content to be by yourself. Describe another time when
you were content to be with a group of friends. Which did
you prefer?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

testifying
 Vocabulary Card 6.31

tes • ti • fy • ing (v.)

If you are testifying, you promise that what you say
is true.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The witness in court was
testifying that the defendant was innocent, not guilty.

3 Use the word testifying in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Design Pics/Colleen Cahill/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word testifying.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Think about a

situation in which you were testifying about something
that you saw. Discuss the incident with a partner: What
was the event? Who were you testifying to? What did you
witness? What happened as a result?

Grade 5 • Module 6 • Week 3

expedition
 Vocabulary Card 7.1

ex • pe • di • tion (n.)
An expedition is a trip that has a purpose, such as
exploration or research.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The goal of the expedition was to
reach the South Pole.

3 Use the word expedition in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Maksym Gorpenyuk/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word expedition.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why someone might go on an expedition. Then discuss
these questions: If you were to go on an expedition,
where would you go? What would you want to accomplish?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

incredible
 Vocabulary Card 7.2

in • cred • i • ble (adj.)

Something that is incredible is so amazing that it’s
hard to believe.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The hikers were amazed by the
incredible lost city that they saw in the jungle.

3 Use the word incredible in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Pelikh Alexey/Shutterstock

word incredible.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of an incredible sight you have seen or witnessed. Then
discuss these questions: How would you describe the
incredible sight? What was your reaction to it?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

progress
 Vocabulary Card 7.3

prog • ress (n.)

To make progress is to improve or to complete steps
toward reaching a goal.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Today, the climbers made great
progress toward reaching the top of the mountain.

3 Use the word progress in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Vladimir Golovin/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word progress.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a goal you can make progress toward reaching. Then
discuss these questions: What is your goal? What steps
will you take to make progress in achieving your goal?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

chronology
 Vocabulary Card 7.4

chro • nol • o • gy (n.)

A chronology records the time and order of a series
of events.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The researcher wrote a
chronology of the expedition in her digital journal.

3 Use the word chronology in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

word chronology.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a chronology of an experiment you did in science class.
What information did you include in the chronology? How
did the chronology help with your findings?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

vast
 Vocabulary Card 7.5

vast (adj.)
Something vast is very large.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We looked out upon a vast field
of wheat.

3 Use the word vast in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word vast.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©djgis/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
of places you have visited that would be considered
vast. Where were the vast places? Were they indoors or
outdoors? What did they look like?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

mariners
 Vocabulary Card 7.6

mar • i • ners (n.)

Mariners are people who navigate ships, such
as sailors.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  One of the mariners guided the
boat through rough waters.

3 Use the word mariners in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Aleksandar Milutinovic/Dreamstime

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word mariners.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some things that mariners need to do. Then
discuss these questions: Why is it important for mariners
to work together? What might most mariners have
in common?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

cosmic
 Vocabulary Card 7.7

cos • mic (adj.)

Something that is cosmic is beyond Earth and
its atmosphere.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our vast cosmic universe
contains planets and billions of stars.

3 Use the word cosmic in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©NikoNomad/Shutterstock

you hear the word cosmic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some cosmic photographs you have seen. Then
discuss these questions: Besides stars, what else does the
cosmic universe contain? Do you think traveling between
planets in our cosmic universe is practical?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

ascend
 Vocabulary Card 7.8

as • cend (v.)
To ascend is to go up.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The hot air balloons ascend
slowly into the sky.

3 Use the word ascend in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

word ascend.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about hot air balloons that you have seen ascend in real
life or in pictures. Then discuss these questions: What
makes a hot air balloon ascend into the sky? How do you
make it come down? Would you like to ascend in a hot air
balloon? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

principle
 Vocabulary Card 7.9

prin • ci • ple (n.)

A scientific principle is a rule that explains how
something in the natural world works.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The rotation of Earth is a scientific
principle explaining day and night.

3 Use the word principle in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word principle.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about a scientific principle you know. Then discuss
these questions: What does the scientific principle
explain? Why is it important to learn and understand
scientific principles about the natural world?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

forged
 Vocabulary Card 7.10

forged (v.)
A metal object that was forged was heated in a
special furnace and hammered into shape.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The blacksmith forged new shoes
for the horse.

3 Use the word forged in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Alexey Tkachenko/iStockphoto.com

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word forged.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about an object you have seen forged in real life or in
pictures. Then discuss these questions: Why do you think
horseshoes are forged? What are some other objects a
blacksmith might have forged?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 1

ransacked
 Vocabulary Card 7.11

ran • sacked (v.)

If someone ransacked a place, he or she damaged it
while looking for something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: She ransacked her room looking
for her bracelet.

3 Use the word ransacked in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mark Rose/iStockphoto.com

word ransacked.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss whether you have ever ransacked your room
when looking for a lost item. How did your family
members react to your room being ransacked? What
would be a better way to search for the item?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

outskirts
 Vocabulary Card 7.12

out • skirts (n.)

The outskirts of a city or town are its outer edges,
farthest away from the center.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The lighthouse is located on the
outskirts of a big city.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Thinkstock Images/Jupiterimages/Getty Images

3 Use the word outskirts in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word outskirts.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about areas that are considered outskirts. Then discuss
these questions: What would you expect to find on the
outskirts of cities? What is good and bad about being
located on the outskirts of a city?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

precious
 Vocabulary Card 7.13

pre • cious (adj.)

Something that is precious has value and should be
treated with care.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My aunt considers the necklace to
be one of the most precious items she owns.

3 Use the word precious in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Syda Productions/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word precious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some things you own that you consider precious.
Then discuss these questions: What is your most precious
possession? Why do you consider it precious?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

authorities
 Vocabulary Card 7.14

au • thor • i • ties (n.)

Authorities are the people in charge, who have the
power to make decisions or give orders.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When someone broke into my
uncle’s store, he reported it to the authorities.

3 Use the word authorities in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word authorities.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: Who are the authorities in your school?
Who are the authorities in your community? Why is it
important to obey orders given by the authorities?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

ruthless
 Vocabulary Card 7.15

ruth • less (adj.)

Someone who is ruthless shows no concern for
other people and is very cruel.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He dressed up as a ruthless pirate
for the school play.

3 Use the word ruthless in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Arthur-studio10/Shutterstock

word ruthless.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about ruthless characters in fairy tales you have read.
Then discuss these questions: How many ruthless
characters in fairy tales can you name? What actions of
these characters showed they were ruthless?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

ignited
 Vocabulary Card 7.16

ig • nit • ed (v.)
Something that ignited caught fire or exploded.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  A careless camper forgot to put
out a campfire and accidentally ignited a fire in
the forest.

3 Use the word ignited in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word ignited.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©imagebroker/Alamy

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about ways that forest fires might be ignited. Then
discuss these questions: What materials can be easily
ignited? What safety steps can you and your family take
to help prevent fires from being ignited?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

hybrid
 Vocabulary Card 7.17

hy • brid (adj.)
Something can be described as hybrid if it is made
up of two or more different things.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This zebroid is a hybrid of two
species, a zebra and a donkey.

