A Reservoir of Memories

Have you ever gone canoeing?

1 Meghan sat in the canoe, patiently waiting for her sister and grandma to join her. She watched Becca cautiously step into the canoe as her grandma coached her.

2 “Remember not to stand up all the way or make any abrupt movements,” said Grandma, holding the canoe steady.

3 Once Becca was safely in the canoe, Grandma passed the girls the camera, which was sealed in a waterproof bag. She confirmed that both paddles were in the canoe, and then she deftly climbed in and settled herself at the head of the small craft.

4 “How did you learn to canoe, Grandma?” asked Becca, once Meghan and their grandmother had established a rhythm for paddling.

5 “It was such a long time ago,” she said thoughtfully, “in a reservoir much like this one. When I was 18 years old, I worked as a camp counselor at a girls’ summer camp in Vermont. I learned how to canoe that summer, but I also learned how to build a fire, treat snake bites, and survive in the woods for a week on my own. At least in theory,” she chuckled.

6 “There was a boys’ camp nearby, and we scheduled activities or events with them several times during the summer. That’s actually how I met your grandfather,” she said, smiling fondly.

7 “I love him dearly, but your grandpa is one of the most uncoordinated people I’ve ever known,” Grandma continued. “The day we met, he was paddling a canoe across the reservoir, and he kept overturning it. He’d reach for something in the canoe, or stand up when he got excited and lose his balance. He asked me to give him canoeing lessons, but I think it was just because he wanted to get to know me. ” Grandma smiled at the memory. 8 “How is a reservoir different than a lake?” asked Meghan.

9 “It is a type of a lake,” said Grandma, resting her paddle across her knees. “Most lakes are naturally formed, but reservoirs are made by humans. I’ve brought you to see Dillon Dam before, haven’t I?” she asked. The girls nodded. “Dillon Dam was built about 30 years ago to control the flooding in this area. When a dam is built, an artificial lake is created by flooding the land behind the dam. ”

10 Becca furrowed her eyebrows. “I still don’t understand how that controls flooding,” she said.

11 “The dam can be emptied when flooding is expected,” said Grandma. “Making space for flood waters helps, because the water can be held in the reservoir and gradually released later. The reservoir is also hundreds of times wider than the river, so water that would flood the banks of a river only causes the water level in the reservoir to rise a small amount. ” Grandma picked up her paddle, and she and Meghan began paddling again.

12 Becca looked around at the high valley walls surrounding the reservoir and the serene water that stretched as far as she could see. “I’m glad that reservoirs aren’t only used for controlling floods,” she said.

13 Grandma laughed. “Me, too,” she said. “I might never have met your grandpa otherwise!”

Spectrum Reading Grade 6

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1. What do you think Grandma means when she says she learned to survive in the woods, “at least in theory”?

2. Who do you think is older, Becca or Meghan? Why?

3. How did Grandma learn to canoe?

4. What advice does Grandma give Becca when Becca is climbing into the canoe?

5. What is one difference between a natural lake and a reservoir?

6. Why does Grandma think that Grandpa wanted canoeing lessons?

7. What is the setting for this story?

8. In paragraph 2, what does abrupt mean?

9. Why does Grandma say that Grandpa is very uncoordinated?

Spectrum Reading Grade 6

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