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Elmer and the Dragon · Garden Heights Academy
Part 2
for Elmer and the Dragon · Part 2 · Chapters 3
a novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett
30 min5 Parts
This workbook is built on a solid pedagogical foundation, effectively integrating content and language learning based on the CLIL framework (Content and Language Integrated Learning), elevated by our unique 5th C — Connection — and an integrated Standardized Test section that weaves every SAT & TOEFL question type right into the novel, so learners build real test skills easily, naturally, and with fun.
What Happens in Part 2
The storm has thrown Elmer and the dragon down into the sea, and they crawl ashore on a long sand bar joined to a small green island. The dragon is soaked and worn out from fighting the wind and waves, so Elmer makes him comfortable and tells him to rest. While the dragon sleeps, brave Elmer sets off alone to explore the strange little island, wondering where in the world the storm has carried them and whether anyone — or anything — lives there.
What We Will Learn
Focus
What It Means
Setting
How a sand bar links the sea to a hidden island
Science (Coasts)
How sand bars and shallows form along a shore
Character
Elmer’s courage and care for his friend
Chapter Summary
Chapter
Key Events
Ch.3
After the crash landing, Elmer and the dragon come ashore on a sand bar attached to a small green island; Elmer lets the exhausted dragon rest and sets off alone to explore
💭 Before You Read · Warm-Up (not scored)
There are no wrong answers here — just think, guess, and talk:
Elmer makes his exhausted friend rest before he explores. When is it right to put someone else’s needs first, even when you’re curious or in a hurry?
He sets off alone onto a strange island. What would you check for first if you landed somewhere completely unknown?
Predict: the island is small, green, and very quiet. What kind of creatures might be watching Elmer without him knowing?
Copyright Notice
This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy to support reading comprehension and literary analysis. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. Elmer and the Dragon is a work by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This guide is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the author or any associated rights holders. Students should read the original book, available from libraries and booksellers.
Part 1
Vocabulary
Study 10 key words from Chapters 3, then answer each question.
🧠Knowledge Bank · Finding the Way Without a Map
Geography · NavigationAfter the storm, Elmer and the dragon are far from home with no map. So how do travelers find their way? For thousands of years, sailors and birds have used the world around them. By day they follow the sun, which rises in the east and sets in the west. By night they read the stars, which sit in steady patterns. They also watch for landmarks, like a coastline, a mountain, or the shape of an island. Even the wind and the waves give hints. Little by little, careful watchers piece these signs together to steer the right way. Reading nature’s signs is the oldest kind of navigation.
sandbarn.Ch.3
A raised ridge of sand near a shore or in shallow water
“They crawled ashore onto a long sandbar.”
shallowadj.Ch.3
Not deep
“The water near the bar was warm and shallow.”
shoren.Ch.3
The land along the edge of a sea or lake
“Waves pushed them gently toward the shore.”
strandedadj.Ch.3
Left stuck somewhere with no easy way to leave
“The storm left them stranded on a strange island.”
recoverv.Ch.3
To get back health or strength
“The dragon slept to recover from the storm.”
explorev.Ch.3
To travel through a place to learn about it
“Elmer set off to explore the green island.”
comfortv.Ch.3
To make someone feel less worried or upset
“Elmer tried to comfort the frightened dragon.”
cautiousadj.Ch.3
Careful to avoid danger
“He was cautious as he crept into the trees.”
soggyadj.Ch.3
Very wet and soft
“Their soggy clothes dripped on the sand.”
dampadj.Ch.3
Slightly wet
“The damp sand was cool under his feet.”
ⓘ The vocabulary words in this list are selected to help you understand and complete this workbook. Some may not appear verbatim in the original novel.
1A raised ridge of sand near a shore is a ___.Ch.3
2True or False: “Shallow” water is very deep.Ch.3
3The land along the edge of the sea is the ___.Ch.3
4True or False: To “explore” a place means to travel through it to learn about it.Ch.3
5Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.3
Word choices:strandedrecovercautioussoggy- some words will not be used
The storm left them on the island, so the dragon rested to his strength.