3 Use the word hybrid in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Images of Africa Photobank/Alamy

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word hybrid.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a hybrid car you have heard about. Then discuss
these questions: What two different things make up the
car to earn the name of hybrid? What do you know about
hybrid cars compared to cars that are not hybrids?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

synthetic
 Vocabulary Card 7.18

syn • thet • ic (adj.)

A synthetic item is artificial rather than natural.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The nylon tent is made from a
synthetic fabric.

3 Use the word synthetic in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Adventure_Photo/Getty Images

hear the word synthetic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some things that are made of the synthetic fabric
known as nylon. Then discuss these questions: Why
would you choose clothing made of a synthetic fabric like
nylon rather than cotton? What are some other things that
you have used which are made of synthetic fabric?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

exhaust
 Vocabulary Card 7.19

ex • haust (n.)
Exhaust is the gas that comes out of an engine as a
waste product.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The exhaust from the jet’s engines
could be seen as the plane streaked across the sky.

3 Use the word exhaust in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Geostock/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word exhaust.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the times when you have seen exhaust coming
out of a car or truck. Then discuss these questions: Where
on the car or truck was the exhaust coming from? What
color was the exhaust? Did the exhaust have a smell?
What other objects have exhaust?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

physics
 Vocabulary Card 7.20

phys • ics (n.)

Physics is the scientific study of matter and energy.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: In physics, we studied how
energy is transferred from one steel ball to another
using Newton’s cradle.

3 Use the word physics in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Dotted Yeti/Shutterstock

hear the word physics.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some examples of physics that you know about.
Then discuss these questions: What are examples
of energy transfer that happen in a kitchen? How can
knowing about physics help you in sports?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

institution
 Vocabulary Card 7.21

in • sti • tu • tion (n.)

An institution is an organization that has a
particular focus or goal.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The Supreme Court of the United
States is an institution made up of nine justices who
have the final decision on court cases.

3 Use the word institution in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PictureNet/Royalty-Free/Corbis

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word institution.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about an institution you are familiar with. Then discuss
these questions: What is the name of the institution? Is
it a religious, an educational, or a charitable institution?
What is the purpose or goal of the institution?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 2

deploy
 Vocabulary Card 7.22

de • ploy (v.)
If you deploy something, you move it into position
so it can be used.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The troops will deploy from the
helicopter once they arrive.

3 Use the word deploy in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Chris H. Galbraith/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word deploy.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss why a helicopter would deploy a rescue team.
Then discuss the following question: What other things
could someone deploy so they could be used more readily?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

transition
 Vocabulary Card 7.23

tran • si • tion (n.)

In a transition, one thing changes to something else.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  With the transition from summer
to fall, the leaves turn vibrant colors.

3 Use the word transition in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Elena Elisseeva/Alamy Images

word transition.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a transition you have noticed. Then discuss these
questions: As the season changes from fall to winter,
how does this transition affect animals? How does the
transition from school to summer vacation affect you?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

expanse
 Vocabulary Card 7.24

ex • panse (n.)
An expanse is a very large area of land, sea, or sky.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The Great Plains is a large
expanse of flat prairie land.

3 Use the word expanse in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word expanse.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Radoslaw Lecyk/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about an expanse of something you have seen. Then
discuss these questions: Where can you find a wide
expanse of land in your state? Which states in the United
States have or are near a large expanse of water?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

resembled
 Vocabulary Card 7.25

re • sem • bled (v.)

If two things or people resembled each other, they
looked like each other.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The sisters resembled each other,
but did not look exactly alike.

3 Use the word resembled in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©cglow/iStockPhoto.com

hear the word resembled.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some baby animals you have seen. Then discuss
these questions: In which ways had the baby animals
resembled their parents? In which ways had they been
different? Which baby animals only resembled their
parents after they were fully grown?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

terrain
 Vocabulary Card 7.26

ter • rain (n.)

The terrain of an area is what the surface of the land
looks like.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The terrain had some shrubs, but
it was mostly rugged and rocky.

3 Use the word terrain in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word terrain.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lynn Y/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about the features of a rugged terrain. Then discuss
these questions: Why is a rugged terrain difficult to travel?
What can you use to travel safely across rugged terrain?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

international
 Vocabulary Card 7.27

in • ter • na • tion • al (adj.)

Something that is international is shared or worked
on by multiple countries.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The Rio Grande River is an
international border between the United States
and Mexico.

3 Use the word international in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Digital Vision/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when
you hear the word international.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the difference between something that is national
and something that is international. Why are some
airline flights called international? What makes the space
station international?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

transmitted
 Vocabulary Card 7.28

trans • mit • ted (v.)

When an electronic message is transmitted, it is
sent from one place to another.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The office manager transmitted
the document electronically.

3 Use the word transmitted in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Digital Vision/Getty Images

you hear the word transmitted.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about some messages you have transmitted.
Then discuss these questions: Why are many letters or
messages transmitted electronically? What are some of
the risks of transmitted messages?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

ailing
 Vocabulary Card 7.29

ail • ing (adj.)

Something that is ailing is not doing well or is
getting weak.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The doctor told the ailing child
that he would get better soon.

3 Use the word ailing in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word ailing.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a time when you were ailing. Then discuss these
questions: How do you know when you are ailing? What
can you do when you are ailing? What can you do when
your friend is ailing?

Grade 5 • Module 7 • Week 3

nomadic
 Vocabulary Card 8.1

no • mad • ic (adj.)
A nomadic person moves frequently and might not
have a permanent home.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My aunt loves the nomadic life,
so she moves to a new place every few months.

3 Use the word nomadic in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word nomadic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the pros and cons of a nomadic life. Then discuss these
questions: Would you prefer a nomadic life to having a
permanent home? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

voice
 Vocabulary Card 8.2

voice (n.)
An author’s voice is that writer’s style of expression.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This author writes about moving
to a new country in a voice that is very humorous.

3 Use the word voice in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Feel good studio/Shutterstock

word voice.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

how you can tell what the writer’s voice is in a story.
Can you pick out words and phrases from a favorite book
that tells the writer’s voice? List some of those words
and phrases.

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

monologue
 Vocabulary Card 8.3

mo • no • logue (n.)
A monologue is a long, uninterrupted speech.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The audience listened carefully to
the speaker’s monologue.

3 Use the word monologue in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word monologue.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Comstock/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
a monologue from an assembly at school. What points
did the speaker make? What arguments to the speaker’s
monologue can you think of?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

temporary
 Vocabulary Card 8.4

tem • po • rar • y (adj.)

Something temporary lasts for a limited time.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This tent is our temporary home
while we are camping.

3 Use the word temporary in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word temporary.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©John Wollwerth/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
things that are temporary. Then discuss these questions:
What are the pros and cons of something being temporary?
Why do you think temporary things do not last?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

yearning
 Vocabulary Card 8.5

yearn • ing (v.)

If you are yearning for something, you want it very
much and feel sad not to have it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Peter was yearning to go outside
and enjoy the fresh snowfall.

