TpT. Hello. Let s Connect! Terms of Use

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2 Let s onnect! B TpT Hello Thank you so much for your purchase! I hope you find these resources useful in your classroom. I would love to hear back from you. Your positive feedback is very important to me. Please feel free to me any time with questions or comments at jamieknefely@gmail.com! Here is to the endless possibilities of learning in your classroom! Terms of Use Teaching Tidbits and More with Jamie By purchasing and/or downloading this electronic file you agree to the terms of use. This resource is for personal/single classroom use only. No part of this document may be distributed, posted on the internet, or copied, sold, or, edited without the direct permission from the author. If posting to your blog, then proper credit and links must be given back to the author. Violations are subject to the penalties of the Digital Millennium Act. To purchase additional sharing licenses, please visit my store. All contents of this document are under copyright from their original author/artist. Thank you so much for respecting my hard work, as well as the artist whose work helped to create this product!

3 Weekly Nonfiction Fluency Practice Thank you so much for purchasing this product. I hope you find it as useful as I do! There are 32 passages in all. There are enough passages in this pack to use one story per week. These stories are designed for ADVANED READERS! I designed this set of nonfiction fluency passages to be used as weekly homework for my advanced fluent readers. I noticed when teaching the average to high leveled kids in second grade, they needed something that was more advanced to read, but at the same time something to keep them practicing fluency. I also wanted to meet our districts ommon ore needs, and introduce more nonfiction passages. I send the passage home with the comprehension questions, and the students read it for one minute to an adult. The adult then initials the homework. We watch how their fluency increases throughout the year. However, I have included two versions of each story. One story has the word count and the other is just a closed text version. The passages could be used for close text reading, teacher monitoring, or RTI. I have also included comprehension questions for each story. I have provided the Lexile level as well as Flesch-Kincaid grade level. I put the stories in order according to grade level. The following two pages list the stories and their levels. You could however, choose to go in whatever order best fits your needs. The stories reading level increases as the year goes on. There is also a second graphing option. This graph allows students to progress their reading by coloring in a bar graph daily on the words read. Thanks again for purchasing this product and supporting my TpT store. If you have any questions, please contact me. Jamie Teaching Tidbits and More with Jamie

4 Fluency Practice One Minute Dear Parents, This year we will be working on increasing our fluency, comprehension, and understanding of nonfiction passages. Your child will come home with a weekly story. Please allow your child to read this story aloud to you for one minute. After one minute, count how many words your child has read, subtract any errors, and gather the total word count. You should notice that your child s reading will increase as the week and year progresses. Thanks for all your support! Together we can make a difference!

5 Fluency Passages Title Lexile Level Flesch- Kincaid Grade Level Word ount Snakes How Your Body Works Frog to Tadpole Sunshine Matter Farmers Plants Helen Keller Sharks Maps and Globes Insects Eating Healthy Desert Life Zulu Tribe Landforms oral Reefs

6 Fluency Passages Title Lexile Level Flesch- Kincaid Grade Level Word ount Astronauts Water ycle Harriet Tubman Alligators Being a Good itizen Mississippi River Volcanoes Elephants Amelia Earhart George Washington hristopher olumbus ommunities Branches of Government Statue of Liberty Liberty Bell Australian Aboriginals

7 Snakes Some people love snakes, while others are afraid of them. There are more than 2,000 kinds of snakes in the world. Snakes play an important role in our ecosystem. Snakes are carnivores. This means they are meat eaters. They hunt their prey to eat. Snakes eat rodents like mice, rabbits, and rats. Mice, rabbits, and rats like to eat crops. Without snakes, the rodent population would be out of control. Some snakes are short, while others are long. Snakes look for their prey. They do not have eyelids, so they never blink. They use their tongues to pick up smells of their prey. This is why a snake s tongue is always flickering back and forth. Some snakes can feel heat from other animals bodies. Not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes, like rattle snakes and vipers kill with their venom. They have fangs. When the snake bites its prey the venom flows through the prey s body, killing it. Snakes must swallow their prey whole. A snake can open its mouth very wide. This helps it swallow its prey. Most snakes hatch from eggs. Once a baby snake is born, it is on its own. It does not stay with its mother. As a snake grows, it sheds its skin. It will rub or wiggle until the old skin comes loose. Many snakes have skin that helps it blend in with its surroundings. Some can be the color of dirt, while others are the color of grass. Snakes can be found under rocks, in trees, in swamps, and even the ocean. You are most likely to find a snake during warmer temperatures, because they hibernate during the winter Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

8 Snakes Some people love snakes, while others are afraid of them. There are more than 2,000 kinds of snakes in the world. Snakes play an important role in our ecosystem. Snakes are carnivores. This means they are meat eaters. They hunt their prey to eat. Snakes eat rodents like mice, rabbits, and rats. Mice, rabbits, and rats like to eat crops. Without snakes, the rodent population would be out of control. Some snakes are short, while others are long. Snakes look for their prey. They do not have eyelids, so they never blink. They use their tongues to pick up smells of their prey. This is why a snake s tongue is always flickering back and forth. Some snakes can feel heat from other animals bodies. Not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes, like rattle snakes and vipers kill with their venom. They have fangs. When the snake bites its prey the venom flows through the prey s body, killing it. Snakes must swallow their prey whole. A snake can open its mouth very wide. This helps it swallow its prey. Most snakes hatch from eggs. Once a baby snake is born, it is on its own. It does not stay with its mother. As a snake grows, it sheds its skin. It will rub or wiggle until the old skin comes loose. Many snakes have skin that helps it blend in with its surroundings. Some can be the color of dirt, while others are the color of grass. Snakes can be found under rocks, in trees, in swamps, and even the ocean. You are most likely to find a snake during warmer temperatures, because they hibernate during the winter.

9 Snakes 1. Describe why a snake s tongue is important. 2. Why would you most likely see a snake during the summer months instead of winter? 3. Baby snakes hatch from 4. Why do you think a snake bites its prey with its fangs before swallowing it whole? 5. Go back in the passage, find a statement that is an opinion. Put a circle around the opinion statement. 6. How does a snake s skin help it blend in with its surroundings?

10 How Your Body Works: Brain, Heart and Lungs Your brain controls what your body does. It helps you move, think, feel, and remember. Your brain gets and receives messages. Nerves are what send signals to your brain. For example, let s say you touch a hot pan. Your nerves will send a signal to your brain that you have touched a hot pan. Your brain tells your hand to remove itself from the hot pan. The brain controls all parts of your body. Our lungs helps us breathe. When you breathe, your lungs take in air. Air contains oxygen. Your body needs oxygen in order to live. When oxygen first enters your body, it goes to your lungs. The heart then pumps blood to your lungs; the blood picks up oxygen from the lungs, and takes it to the rest of the body. The heart is responsible for pumping blood to every part of your body. Blood is pumped away from your heart in tubes called arteries. It travels back to the heart in tubes called veins. Arteries and veins run throughout your entire body. You can get your heart rate by measuring your pulse. Your pulse is how many times your heart beats per minute. If you are active and healthy, you will have a higher pulse rate. Your heart and lungs work together to keep you healthy Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

11 How Your Body Works: Brain, Heart and Lungs Your brain controls what your body does. It helps you move, think, feel, and remember. Your brain gets and receives messages. Nerves are what send signals to your brain. For example, let s say you touch a hot pan. Your nerves will send a signal to your brain that you have touched a hot pan. Your brain tells your hand to remove itself from the hot pan. The brain controls all parts of your body. Our lungs helps us breathe. When you breathe, your lungs take in air. Air contains oxygen. Your body needs oxygen in order to live. When oxygen first enters your body, it goes to your lungs. The heart then pumps blood to your lungs; the blood picks up oxygen from the lungs, and takes it to the rest of the body. The heart is responsible for pumping blood to every part of your body. Blood is pumped away from your heart in tubes called arteries. It travels back to the heart in tubes called veins. Arteries and veins run throughout your entire body. You can get your heart rate by measuring your pulse. Your pulse is how many times your heart beats per minute. If you are active and healthy, you will have a higher pulse rate. Your heart and lungs work together to keep you healthy.

12 How Your Body Works: Brain, Heart and Lungs 1. The controls all parts of the body. 2. Describe the function of the heart. 3. Blood is pumped away from your heart in tubes called. 4. Why do you think exercising and eating healthy are good for your heart, lungs, and brain? 5. When oxygen first enters your body it goes to your.

13 Tadpole to Frog Have you ever watched a tadpole grow into a frog? A frog is an amphibian. An amphibian is an animal that is cold blooded, which means they stay the same temperature as their surroundings. In order for a tadpole to grow into an adult frog, it must go through a life cycle. A life cycle is a series of changes in an animal s life. First, the female frog lays a mass of jelly like eggs. She may lay thousands of eggs in the water at one time. It takes most frog eggs about ten days to hatch. Once the tiny eggs hatch, a tadpole is born. The tadpole will swim and move around with a tail. It will breathe with gills. It will eat and grow. As the tadpole grows bigger, it sprouts legs. The tadpole is now larger in size and has a tail and legs. At this stage in its life, it is known as a froglet. As the froglet grows, the tail starts to shrink more and more. It soon grows front legs. The froglet will develop lungs to help it breathe. By now it also has eyes and a mouth. The tail is almost completely gone. When the tail disappears permanently, the froglet becomes an adult frog. It no longer needs gills to breathe. Its lungs are fully developed. It is now ready to live on land. It leaps out of the water! When the weather turns warmer and the flowers start blooming, spring has arrived. In the spring, the female frog will mate with a male frog. Once the female frog finds a shallow puddle, she will now lay her eggs. In about ten days a whole new group of tadpoles will hatch. The cycle then begins again! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

14 Tadpole to Frog Have you ever watched a tadpole grow into a frog? A frog is an amphibian. An amphibian is an animal that is cold blooded, which means they stay the same temperature as their surroundings. In order for a tadpole to grow into an adult frog, it must go through a life cycle. A life cycle is a series of changes in an animal s life. First, the female frog lays a mass of jelly like eggs. She may lay thousands of eggs in the water at one time. It takes most frog eggs about ten days to hatch. Once the tiny eggs hatch, a tadpole is born. The tadpole will swim and move around with a tail. It will breathe with gills. It will eat and grow. As the tadpole grows bigger, it sprouts legs. The tadpole is now larger in size and has a tail and legs. At this stage in its life, it is known as a froglet. As the froglet grows, the tail starts to shrink more and more. It soon grows front legs. The froglet will develop lungs to help it breathe. By now it also has eyes and a mouth. The tail is almost completely gone. When the tail disappears permanently, the froglet becomes an adult frog. It no longer needs gills to breathe. Its lungs are fully developed. It is now ready to live on land. It leaps out of the water! When the weather turns warmer and the flowers start blooming, spring has arrived. In the spring, the female frog will mate with a male frog. Once the female frog finds a shallow puddle, she will now lay her eggs. In about ten days a whole new group of tadpoles will hatch. The cycle then begins again!