6True or False: Someone who is “cautious” is careless and takes big risks.Ch.3
7To “comfort” someone means to ___.Ch.3
8True or False: “Soggy” means very wet and soft.Ch.3
9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.3
Word choices:exploreshallowshoredamp- some words will not be used
The water near the was , so Elmer waded out to the island.
10Slightly wet means ___.Ch.3
Part 2
Comprehension
How well do you understand Chapters 3?
🧠Knowledge Bank · Guessing What Comes Next
Reading Skill · PredictingSmart readers make guesses about what will happen next. This is called predicting. You use clues from the story plus what you already know, then you make a good guess. When Elmer lands on a strange, quiet island, you might predict that he will explore it, or that something surprising is hiding there. A prediction is not always right, and that is fine — you simply change your guess as you learn more. Good predictions keep your mind busy and make reading exciting. Before you turn the page, pause and ask one question: what do I think will happen next? Then read on to check your prediction.
1What happens to Elmer and the dragon at the start of Part 2?Ch.3
2Where do Elmer and the dragon come ashore?Ch.3
3Why does the dragon need to rest?Ch.3
4True or False: Elmer explores the island while the dragon rests.Ch.3
5Write the numbers 1–5 in the boxes to show the correct order of events in Part 2. Number 1 = what happens first.Ch.3
Elmer makes the tired dragon comfortable and tells him to rest.
Elmer sees the sand bar is joined to a small green island.
Elmer sets off alone to explore the island.
The storm throws Elmer and the dragon down toward the sea.
They wash up onto a long sand bar.
6True or False: Elmer leaves the resting dragon behind to explore by himself.Ch.3
7What is the sand bar connected to?Ch.3
8How does Elmer treat the dragon when they land?Ch.3
9True or False: Elmer knows exactly where the storm has taken them.Ch.3
10Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.Ch.3
Word choices:sandgreendesertcity- some words will not be used
They came ashore on a bar joined to a small island.
Part 3
Literary Elements
Understanding HOW and WHY Ruth Stiles Gannett creates certain feelings across Chapters 3.
🧠Knowledge Bank · How a Place Makes Us Feel
Literary Craft · Setting & MoodThe setting is where and when a story takes place, and it can change how a scene feels. That feeling is the mood. A sunny beach with singing birds feels happy and safe. A dark, silent island with strange shadows feels tense and a little scary. Ruth Stiles Gannett chooses her words to color each place, so you feel it as Elmer does. As you read, notice the small details — the light, the sounds, the weather. Ask what mood they build. Writers know that the right setting can make your heart race or rest. A well-drawn place quietly shapes the whole story’s mood.
📚 Literary Devices in This Part · definitions & examples
The setting is where and when a story happens — here, a green island after a storm.Mood is the feeling a setting gives the reader, such as mystery or worry.Suspense is the excited, uncertain feeling that makes us want to keep reading.
The questions below are mixed — not grouped by device. Decide which device each one is about.
1The small green island where they wash ashore is the story’s —Ch.3
2The setting is where and when a story happens.Ch.3
3Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.3
Word choices:settingmoodsuspenseplot- some words will not be used
The small green island where they land is the
The tense not-knowing of what waits on the island builds .
4The tense feeling as Elmer explores the strange island is —Ch.3
5Suspense is the tense feeling of not knowing what will happen.Ch.3
6Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.3
Word choices:moodsettingsuspenseplot- some words will not be used
The uneasy, tense feeling after the crash is the
The island where they wash ashore is the .
7The uneasy, worried feeling after the crash is the story’s —Ch.3
8Not knowing what Elmer will find on the island creates —Ch.3
9Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.3
Word choices:settingmoodsuspenseplot- some words will not be used
The green island is the
The tense not-knowing builds .
10The tense mood as Elmer explores mainly makes readers feel —Ch.3
Part 4
Think Deeper
Four deeper challenges — no single-word recall. Read, weigh the evidence, and reason it through.