3 Use the word yearning in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Igor Marusichenko/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word yearning.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

something you are yearning to do. Then discuss these
questions: Why are you yearning to do this? How do you
think your parents would feel about it? Have you done this
before or is it something new?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

civil
 Vocabulary Card 8.6

civ • il (adj.)
A civil war is one that happens among groups of
people living within a country.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  One of our civil rights is the right
to vote, which women had to fight for.

3 Use the word civil in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Everett Historical/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word civil.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about the civil rights you have as a citizen. Then discuss
these questions: What are your civil rights? How do you
disagree with someone without taking away the other
person’s civil rights?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

flourishing
 Vocabulary Card 8.7

flour • ish • ing (v.)

If something is flourishing, it is growing and
successful.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The plant is flourishing under
grandfather’s care.

3 Use the word flourishing in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word flourishing.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about things plants need so they can flourish. Then
discuss these questions: If you had a garden, what would
be flourishing in it? What do plants need to continue
flourishing? What type of weather is needed for plants
to flourish?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

fortunate
 Vocabulary Card 8.8

for • tu • nate (adj.)

Someone who is fortunate is lucky.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She is fortunate to have won all
four games.

3 Use the word fortunate in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Kidstock/Blend Images/Getty Images

word fortunate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about people who are fortunate. Then discuss these
questions: How can you tell that a person is fortunate?
In what ways are you fortunate? What can you do to help
others not as fortunate as you?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

dedicate
 Vocabulary Card 8.9

ded • i • cate (v.)

Writers often dedicate their work to someone,
usually in the first pages of the book, to show
admiration or affection.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The author will dedicate his book
to his sister.

3 Use the word dedicate in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©g-stockstudio/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word dedicate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: If you wrote a book, what would it be
about? To whom would you dedicate your book? Why
would you dedicate your book to that person?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

relatives
 Vocabulary Card 8.10

rel • a • tives (n.)

Relatives are the people in your family.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: My relatives gather together for
our family reunion.

3 Use the word relatives in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jack Hollingsworth/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word relatives.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about your relatives. Then discuss these questions: Do
you come from a large or a small family? Who are your
closest relatives? Who are your oldest relatives? Who are
your youngest relatives?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

discarded
 Vocabulary Card 8.11

dis • card • ed (adj.)

A discarded object is one that has been thrown away.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Some of the discarded items will
go to the landfill, but many will be recycled.

3 Use the word discarded in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word discarded.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©vivooo/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about a time when you organized a room and discarded
some items. Then discuss these questions: How did you
decide which items needed to be discarded? What did you
do with the discarded items?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 1

reluctantly
 Vocabulary Card 8.12

re • luc • tant • ly (adv.)

If you do something reluctantly, you do it without
wanting to.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Even though she doesn’t like it
very much, our dog reluctantly lets us give her a bath
when she needs one.

3 Use the word reluctantly in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©ManuPadilla/Adobe Stock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word reluctantly.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a time you reluctantly went somewhere you did not
want to go. Where did you go reluctantly? How did you
show you went to that place reluctantly?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

reserve
 Vocabulary Card 8.13

re • serve (n.)
Reserve is a quiet, sometimes shy, way of behaving.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The new boy showed reserve on
the first day of school.

3 Use the word reserve in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lynn Koenig/Moment/Getty Images

word reserve.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: How do you feel about being the center of
attention? What are some situations when you have acted
with reserve? How might a person who shows no reserve
act in a similar situation?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

casual
 Vocabulary Card 8.14

ca • su • al (adj.)
Casual clothing is not dressy and is meant for
everyday use.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We like to wear casual clothes
when playing outside.

3 Use the word casual in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word casual.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about casual clothing and formal clothing. Then discuss
these questions: When do you wear casual clothing?
When might you wear formal clothing? Which type of
clothing do you prefer, casual or formal? Why?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

nudged
 Vocabulary Card 8.15

nudged (v.)
If you nudged something, you gave it a little push.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The mother elephant nudged her
calf toward the watering hole.

3 Use the word nudged in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word nudged.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Henk Bogaard/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
a time when you nudged someone to do something.
How did the person respond to being nudged? Have
you ever been nudged to do something? What were you
nudged to do?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

diary
 Vocabulary Card 8.16

di • a • ry (n.)
A diary is a daily record of someone’s experiences
and feelings.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Charlotte writes in her diary
every night.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images
3 Use the word diary in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word diary.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

some things you might write in a diary. Answer these
questions: Why do you think people keep a diary? How
would you protect your diary to keep your writing safe
from others?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

promptly
 Vocabulary Card 8.17

prompt • ly (adv.)
When you do something promptly, you do it
right away.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The children left the school
building promptly after the bell rang.

3 Use the word promptly in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word promptly.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about something you have borrowed. Then discuss
these questions: Why would you want to promptly return
the item when you were finished with it? What might
someone think if you did not promptly return the item you
had borrowed?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

semidarkness
 Vocabulary Card 8.18

sem • i • dark • ness (n.)

A place that is in semidarkness is partially dark.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  When the movie is about to start,
the theater is in semidarkness.

3 Use the word semidarkness in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Khakimullin Aleksandr/Shutterstock

word semidarkness.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups, talk

about how a place in semidarkness differs from the
same place when it is brightly lit. Discuss movies you
have seen that take place in semidarkness. Why might
a movie director photograph a scene in semidarkness?
What mood does the semidarkness create?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

obvious
 Vocabulary Card 8.19

ob • vi • ous (adj.)
Something that is obvious is easy to see
or understand.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It was obvious that I would need
an umbrella today.

3 Use the word obvious in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word obvious.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What are some obvious signs that people
are not telling the truth? What are some obvious signs that
show a student is not prepared for class?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

comprehended
 Vocabulary Card 8.20

com • pre • hend • ed (v.)

If you comprehended something, you understood it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: We comprehended what the
author was saying as we discussed the book.

3 Use the word comprehended in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

word comprehended.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a time when you comprehended something
incorrectly such as a passage or paragraph in a text. Then
discuss these questions: What are some techniques you
used to finally comprehend the text? How would you help
someone who had not comprehended the text correctly?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

officially
 Vocabulary Card 8.21

of • fi • cial • ly (adv.)
If something is done officially, it is approved by the
government or someone in charge.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  After looking at the photo, the
judges officially announced which horse won the race.

3 Use the word officially in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mikhail Pogosov/Shutterstock

hear the word officially.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups, talk

about a time when you played in a game that had a
questionable call. Then discuss these questions: How was
the question officially resolved? Why do many sports use
photos to officially make a judgment or ruling?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

preliminary
 Vocabulary Card 8.22

pre • lim • i • nar • y (adj.)

Something that is preliminary happens at the very
beginning of an event, or just before a main event.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Before the game, Camilla does
some preliminary warm-up exercises.

3 Use the word preliminary in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©SW Productions/Getty Images

hear the word preliminary.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about some preliminary activities you have
seen at a sporting event. What are some preliminary
activities baseball players do before a game begins? What
preliminary activities do basketball players do? How are
these preliminary activities connected to the main event?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 2

sponsor
 Vocabulary Card 8.23

spon • sor (n.)