15 Tadpole to Frog 1. All frogs go through a change that is known as a. 2. List the four stages of a frog s life cycle. 3. It takes most frog s eggs about days to hatch. a. ten b. fifteen c. twenty 4. ompare and ontrast: Describe how a tadpole is similar and different from a fish. 5. A cold blooded animal is known as an. a. mammal b. amphibian c. fish

16 Sunshine The sun is very important to the Earth. Without the Sun, we would not be able to live. The sun helps make weather. It also brings light. It helps warm the Earth. At any given time, the Sun is covering half of the Earth. The part of the Earth that sees the light from the Sun is having day time. The part of the Earth turned away from the sun is having night time. When it is night time, the air is cooler. The air is cooler at night because there is not light from the sun to help warm the atmosphere. The Sun s rays are what help warm the Earth s surface. Also, sunshine helps heat water on Earth. We need the Sun to help form clouds. It helps form clouds by evaporating the water on Earth s surface. The clouds will eventually let the water fall back down to Earth. The water will fall back down to Earth in the form of rain, sleet, or snow. This is known as the water cycle. The Sun is an important part of the water cycle. Places near the equator get the most sunshine. They have much warmer climates. The equator is an imaginary line in the middle of the Earth. The Sun changes during each season. When the top half of the Earth is having summer, the bottom half is having winter. Without the Sun, we would not have light, water, or seasons. Without the Sun, we would not be able to survive Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

17 Sunshine The sun is very important to the Earth. Without the Sun, we would not be able to live. The sun helps make weather. It also brings light. It helps warm the Earth. At any given time, the Sun is covering half of the Earth. The part of the Earth that sees the light from the Sun is having day time. The part of the Earth turned away from the sun is having night time. When it is nighttime, the air is cooler. The air is cooler at night because there is not light from the sun to help warm the atmosphere. The Sun s rays are what help warm the Earth s surface. Also, sunshine helps heat water on Earth. We need the Sun to help form clouds. It helps form clouds by evaporating the water on Earth s surface. The clouds will eventually let the water fall back down to Earth. The water will fall back down to Earth in the form of rain, sleet, or snow. This is known as the water cycle. The Sun is an important part of the water cycle. Places near the equator get the most sunshine. They have much warmer climates. The equator is an imaginary line in the middle of the Earth. The Sun changes during each season. When the top half of the Earth is having summer, the bottom half is having winter. Without the Sun, we would not have light, water, or seasons. Without the Sun, we would not be able to survive.

18 Sunshine 1. The air is cooler when it is. 2. How does the sun help form clouds? 3. What is the name of the imaginary line that runs in the middle of the Earth? a. longitude b. hemisphere c. equator 4. List two reasons why the sun is important. 5. Describe how the sun effects seasons.

19 Matter Matter is all around you. Matter is anything that takes up space. All things take up space, even air. There are three main states of matter. They are known as solids, liquids, and gases. These types of matter can be found in everyday objects that we see or use. Solids are a type of matter that have a definite size and shape. This means unless we physically change it, such as cut it; it will still be a solid. For example, your desk at school is a solid. It has a size that we can measure and shape that we can describe. Liquids are a type of matter that have a definite size, but the shape can change. Think about a cup of orange juice. We know for sure its size is one cup, but the shape can change depending on what type of container it is poured into. If I pour into a circle bowl, then it will appear to look like a circle. Liquids take the shape of their containers. The third type of matter is gas. Gas is usually invisible. But don t be fooled, it still takes up space. Gas does not have a definite size or shape. Think about when you have blown up a balloon. You do not see the air going into the balloon, but how do you know it has gas or air in it? You can see the balloon getting larger in size. Next time you pick up an object, think about what state of matter it is. Is it a liquid, solid, or gas? Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

20 Matter Matter is all around you. Matter is anything that takes up space. All things take up space, even air. There are three main states of matter. They are known as solids, liquids, and gases. These types of matter can be found in everyday objects that we see or use. Solids are a type of matter that have a definite size and shape. This means unless we physically change it, such as cut it; it will still be a solid. For example, your desk at school is a solid. It has a size that we can measure and shape that we can describe. Liquids are a type of matter that have a definite size, but the shape can change. Think about a cup of orange juice. We know for sure its size is one cup, but the shape can change depending on what type of container it is poured into. If I pour into a circle bowl, then it will appear to look like a circle. Liquids take the shape of their containers. The third type of matter is gas. Gas is usually invisible. But don t be fooled, it still takes up space. Gas does not have a definite size or shape. Think about when you have blown up a balloon. You do not see the air going into the balloon, but how do you know it has gas or air in it? You can see the balloon getting larger in size. Next time you pick up an object, think about what state of matter it is. Is it a liquid, solid, or gas?

21 Matter 1. Name the three main states of matter. 2. Which of the following is an example of a solid? a. evaporation b. lemonade c. desk 3. Explain how water can go from a solid to a liquid, then from a liquid to a gas. 4. Which of the following is an example of a gas? a. pencil b. air c. river 5. What is matter?

22 Farmers Have you ever thought about where food comes from that you eat? It comes from farms! Farmers are very important people. People have been farming for hundreds of years. A long time ago, most people were farmers. Now, there are fewer farmers. Farmers grow food for people across the land. They use special machines to help harvest crops. Long ago, farmers had to do much of their work by hand. Now, they have special machines that help make their work easier. A tractor is a very important machine to a farmer. The tractor helps break the dirt up, so seeds can be planted. When it is time to pick the crop, a special tool can be added to the tractor. This tool helps pick the crops. Farmers work very hard. They often get up before the sun rises. They work until the sun goes down. Many farmers don t just grow food, but they raise animals too! Farmers can raise cows, chickens, sheep, and many other animals. We get our dairy products from farms that raise cows. Products like milk, cheese, and butter come from dairy cows. Some cows are raised on farms and then sold for their beef. Farmers can ship their food all over the country to sell in grocery stores. Sometimes, farmers will sell their food directly to customers at a local Farmer s Market. The next time you sit down to eat a delicious meal, think about where the food came from. We have farmers to thank for all their hard work Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

23 Farmers Have you ever thought about where food comes from that you eat? It comes from farms! Farmers are very important people. People have been farming for hundreds of years. A long time ago, most people were farmers. Now, there are fewer farmers. Farmers grow food for people across the land. They use special machines to help harvest crops. Long ago, farmers had to do much of their work by hand. Now, they have special machines that help make their work easier. A tractor is a very important machine to a farmer. The tractor helps break the dirt up, so seeds can be planted. When it is time to pick the crop, a special tool can be added to the tractor. This tool helps pick the crops. Farmers work very hard. They often get up before the sun rises. They work until the sun goes down. Many farmers don t just grow food, but they raise animals too! Farmers can raise cows, chickens, sheep, and many other animals. We get our dairy products from farms that raise cows. Products like milk, cheese, and butter come from dairy cows. Some cows are raised on farms and then sold for their beef. Farmers can ship their food all over the country to sell in grocery stores. Sometimes, farmers will sell their food directly to customers at a local Farmer s Market. The next time you sit down to eat a delicious meal, think about where the food came from. We have farmers to thank for all their hard work.

24 Farmers 1. List two reason why a farmer s job is hard work. 2. How does the tractor help make the farmer s job easier? Use details from the story. 3. What do you think would happen if we did not have many farmers left in America? Explain. 4. Go back in the story and draw a square around a sentence that states an opinion. 5. Go back in the story and draw a circle around a sentence that states a fact.

25 Plants Plants are all around us! Just look around when you are outside playing. Plants help us breathe and are very important to our environment. In order to survive, plants need several things to live. They need water, air, sunlight, and soil. Plants must have water to live. If they have too little water, they will wither or shrivel up and die. If they get too much water, their roots will drown. Plants also need sunlight to live. A plant uses sunlight to help make its own food inside its leaves. Without sunlight the plant would not get the nutrients it needs. Without the proper nutrients the plant would be unable to grow. A plant also gets nutrients from the soil. It needs a good mix of dirt to help hold the water and its roots in the ground. If the soil is too loose, the water will just seep through not allowing the plant s roots to absorb any water. A plant should never be sealed off without air. Just like humans, it needs a place to stretch out, grow, and breathe. A plant needs all of these things: water, air, sunlight, and proper soil in order to live. If it has these things, then it will be able to thrive in its environment ` Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

26 Plants Plants are all around us! Just look around when you are outside playing. Plants help us breathe and are very important to our environment. In order to survive, plants need several things to live. They need water, air, sunlight, and soil. Plants must have water to live. If they have too little water, they will wither or shrivel up and die. If they get too much water, their roots will drown. Plants also need sunlight to live. A plant uses sunlight to help make its own food inside its leaves. Without sunlight the plant would not get the nutrients it needs. Without the proper nutrients the plant would be unable to grow. A plant also gets nutrients from the soil. It needs a good mix of dirt to help hold the water and its roots in the ground. If the soil is too loose, the water will just seep through not allowing the plant s roots to absorb any water. A plant should never be sealed off without air. Just like humans, it needs a place to stretch out, grow, and breathe. A plant needs all of these things: water, air, sunlight, and proper soil in order to live. If it has these things, then it will be able to thrive in its environment.

27 Plants 1. List the things a plant must have in order to survive. 2. Explain what would happen to a plant that received too much water. 3. Why is soil important to a plant? Explain. 4. What part of the plant helps hold it in the ground? a. leaf b. stem c. root 5. Describe how a plant makes its own food.

