Page 35 - Scaffolding for English Language Learners

Guiding Question
 What would happen if the Euphrates did not flow? What would happen if there was no Euphrates river?
Text
Glossary
Almost four thousand years ago, a father and a son were walking together on the banks of a great river, close to what was then possibly the biggest city in the world: Babylon. The father, whose name was Warad (WAH-red), said to his son Iddin (ID-din), “See, my son, the great Euphrates (you-FRAY-teez) River. If this river did not flow there would be no wonderful city of Babylon, no palaces, no gardens, not even any houses.”
Iddin said, “But I don’t understand, Father. Did all these things appear out of the water?”
bank—ground on the sides of the river. [Point to the bank in the image.] The word banks also can refer to places where people keep money.
great—very important. The word great can also mean very large in size.
flow—move all the time wonderful—excellent or amazing
palaces—large, fancy homes. People like kings and queens live in palaces.
appear out of—come out of
Supplementary Questions
6. Where were Warad and Iddin walking? [ALL]
Warad and Iddin were walking ______________________________________________. [on the banks of the Euphrates River] [EN,EM,TR]
7. How long ago were they walking there? Is this a long time ago or a short time ago? [ALL] They were walking there _________________________. [EN,EM,TR]
[almost four thousand years ago]
8. The river was close to the biggest city in the world at that time. What is the name of the city? [ALL]
The city was called ________________________. [EN,EM,TR] [Babylon]
9. What was the river doing? [ALL]
The river was ___________. [EN,EM,TR] [flowing]
10. What does it mean for a river to flow? [ALL]
When a river flows, it ________________. [EN,EM,TR] [moves all the time]
11. Where did Iddin think the palace, gardens, and houses appeared or came from? [ALL] Iddin thought the palace, gardens, and houses came from the ____________. [EN,EM,TR] [water]
12. Was he right? _________ [ALL] [no]
Response to Guiding Question
Partner Talk: What would happen if the Euphrates did not flow? What would happen if there was no Euphrates river? [ALL]
If the Euphrates did not flow, ________________________________________ [EN,EM,TR] [there would be no city of Babylon, no palaces, no gardens, no houses]
American Institutes for Research Scaffolding Instruction for ELLs: Resource Guide for ELA–31