A sponsor helps an immigrant settle into his or her
new country.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  As the sponsor for an immigrant
family, Sal sometimes brings groceries or other things
they might need.

3 Use the word sponsor in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©ronstik/Shutterstock

hear the word sponsor.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what it means to be a sponsor for someone from
another country. When you are a sponsor for someone
from another country, what are your responsibilities?
What might you gain from being a sponsor?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

generosity
 Vocabulary Card 8.24

gen • er • os • i • ty (n.)
When people show generosity, they give something
valuable or meaningful to someone.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  David shows generosity by
sharing his tablet with his sister.

3 Use the word generosity in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word generosity.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Fancy/Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups,
discuss various ways that people can show generosity
to others. Then discuss these questions: When has
someone showed you generosity? When have you shown
generosity to someone else?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

goodwill
 Vocabulary Card 8.25

good • will (n.)

When people show goodwill, they show kindness
toward others and a willingness to help.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She shows goodwill by helping
her little sister tie her shoe.

3 Use the word goodwill in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Richard Hutchings/GGS Design

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word goodwill.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What acts of goodwill have you seen
someone show? How do you show goodwill? How does it
feel to show goodwill?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

grateful
 Vocabulary Card 8.26

grate • ful (adj.)

When people are grateful, they are happy and
satisfied with what they have.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Lisa is grateful that Jack came
along with an umbrella.

3 Use the word grateful in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock

word grateful.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe a time when you were grateful to someone
for something. How did you respond? Can you think of
a time when someone was grateful to you? Why was he
or she grateful?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

exception
 Vocabulary Card 8.27

ex • cep • tion (n.)

If something is an exception, it is left out of a group
or list because it doesn’t fit well.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The airline will not make an
exception to board a late passenger.

3 Use the word exception in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word exception.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups,

discuss a school rule that has no exceptions. What is the
rule? Why is there no exception to the rule? Is there any case
that an exception might be made for the rule?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

sensible
 Vocabulary Card 8.28

sen • si • ble (adj.)

A sensible rule is one that is simple and shows
good judgment.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is a sensible idea to wear warm
clothing when you are outside in the snow.

3 Use the word sensible in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Image Source/Superstock

word sensible.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about a time when someone advised you to do
something sensible. What was the sensible advice you
were given? Did you listen to this sensible advice? Why or
why not? What was the result?

Grade 5 • Module 8 • Week 3

suspense
 Vocabulary Card 9.1

sus • pense (n.)

Suspense is excitement or anxiety due to an
uncertain situation.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The suspense of not knowing
what happened made me feel nervous.

3 Use the word suspense in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock

word suspense.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

a story you have read that had suspense. How did the
author create suspense in the story? What feelings did you
have while reading the story?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

falsify
 Vocabulary Card 9.2

fal • si • fy (v.)
To falsify is to change a statement or document in
order to make it untrue.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Each person’s handwriting is
unique, which makes it difficult to falsify.

3 Use the word falsify in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©2Design/Shutterstock

word falsify.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

why someone would falsify a document. How can you
tell if someone has falsified a document? Can you think of
some story characters who would falsify information?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

factor
 Vocabulary Card 9.3

fac • tor (n.)

A factor is something that affects a situation.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Exercise is one important factor

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  (l) ©Fotokostic/Shutterstock; (r) ©Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
in staying healthy, and eating healthy is another.

3 Use the word factor in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word factor.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

what factor could be involved in being late for school.
What could be a factor in forgetting your homework?
What could be a factor in remembering your homework?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

effect
 Vocabulary Card 9.4

ef • fect (n.)
An effect in a piece of writing or other art is a
deliberately created feeling or impression.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  In the mystery movie, the director
used lighting to create a spooky effect.

3 Use the word effect in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©terekhov igor/Shutterstock

hear the word effect.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

how the words a writer uses in a story can create a
certain effect. What words would you use to create a
spooky effect? What words would you use to create a
mysterious effect?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

formidable
 Vocabulary Card 9.5

for • mi • da • ble (adj.)

If something is formidable, it is a bit frightening
but also impressive because of its size or another
special quality.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  With his height and size, the
football player was a formidable opponent.

3 Use the word formidable in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mint Images/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word formidable.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

formidable experiences. Why would Mt. Everest be a
formidable mountain to climb? Why would being on the
International Space Station be a formidable experience?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

relentlessly
 Vocabulary Card 9.6

re • lent • less • ly (adv.)

If something happens relentlessly, it never stops.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This spring, the rain has been
falling relentlessly.

3 Use the word relentlessly in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis Premium RF/Alamy Images

word relentlessly.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name

some sounds that can occur relentlessly. What effect do
these sounds have on the listener? Do these sounds have a
positive or negative meaning? What is an example where
the word relentlessly has a positive meaning?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

musings
 Vocabulary Card 9.7

mus • ings (n.)

A person’s musings are his or her thoughts.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Janie’s musings took her back to
the time when she first learned how to ski.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  (l) ©gorillaimages/Shutterstock; (r) ©Larry Williams/Getty Images
3 Use the word musings in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word musings.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a time when you listened to your parents or
grandparents share their musings about their childhood
years. What is one of their musings that you remember?
What is one of your favorite musings from your life so far?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

sentimental
 Vocabulary Card 9.8

sen • ti • men • tal (adj.)

If something is sentimental, it has to do with
feelings, often about the past.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My mother gets sentimental
when she looks through her photo albums.

3 Use the word sentimental in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Don Couch/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word sentimental.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What is one situation that might cause
a person to feel sentimental? What is an object a person
might keep for sentimental reasons? Why is it difficult for
others to understand someone’s sentimental attachment
to an object?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

prefer
 Vocabulary Card 9.9

pre • fer (v.)

If you prefer something, you like it better than
something else.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  If Mikey had his choice, he would
prefer to read an action or adventure novel.

3 Use the word prefer in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word prefer.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Blend/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
think about some things that you prefer to others.
Then discuss these questions: Do you prefer reading
to watching movies? Do you prefer playing sports to
watching sports? Do you prefer fruit to vegetables? What
are some other things you prefer?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

engulfed
 Vocabulary Card 9.10

en • gulfed (v.)
If one thing is engulfed by another, it is surrounded
or completely covered by it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The old house was engulfed
by flames.

3 Use the word engulfed in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Todd Klassy/Shutterstock

hear the word engulfed.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about natural events that have engulfed a place, such as
a town or a forest. What place was engulfed by a natural
event, and what was the event? What damage resulted to
the place that was engulfed?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

audible
 Vocabulary Card 9.11

au • di • ble (adj.)
If a sound is audible, it is loud enough to hear.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The cheerleader uses a
megaphone to make sure her words are audible.

3 Use the word audible in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Victoria Snowber/Digital Vision/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word audible.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about some sounds that are barely audible. Then
discuss these questions: What are some examples of
sounds that are barely audible? How would you describe
one sound that is barely audible?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

will
 Vocabulary Card 9.12

will (n.)
A will is a legal document that tells what someone
wants done with his or her belongings after that
person dies.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The newly married couple meet
with an attorney to create a will.