28 Helen Keller Helen Keller is most known for being able to communicate with the world around her, even though she was blind and deaf. Helen was not born blind or deaf. When she was almost two, she became really sick. She had a high fever. The doctors were unable to help her. When she did start to feel better, she had changed. Helen could not see or hear anymore. Helen had a very hard time with this change. She could no longer talk or communicate with her family. She did not understand the things her family was doing or saying. She did not know how to behave. She would kick, scream, hit people, and throw things. Her parents were heartbroken. They did not know how to help her understand. Helen s parents took her to see many doctors. Then they took her to meet Alexander Graham Bell. He told Helen s parents about a special school that helps children that cannot hear or see. He told them they had special teachers that would know how to help Helen. They sent a teacher named Anne Sullivan to live with Helen and her family. Anne helped Helen understand. She taught her how to understand using sign language. She would spell the word out for Helen using her fingers in the palm of her hand. Helen even learned how to read. She would read special books written in braille. Braille is a series of dots that represent words. Helen used her fingers to trace over the dots to understand the words. Anne Sullivan changed Helen s life. She gave her hope. As Helen became an adult, she too would help others who were blind and deaf Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

29 Helen Keller Helen Keller is most known for being able to communicate with the world around her, even though she was blind and deaf. Helen was not born blind or deaf. When she was almost two, she became really sick. She had a high fever. The doctors were unable to help her. When she did start to feel better, she had changed. Helen could not see or hear anymore. Helen had a very hard time with this change. She could no longer talk or communicate with her family. She did not understand the things her family was doing or saying. She did not know how to behave. She would kick, scream, hit people, and throw things. Her parents were heartbroken. They did not know how to help her understand. Helen s parents took her to see many doctors. Then they took her to meet Alexander Graham Bell. He told Helen s parents about a special school that helps children that cannot hear or see. He told them they had special teachers that would know how to help Helen. They sent a teacher named Anne Sullivan to live with Helen and her family. Anne helped Helen understand. She taught her how to understand using sign language. She would spell the word out for Helen using her fingers in the palm of her hand. Helen even learned how to read. She would read special books written in braille. Braille is a series of dots that represent words. Helen used her fingers to trace over the dots to understand the words. Anne Sullivan changed Helen s life. She gave her hope. As Helen became an adult, she too would help others who were blind and deaf.

30 Helen Keller 1. What caused Helen to become blind and deaf? 2. Explain how being blind and deaf made Helen s life more difficult. 3. Helen was able to use her disabilities to help others. Do you think this was a good or bad thing. Explain your answer. 5. Who was the teacher that helped Helen? How did she help her? 6. Go back in the story and underline the sentence that describes what Braille means.

31 Sharks Even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, sharks have swum in the oceans. There are over 400 different species of sharks. Sharks are considered fish, not mammals. This means they breathe with gills. They do not come up for air. A shark s skeleton is made out of cartilage. artilage is a flexible tissue. This helps the shark swim with great speed under water. A shark has rough skin. The skin helps protect it against predators. A shark never loses a tooth. Instead, when a tooth falls out, a replacement moves up from one of its many rows of teeth. A shark can grow up to 30,000 teeth in a lifetime. A shark s teeth are what help it catch its prey. Sharks come in many sizes. The smallest type of shark is the Dwarf Shark. The Dwarf Shark grows to be only about 8 inches long. The largest type of shark is the Whale Shark. The Whale Shark is about 35 feet in length and is the largest known fish. Sharks babies are known as pups. Pups do not stay with their mothers. Once they are born, they are on their own. Also, sharks can adapt to changes, especially when it comes to finding food. For example, the Bull Shark can live in both fresh and salt water. If needed a shark can dive to extreme deep levels to find food. Sharks are very smart animals. They are very curious about their environment. This has caused sharks to get a bad reputation. However, humans are more of a threat to sharks. Many sharks are endangered due to illegal fishing and killing. It is up to all of us to protect these amazing animals! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

32 Sharks Even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, sharks have swum in the oceans. There are over 400 different species of sharks. Sharks are considered fish, not mammals. This means they breathe with gills. They do not come up for air. A shark s skeleton is made out of cartilage. artilage is a flexible tissue. This helps the shark swim with great speed under water. A shark has rough skin. The skin helps protect it against predators. A shark never loses a tooth. Instead, when a tooth falls out, a replacement moves up from one of its many rows of teeth. A shark can grow up to 30,000 teeth in a lifetime. A shark s teeth are what help it catch its prey. Sharks come in many sizes. The smallest type of shark is the Dwarf Shark. The Dwarf Shark grows to be only about 8 inches long. The largest type of shark is the Whale Shark. The Whale Shark is about 35 feet in length and is the largest known fish. Sharks babies are known as pups. Pups do not stay with their mothers. Once they are born, they are on their own. Also, sharks can adapt to changes, especially when it comes to finding food. For example, the Bull Shark can live in both fresh and salt water. If needed a shark can dive to extreme deep levels to find food. Sharks are very smart animals. They are very curious about their environment. This has caused sharks to get a bad reputation. However, humans are more of a threat to sharks. Many sharks are endangered due to illegal fishing and killing. It is up to all of us to protect these amazing animals!

33 Sharks 1. Define cartilage. Go back into the story and underline the details that describe what cartilage means. 2. What happens when a shark loses a tooth? 3. Draw conclusions. What do you think would happen if sharks were not protected and there were not many left? Explain. 4. Go back in the story and draw a square around a sentence that states an opinion. 5. Go back in the story and draw a circle around a sentence that states a fact.

34 Maps and Globes What would you look at if you needed to find a city or country? A map or globe will help you locate areas. Maps are flat. Maps show drawings of places. Maps can show a drawing of a city, state, country, or world. You can even have a map of your house. Many maps have pictures or symbols. The symbols help locate areas on the map. For example, a wavy line may represent a body of water that is over land. Different maps use different symbols. A globe is a sphere shaped ball that looks like the actual Earth. A globe shows the seven continents and five oceans. Both maps and globes are drawn to scale. This means maps and globes show drawings on a much smaller size. Maps and globes use cardinal directions. ardinal directions show where an area is located and whether it is North, East, South, or West. Both maps and globes use latitude and longitude. By knowing these two points you can find the exact location of any place in the world. Latitude runs east and west. Longitude runs north and south. Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees. The equator is an imaginary line that separates the Earth in half. The equator s latitude and longitude is zero degrees. So how do you know which to use, a map or globe? If you are looking for a street, you use a map. If trying to locate the continent of Asia, a globe would be a better choice. If you need to find a city in a certain state, use a map. If you want to know which ocean is by Africa, then use a globe. Both maps and globes are great tools to use in finding places Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

35 Maps and Globes What would you look at if you needed to find a city or country? A map or globe will help you locate areas. Maps are flat. Maps show drawings of places. Maps can show a drawing of a city, state, country, or world. You can even have a map of your house. Many maps have pictures or symbols. The symbols help locate areas on the map. For example, a wavy line may represent a body of water that is over land. Different maps use different symbols. A globe is a sphere shaped ball that looks like the actual Earth. A globe shows the seven continents and five oceans. Both maps and globes are drawn to scale. This means maps and globes show drawings on a much smaller size. Maps and globes use cardinal directions. ardinal directions show where an area is located and whether it is North, East, South, or West. Both maps and globes use latitude and longitude. By knowing these two points you can find the exact location of any place in the world. Latitude runs east and west. Longitude runs north and south. Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees. The equator is an imaginary line that separates the Earth in half. The equator s latitude and longitude is zero degrees. So how do you know which to use, a map or globe? If you are looking for a street, you use a map. If trying to locate the continent of Asia, a globe would be a better choice. If you need to find a city in a certain state, use a map. If you want to know which ocean is by Africa, then use a globe. Both maps and globes are great tools to use in finding places.

36 Maps and Globes 1. Underline the sentence that tells you what maps and globes are used for. 2. What is a globe? What are the things you can find on a globe? 3. Tell what it means for a map or globe to be drawn to scale. 4. Latitude runs to. 5. Longitude runs to. 6. ircle the sentence that tells you what an equator is. 7. Go back in the story and draw a square around a sentence that states an opinion.

37 Insects Insects are all around us! Insects live all over the world. They live on every continent, even Antarctica! There are more than one million different kinds of insects in the world. Insects have been around for millions of years. Insects have been around before dinosaurs walked the earth. Many people will call insects bugs, but actually bugs are a type of insect. A bug has a mouth shaped like a straw. Some examples of bugs are Bat Bug, Giant Water Bug, and Squash Bug. Insects go through lifecycles. A life cycle is made of changes. Insects hatch from eggs. After an insect hatches from its egg, it grows into larvae. Larvae grows and gets bigger and bigger. As the larvae grows, it gets rid of its old skin. Next, it enters the pupa stage. During the pupa stage it hides in a shell or cocoon. This is where it changes into an adult. Once it breaks out of its shell, the insect is an adult. The adult will then lay eggs and the whole life cycle starts over again. A life span of an insect is different. A life span is how long an insect lives. It is believed that a queen termite has one of the longest life spans in the insect world, living up to fifty years. An insect s body is made up of three main parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The head is where the eyes, mouth, and antennae are found. Antennas help insects taste, smell, and hear. The abdomen is where the insect s stomach is found. Most insects eat plants as their food. Insects can crawl and fly. One thing is for sure, these interesting creatures are found all around us! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

38 Insects Insects are all around us! Insects live all over the world. They live on every continent, even Antarctica! There are more than one million different kinds of insects in the world. Insects have been around for millions of years. Insects have been around before dinosaurs walked the earth. Many people will call insects bugs, but actually bugs are a type of insect. A bug has a mouth shaped like a straw. Some examples of bugs are Bat Bug, Giant Water Bug, and Squash Bug. Insects go through lifecycles. A life cycle is made of changes. Insects hatch from eggs. After an insect hatches from its egg, it grows into larvae. Larvae grows and gets bigger and bigger. As the larvae grows, it gets rid of its old skin. Next, it enters the pupa stage. During the pupa stage it hides in a shell or cocoon. This is where it changes into an adult. Once it breaks out of its shell, the insect is an adult. The adult will then lay eggs and the whole life cycle starts over again. A life span of an insect is different. A life span is how long an insect lives. It is believed that a queen termite has one of the longest life spans in the insect world, living up to fifty years. An insect s body is made up of three main parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The head is where the eyes, mouth, and antennae are found. Antennas help insects taste, smell, and hear. The abdomen is where the insect s stomach is found. Most insects eat plants as their food. Insects can crawl and fly. One thing is for sure, these interesting creatures are found all around us!

39 Insects 1. Insects go through a life cycle. True or False 2. Describe what a bug is? 3. What happens after an insect hatches from its egg? Use details from the story. 4. Go back in the story and draw a square around the sentence that defines what a life span is. 5. What is the purpose of an insect s antennas? 6. Which insect is believed to have the longest life span?