🧠Knowledge Bank · Brave When You Are Lost
Social-Emotional · CourageBeing lost is frightening, yet Elmer stays calm and brave. This part shows real courage. Courage does not mean you feel no fear; it means you keep going even when you do. Instead of crying or giving up, Elmer looks around, thinks, and takes one careful step at a time. When you face something new or scary — a strange place, a hard test, a first day — you can do the same. Breathe, look for what you know, and try one small brave act. Little brave choices add up. Facing the unknown with a steady heart is the truest kind of courage.
1Claim: “After the storm, Elmer takes care of the dragon before exploring.” — choose the two details that best prove it.Claim & Evidence
2Shows Elmer’s care for the dragon, or just a detail of the scene? Tap each item to send it left or right.Sort into two
◄ Elmer’s careJust a detail ►
3Match each cause to its result. For each cause, pick its result.Cause & Effect
The storm throws them into the sea→
The dragon is soaked and worn out→
Elmer cares for his friend first→
The dragon is safe→
4Fill both blanks to complete the reasoning.Build the Argument
Elmer cares for the dragon before exploring because , which shows that .
Part 5
Standardized Test
Key Details & Inference — SAT & TOEFL-style practice
🎯 You already have the skills from the sections above — this is just a fun way to meet real SAT & TOEFL-style questions. Read the passage (the highlighted words are tested below), then answer the questions below. Tap an answer to select it, then tap it again to confirm — you can change your choice until you confirm.
Being washed up on a strange shore is frightening, but survival experts say the first hours follow a clear plan. The very first task is to recover: a person who has fought cold water and waves is exhausted and chilled, and must warm up and rest before doing anything else. Next comes fresh water, because a body can last only a few days without it, while it can go much longer without food. Only then should a survivor begin to explore, and always with caution, since an unknown place may hide steep cliffs, sharp rocks, or animals. Experts also advise staying near the shore at first, where rescuers are most likely to look and where the way back is easy to find. Above all, they say, do not panic: a calm mind makes better choices than a frightened one. Interestingly, this is almost exactly what Elmer does — rest first, then explore carefully — which is why his plan feels so wise. Good stories often hide real knowledge inside an adventure.
Original passage written for Garden Heights — not a quotation from the novel.
1According to the passage, what is the very first task after washing ashore?TOEFL · Factual Information
2To “recover” is to —SAT · Words in Context
3Why does fresh water come before food?TOEFL · Factual Information
4To explore with “caution” is to explore —SAT · Words in Context
5The “shore” is —SAT · Words in Context
6Why do experts advise staying near the shore at first?TOEFL · Factual Information
7The passage suggests that knowing survival facts is —SAT · Inference
8Why does the author say Elmer’s plan “feels so wise”?SAT · Inference
9This TOEFL task lists six sentences; choose the THREE that best capture the passage’s main ideas. The other three do not belong — they state minor details or ideas the passage does not present.TOEFL · Prose Summary
10The author ends “good stories often hide real knowledge inside an adventure” mainly to —TOEFL · Rhetorical Purpose
Part 6 · Optional
Creative Writing
A bonus challenge to practice your English. Take your time and have fun with it.
About This Section
This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice, so feel free to use your imagination!
Writing Task — Part 2 “Washed Ashore”
Imagine you wash up on an unknown island after a storm, just like Elmer. Describe what you see, hear, and smell as you take your first steps to explore. What will you look for first, and how do you feel? Write at least 40 words.
You can start with: “When I opened my eyes on the strange shore, the first thing I noticed was…”
0 / 40 words minimum
🗣 Teach It · Just for Fun (optional)
No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby what happened in this part. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.
Part 2 Complete!
You finished Chapters 3 of Elmer and the Dragon.
Here are your auto-graded results:
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points out of 100
Your Writing
Your writing was checked automatically for length, spelling, grammar, and whether you included the key parts of the scene. Scroll back to Part 5 anytime to read your feedback and improve your work.
Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the author or any rights holders. Contains original analysis only; no text from the novel is reproduced.