3 Use the word will in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word will.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about the reasons why someone might create a will.
Then discuss these questions: Why do people think a will
is necessary? What kinds of things are left to loved ones in
a will?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

keepsake
 Vocabulary Card 9.13

keep • sake (n.)

A keepsake is something you save to remember a
person or an event.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  This home run baseball is a
keepsake from the game I went to with my family.

3 Use the word keepsake in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Allen Donikowski/Moment/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word keepsake.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about an item in your family that can be described as a
keepsake. Then discuss these questions: How would you
describe the keepsake your family has? Who do you think of
when you see the keepsake? Why is the keepsake special?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 1

chastised
 Vocabulary Card 9.14

chas • tised (v.)

If you are chastised, you are scolded severely.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The smaller bird was loudly
chastised when it got too close to the larger one.

3 Use the word chastised in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word chastised.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Wang LiQiang/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about a time when someone you know was chastised.
Then discuss these questions: What behavior was the
person being chastised for? Do you think the person
deserved to be chastised? Why or why not? What might
have been a better way to handle the situation?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

sightings
 Vocabulary Card 9.15

sight • ings (n.)

If there are sightings of something, people have
seen it with their own eyes.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Peter has experienced many
sightings of the rare birds.

3 Use the word sightings in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word sightings.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Randy Faris/Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, make
a list of the different kinds of sightings you have heard
people talk about. Then discuss these questions: What
sightings do some people claim to be true, but you feel are
not real? What proof of the sightings, if any, was given? Do
the sightings have anything in common?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

earnest
 Vocabulary Card 9.16

ear • nest (adj.)

If you say something in earnest, you are very serious
and believe it to be true.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She told the story in earnest, and
her friends believed what she said.

3 Use the word earnest in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Pressmaster/Shutterstock

hear the word earnest.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about a story or conversation you recently heard
someone tell in earnest. Then discuss these questions:
How could you tell that the storyteller was speaking in
earnest? What would have been different if the storyteller
was not speaking in earnest?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

desperately
 Vocabulary Card 9.17

des • per • ate • ly (adv.)

If you are trying desperately, you are trying as hard
as you can.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  She tried desperately to fulfill her
goal of climbing to the top of the mountain.

3 Use the word desperately in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word desperately.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups, take
turns sharing something that you desperately want to
do. Then discuss these questions: What is something you
desperately want to do? What obstacles do you have to
overcome to do it?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

convinced
 Vocabulary Card 9.18

con • vinced (v.)

If you are convinced of something, you are certain
that it happened.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Gretchen was convinced that she
spotted a monkey during her hike in the woods.

3 Use the word convinced in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Zivica Kerkez/Shutterstock

hear the word convinced.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a time you were convinced of something by
another person. Then discuss these questions: What were
you convinced of? What caused you to be convinced? Was
it easy or difficult to convince others that it had happened?
Explain your answer.

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

misperception
 Vocabulary Card 9.19

mis • per • cep • tion (n.)

A misperception is a misunderstanding.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  There was a misperception that
the shadow was from a very tall man.

3 Use the word misperception in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Weng Kong Kam/EyeEm/Getty Images

hear the word misperception.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

discuss how a misperception could cause a problem
between friends. How would you handle a misperception
about you? Why do you think a misperception should be
fixed right away?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

hoaxes
 Vocabulary Card 9.20

hoax • es (n.)
Hoaxes are acts that involve tricking and lying
to people.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The story in the newspaper
explains two hoaxes that criminals used to
cheat people.

3 Use the word hoaxes in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Minerva Studio/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word hoaxes.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some hoaxes you know of or have heard about in
the news. Discuss these questions: How did one of these
hoaxes work? What trick did the hoax use to deceive people?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

elusive
 Vocabulary Card 9.21

e • lu • sive (adj.)
Something that is elusive is hard to find
or understand.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Because gorillas are elusive
animals, the species was not discovered until
the mid-1800s.

3 Use the word elusive in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Digital Vision/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word elusive.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about people or animals that are elusive. Then discuss
these questions: When would it be a good thing for a
person or animal to be elusive? What does it mean for an
idea to be elusive? What is an idea that is elusive to you?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

theoretical
 Vocabulary Card 9.22

the • o • ret • i • cal (adj.)

Something that is theoretical is based on a guess
rather than proof.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He spent many hours trying to
write his theoretical idea so that his peers would
believe him.

3 Use the word theoretical in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word theoretical.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: What are some theoretical ideas talked
about in science fiction books or movies? Do you think one
of these theoretical ideas may be possible? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

encounters
 Vocabulary Card 9.23

en • coun • ters (n.)

Encounters are meetings, especially those that
are unplanned.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  During the safari, we had many
encounters with elephants.

3 Use the word encounters in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word encounters.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Josep Pena/Fotolia

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
some encounters with wildlife you have had by using
these questions: What kinds of wildlife encounters
have you experienced? Where were you in each of these
encounters? How did you feel about the encounters?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 2

hastily
 Vocabulary Card 9.24

hast • i • ly (adv.)
If something happens hastily, it happens with
great speed.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: We hastily ran to the bus stop
because we were running late.

3 Use the word hastily in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©imagenavi/Getty Images

word hastily.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the types of situations that would cause you to act
hastily. What are some problems that could happen by
doing something hastily? What would be the opposite of
doing something hastily?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

muffled
 Vocabulary Card 9.25

muf • fled (adj.)

A muffled sound is quiet and hard to hear.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Her hands block her muffled voice.
3 Use the word muffled in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word muffled.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about a time when you heard a muffled sound. Then
answer these questions: What caused this muffled sound?
What problem does a muffled sound create for a listener?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

gaping
 Vocabulary Card 9.26

gap • ing (v.)

If you are gaping at something, you are staring at it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The girls are gaping at the bird in
the tree.

3 Use the word gaping in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word gaping.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about a time when you were gaping at something
unusual. Then discuss these questions: What was it that
you were gaping at? How did it catch your attention?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

beckoned
 Vocabulary Card 9.27

beck • oned (v.)

If someone beckoned you, she made a gesture for
you to come near or follow.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The crossing guard beckoned the
children to cross the street.

3 Use the word beckoned in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

word beckoned.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a time when you beckoned someone. Then
discuss these questions: What was the situation in which
you beckoned someone? Why had you beckoned instead
of calling out the person’s name?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

feeble
 Vocabulary Card 9.28

fee • ble (adj.)

Something that is feeble is weak.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We took the feeble kitten that we
found in our yard to the vet.

3 Use the word feeble in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word feeble.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about a person you have seen who is feeble. Then
discuss the following questions: What might cause
someone to be feeble? What are some things a feeble
person may have difficulty doing?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

shudder
 Vocabulary Card 9.29

shud • der (n.)

A shudder is a shiver or trembling caused by fear.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Sometimes strange noises at
night send a shudder through me.

