Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Riding the Wind
"This is going to be so much fun!" Danielle said to Joy. "I've never been sailing before!" Danielle was visiting her friend for a week during the hot summer and was particularly excited about going sailing for the first time.
Joy was surprised that Danielle had never been sailing. The state Danielle lived in contained more lakes than the state where Joy lived. About five years ago, Danielle's parents had moved about 500 miles away because her mother had gotten an irresistible job offer. Joy and Danielle hated the idea. They had known each other since they were in kindergarten together and had become best friends. They still were friends now as teenagers. At least they were able to visit each other on some school breaks.
So, even though Danielle lived in a state with lots of lakes, Joy actually lived near a lake, which is why her parents had purchased a small sailboat. Dad had gotten very good at maneuvering the boat, and the family had fallen in love with sailing.
Joy and Danielle picked up their beach bags containing towels, sunscreen, hats, and their cameras and headed down to the dock.
"What does sailing feel like?" Danielle asked. Danielle was a creative type, always observing how things felt or asking questions. She often wrote stories in a journal that included descriptions of her experiences.
"It feels like riding the wind," Joy said. "That's the best way to explain it. When the wind hits the sails, the boat starts skimming on the top of the water. There's nothing quite like it."
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" Danielle responded.
"Good morning, girls," Dad said as he helped them step from the bouncing dock to the bow of the boat. He had gone down to the boat about 30 minutes earlier to get things ready. "Are you ready to go?"
"I sure am, Mr. Matthews," Danielle said. "I wish Mrs. Matthews didn't have to work today. I can't wait to try this out, and it would have been fun to have her along."
