Vanessa+Engel

Vanessa Engel is participating in the role of WORD WIZARD!
__**Literature:**__ //Adrift on a Sea of Blue Light//
 * __ Author: __** Peter Muilenburg
 * __ Role: __** The role of Word Wizard is to chose words from the text that are intriguing, interesting, or may not be used in daily conversations and explore their meanings, use them in a sentence, and create an expression of these words using a web 2.0 tool. Below is a crossword puzzle with a majority of the vocabulary words that I created using a puzzle maker found at the Proprofs website: [] . **(Note: I was planning on using the Discovery Channel puzzle builder, but I had difficulties putting it on this wiki. If any of you viewing this site notice any problems with this widget, kindly let me know.)**
 * __ Description: __** The student is to identify 20-30 words from the text that are intriguing, interesting, or nautical terms that others in the group may have never used. The student is expected to find the definition that fits the context of the story, use it in a sentence that adequately shows its meaning, and make a crossword puzzle using the majority of the words found.


 * Wonderful Words ** (With the help of Dictionary.com)

__ketch-__ a sailing vessel rigged toward the front and the back on two masts, the larger, forward one being the mainmast and the after one, stepped forward of the rudder post We set sail on our small ketch across the Aegean Sea.

__mangrove-__ tropical maritime trees or shrubs that send out prop roots and form dense masses. I used a machete to shred through the vast mangroves.

__sextant-__ instrument for measuring angular distances, especially in navigation to observe altitudes of celestial bodies. It is necessary for us to use the sextant to determine our course.

__gibbet-__ gallows; an upright post with a projecting arm for hanging the bodies of executed criminals as a warning. We looked up in horror and saw the thief hanging dead on the gibbet.

__mortise-__ a notch, hole, groove, or slot made in a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of the same dimensions. My nephew located the mortise to attach the link-in logs together.

__tenon-__ a projection on the end of a timber or the like for insertion into a mortise of the same dimensions. We noticed the tenons were the perfect shape to fit the mortise when we built our log cabin in the woods.

__urchin-__ a mischievous boy or any small boy or youngster The crafty little urchin took off through the crowd with my purse!

__cetacean-__ belonging to the Cetacea, an order of aquatic, chiefly marine mammals, including whales and dolphins. The cetacean spouted water through its blow hole and submerged beneath the ocean waves.

__lagoon-__ an area of shallow water separated from the sea by low sandy dunes. We saw that the lush lagoon was surrounded by luxuriously white sand dunes.

__stoic-__ of or pertaining to the school of philosophy founded by Zeno, who taught that people should be free of passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity. The mother remained stoic without even a quiver of emotion when her teenage son was whining at her. __ ennoble- __ to elevate in degree, excellence, or respect; dignify; exalt. The grandchildren ennoble their grandmother, even if she punishes them for being naughty.

__expostulate-__ to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate. His friend tried to expostulate with the man, pleading for him not to find the broad shouldered stranger.

__ cay- __ (or key, kee) a small low island. __ ﻿﻿ __ We anchored our boat near a seemingly deserted cay for the night.

__ ﻿despoil- __ to strip of possessions, things of value, etc. rob; plunder; pillage. The Grinch chose to despoil all the citizens of Whoville of their Christmas presents.

__ ﻿islet- __ a very small island. This islet is apart of a larger group of islands near the Florida keys.

__lee-__ 1- protective shelter 2- the side or part that is sheltered or turned away from the wind 3- (Nautical) the quarter or region toward which the wind blows. While sailing, I had to move quickly out of the way of the lee due to a large gust of wind.

__fishing smack-__ any of various fore-and-aft-rigged fishing vessels of rather large size, often containing a well to keep the catch alive. The fishing smack was chock full of fresh-caught live red snapper ready to sell at the nearest fish market.

__skiff-__ any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person. One sailor ventured toward the new island on a skiff to explore before the rest of the crew followed.

__lassitude-__ 1- weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy; listlessness; langour. 2- a condition of indolent indifference. The traffic cop expressed great lassitude after giving over thirty speeding tickets in one shift.

__squall-__ a sudden, violent gust of wind, often accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet. The small tugboat was overtaken by a harsh squall which darkened the afternoon sky.

__shoal-__ 1- a place where a sea, river, or other body of water is shallow. 2- a sandbank or sand bar in the bed of a body of water, especially one that is exposed above the surface of the water at low tide. The boat was unable to move forward due to an unexpected shoal peaking above the water during low tide.

__bilge-__ an enclosed area between frames at each side of the floors on a boat where seepage collects. Seawater was building on in the bilge of the ship at an alarming rate.

__cant-__ whining or singsong speech, especially of beggars. The derelict repeated a cant that was extremely annoying to passersby.

__itinerant-__ traveling from place to place, especially on a circuit, as a minister, judge, or sales representative; journeying. The flock of itinerant birds fly South for with winter months only to return North in early spring.

__schipperke-__ one of a Belgian breed of small dogs having erect ears and a thick black coat, originally used as a watchdog on boats in the Netherlands and Belgium; their name means "little captain" in Flemish. The schipperke barked its little head off when a group of kids attempted to board the boat.

__draconian-__ of or pertaining to, or characteristic of Draco or his code of laws; rigorous; unusually severe or cruel. The husband dictated his home and family with a draconian set of rules.

__flummox-__ to bewilder, confound, or confuse. The basketball player attempted to flummox the opposite team by zigzagging all over the court.

__adroit-__ 1- expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body 2- cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious. The little dog was extremely adroit when dodging the bigger dog's vicious teeth.

__bowsprit-__ a spar projecting from the upper end of the bow of a sailing vessel, for holding the tacks of various jibs or stays and often supporting a jib boom. The bowsprit on the little boat was so deteriorated and old that it was unable to support the jib boom.

__jib-__ any various triangular sails set forward of fore-staysail or fore-topmast staysail. The jib should be taken down since the wind is too fierce for us to sail safely.

__stern-__ the after part or back of the vessel We had to place the cargo at the stern of the boat to keep the front from dipping into each oncoming wave.

__lout-__ an awkward, stupid person; clumsy, ill-mannered boor; oaf. The great lout of a man stumbled out of the bar and into a crowd of elderly ladies.

= = media type="custom" key="7552035"


 * __Rubric:__**


 * Level 4:** Student has located approximately thirty nautical, intriguing, and interesting words, presented their definitions in their correct context, and given a sentence that alludes to their definitions. Created a crossword puzzle which implements at least 20 out of the 30 words using a web 2.0 tool.


 * Level 3:** Student has located some interesting words and nautical terminology, presented their definitions in their correct context, and most sentences provided allude to their definitions. Created a crossword puzzle which implements 18 out of the 30 words using a web 2.0 tool.


 * Level 2:** Student has located several interesting words and nautical terminology, but the words could be more intriguing and descriptive. Most of the definitions are correct, but their companion sentences rarely allude to their definitions. Crossword puzzle covers 15 words out of 30 using the web 2.0 tool.


 * Level 1:** Student has located very few interesting words and nautical terminology. Words could have been chosen more wisely. Definitions provided are not correct and their companion sentences are not descriptive of the definition at all. Crossword puzzle covers less than 15 words.