3 Use the word shudder in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word shudder.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©sebra/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about a time when something sent a shudder through
you. Then discuss these questions: What was the situation
when the shudder went through you? What did you do next?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

conviction
 Vocabulary Card 9.30

con • vic • tion (n.)

A conviction is a strong belief or certainty.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: His conviction to climb to the top
of the mountain causes him to help his friend make it
to the top.

3 Use the word conviction in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©TORWAISTUDIO/Shutterstock

hear the word conviction.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a conviction that you or someone you know has.
Then discuss these questions: What is the conviction?
How have you or the person that you know put that
conviction into practice?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

faltering
 Vocabulary Card 9.31

fal • ter • ing (adj.)

Something that is faltering is hesitant and
not confident.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  For the first few days with her
crutches, Jetta walked with faltering steps.

3 Use the word faltering in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©David Tadevosian/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word faltering.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: When have you seen faltering movement
or heard faltering speech? What do you think may have
caused the faltering movement or speech?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

extinguished
 Vocabulary Card 9.32

ex • tin • guished (v.)

A light that has been extinguished has
stopped shining.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: We extinguished the campfire
before we went on our hike.

3 Use the word extinguished in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Sundays Photography/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word extinguished.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

think about a campfire in the woods. Then discuss
these questions: Why is it important that a campfire be
extinguished before you leave the area? How can you be
sure a campfire is extinguished?

Grade 5 • Module 9 • Week 3

tension
 Vocabulary Card 10.1

ten • sion (n.)

A difficult situation can produce a feeling of tension,
or stress.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  There was a feeling of tension
and fear when we heard a noise outside our tent.

3 Use the word tension in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©miljko/E+/Getty Images

word tension.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

the types of situations that cause you tension. What are
some ways to deal with tension? Why do you think physical
exercise relieves tension?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

antisocial
 Vocabulary Card 10.2

an • ti • so • cial (adj.)
If you’re feeling antisocial, you don’t feel like being
around other people.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Usually my cat is friendly, but
today he is being a little antisocial.

3 Use the word antisocial in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Noskov Vladimir/Shutterstock

word antisocial.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

describe a situation when you felt antisocial. What did
you do? Have you ever felt like being antisocial but did not
let it stop you from having fun?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

bond
 Vocabulary Card 10.3

bond (n.)
People who feel friendship or love toward each other
have a bond that unites them.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The dog and the cat grew up
together and formed a close bond of friendship.

3 Use the word bond in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Chendongshan/Shutterstock

word bond.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name

a person with whom you have a bond. What is the bond?
Why is a bond important in someone’s life? How might
your life be different without that bond?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

relationship
 Vocabulary Card 10.4

re • la • tion • ship (n.)

The way people feel and act toward each other is
their relationship.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: The relationship between people
and their pets can be very affectionate.

3 Use the word relationship in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mark Hunt/Getty Images

word relationship.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, name

a person or animal with whom you have a special
relationship. Why is this relationship special? How does
this relationship improve your life?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

enclosure
 Vocabulary Card 10.5

en • clo • sure (n.)

An enclosure is an area that is surrounded by a
fence or walls.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The rabbits looked over the yard
from their enclosure.

3 Use the word enclosure in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Oleksandr Berezko/Shutterstock

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word enclosure.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, answer

these questions: What are some other places that would
use an enclosure? From what dangers will the enclosure
offer protection?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

anticipation
 Vocabulary Card 10.6

an • tic • i • pa • tion (n.)

If you are in anticipation of something, you are
expecting it to happen and are excited or anxious
about it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  We waited in anticipation to play
the game.

3 Use the word anticipation in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Doug Menuez/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word anticipation.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a time when your anticipation of an event made
you feel excited or anxious. What was the event that caused
your anticipation? Why did you feel the way you did?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

possession
 Vocabulary Card 10.7

pos • ses • sion (n.)

A possession is something you own.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Billy’s most prized possession is
his collection of toy cars.

3 Use the word possession in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word possession.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©John Slater/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about a possession that is important to you. Then
discuss the following questions: What is your most
valuable possession? Why is that possession so valuable
to you? If you had to give away one possession, what
would it be and why?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

inhumane
 Vocabulary Card 10.8

in • hu • mane (adj.)
To be inhumane is to be cruel and unfeeling.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  It is inhumane to lock an animal
in a cage for a long period of time.

3 Use the word inhumane in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word inhumane.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©PhotoDisc/Getty Images

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think
about some people or groups that work against the
inhumane treatment of animals. What do you know
about the work these people or groups do to prevent the
inhumane treatment of animals? What can you do to help
prevent inhumane treatment of animals?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

solitary
 Vocabulary Card 10.9

sol • i • tar • y (adj.)

Someone who is solitary is alone.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The library is empty except for the
solitary girl at one of the tables.

3 Use the word solitary in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word solitary.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  As a group, talk about

a time when you have been solitary. Then discuss these
questions: What is something that you can do better when
you are solitary rather than in a group? When would it be
unpleasant to be solitary?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

territory
 Vocabulary Card 10.10

ter • ri • to • ry (n.)
Territory is an area of land.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The United States can be
broken into a western, midwestern, southern, and
eastern territory.

3 Use the word territory in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Map Resources/Shutterstock

hear the word territory.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, look

at the four territories on the map of the United States.
Then discuss these questions: In which territory do you
live? How would you describe your territory? What are
some special features of your territory?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

coaxing
 Vocabulary Card 10.11

coax • ing (v.)

If you were coaxing someone, you were gently trying
to convince that person to do something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Dad is coaxing Tim to eat
the pasta.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©pixdeluxe/istock /Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
3 Use the word coaxing in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word coaxing.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about a time when you were coaxing someone to do
something. What were you coaxing the person to do?
Did the situation turn out as you expected? Explain
your answer.

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

generation
 Vocabulary Card 10.12

gen • er • a • tion (n.)

A generation is a group of people or animals that
are about the same age.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The younger generation always
seems to be on their cell phones or tablets.

3 Use the word generation in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word generation.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Hero Images/Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss
what life is like as part of the younger generation. What
are the challenges of your generation? How do you think
your challenges differ from the challenges of your parents’
or grandparents’ generation?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

dominated
 Vocabulary Card 10.13

dom • i • nat • ed (v.)

If someone dominated another, he or she was more
powerful and controlled what the other did.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The massive elephant dominated
the small water hole.

3 Use the word dominated in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Johan_Barnard/RooM/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word dominated.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,

talk about a time when you were with someone who
dominated the conversation. How were you able to share
your own thoughts? What is a polite way to tell someone
that he or she dominated the conversation and should
have let others speak?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 1

posture
 Vocabulary Card 10.14

pos • ture (n.)

Posture is the position of a person or animal’s body.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  My sister has excellent posture
when she is sitting at her computer.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Mark Bowden/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
3 Use the word posture in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word posture.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  Talk with a partner

about good and bad posture. How would you describe
good posture? How would you describe poor posture?
Why is it important to have good posture?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

master
 Vocabulary Card 10.15

mas • ter (v.)

To master an activity is to learn to do it well.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Clara is working hard to master
the game of chess.

