Worksheet

Camping Diary: Precise Words for a Damp Weekend

Use a camping diary to learn academic and subject-specific vocabulary, check key meanings, and apply words precisely.

Grade 6ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toL.6.6

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What’s included

Single worksheet
Auto-graded online
1 Common Core standard
Printable answer key
13 questions
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Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 6
Subject: ELA
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Circle the answer, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students use context to clarify academic and subject-specific words in a diary.
Students apply new vocabulary precisely in sentences about unfamiliar situations.
Students identify and resolve vocabulary gaps that affect understanding.

How to use

Have students read the diary independently and mark unfamiliar words. Complete the vocabulary tasks, then discuss how the reference notes resolve uncertain meanings.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

L.6.6

Learn and use grade-level academic and subject-specific words and phrases, and build vocabulary when a word is key to understanding.

Preview

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Name Date

Camping Diary: Precise Words for a Damp Weekend

Use context and reference notes to understand and apply new vocabulary.

Read and Investigate

Read the diary. Use the surrounding details to work out unfamiliar words.

What the Damp Tent Taught Me

1Friday evening — Before our family camping weekend, I thought packing meant squeezing everything into a bag. My cousin Saira treated it as a planning problem. We had to allocate space among bedding, clothing, and shared equipment. If my extra sweatshirt went in, something else had to come out. I argued for a folding stool until I tried lifting my pack.

2Saturday morning — The inside of our tent felt damp, although no rain had fallen overnight. Uncle Tomas called the tiny drops on the inner surface condensation. He explained that water vapor in the air can become liquid when it meets a cool surface. I had assumed every wet tent leaked. That explanation made me reconsider where the moisture came from.

3Saturday afternoon — We tested two spare fabric squares beside the picnic table. Water passed through the permeable square and collected in a cup underneath. The other square held water on its surface during our brief test. Saira labeled both samples before we packed them away.

4Saturday evening — We improved ventilation by opening the tent's screened vents so air could move through. I wanted to open the main door too, but insects were gathering outside. Our criteria for a useful solution were simple: it had to allow airflow and keep insects out. The screened vents met both requirements. We left our damp towels outside rather than adding more moisture indoors.

5Sunday morning — My towel was saturated after I accidentally dropped it into the wash basin; water dripped from it when I lifted it. I spread it over a line instead of stuffing it into my pack. Before leaving, we checked whether our drinking water was sufficient for the walk to the parking area. We had enough for everyone, with some left over. My diary now contains fewer complaints about packing and more questions worth investigating.

In paragraph 1, what does allocate mean?

A. Set aside portions for particular uses.
B. Measure the weight of every item.
C. Remove equipment from a shared bag.
D. Arrange supplies in alphabetical order.

In paragraph 3, which property does the word permeable describe?

A. Changing color when a material gets wet.
B. Becoming stronger when a material dries.
C. Allowing water to pass through a material.
D. Keeping water on a material's surface.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 3 that best supports the meaning of permeable you chose in question 2.

Saturday afternoon — We tested two spare fabric squares beside the picnic table.Water passed through the permeable square and collected in a cup underneath.The other square held water on its surface during our brief test.Saira labeled both samples before we packed them away.

Which note accurately records the condensation described in paragraph 2?

A. Liquid water turned into vapor inside the tent.
B. Liquid water soaked through the tent floor.
C. Water vapor became liquid on a cool surface.
D. Rainwater entered through a hole in the tent.

In paragraph 4, the writer calls airflow and keeping insects out criteria. What are criteria?

A. Explanations given after a test has failed.
B. Standards used to judge a possible solution.
C. Supplies saved for use during an emergency.
D. Steps taken to assemble a piece of equipment.

Write the word from paragraph 5 that means enough to meet a need.

Check and Use the Words

Use the diary and reference notes to choose precise words and explain important distinctions.

Reference notes
ventilation: the movement or exchange of air in a space
saturated: thoroughly soaked with liquid
capacity: the greatest amount a container can hold
quantity: an amount of something

A camper says, “Ventilation means making a tent colder.” Which correction best uses the reference notes?

A. It means measuring the temperature inside the tent.
B. It means removing wet objects from the tent.
C. It means blocking sunlight from entering the tent.
D. It means allowing air to move through the tent.

Which new diary sentence uses saturated most precisely?

A. The cloth was saturated; water dripped out when I squeezed it.
B. The cloth was saturated; its dry surface felt warm in sunlight.
C. The cloth was saturated; its folded edges fit inside my pocket.
D. The cloth was saturated; one corner had a tiny damp spot.

Complete the packing notes using the reference notes. Use each needed word once. One word will not be used.

Word bank: quantity · ventilation · capacity

The bottle's is one liter, but the of water currently inside it is only half a liter.

10.

A new diary entry says, “We have sufficient flashlight batteries.” What additional information is needed to check whether sufficient is accurate?

A. The names of the campers who packed the flashlights.
B. The number available and the number the group needs.
C. The color of the flashlights and their storage cases.
D. The order in which the batteries were placed in a bag.

11.

Which sentence uses criteria to describe how campers would judge a campsite, rather than describing an action or result?

A. Our criteria were level ground and permission to pitch a tent.
B. Our campsite was quiet after the neighboring group went home.
C. We reached the campsite after walking along the marked trail.
D. We carried the tent poles while our cousin carried the fabric.

12.

A camping guide describes a groundsheet as impermeable. Its glossary defines impermeable as “not allowing water to pass through.” Which conclusion correctly combines that definition with the diary's fabric test?

A. Permeable and impermeable both describe materials that dry very quickly.
B. Permeable blocks water completely; impermeable allows water to pass through.
C. Permeable and impermeable both describe materials that absorb all water.
D. Permeable allows water through; impermeable does not allow water through.

13.

A reader skips the unfamiliar word condensation and concludes that the tent must have leaked. Explain why understanding this word matters. Use paragraph 2 to clarify its meaning, then describe one way to check that meaning if the explanation is still unclear.