Fishing at Night Chapter 3

Category: Fishing at Night

The estuaryestuary at MatakanaMatakana was a very good place for flounder fishingfishing because the shore was partlypartly muddymuddy and partly sandy,sandy, and the water was shallow and warm – just the kind of place flounders like best, especiallyespecially at night.

As soon as tea was over, Tim said, “Come on, it isit’s dark enough now.”

Ricki, who was sittingsitting on a chair on the verandah,verandah, called,called, “I can see people goinggoing to the bonfiresbonfires already.already. HurryHurry up Mia! Hurry up Mum and Dad!” And awayaway the childrenchildren ran.

johnny automatic flashlight 300px Mr and Mrs Gale washedwashed the dishesdishes and then followeded the children.children. When all the camperscampers had gatheredgathered at the biggestbiggest bonfire, Jan’s father set it alight.alight. They all movedmoved to the secondsecond and lit that, and then the third until all the fires were burningburning brightly. Everyonely. Everyone took a spear in one hand and a torch in the other and beganbegan walkingwalking very quietlyquietly through the water, lookinglooking for flounders. Some people had electricelectric torchestorches but some usedused burningburning sticks from the fires. A few had lanterns.lanterns. Mia had Mr Gale's electric torch because she was the oldestoldest and Tim and Ricki used flareflaring sticks.

Comprehension

Summarise what has happened so far in this narrative.

Clarify these words: estuary, shore, shallow, especially, verandah, bonfires, electric, gathered, lanterns, flaring.

Retell what has happened in this chapter.

Make inferences and give opinions about:

Why a shore that is muddy and sandy with shallow warm water would be good for flounder fishing.
Why nighttime would be good for flounder fishing.
What time of the day the Gale family have their tea.
Why the children are in such a hurry.
Why the bonfires were lit.
Why they would need to walk quietly.
Why the children didn't all use electric torches.
Which would be better - electric torch or burning stick.
How a lantern would work.
Whether you think the oldest should have had the torch or the burning stick.

What prediction can you make about what might happen next?

What question could you ask about this chapter?

Visualise these uses of descriptive language: shore was partly muddy and partly sandy; water was shallow and warm; campers gathered at the biggest bonfire; all the fires were burning brightly, everyone took a spear in one hand and a torch in the other and began walking quietly through the water; flaring sticks.

Make a connection with this chapter.

Word Study

Verb endings: What happens when we add s, ed or ing to: sit, go, run, do, move, light, set, take, begin, use, flare.

Other affixes: What happens when we add other prefixes and suffixes like e, ly, y, s, est to these words: special, part, bright, quiet, mud, sand, dish, big, old.

What two words make up these compound words: already, bonfire, alight.

What two words are contracted here: it's.

What does the apostrophe mean in: Mr Gale's torch.