3 Use the word master in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Lottie Davies/Digital Vision/Getty Images

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word master.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a skill or game you would like to master. Then
discuss these questions: What skill or game would you
most like to master? What qualities do you need to
master it?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

technique
 Vocabulary Card 10.16

tech • nique (n.)

A technique is way of making or doing something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The chef has an amazing
technique for decorating cookies.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Michael Lamotte/Cole Group/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

3 Use the word technique in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word technique.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a skill you have that requires a special technique.
Then discuss these questions: How did you develop your
technique? How would you explain your technique to
someone else?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

utilize
 Vocabulary Card 10.17

u • til • ize (v.)

To utilize something is to use it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He likes to utilize the treadmill
when he exercises at the gym.

3 Use the word utilize in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word utilize.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©sirtravelalot/Shutterstock

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about the equipment you utilize in your gym class.
Then discuss these questions: What is your favorite sports
equipment to utilize in gym class? Why? How do you
utilize your free time?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

fend
 Vocabulary Card 10.18

fend (v.)
People and animals that fend for themselves survive
without help.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The young bear cub is able to
fend for himself by finding food.

3 Use the word fend in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word fend.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about what comes to mind when you think of being able
to fend for yourself. What kinds of things should you know
how to do in order to fend for yourself? Why is it important
that you know how to fend for yourself?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

status
 Vocabulary Card 10.19

stat • us (n.)
Status is the level of importance a person or animal
has within its social group.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The lion had the highest status
within his pride.

3 Use the word status in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©creativex/Shutterstock

hear the word status.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups,

discuss a group of animals you have seen, perhaps at
a zoo or some other setting. What action of the animal
shows the animal’s status in the group? How does an
animal achieve a high status in a group? How does a
person achieve a high status in a group?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

cowered
 Vocabulary Card 10.20

cow • ered (v.)

If an animal cowered, it crouched or bent down
in fear.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The dog cowered in the corner
when he heard the thunder.

3 Use the word cowered in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Patrick H/Shutterstock

word cowered.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about a time when you were younger and cowered in
fear. Do you remember why you cowered in fear? Are you
still afraid of that thing?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

benefit
 Vocabulary Card 10.21

ben • e • fit (v.)

If you benefit from something, it makes your life
better in some way.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I will benefit from camping with
my dad because I will learn many outdoor skills.

3 Use the word benefit in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Steve Mason/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word benefit.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some things you can do to benefit your health.
Then discuss these questions: What kinds of exercise can
benefit your health? What is something you can do that
will benefit your community?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

clan
 Vocabulary Card 10.22

clan (n.)
A clan is a group of people or animals who are
usually members of the same family.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  The clan of meerkats stays close
together for protection.

3 Use the word clan in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©M&S Fotodesign/Fotolia

word clan.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a large family that you would describe as a clan. Then
discuss the following questions: What makes them a clan
in your mind? What are some good things about being part
of a clan?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

restore
 Vocabulary Card 10.23

re • store (v.)
To restore something is to change it back to the way
it used to be.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Mr. Jones is going to restore an
old house in our neighborhood.

3 Use the word restore in your own sentence.

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word restore.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk
about what people do when they restore old houses.
Then discuss these questions: What are some other things
people restore? Have you ever restored a broken toy? How
did you restore it?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

reconcile
 Vocabulary Card 10.24

rec • on • cile (v.)

If you reconcile with someone, you make up after a
disagreement.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Jennifer wants to reconcile with
her mother after their argument.

3 Use the word reconcile in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

word reconcile.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

these questions: Why is it important to reconcile with
someone you care about? What are some things you can
say when you want to reconcile with someone?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

enabled
 Vocabulary Card 10.25

en • a • bled (v.)
If a situation enabled people or animals, it gave
them what they needed in order to do something.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Working hard in college enabled
Carmen to graduate early.

3 Use the word enabled in your own sentence.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Ryan McVay/PhotoDisc/Getty Images

4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word enabled.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

of a time when somebody gave you a gift that enabled
you to do something you really wanted to do. Then
discuss these questions: What had the gift enabled you
to do? How did you feel when you received the gift?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 2

migrate
 Vocabulary Card 10.26

mi • grate (v.)
If you migrate, you move from one area to live
in another.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence: Wildebeests migrate every year in
Tanzania and Kenya, Africa.

3 Use the word migrate in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Gudkov Andrey/Shutterstock

word migrate.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about why people and animals migrate from one place to
another. What dangers do people face when they migrate?
What dangers do animals face when they migrate?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

aquatic
 Vocabulary Card 10.27

a • quat • ic (adj.)
A plant or animal that is aquatic lives in or
around water.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Our zoo has an aquatic tank for
the sea lions.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Brandon Alms/iStockphoto.com/Getty Images

3 Use the word aquatic in your own sentence.
4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word aquatic.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, think

about aquatic animals you have seen in real life or in
photographs. Then discuss these questions: What types
of sea creatures would you expect to see in an aquatic tank
at a zoo? What are your favorite aquatic animals and why?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

formations
 Vocabulary Card 10.28

for • ma • tions (n.)

Formations are how things are arranged.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Bryce Canyon National Park has
many unusual rock formations.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Marco Brivio/Photographer’s Choice RF/Getty Images
3 Use the word formations in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word formations.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, look

at the rock formations in the picture on the front of the
card. Then discuss these questions: How do you think the
unusual rock formations were formed? Why do you think
these formations attract so many tourists?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

random
 Vocabulary Card 10.29

ran • dom (adj.)

If something is random, it happens without a reason
or pattern.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  I performed a random act of
kindness by helping my mom unload the groceries.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Blend Images/Getty Images
3 Use the word random in your own sentence.
4 Brainstorm other words that come to mind when you
hear the word random.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  In small groups,

discuss what is meant by the phrase “random acts of
kindness.” What are some random acts of kindness you
can perform or have performed? If an action is planned, is it
random? Why or why not?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

scaled
 Vocabulary Card 10.30

scaled (v.)
If you scaled something, you climbed over it.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Serious climbers have scaled
some of the world’s highest mountains.

3 Use the word scaled in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word scaled.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Corbis

these questions: Why do you think people have scaled
high mountains? What do you think would be the most
challenging part if you scaled a high mountain peak?
What is something you have scaled?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

resume
 Vocabulary Card 10.31

re • sume (v.)
If you resume something, you start again after a
break or pause.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  He fell hard, but knew he had to
resume skiing until he reached the bottom of the hill.

3 Use the word resume in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©anatoliy_gleb/Shutterstock

word resume.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, talk

about some breaks you have during the school day.
When do classes resume? What do you do during those
breaks before classes resume? How does it feel when
classes resume after summer or winter break?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

grasp
 Vocabulary Card 10.32

grasp (v.)
If you grasp something, you hold it very firmly.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  In gym class, our teacher told us
to grasp the rope tightly.

3 Use the word grasp in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the
word grasp.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Golden Pixels LLC/Alamy

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner,
talk about a time when you had to grasp something,
perhaps in gym class or in another situation. What did
you need to grasp? What gym activities require you to
grasp something tightly? What exercises can you do to
make it easier to grasp something?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

resistant
 Vocabulary Card 10.33

re • sis • tant (adj.)