40 Eating Healthy What is your favorite food? Many of the foods we eat help keep us healthy. Food gives us the energy we need to work, play, and grow. To stay healthy, you need to eat certain kind of foods. There is a food guide that lists the types of foods we should eat. It tells us how many servings of each food our body should have. Everyday a person should have more of the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta family. We should eat very little fats, oils, and sweets. Fats, oils, and sweets are not very healthy for you. Vegetables and fruits are also important to eat. You need to have three to five servings of vegetables every day. A person should, also, have two to four servings of fruit every day. Dairy is important for a healthy diet. Diary helps bones grow very strong. Dairy products can include milk, yogurt, and cheese. A healthy person should eat two to three servings of dairy every day. It is important to watch what you eat. Many children do not eat healthy. Next time you pack a lunch, try to make sure you have a serving from each of the main food groups. This way you know your body is getting the fuel it needs to stay strong Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

41 Eating Healthy What is your favorite food? Many of the foods we eat help keep us healthy. Food gives us the energy we need to work, play, and grow. To stay healthy, you need to eat certain kind of foods. There is a food guide that lists the types of foods we should eat. It tells us how many servings of each food our body should have. Everyday a person should have more of the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta family. We should eat very little fats, oils, and sweets. Fats, oils, and sweets are not very healthy for you. Vegetables and fruits are also important to eat. You need to have three to five servings of vegetables every day. A person should, also, have two to four servings of fruit every day. Dairy is important for a healthy diet. Diary helps bones grow very strong. Dairy products can include milk, yogurt, and cheese. A healthy person should eat two to three servings of dairy every day. It is important to watch what you eat. Many children do not eat healthy. Next time you pack a lunch, try to make sure you have a serving from each of the main food groups. This way you know your body is getting the fuel it needs to stay strong.

42 Eating Healthy 1. Food gives us to work, play, and grow. 2. How many servings of vegetables should you eat daily? 3. Drawing onclusions. What would happen to a person who ate junk food all the time? 4. Go back in the story and draw a circle around a sentence that states an opinion. 5. Describe what a healthy lunch would look like. 6. How does dairy help the human body?

43 Desert Life What do you picture when you hear the word desert? Do you imagine a dry, hot place that gets very little rainfall? You might think a desert is a lifeless place, but it is not. There are many animals that live in the desert. Animals such as foxes, snakes, and lizards make their home in the desert. Since deserts are hot, dry places many animals can go long periods without water. amels may only drink once a week. amels can drink up to 35 gallons of water. They store the water in their hump. Many animals stay out of the sun during the day. They dig burrows deep in the sand to stay cool. Then when the sun goes down, they come out at night to hunt for food. Not all desert animals stay out of sun. Some desert animals like the sun. Lizards need the sun s heat to warm their bodies. Some deserts in the Sahara have oases. An oasis is a small spring of water that bubbles up from the ground. Some oasis have palm trees by them. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert of its kind in the world. It stretches for thousands of miles across the northern part of Africa. Some people live in the desert, too! One group of people that live in the Sahara Desert is known as the Bedouins. This group of people roam freely through the desert. They are nomads. A group of people who are nomads, are people who move around from place to place. Bedouins raise camels, goats, and sheep. They trade with others who are crossing through the desert. Although the desert may look empty, if you take a closer look you will see a large amount of life. You will find many animals, some plants, and even people too! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

44 Desert Life What do you picture when you hear the word desert? Do you imagine a dry, hot place that gets very little rainfall? You might think a desert is a lifeless place, but it is not. There are many animals that live in the desert. Animals such as foxes, snakes, and lizards make their home in the desert. Since deserts are hot, dry places many animals can go long periods without water. amels may only drink once a week. amels can drink up to 35 gallons of water. They store the water in their hump. Many animals stay out of the sun during the day. They dig burrows deep in the sand to stay cool. Then when the sun goes down, they come out at night to hunt for food. Not all desert animals stay out of sun. Some desert animals like the sun. Lizards need the sun s heat to warm their bodies. Some deserts in the Sahara have oases. An oasis is a small spring of water that bubbles up from the ground. Some oasis have palm trees by them. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert of its kind in the world. It stretches for thousands of miles across the northern part of Africa. Some people live in the desert, too! One group of people that live in the Sahara Desert is known as the Bedouins. This group of people roam freely through the desert. They are nomads. A group of people who are nomads, are people who move around from place to place. Bedouins raise camels, goats, and sheep. They trade with others who are crossing through the desert. Although the desert may look empty, if you take a closer look you will see a large amount of life. You will find many animals, some plants, and even people too!

45 Desert Life 1. The desert is the largest desert in the world. 2. List some animals that can be found in the desert. 3. Draw conclusion. Tell how animals have adapted to the harsh conditions of living in the desert. Use details from the story. 4. Go back in the story and draw a circle around the sentence that describe what an oasis is. 5. Describe what it means to be nomad. What group of desert people are known to be nomadic?

46 The Zulu Tribe There are many different tribes that can be found in South Africa. The largest is known as Zulu Tribe. The Zulu s are a very proud tribe. Many Zulu men and women still follow the customs of their great ancestors. Their homes are made out of thatch. Thatch is a type of tree bark and brush. Both men and women tend to the household. The Zulu people grow crops of corn, beans, and yams. They tend to cattle, goats, and sheep. The Zulu people are mostly well known for their beadwork, basket weaving, and woodcarvings. Each thing made has a purpose. The beadwork is made with bright colors. The beadwork and baskets tell about the owners who made them. You can tell by looking at the artwork the owner s age, whether they were male or female, and the feelings of the maker. Many of the men in the Zulu Tribe carve wood into useful objects. They make objects such as stools and spoons. The men will also tan hides or the skins of animals. The hides are used to make clothing and blankets. The Zulu people are organized into groups. The groups are based on kinship, or relatives, called clans. They speak to one another in Zulu language. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa. They use tones and clicking sounds made by pressing the tongue against different parts of the mouth. This is how their language is communicated. The Zulu Tribe is a proud tribe with many fascinating customs Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

47 The Zulu Tribe There are many different tribes that can be found in South Africa. The largest is known as Zulu Tribe. The Zulu s are a very proud tribe. Many Zulu men and women still follow the customs of their great ancestors. Their homes are made out of thatch. Thatch is a type of tree bark and brush. Both men and women tend to the household. The Zulu people grow crops of corn, beans, and yams. They tend to cattle, goats, and sheep. The Zulu people are mostly well known for their beadwork, basket weaving, and woodcarvings. Each thing made has a purpose. The beadwork is made with bright colors. The beadwork and baskets tell about the owners who made them. You can tell by looking at the artwork the owner s age, whether they were male or female, and the feelings of the maker. Many of the men in the Zulu Tribe carve wood into useful objects. They make objects such as stools and spoons. The men will also tan hides or the skins of animals. The hides are used to make clothing and blankets. The Zulu people are organized into groups. The groups are based on kinship, or relatives, called clans. They speak to one another in Zulu language. Zulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa. They use tones and clicking sounds made by pressing the tongue against different parts of the mouth. This is how their language is communicated. The Zulu Tribe is a proud tribe with many fascinating customs.

48 The Zulu Tribe 1. The Zulu tribe can be found in. 2. Why is the beadwork important to the Zulu tribe? 3. Describe how the Zulu language is spoken to one another. Use details from the story. 4. Go back in the story and draw a circle around the sentences that describes what thatch is. 5. The Zulu people are organized by. 6. What are hides used for within the Zulu tribe?

49 Landforms If you could look down from space and see Earth, you would notice large green and brown land. You would see large areas of blue ocean. But if you zoom in closer, you would notice mountains, hills, valleys, canyons, islands, and other types of landforms. Large landforms, like mountains and valleys, can be seen from a long way up. Mountains are very high and rocky. Mountains can be pointed or rounded on the top. The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. Hills are like mountains, but smaller. Some hills use to be mountains, but they were worn down over many years by wind and rain. A valley is a low area of land between two mountains. A river can be found sometimes flowing through a valley. Another type of landform is the plains. Plains are large areas of low, flat land. In the middle part of the United States is an area known as the Great Plains. A desert is dry land, which gets little or no rainfall. Many areas in the western part of the United States have desert areas. Another type of landform is an island. Islands are small pieces of land that are surrounded by water. Some islands can be big and some can be small. Some people live on islands, like in Hawaii. However, there are islands that are deserted. Deserted means there are not any humans living on the island. People live on almost all of these landforms, but some are more crowded with people than others. On which type of landform would you like to live? Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

50 Landforms If you could look down from space and see Earth, you would notice large green and brown land. You would see large areas of blue ocean. But if you zoom in closer, you would notice mountains, hills, valleys, canyons, islands, and other types of landforms. Large landforms, like mountains and valleys, can be seen from a long way up. Mountains are very high and rocky. Mountains can be pointed or rounded on the top. The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. Hills are like mountains, but smaller. Some hills use to be mountains, but they were worn down over many years by wind and rain. A valley is a low area of land between two mountains. A river can be found sometimes flowing through a valley. Another type of landform is the plains. Plains are large areas of low, flat land. In the middle part of the United States is an area known as the Great Plains. A desert is dry land, which gets little or no rainfall. Many areas in the western part of the United States have desert areas. Another type of landform is an island. Islands are small pieces of land that are surrounded by water. Some islands can be big and some can be small. Some people live on islands, like in Hawaii. However, there are islands that are deserted. Deserted means there are not any humans living on the island. People live on almost all of these landforms, but some are more crowded with people than others. On which type of landform would you like to live?

51 Landforms 1. A low area of land between two mountains is known as. a. hills b. valleys c. plains 2. Describe an island. 3. ompare and contrast hills and mountains. 4. Go back in the story and draw a circle around the sentences that gives the meaning to deserted. 5. An area that gets little or no rain fall is known as a. a. desert b. river c. plain

52 oral Reefs If you were snorkeling at a coral reef, you would see bright underwater plants and animals. oral reefs are home to many colorful plants and animals. It is a very busy place for sea life. The largest coral reef is found in Australia. It is known as the Great Barrier Reef. It is 1,260 miles long! oral reefs are tiny living creatures called polyps. It takes millions of the corals to form one reef! oral can be many different colors, shapes, and sizes. orals are found in warm, shallow water, usually near the shore. Most of the fish that live near a coral reef are brightly colored. This helps them blend in with the coral. Some fish may have stripes or dots. These stripes and dots can help keep prey away. Lobster, crab, and shrimp can be found near coral reefs, too! There are many sea plants that grow around coral reefs. You may see bright green sea kelp floating on the ocean floor. You have to be careful when around a coral reef. The coral is very sharp. It can cut through your skin very easily. Also, beware of sharks and barracudas! Because there are so many fish living in a coral reef, many sharks hunt near reefs to find food. All of the animals depend on each other in the coral reef. They are part of the food chain. The tiny sea plants and animals are at the bottom of the food chain. They get their energy from the sun. The coral eats the tiny plants and animals to help it grow. Then the small animals eat the coral polyps. Bigger animals eat the smaller animals. This food chain keeps going. If one animal disappears from the food chain, it can disrupt the whole reef. By protecting coral reefs, we are protecting important sea plants and animals Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

53 oral Reefs If you were snorkeling at a coral reef, you would see bright underwater plants and animals. oral reefs are home to many colorful plants and animals. It is a very busy place for sea life. The largest coral reef is found in Australia. It is known as the Great Barrier Reef. It is 1,260 miles long! oral reefs are tiny living creatures called polyps. It takes millions of the corals to form one reef! oral can be many different colors, shapes, and sizes. orals are found in warm, shallow water, usually near the shore. Most of the fish that live near a coral reef are brightly colored. This helps them blend in with the coral. Some fish may have stripes or dots. These stripes and dots can help keep prey away. Lobster, crab, and shrimp can be found near coral reefs, too! There are many sea plants that grow around coral reefs. You may see bright green sea kelp floating on the ocean floor. You have to be careful when around a coral reef. The coral is very sharp. It can cut through your skin very easily. Also, beware of sharks and barracudas! Because there are so many fish living in a coral reef, many sharks hunt near reefs to find food. All of the animals depend on each other in the coral reef. They are part of the food chain. The tiny sea plants and animals are at the bottom of the food chain. They get their energy from the sun. The coral eats the tiny plants and animals to help it grow. Then the small animals eat the coral polyps. Bigger animals eat the smaller animals. This food chain keeps going. If one animal disappears from the food chain, it can disrupt the whole reef. By protecting coral reefs, we are protecting important sea plants and animals

54 oral Reefs 1. List some animals that you may find living near a coral reef. 2. Why do many animals live around or near coral reefs? 3. Do you think it is important to protect coral reefs? Explain why or why not. 5. The largest known coral reef in the world is the and it is found in.

