Lesson 4:Swimming Silently

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“Around the world, turtle watchers learned to listen to the turtle cries. They became the founders of Sea Turtle Clan. They told other land people that Earth was off-balance, warned them that when the last turtle died, so would Earth itself. Finally, leaders around the world responded. They cleaned the ocean, land, and air of all pollution. They signed a pact to end turtle hunting and egg harvesting forever.” “Such is the legacy of Sea Turtle Clan.” After the speech, Grandmother stood. She hardly ever speaks in Meeting, so I put down my kelp cake to listen. “The turtles perceive some sort of new threat,” said Grandmother. The elders murmured, and several stirred in their chairs. Grandmother continued. “They do not understand this threat, but instinct makes them uneasy,” she said. More murmurs filled the room. Without consciously making a decision to do so, I found myself standing, too. “Why don’t we talk to the land people” I blurted. “Maybe they can tell us something.” The room grew quiet again, as the elders turned to stare at me. I glanced at Grandmother for support, but she just looked at me with a doleful expression. I didn’t understand her reaction. Until this moment, Grandmother had always encouraged me to participate in the world around me. “We will continue this discussion next time,” one of the elders declared. 9
Malu’s Origins Grandmother and I left Meeting without talking. The awkward silence swelled as we made our way back down the hill. I had to say something to break up the uncomfortable atmosphere that had developed between us. “Grandmother, after Sea Turtle Clan moved into the ocean, did any clan members ever return to live on land” 10
Page 1 and 2: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Page 3 and 4: Long, long ago, Earth and its creat
Page 5 and 6: Last night, I had a strange dream a
Page 7 and 8: She-turtle seemed very different to
Page 12 and 13: Grandmother unfurrowed her brow and
Page 15 and 16: A flurry of thoughts stirred wildly
Page 17 and 18: The Warning The next thing I knew,
Page 19 and 20: A Leaving, a Return I tossed restle
Page 21 and 22: TARGET VOCABULARY accustomed clamor

Lesson 4:Swimming Silently

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