If someone is resistant, they fight against
something or someone.

1 Read the word and its meaning above.

2 Read this sentence:  Shots or immunizations can make
people resistant to many diseases.

3 Use the word resistant in your own sentence.

4 Make a list of synonyms and antonyms for the

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company  ©Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

word resistant.

COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION  With a partner, discuss

things that come to mind when you think about the
word resistant. Other than diseases, what else might
you want to be resistant to? What are some examples
from history in which people have been resistant
against injustice?

Grade 5 • Module 10 • Week 3

 Vocabulary Cards
GRADE 5

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LV 5 1714237
 Vocabulary Cards
in Alphabetical Order
CARD CARD CARD CARD
WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER

acceleration 1.32 complaint 4.14 duets 6.23 fort 5.26

advised 6.29 comprehended 8.20 earnest 9.16 fortunate 8.8
aggressive 5.29 conceived 1.34 eccentric 1.29 foundations 3.29
ailing 7.29 conferring 3.8 effect 9.4 frolics 4.22
alarming 3.11 conscious 5.14 elite 1.22 gadgets 1.7
alternative 5.8 consented 6.25 elusive 9.21 gaping 9.26
ambitious 6.11 consequences 3.9 employed 4.15 generation 10.12
anchored 3.28 consisted 4.12 enabled 10.25 generosity 8.24
anticipation 10.6 contagious 6.21 enclosure 10.5 goodwill 8.25
antisocial 10.2 contaminate 5.1 encounters 9.23 gracing 6.5
aquatic 10.27 contempt 2.23 endangered 5.4 grasp 10.32
artificial 5.10 content 6.30 engulfed 9.10 grateful 8.26
ascend 7.8 contents 2.12 epic 4.2 handy 4.10
attempted 2.21 contradict 5.16 evacuation 3.6 hardships 4.7
audible 9.11 contribution 1.27 eventually 3.25 hastily 9.24
auditorium 1.18 controversy 6.6 evidently 1.31 hazard 3.4
authentic 6.18 conviction 9.30 excel 1.1 hesitate 2.25
authorities 7.14 convinced 9.18 exception 8.27 hoaxes 9.20
awakening 2.18 cosmic 7.7 exhaust 7.19 homeland 6.28
bars 6.20 cowered 10.20 expanse 7.24 homestead 4.17
beckoned 9.27 cylinder 1.12 expedition 7.1 humble 5.6
benefit 10.21 dainty 4.25 exposure 6.15 hybrid 7.17
benevolent 5.2 dedicate 8.9 extinguished 9.32 ideology 4.21
bond 10.3 deficiencies 2.13 factor 9.3 ignited 7.16
captivity 5.28 delirious 2.10 falsify 9.2 illustrious 1.2
cascading 5.17 densely 2.8 faltering 9.31 imperil 5.3
casual 8.14 depleted 5.18 fastenings 2.17 implying 5.15
category 3.30 deploy 7.22 favorable 2.6 impoverished 1.19
celestial 4.13 desperately 9.17 feeble 9.28 impulse 1.26
chastised 9.14 destruction 3.17 fend 10.18 incandescent 1.11
chronology 7.4 dialogue 2.2 fever 6.22 incorporated 6.9
chugged 1.6 diary 8.16 flight 5.23 incredible 7.2
circumstances 1.30 discarded 8.11 flop 1.10 indispensable 4.24
civil 8.6 discriminatory 6.19 flourishing 8.7 influence 5.12
clan 10.22 distinguished 1.28 foreword 2.4 ingenious 6.12
classic 6.1 ditty 2.28 forged 7.10 inhumane 10.8
climax 2.3 domain 4.19 formations 10.28 inspector 1.15
coaxing 10.11 dominated 10.13 formidable 9.5 institution 7.2
 Vocabulary Cards
in Alphabetical Order
CARD CARD CARD CARD
WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER WORD NUMBER

international 7.27 passionate 1.25 relentlessly 9.6 suspense 9.1

irrigate 1.14 patents 1.13 reluctantly 8.12 synthetic 7.18
jabbing 5.27 patriotic 4.8 resembled 7.25 technique 10.16
keepsake 9.13 persistence 6.10 reserve 8.13 temporary 8.4
knowledge 4.5 phonograph 1.8 reservoir 3.7 tendrils 2.16
lateral 3.22 photographed 1.16 residence 4.20 tension 10.1
literally 3.15 physics 7.20 resistant 10.33 terrain 7.26
locomotives 1.5 plod 4.26 restless 2.30 territory 10.10
magnitude 3.14 plots 5.7 restore 10.23 testifying 6.31
maintenance 3.16 porthole 2.7 restrain 2.22 theoretical 9.22
maneuver 1.20 possession 10.7 resume 10.31 thresh 4.30
manufactured 6.8 posts 4.6 retreat 5.22 thrust 3.19
mariners 7.6 posture 10.14 revere 1.3 toddles 5.20
master 10.15 precious 7.13 ruthless 7.15 toil 5.24
matted 2.15 prefer 9.9 sacrifice 4.16 track 3.31
merchant 5.25 preliminary 8.22 scaled 10.30 traditional 1.24
midland 4.3 presiding 2.20 scrawled 2.27 transcend 1.4
migrate 10.26 prestigious 1.17 seismographs 3.5 transform 5.9
misperception 9.19 primary 4.18 seized 2.24 transition 7.23
mobile 3.27 principle 7.9 semidarkness 8.18 transmitted 7.28
modified 3.23 prior 3.13 sensible 8.28 traversed 6.14
monologue 8.3 progress 7.3 sentimental 9.8 tremor 3.3
muffled 9.25 projected 2.11 sheaf 6.26 tribute 6.2
musings 9.7 promptly 8.17 shudder 9.29 triggered 3.18
mysterious 2.14 proportions 4.28 sightings 9.15 typical 4.11
native 4.1 prose 2.1 skeptical 6.7 urban 5.5
nomadic 8.1 prototype 1.33 slogans 4.9 utilize 10.17
notable 3.1 provoking 6.4 solitary 10.9 vast 7.5
nudged 8.15 radiate 3.20 solos 6.24 victim 3.12
objective 1.23 random 10.29 specialized 1.21 victory 4.4
oblivious 4.27 ransacked 7.11 spectacle 5.19 voice 8.2
obvious 8.19 reasonable 2.9 sponsor 8.23 watchful 2.26
officially 8.21 reconcile 10.24 spontaneous 3.2 widespread 3.10
opinion 6.13 reduce 5.13 sputtered 1.9 will 9.12
outcome 6.27 refrain 2.29 status 10.19 willful 6.16
outskirts 7.12 regaled 4.29 stereotypical 6.17 witness 2.19
packet 5.21 regions 3.26 striking 6.3 yearning 8.5
panic 2.5 relationship 10.4 stubble 4.23 yield 5.11
parallel 3.21 relatives 8.10 surge 3.24