55 Astronauts Have you ever wanted to travel to space? Scientists use spaceships, robots, and satellites to travel and explore space. People called astronauts travel into space. Many astronauts are also scientists. They have to train for years. Astronauts have to be strong and healthy. Their job can be very hard and dangerous. Astronauts float in space. In order to get ready for this, they practice working underwater. Working underwater feels the same as floating in space. In space, there is not air to breathe. Astronauts have to wear a special suit. Astronauts train in their suits. A space suit helps an astronaut breathe. A spacesuit protects an astronaut s body. Their suit can keep their bodies cool or warm. An astronaut wears a special pack attached to the back of their space suit. The pack has rockets that help the astronaut move. While in space an astronaut will use many tools to help them do their job. Their spacesuit has special loops and pockets to hold their tools, so they will not float away in space. While in space an astronaut needs to know how their spaceship works. Their training helps them to be able to prepare for anything that may go wrong on the mission. While they are in space astronauts may learn about our solar system, repair satellites, or send new information back to Earth. Astronauts help give us a better understanding of space Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

56 Astronauts Have you ever wanted to travel to space? Scientists use spaceships, robots, and satellites to travel and explore space. People called astronauts travel into space. Many astronauts are also scientists. They have to train for years. Astronauts have to be strong and healthy. Their job can be very hard and dangerous. Astronauts float in space. In order to get ready for this, they practice working underwater. Working underwater feels the same as floating in space. In space, there is not air to breathe. Astronauts have to wear a special suit. Astronauts train in their suits. A space suit helps an astronaut breathe. A spacesuit protects an astronaut s body. Their suit can keep their bodies cool or warm. An astronaut wears a special pack attached to the back of their space suit. The pack has rockets that help the astronaut move. While in space an astronaut will use many tools to help them do their job. Their spacesuit has special loops and pockets to hold their tools, so they will not float away in space. While in space an astronaut needs to know how their spaceship works. Their training helps them to be able to prepare for anything that may go wrong on the mission. While they are in space astronauts may learn about our solar system, repair satellites, or send new information back to Earth. Astronauts help give us a better understanding of space.

57 Astronauts 1. Explain why you think astronauts need to be strong and healthy to do their job. 2. In order to train for floating in space, astronauts practice in to prepare for no gravity in space. 3. What are some things we can learn from astronauts? 4. Go back in the story and underline the sentence that tells you how a spacesuit helps an astronaut. 5. Many astronauts are also scientists. True or False

58 Water ycle You are outside playing when you notice a large mud puddle filled with water. When you return a few days later, the water has disappeared. What happened to the water? Did it vanish? Actually the water evaporated in a process known as the water cycle. The earth has a limited amount of water. The water keeps going around and around and around in what is known as the water cycle. Without the water cycle rivers and lakes would dry up. Without the water cycle plants and animals would not have drinking water. There are four main steps in the water cycle. First, you have evaporation. Evaporation is when the sun heats the water up. The water turns into water vapor. The water vapor goes into the air as a form of gas. The second step in the water cycle is condensation. This is where the water vapor sits in the air. You can sometimes see this water vapor in the form of clouds. Once the water vapor gets cool enough, it gets ready to fall back to the earth. This leads to the third step in the water cycle, precipitation. Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet or hail. Precipitation happens when the clouds get so heavy, they can t hold anymore water vapor. It then needs to fall back down to the ground. The last step of the water cycle is the collection phase. Precipitation may fall back to earth and land in oceans, lakes, rivers, or even land. If it lands on land, it may soak into the ground. It will water the plants and trees. You have to have collection in order for the cycle to start over. Once the water has set long enough, the cycle starts all over again. You guessed it! Evaporation occurs again and the whole cycle starts over Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

59 Water ycle You are outside playing when you notice a large mud puddle filled with water. When you return a few days later, the water has disappeared. What happened to the water? Did it vanish? Actually the water evaporated in a process known as the water cycle. The earth has a limited amount of water. The water keeps going around and around and around in what is known as the water cycle. Without the water cycle rivers and lakes would dry up. Without the water cycle plants and animals would not have drinking water. There are four main steps in the water cycle. First, you have evaporation. Evaporation is when the sun heats the water up. The water turns into water vapor. The water vapor goes into the air as a form of gas. The second step in the water cycle is condensation. This is where the water vapor sits in the air. You can sometimes see this water vapor in the form of clouds. Once the water vapor gets cool enough, it gets ready to fall back to the earth. This leads to the third step in the water cycle, precipitation. Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet or hail. Precipitation happens when the clouds get so heavy, they can t hold anymore water vapor. It then needs to fall back down to the ground. The last step of the water cycle is the collection phase. Precipitation may fall back to earth and land in oceans, lakes, rivers, or even land. If it lands on land, it may soak into the ground. It will water the plants and trees. You have to have collection in order for the cycle to start over. Once the water has set long enough, the cycle starts all over again. You guessed it! Evaporation occurs again and the whole cycle starts over.

60 Water ycle 1. List the four main steps to the water cycle. 2. Go back in the story and underline the sentence that gives you the meaning of evaporation.. 3. You see a small puddle of water on your way to school. After school the puddle has vanished. Describe what has happened to the puddle of water. 4. What are some forms of precipitation? 5. Based on what you have read, draw an illustration of the water cycle.

61 Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman was born a slave in the 1800 s. She had to work many long, hard hours in the fields. Harriet wanted a better life for herself. She was not treated nicely. She wanted to be free. Harriet decided she needed to try and escape. In 1849, Harriet escaped from slavery by the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad system. It was not underground either. The Underground Railroad was a chain of people willing to help runaway slaves. People who helped slaves were called conductors. They would offer them food, clothing, and a safe place to hide during the day. Often at night the slaves would move from house to house to stay safe. It was very dangerous for people to help slaves. Slave catchers followed runaway slaves and tried to capture and return them to their owners. If a person was caught helping a salve, they would be punished too. After Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom, she decided to help others. Harriet Tubman became a conductor. It was dangerous for Harriet. A lot of people wanted to capture her. This did not stop Harriet. She led hundreds of other slaves to freedom. She even helped her own family to freedom. Harriet Tubman helped about 300 salves gain freedom! Harriet Tubman is remembered for her bravery and her fight against slavery Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

62 Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman was born a slave in the 1800 s. She had to work many long, hard hours in the fields. Harriet wanted a better life for herself. She was not treated nicely. She wanted to be free. Harriet decided she needed to try and escape. In 1849, Harriet escaped from slavery by the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad system. It was not underground either. The Underground Railroad was a chain of people willing to help runaway slaves. People who helped slaves were called conductors. They would offer them food, clothing, and a safe place to hide during the day. Often at night the slaves would move from house to house to stay safe. It was very dangerous for people to help slaves. Slave catchers followed runaway slaves and tried to capture and return them to their owners. If a person was caught helping a salve, they would be punished too. After Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom, she decided to help others. Harriet Tubman became a conductor. It was dangerous for Harriet. A lot of people wanted to capture her. This did not stop Harriet. She led hundreds of other slaves to freedom. She even helped her own family to freedom. Harriet Tubman helped about 300 salves gain freedom! Harriet Tubman is remembered for her bravery and her fight against slavery.

63 Harriet Tubman 1. What was the Underground Railroad? 2. Go back in the story and underline the sentence that gives you the clues to help you understand what was the Underground Railroad. 3. Do you think it was brave of Harriet Tubman to risk her own life to help others? Why or why not? 4. Harriet Tubman helped freed about slaves. a. 400 b. 300 c People who helped slaves were know as.

64 Alligators Alligators have been on Earth for millions of years. Alligators are reptiles. They are cold-blooded animals. They have a very strong tail and jaw. If an alligator bites, it can lock its jaw in place. This helps it hold down its prey. Alligators are strong swimmers. The male alligator can be up to 15 feet long. The female is usually smaller. Female alligators are very protective of their babies. They make nests near the shore and watch over the eggs. If an alligator is going to be male or female, is determined by the temperature of the eggs. Warmer eggs usually hatch males. An egg that was in an area with cooler temperatures hatches females. When the baby alligator starts making noises, it will then break out of the egg. When a baby alligator is born, it is small. Since they are so small their mother keeps them safe. After hatching, the mother carries them in her mouth to the water. The baby alligators will stay with their mother for two years. Once big enough, they can go on their own. American alligators live in the wild in the southeastern part of the United States. They make their homes in fresh water. You are more likely to spot an alligator in Florida or Louisiana. These two states are known to have a lot of alligators because of the rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and marshes that can be found there. Alligators like to live in areas of water where there are grasses or trees. This makes for good hiding and hunting spots. Alligators usually eat smaller prey. Alligators like to eat fish, turtles, birds and many other animals. The biggest threat to alligators is the destruction of their habitat. People will come in and build on the wetland. If you ever see an alligator, stay away. Although these animals are fascinating, they do have one powerful bite! Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

65 Alligators Alligators have been on Earth for millions of years. Alligators are reptiles. They are cold-blooded animals. They have a very strong tail and jaw. If an alligator bites, it can lock its jaw in place. This helps it hold down its prey. Alligators are strong swimmers. The male alligator can be up to 15 feet long. The female is usually smaller. Female alligators are very protective of their babies. They make nests near the shore and watch over the eggs. If an alligator is going to be male or female, is determined by the temperature of the eggs. Warmer eggs usually hatch males. An egg that was in an area with cooler temperatures hatches females. When the baby alligator starts making noises, it will then break out of the egg. When a baby alligator is born, it is small. Since they are so small their mother keeps them safe. After hatching, the mother carries them in her mouth to the water. The baby alligators will stay with their mother for two years. Once big enough, they can go on their own. American alligators live in the wild in the southeastern part of the United States. They make their homes in fresh water. You are more likely to spot an alligator in Florida or Louisiana. These two states are known to have a lot of alligators because of the rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and marshes that can be found there. Alligators like to live in areas of water where there are grasses or trees. This makes for good hiding and hunting spots. Alligators usually eat smaller prey. Alligators like to eat fish, turtles, birds and many other animals. The biggest threat to alligators is the destruction of their habitat. People will come in and build on the wetland. If you ever see an alligator, stay away. Although these animals are fascinating, they do have one powerful bite!

