The Rubber Duck Derby: Say It Exactly

Use precise words and phrases in a flyer and a news report.

Make the flyer exact

Help Jada choose words that tell readers exactly what they need to know.

The fourth graders at Cedar Park School are holding a Rubber Duck Derby to raise money for a class trip to the science center. People buy numbered rubber ducks. On race day, all the ducks are dropped into Pine Creek, and the first ducks to float to the finish line win prizes.

Jada wrote the first flyer, but her words were vague: "Come to our duck thing soon! It will be by the water. Ducks cost some money. You could win stuff! You will have a nice time."

Which sentence should replace "Come to our duck thing soon!"?

A. Come to our fun duck event at some point soon!B. Come to our big thing with ducks this spring!C. Come to the Rubber Duck Derby on Saturday, May 9!D. Come to the duck race, which is happening sometime!

Which sentence should replace "Ducks cost some money."?

A. Each duck costs $2, or you can get 5 ducks for $8.B. Each duck costs a small amount, so bring a little.C. Ducks cost money, but they do not cost very much.D. Ducks cost some money, so be sure to bring enough.

Jada tried four sentences about the prizes. Underline the two sentences that tell readers exactly what they could win.

Here are details from Jada's finished flyer. Sort them. Does each detail tell exactly when, exactly where, or exactly how many?

Make the race report exact

After the derby, Omar wrote a report for the school newsletter. Help him choose exact words.

Write the more exact word or phrase from each pair in parentheses.

On (a day / Saturday morning), Ms. Ferreira tipped a (laundry basket / thing) full of ducks into Pine Creek. The ducks (went / drifted) slowly past the willow tree while (300 / a bunch of) people watched from the banks.

Which word names the sound most exactly? "The ducks landed in the creek with a loud ___."

A. noiseB. humC. crunchD. splash

Omar's first draft had vague words. Match each sentence to the exact word that should replace the underlined words.

Omar wants readers to know exactly how much money the class raised. Which sentence does that?

A. The class raised a whole lot of money for the trip.B. The class raised $412 for the science center trip.C. The class raised more money than anyone expected.D. The class raised enough money and then some extra.

Here is the end of Omar's report. His teacher says one sentence is still vague. Underline that sentence.

Your turn

Use exact words in your own writing.

10.

Jada's flyer still says, "You will have a nice time." Rewrite this sentence with exact words that tell readers what they will see or do at the derby.