66 Alligators 1. Alligators are strong swimmers, what part of their body do you think makes them a strong swimmer and why? 2. What determines if an alligator is male or female? 3. Why do you think more alligators are found in southeastern part of America? 4. What are some animals that an alligator will hunt? 5. Draw an illustration of a habitat that an alligator might live in.

67 Being a Good itizen What does it mean to be a good citizen? A citizen is any person who lives in a community, state, or nation. We are all citizens. A good citizen will follow rules and laws. A good citizen is responsible, respectful, and helps others. If your parent sets rules for you to follow at home, such as cleaning your room, and you follow these rules, then you are being a good citizen. An adult is a good citizen when they follow laws that our government makes. For example, when your parent stops at a STOP sign, they are obeying the law. Following the law is being a good citizen. Breaking the law shows poor citizenship. Helping out in your community or helping others when they are in need is also showing good citizenship. This is being kind. ommunities are filled with kind and caring citizens. A community will be a lot better when there are good citizens living within it. You can help in your community too. By being responsible, you are showing that you are a good citizen in your community. A person in trouble or who causes harm to their community or others is not a good citizen. So, what are ways to be a good citizen at school? You can be kind to others. You should be respectful of your teachers and friends. Never destroy school property. What are ways to be a good citizen in your community? One way is helping others in need or lending a hand to a neighbor. Keeping parks and neighborhoods clean shows good citizenship. Following rules when they are posted, not breaking them is another way. Being a good citizen is easy to do. You just have to try your best and then you too can be a good citizen Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

68 Being a Good itizen What does it mean to be a good citizen? A citizen is any person who lives in a community, state, or nation. We are all citizens. A good citizen will follow rules and laws. A good citizen is responsible, respectful, and helps others. If your parent sets rules for you to follow at home, such as cleaning your room, and you follow these rules, then you are being a good citizen. An adult is a good citizen when they follow laws that our government makes. For example, when your parent stops at a STOP sign, they are obeying the law. Following the law is being a good citizen. Breaking the law shows poor citizenship. Helping out in your community or helping others when they are in need is also showing good citizenship. This is being kind. ommunities are filled with kind and caring citizens. A community will be a lot better when there are good citizens living within it. You can help in your community too. By being responsible, you are showing that you are a good citizen in your community. A person in trouble or who causes harm to their community or others is not a good citizen. So, what are ways to be a good citizen at school? You can be kind to others. You should be respectful of your teachers and friends. Never destroy school property. What are ways to be a good citizen in your community? One way is helping others in need or lending a hand to a neighbor. Keeping parks and neighborhoods clean shows good citizenship. Following rules when they are posted, not breaking them is another way. Being a good citizen is easy to do. You just have to try your best and then you too can be a good citizen.

69 Being a Good itizen 1. What is a citizen? 2. Go back in the story and underline the sentence that tells you the definition of a citizen. 3. List two ways you can be a good citizen in your community? 4. List two ways you can be a good citizen at your school. 5. Go back in the story and find a sentence that states an opinion. Draw a circle around the sentence.

70 Mississippi River The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in North America. In fact, it is the fourth longest river in the world. It starts at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and runs south. It empties out in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River is 2,320 miles long. Many other smaller rivers and streams run into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River s water has currents that move fast. The water is moving so fast that objects can easily float down the river. The Mississippi River is home to many plants and animals. There are different types of fish and reptiles that live in the river. Many people like to fish the waters of the Mississippi River. They may catch a catfish or a bass. You may, also, find different types of plants. Plants have to be able to survive flooding and wet conditions. There are different types of trees along the banks of the river. If taking a hike along the riverbank, you may see an oak or maple tree. The Mississippi River is important to many people. It provides families with jobs. Some people can drive boats on the river. They can deliver goods and cargo. Some people use the river to find food. They can fish in the water or hunt along the banks. Others like to use the river for fun. You may see people riding a boat or jet ski on the river. Other families like to take vacations around the Mississippi River. They can hike the banks or even take riverboat cruises. The Mississippi River is important to our country. Without the river, smaller rivers and streams would not be able to drain. Many families would not have a job. This is why it is important to take care and protect the Mississippi River Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

71 Mississippi River The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in North America. In fact, it is the fourth longest river in the world. It starts at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and runs south. It empties out in the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River is 2,320 miles long. Many other smaller rivers and streams run into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River s water has currents that move fast. The water is moving so fast that objects can easily float down the river. The Mississippi River is home to many plants and animals. There are different types of fish and reptiles that live in the river. Many people like to fish the waters of the Mississippi River. They may catch a catfish or a bass. You may, also, find different types of plants. Plants have to be able to survive flooding and wet conditions. There are different types of trees along the banks of the river. If taking a hike along the riverbank, you may see an oak or maple tree. The Mississippi River is important to many people. It provides families with jobs. Some people can drive boats on the river. They can deliver goods and cargo. Some people use the river to find food. They can fish in the water or hunt along the banks. Others like to use the river for fun. You may see people riding a boat or jet ski on the river. Other families like to take vacations around the Mississippi River. They can hike the banks or even take riverboat cruises. The Mississippi River is important to our country. Without the river, smaller rivers and streams would not be able to drain. Many families would not have a job. This is why it is important to take care and protect the Mississippi River.

72 Mississippi River 1. Look back at paragraph one. List a fact that makes the Mississippi River unique. 2. Look back at paragraph two., underline the main idea. 3. List two ways people use the Mississippi River.. 4. Imagine that the Mississippi River dried up. How do you think this would effect America? Give details. 5. Look back at paragraph 4. ircle the sentence that states an opinion..

73 Volcanoes Volcanoes are openings in the Earth s surface. When they are active, they can release hot ash, rock, and lava. Volcanoes form near the moving plates in the Earth s surface. They also form near areas where hot spots are under the surface. Most of the world s volcanoes are located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is an area that is around the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes are not only found on land, but under the ocean as well. Volcanoes can be active, dormant, or extinct. An active volcano means it erupts regularly. There are about 1,500 active volcanoes in the world. Most of the active volcanoes can be found in the country of Indonesia. A dormant volcano is one that has erupted in recent history, but now is quiet. A volcano that has not erupted in recent history, and is unlikely to do so is known as extinct. Magma is hot liquid under the Earth s surface. It is called lava once it flows out of the volcano. A volcano can send ash as high as 17 miles above the Earth s surface. We get many types of rocks from volcanoes. One type of rock formed from volcanoes is known as pumice. A pumice stone is a type of rock that is able to float. Many people use pumice stones to remove dry skin. The largest volcano in the world is found in Hawaii. Scientist can learn a lot about Earth s past and future by studying volcanoes Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

74 Volcanoes Volcanoes are openings in the Earth s surface. When they are active, they can release hot ash, rock, and lava. Volcanoes form near the moving plates in the Earth s surface. They also form near areas where hot spots are under the surface. Most of the world s volcanoes are located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is an area that is around the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes are not only found on land, but under the ocean as well. Volcanoes can be active, dormant, or extinct. An active volcano means it erupts regularly. There are about 1,500 active volcanoes in the world. Most of the active volcanoes can be found in the country of Indonesia. A dormant volcano is one that has erupted in recent history, but now is quiet. A volcano that has not erupted in recent history, and is unlikely to do so is known as extinct. Magma is hot liquid under the Earth s surface. It is called lava once it flows out of the volcano. A volcano can send ash as high as 17 miles above the Earth s surface. We get many types of rocks from volcanoes. One type of rock formed from volcanoes is known as pumice. A pumice stone is a type of rock that is able to float. Many people use pumice stones to remove dry skin. The largest volcano in the world is found in Hawaii. Scientist can learn a lot about Earth s past and future by studying volcanoes.

75 Volcanoes 1. Describe what volcanoes are. 2. Most of the world s volcanoes are located in the. 3. An active volcanoes erupts. a. never b. regular c. every 100 years 4. What can scientist study or learn from volcanoes? 5. Describe the difference between extinct and dormant volcanoes?

76 Elephants Elephants are very smart animals that can be found in parts of Africa and Asia. Elephants are the largest land living mammal in the world. A mammal is any animal that gives live birth to its young and can feed it milk. You can tell African and Asian elephants apart by their ears. African Elephants have much larger ears. African Elephants are also larger in size. Female elephants are called cows and male elephants are called bulls. Baby elephants are called calves. A female elephant will spend it entire life living in a large group called a herd. Male elephants will only stay with the herd until about 13 years of age. After the male elephant leaves the herd, it will live by itself. Perhaps the most important body part on the elephant is its trunk. An elephant will use its trunk to breathe with and lift food to its mouth. It will suck water up through its trunk to pour into its mouth. Elephants use their trunks to help them sense their surroundings. They can wave their trunks to sense the size, shape, or temperature of an object. African Elephants are known to use their trunks to give themselves a nice cool shower when the sun gets too hot. Elephants are very social animals. They have great memories and are able to communicate with one another. When elephants are meeting each other they extend their trunk to one another as if saying hello, just as a human would offer a handshake. Elephants are in danger! Some people like to hunt elephants for their tusk. An elephant s tusk is made out of ivory and many people consider this to be a luxury item. It is up to us to help protect the magnificent creatures that show love for one another, just as humans do! # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

77 Elephants Elephants are very smart animals that can be found in parts of Africa and Asia. Elephants are the largest land living mammal in the world. A mammal is any animal that gives live birth to its young and can feed it milk. You can tell African and Asian elephants apart by their ears. African Elephants have much larger ears. African Elephants are also larger in size. Female elephants are called cows and male elephants are called bulls. Baby elephants are called calves. A female elephant will spend it entire life living in a large group called a herd. Male elephants will only stay with the herd until about 13 years of age. After the male elephant leaves the herd, it will live by itself. Perhaps the most important body part on the elephant is its trunk. An elephant will use its trunk to breathe with and lift food to its mouth. It will suck water up through its trunk to pour into its mouth. Elephants use their trunks to help them sense their surroundings. They can wave their trunks to sense the size, shape, or temperature of an object. African Elephants are known to use their trunks to give themselves a nice cool shower when the sun gets too hot. Elephants are very social animals. They have great memories and are able to communicate with one another. When elephants are meeting each other they extend their trunk to one another as if saying hello, just as a human would offer a handshake. Elephants are in danger! Some people like to hunt elephants for their tusk. An elephant s tusk is made out of ivory and many people consider this to be a luxury item. It is up to us to help protect the magnificent creatures that show love for one another, just as humans do!

78 Elephants 1. The story read that elephants are mammals. What makes an animal a mammal? 2. Name a way you can tell an African Elephant apart from an Asian Elephant. 3. A male elephant is called a. a. bull b. calf c. cow 4. Describe how the elephant s trunk is useful. 5. Name one way that elephants can communicate with one another.

79 Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. When growing up, Amelia and her sisters would have adventures. She loved to try new things. Even when she was young, Amelia was brave. Her first flight was at seven years old. Amelia, her sister, and uncle built a homemade roller coaster. After having a big crash, she told her sister it was just like flying. From that point on Amelia knew she wanted to be a pilot. In December 1920, Amelia and her father visited an airshow. That day she took her first flight on an airplane. She knew she had to fly as soon as possible. Amelia worked hard. She saved her money and took flying lessons. Next she bought her own plane. It was a bright, yellow airplane. She nicknamed it anary. In 1928, Amelia was asked to take part in an historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. She flew with two other male pilots. When she returned to America she was called a hero. However, she wanted to do more. She wanted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean by herself. The trip was very dangerous. Amelia encountered many storms and rough winds. However, she completed the trip and was known around the world as a brave woman. Amelia decided she needed to do even more. She wanted to pilot a plane around the world. In 1937, she began a flight around the world. Her plane disappeared. Amelia s plane was never found. It is believed to have crashed somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Each year on National Aviation Day, Amelia Earhart is remembered for her courage and bravery Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

80 Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. When growing up, Amelia and her sisters would have adventures. She loved to try new things. Even when she was young, Amelia was brave. Her first flight was at seven years old. Amelia, her sister, and uncle built a homemade roller coaster. After having a big crash, she told her sister it was just like flying. From that point on Amelia knew she wanted to be a pilot. In December 1920, Amelia and her father visited an airshow. That day she took her first flight on an airplane. She knew she had to fly as soon as possible. Amelia worked hard. She saved her money and took flying lessons. Next she bought her own plane. It was a bright, yellow airplane. She nicknamed it anary. In 1928, Amelia was asked to take part in an historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean. She flew with two other male pilots. When she returned to America she was called a hero. However, she wanted to do more. She wanted to fly across the Atlantic Ocean by herself. The trip was very dangerous. Amelia encountered many storms and rough winds. However, she completed the trip and was known around the world as a brave woman. Amelia decided she needed to do even more. She wanted to pilot a plane around the world. In 1937, she began a flight around the world. Her plane disappeared. Amelia s plane was never found. It is believed to have crashed somewhere over the Pacific Ocean. Each year on National Aviation Day, Amelia Earhart is remembered for her courage and bravery.

81 Amelia Earhart 1. What event happened in Amelia s life as a kid to let her know that she loved flying? 2. Why do you think Amelia wanted to be the first women to fly over the Atlantic Ocean? 3. What do you think happened to Amelia s plane when she was flying over the Pacific Ocean? 4. When are Amelia and other pilots remembered for their work in aviation?

82 George Washington George Washington was the first President of the United States. Our country had just gained freedom. We needed a president the people could trust. George Washington had served in the Army and helped America become a free country. The people trusted him. George Washington was born on February 22, in Virginia. He spent much of his life at a plantation called Mount Vernon. George Washington loved to ride horses. When George Washington was young, he had a job measuring land and making maps. Measuring land is called surveying. George was very good at this job. Later on he would become a solider in the Army. When America decided it wanted freedom from England, it needed someone to lead its army. They asked George Washington. He was a good leader. Soldiers trusted him and knew he was a good commander. George Washington was strong and brave. He strongly believed that America should have their own freedom. The Revolutionary War started in In 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence. For eight long years America fought for freedom. It was a big job to bring a country together, but George Washington was perfect for the job. After eight years as president, George returned home to Mount Vernon. Many people came to visit him. He spent his days enjoying his land and riding his horses. In December 1799, George Washington got sick with a bad sore throat and died. He was 67 years old. George Washington will always be remembered as a brave and honest president Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

83 George Washington George Washington was the first President of the United States. Our country had just gained freedom. We needed a president the people could trust. George Washington had served in the Army and helped America become a free country. The people trusted him. George Washington was born on February 22, in Virginia. He spent much of his life at a plantation called Mount Vernon. George Washington loved to ride horses. When George Washington was young, he had a job measuring land and making maps. Measuring land is called surveying. George was very good at this job. Later on he would become a solider in the Army. When America decided it wanted freedom from England, it needed someone to lead its army. They asked George Washington. He was a good leader. Soldiers trusted him and knew he was a good commander. George Washington was strong and brave. He strongly believed that America should have their own freedom. The Revolutionary War started in In 1776, America signed the Declaration of Independence. For eight long years America fought for freedom. It was a big job to bring a country together, but George Washington was perfect for the job. After eight years as president, George returned home to Mount Vernon. Many people came to visit him. He spent his days enjoying his land and riding his horses. In December 1799, George Washington got sick with a bad sore throat and died. He was 67 years old. George Washington will always be remembered as a brave and honest president.

84 George Washington 1. What was George Washington s job when he was a young man? 2. Why do you think the people of America trusted George Washington? Explain your answer. 3. Go back into the story and underline the sentence that describes what surveying means. 4. Go back into the story and locate a sentence that gives a statement of opinion. Draw a circle around the sentence. 5. How long did the Revolutionary War last? 6. List two things George Washington will be remembered as.

85 hristopher olumbus hristopher olumbus was born in 1451 in Italy. He learned about the sea at an early age. olumbus wanted to find a shorter route to India to allow easier trade. Given permission by the rulers of Spain, olumbus set sail across the Atlantic Ocean in They had hope he would find an easier route and bring fortune to their country. Instead, he ended up finding new land. On his first trip he set sail with three ships: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. olumbus sailed on the Santa Maria. When he set sail he had a small crew of only ninety men. The crew only had enough food to last a year. They used the stars and a small compass to help them find their way across the ocean. When one of the sailors spotted land, olumbus thought he had reached Asia. He actually had reached the clear blue waters of the aribbean. The land he reached is now known as Haiti. olumbus built a fort on the new land. When he returned back to Spain, he received a hero s welcome. hristopher olumbus made three more trips back to the new land. On these trips he discovered many more islands. On his fourth and final trip he brought his son along. He never realized that he had discovered the New World. Despite what most people believe, hristopher olumbus did not discover America. He did, however, pave the way for other explorers. People all over the world celebrate the discoveries made by olumbus every year on the second Monday in October Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

86 hristopher olumbus hristopher olumbus was born in 1451 in Italy. He learned about the sea at an early age. olumbus wanted to find a shorter route to India to allow easier trade. Given permission by the rulers of Spain, olumbus set sail across the Atlantic Ocean in They had hope he would find an easier route and bring fortune to their country. Instead, he ended up finding new land. On his first trip he set sail with three ships: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. olumbus sailed on the Santa Maria. When he set sail he had a small crew of only ninety men. The crew only had enough food to last a year. They used the stars and a small compass to help them find their way across the ocean. When one of the sailors spotted land, olumbus thought he had reached Asia. He actually had reached the clear blue waters of the aribbean. The land he reached is now known as Haiti. olumbus built a fort on the new land. When he returned back to Spain, he received a hero s welcome. hristopher olumbus made three more trips back to the new land. On these trips he discovered many more islands. On his fourth and final trip he brought his son along. He never realized that he had discovered the New World. Despite what most people believe, hristopher olumbus did not discover America. He did, however, pave the way for other explorers. People all over the world celebrate the discoveries made by olumbus every year on the second Monday in October.

87 hristopher olumbus 1. What was hristopher olumbus hoping to accomplish by traveling across the Atlantic Ocean? 2. List the names of olumbus three ships. 3. Go back into the story and underline the sentence that tells you what hristopher olumbus and his crew used to navigate, or find their way across the sea. 4. When olumbus first reached land where did he think he was? Where was he actually? 5. How many more trips did olumbus make to the new land?

88 ommunities People live in different types of communities. Some communities have big buildings and are always busy. Some have small towns with a lot of houses, while other are made up of farmland. A community is a group of people who live, work, or play together in an area. There are three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Have you ever seen a busy city with big buildings? This community is known as an urban community. Urban communities are busy cities with a lot of people and big buildings. Many of the people live in apartments. They take taxis, trains, subways, or walk to work or school. There is always something to see and do in an urban community. Most things are in walking distance. A suburban community is usually found outside of the city and has a lot of neighborhoods. hildren do not have to go far to play, because they usually have their own backyard. There is always a neighbor to chat with or a police officer to wave hi to. You can drive to your local stores to shop for supplies. Rural communities are very far from the city. Most of your neighbors would not be in walking distance. Rural areas have a lot of crops and farms. Kids help their parents grow food and tend to the animals. Rural areas are very quiet. Many rural communities have to share services such as police officers and firefighters. ommunities can be large. ommunities can be small. However, one thing is the same in all communities, they bring everyone together Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

89 ommunities People live in different types of communities. Some communities have big buildings and are always busy. Some have small towns with a lot of houses, while other are made up of farmland. A community is a group of people who live, work, or play together in an area. There are three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Have you ever seen a busy city with big buildings? This community is known as an urban community. Urban communities are busy cities with a lot of people and big buildings. Many of the people live in apartments. They take taxis, trains, subways, or walk to work or school. There is always something to see and do in an urban community. Most things are in walking distance. A suburban community is usually found outside of the city and has a lot of neighborhoods. hildren do not have to go far to play, because they usually have their own backyard. There is always a neighbor to chat with or a police officer to wave hi to. You can drive to your local stores to shop for supplies. Rural communities are very far from the city. Most of your neighbors would not be in walking distance. Rural areas have a lot of crops and farms. Kids help their parents grow food and tend to the animals. Rural areas are very quiet. Many rural communities have to share services such as police officers and firefighters. ommunities can be large. ommunities can be small. However, one thing is the same in all communities, they bring everyone together.

90 ommunities 1. List the three types of communities.. 2. What are some thing you might see in an urban community? 3. Describe how urban communities are different than rural communities. 4. Draw an illustration of urban, suburban, and rural communities.

91 Branches of Government When our country, The United States of America, was new, our founding fathers wanted to create a government that would be strong, but fair. America had just gained their freedom. They wanted to keep the government from becoming too powerful. They created a system of government that has three branches: The Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch. All three branches work together, but they also keep each other from gaining complete control. It is know as a checks and balance system. The Legislative Branch has two groups. The first group is the Senate. Each state has two senators. A senator may serve for six years. The second group is the House of Representatives. States have different numbers of representatives depending on their population or the amount of people living in the state. Representatives are elected for two years. The Legislative Branch writes laws for America. The Executive Branch has one person is charge, the President. The President is responsible for our military, making sure laws are followed, and keeping the government running. A president is elected every four years. The Judicial Branch is made up of nine justices that sit on the Supreme ourt. The Supreme ourt is the highest court in all of the land. The justices get picked by the President and may serve as long as they want. The Supreme ourt decides if laws are fair. They decide if the laws are following the onstitution. It takes all three branches working together for the government to get a job done. This was the wish of our founding fathers, to keep a government that was fair and balanced `1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

92 Branches of Government When our country, The United States of America, was new, our founding fathers wanted to create a government that would be strong, but fair. America had just gained their freedom. They wanted to keep the government from becoming too powerful. They created a system of government that has three branches: The Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, and Judicial Branch. All three branches work together, but they also keep each other from gaining complete control. It is know as a checks and balance system. The Legislative Branch has two groups. The first group is the Senate. Each state has two senators. A senator may serve for six years. The second group is the House of Representatives. States have different numbers of representatives depending on their population or the amount of people living in the state. Representatives are elected for two years. The Legislative Branch writes laws for America. The Executive Branch has one person is charge, the President. The President is responsible for our military, making sure laws are followed, and keeping the government running. A president is elected every four years. The Judicial Branch is made up of nine justices that sit on the Supreme ourt. The Supreme ourt is the highest court in all of the land. The justices get picked by the President and may serve as long as they want. The Supreme ourt decides if laws are fair. They decide if the laws are following the onstitution. It takes all three branches working together for the government to get a job done. This was the wish of our founding fathers, to keep a government that was fair and balanced.

93 Branches of Government 1. List the names of the three branches of government for our country. 2. The President of the United States is part of the. a. Executive Branch b. Judicial Branch c. Legislative Branch 3. Do you think one branch of government should have more power than another branch? Explain your answer. 4. What two groups of people make up the Legislative Branch? 5. Go back into the story and underline the sentences that tell the job of the Judicial Branch or Supreme court.

94 Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty was a birthday gift to America from France in She is known to people all over the world as a symbol of American freedom. The Statue of Liberty gave many immigrants hope when they were entering our country for the first time. An immigrant is anyone who comes to live in another country. The statue was the first thing many saw upon entering the new country. Once they saw the Statue of Liberty, they knew they were entering a country of great promise. The huge statue took nine years to build. She is made of mostly copper. The statue stands at 151 feet tall. Lady Liberty s crown has seven spikes. When visiting, you must climb 354 stairs to reach her crown. Once at the top, you can get a fantastic view overlooking the harbor. She bares broken chains at her feet that symbolize the struggle for freedom. So what is the Statue of Liberty holding? In her left hand, she is holding a tablet with the inscribed date of America s independence, July 4, The date is written in Roman Numerals. In her right hand she holds a torch. The torch stands for knowledge and enlightenment. In the late 80 s, the statue had to have many repairs. Some parts had to be completely replaced with exact replicas. Replicas are pieces that look just like the original. She reopened for visits and a huge celebration in Hurricane Sandy damaged the statue again in The damage was repaired and the monument was opened back to the public in Now you can visit the statue at Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It is no wonder the Statue of Liberty is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

95 Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty was a birthday gift to America from France in She is known to people all over the world as a symbol of American freedom. The Statue of Liberty gave many immigrants hope when they were entering our country for the first time. An immigrant is anyone who comes to live in another country. The statue was the first thing many saw upon entering the new country. Once they saw the Statue of Liberty, they knew they were entering a country of great promise. The huge statue took nine years to build. She is made of mostly copper. The statue stands at 151 feet tall. Lady Liberty s crown has seven spikes. When visiting, you must climb 354 stairs to reach her crown. Once at the top, you can get a fantastic view overlooking the harbor. She bares broken chains at her feet that symbolize the struggle for freedom. So what is the Statue of Liberty holding? In her left hand, she is holding a tablet with the inscribed date of America s independence, July 4, The date is written in Roman Numerals. In her right hand she holds a torch. The torch stands for knowledge and enlightenment. In the late 80 s, the statue had to have many repairs. Some parts had to be completely replaced with exact replicas. Replicas are pieces that look just like the original. She reopened for visits and a huge celebration in Hurricane Sandy damaged the statue again in The damage was repaired and the monument was opened back to the public in Now you can visit the statue at Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It is no wonder the Statue of Liberty is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

96 Statue of Liberty 1. Go back into the story and underline the sentence that tells you what an immigrant is. 2. Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America as a gift? a. Germany b. France c. Italy 3. Why do you think the Statue of Liberty gave so many immigrants hope? Explain your answer. 4. What do the broken chains at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty's feet symbolize? 5. Go back into the story and circle the sentence that tells you where you can go and visit the Statue of Liberty.

97 Liberty Bell Have you ever heard of the phrase, Let Freedom Ring? The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a symbol of America s freedom. It was first tolled, or rung, on July 8, It was rung to mark the signing of the constitution and the deaths of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. After damage occurred, a crack that could not be repaired, the Liberty Bell was put up as an American monument. It now can be viewed at Liberty Bell enter In Philadelphia. So how did the Liberty Bell get its permanent crack down the side? It s unclear and people who study history have argued for years about which actual event caused the crack. We do know it received its first crack during a test ringing. Two men, John Stow and John Pass, then repaired the cracked bell. It was then put to work again. The bell would receive a second crack and would be repaired again. It would go on to ring at many important events such as, the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Some believe that in 1846, it was rung to celebrate George Washington s birthday, cracking once again and has never been rung since. There is not any recorded proof of this. It is just believed among many people who study history. However the Liberty Bell received its crack is unsure, but one thing remains clear, it is a symbol of America s Independence. The Liberty Bell has made appearances on stamps and coins. Although it no longer rings, its toll can still be heard Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

98 Liberty Bell Have you ever heard of the phrase, Let Freedom Ring? The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a symbol of America s freedom. It was first tolled, or rung, on July 8, It was rung to mark the signing of the constitution and the deaths of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. After damage occurred, a crack that could not be repaired, the Liberty Bell was put up as an American monument. It now can be viewed at Liberty Bell enter In Philadelphia. So how did the Liberty Bell get its permanent crack down the side? It s unclear and people who study history have argued for years about which actual event caused the crack. We do know it received its first crack during a test ringing. Two men, John Stow and John Pass, then repaired the cracked bell. It was then put to work again. The bell would receive a second crack and would be repaired again. It would go on to ring at many important events such as, the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Some believe that in 1846, it was rung to celebrate George Washington s birthday, cracking once again and has never been rung since. There is not any recorded proof of this. It is just believed among many people who study history. However the Liberty Bell received its crack is unsure, but one thing remains clear, it is a symbol of America s Independence. The Liberty Bell has made appearances on stamps and coins. Although it no longer rings, its toll can still be heard.

99 Liberty Bell 1. Look back at paragraph one. Underline the sentence that gives the meaning to the word, toll. 2. Which state can the Liberty Bell found? a. New York ity b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania c. Washington D.. 3. How do you think the Liberty Bell received its final crack? 4. Name at least two events in history that the Liberty was tolled, or rung. 5. Go back into the story and circle the sentence that tells you where you can visit the national monument Liberty Bell.

100 Australian Aboriginals Australian Aboriginals are people of Australia whose ancestors came from Asia about 50,000 years ago. At one time, there were many different groups of aboriginals roaming through Australia. They spoke about 200 different languages and were able to communicate with one another. Aboriginals have been able to survive and adapt to Australia s harsh conditions. They are hunters and gatherers. Their hunting weapons are boomerangs and spears. The boomerang is a wooden weapon used for hunting. When it is thrown it will return to its thrower. They live a nomadic life. Nomadic means to move around. They build their shelter from bark and brush. Art and storytelling is an important part of the Aboriginal culture. Much of their art tells old stories about the Dreaming. Dreaming has to do with the Aboriginal s belief of how the land was created. Painting on bark is one of the oldest forms of art. They use many symbols throughout their artwork. Dot painting was also used in artwork. Dot painting was used to hide secret information. Family is very important to the Aboriginal people. The eldest, or oldest, member of the Aboriginal clan is respected because they are responsible for guiding and keeping the traditions alive. Once Australia became settled many Aboriginals were pushed out of their land. Not until recently did the Australian government acknowledge Aboriginals and return parts of the land back to them. Many Aboriginals still practice their traditions that were passed on to them from their ancestors Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday # of Words (-) # of Errors Total Words Parent s Initials

101 Australian Aboriginals Australian Aboriginals are people of Australia whose ancestors came from Asia about 50,000 years ago. At one time, there were many different groups of aboriginals roaming through Australia. They spoke about 200 different languages and were able to communicate with one another. Aboriginals have been able to survive and adapt to Australia s harsh conditions. They are hunters and gatherers. Their hunting weapons are boomerangs and spears. The boomerang is a wooden weapon used for hunting. When it is thrown it will return to its thrower. They live a nomadic life. Nomadic means to move around. They build their shelter from bark and brush. Art and storytelling is an important part of the Aboriginal culture. Much of their art tells old stories about the Dreaming. Dreaming has to do with the Aboriginal s belief of how the land was created. Painting on bark is one of the oldest forms of art. They use many symbols throughout their artwork. Dot painting was also used in artwork. Dot painting was used to hide secret information. Family is very important to the Aboriginal people. The eldest, or oldest, member of the Aboriginal clan is respected because they are responsible for guiding and keeping the traditions alive. Once Australia became settled many Aboriginals were pushed out of their land. Not until recently did the Australian government acknowledge Aboriginals and return parts of the land back to them. Many Aboriginals still practice their traditions that were passed on to them from their ancestors.

102 Australian Aboriginals 1. Why do you think Australian Aboriginals are able to survive the hot, harsh climate? 2. What are the two main tools used for hunting? 3. Go back into the story and circle the sentence that tells you the purpose of a boomerang. 4. Describe what dot painting is and tell why the aboriginals used it.

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