Text Features
Pictures taken by a camera to help "see" things.
Photograph
Some sea animals live inside a shell. Sea snails live inside a shell that is usually twisted or curved. The shell covers the sea snail's body. But its head and foot stick out from the shell when the snail moves. The sea snail pulls its head and foot inside when it needs to hide.
What is the main idea?
a. All seashells are the homes of sea snails.
b. Sea snails live in one shell.
c. Sea snails move with one foot.
d. There are different kinds of seashells.
b. Sea snails live in one shell.
Most islands are located in oceans. Many of these islands are the tops of huge volcanoes. The volcanoes go all the way down to the bottom of the sea. But they began under the ocean floor. The ocean floor is part of a layer of Earth called the crust. It is very hot underneath the crust, so the rocks there are soft. Those hot, soft rocks rise through the cracks in the Earth's crust. That action is the beginning of an underwater volcano. When hot rocks rise through the crust, they hit the water. The water cools the rocks and hardens them. As more hot rocks spill out of the cracks, layers of rocks build up. Over a long period of time, the layers rise up out of the water. The top of that volcano is an island.
The rocks underneath the ocean floor are soft because______.
a. they form a volcano
b. the water is very deep
c. they squeeze through cracks
d. it is very hot there
d. it is very hot there
Who the story is about.
Characters
The conclusion to the story that reveals the solution to the story.
Resolution
The "map of the book". It tells the names of chapters and the page numbers to find them.
Table of Contents
Would you want to go to school in a national park? What if the park was the hottest and driest place in the country? What if it was called Death Valley? Death Valley National Park is a beautiful but harsh desert. For five months a year, temperatures soar over 100*F.
What is this paragraph mainly about?
a. traveling to Death Valley
b. Death Valley National Park
c. schools in national parks.
d. living in Death Valley
b. Death Valley National Park
Most islands are located in oceans. Many of these islands are the tops of huge volcanoes. The volcanoes go all the way down to the bottom of the sea. But they began under the ocean floor. The ocean floor is part of a layer of Earth called the crust. It is very hot underneath the crust, so the rocks there are soft. Those hot, soft rocks rise through the cracks in the Earth's crust. That action is the beginning of an underwater volcano. When hot rocks rise through the crust, they hit the water. The water cools the rocks and hardens them. As more hot rocks spill out of the cracks, layers of rocks build up. Over a long period of time, the layers rise up out of the water. The top of that volcano is an island.
Because underwater volcanoes can rise above the water, ______.
a. their tops can form islands
b. they make the ocean very hot
c. they squeeze through Earth's cracks
d. their rocks are soft and hot
a. their tops can for islands
Where and when the story takes place.
Setting
The part of the story that develops the problem or conflict.
Rising Action
The name of a section/chapter. It gives you a preview of what you will be reading.
Subtitle or Heading
Ginger woke up feeling itchy. She saw red bumps on her tummy and her face. Her mom looked at her daughter's spotted body. Had a mosquito attacked her during the night? Ginger's mom said, "Looks like you've got chickenpox." More spots appeared. There were too many to count. Her best friend Mandy sent over a get-well gift. It was a big book of connect-the-dots.
What is the main idea?
a. a girl with spots on her face
b. a girl with chickenpox
c. a girl bit by mosquitoes
d. a girl with itchy bumps
b. a girl with chickenpox
Mia sat at the kitchen table with a plate of cookies in front of her. It was summer vacation and she was bored. As she nibbled on a cookie she knew just what she wanted to do. She decided she would bake something. Following directions is easy. Mia found a cookbook and chose a recipe for a rich gooey chocolate cake. This would be her first time to bake by herself. She grabbed all the tools she would need. She mixed and poured at lightening speed. After it baked Mia cut herself a slice. It was the worst cake she had ever eaten. She must have used salt instead of sugar. Mia decided next time she would work slowly and carefully.
Why does Mia decide to bake a cake by herself?
a. She thinks baking is fun.
b. She is hungry for some cake.
c. She likes following directions.
d. She thinks baking will be easy.
d. She thinks baking will be easy.
The basic sequence of events in a text.
plot
The turning point of the story.
Climax
Text that describes/tells about a photo or illustration.
Caption
Before I went to bed, I checked and rechecked my clothes for the Fourth of July parade. Mom had washed and ironed my Girl Scout Uniform. It was so clean and crisp. The morning of the parade was crazy. I was ready an hour early, but Dad was looking for chairs and Mom was packing snacks. Our dog grabbed a ball and wanted to play fetch. We finally hurried to the car. I sat with a smile. I couldn't wait for the parade to start.
What is the main idea?
a. walking in a parade
b. chasing a playful dog
c. getting ready for the parade
d. checking clothes to see if they are clean
c. getting ready for a parade
Mia sat at the kitchen table with a plate of cookies in front of her. It was summer vacation and she was bored. As she nibbled on a cookie she knew just what she wanted to do. She decided she would bake something. Following directions is easy. Mia found a cookbook and chose a recipe for a rich gooey chocolate cake. This would be her first time to bake by herself. She grabbed all the tools she would need. She mixed and poured at lightening speed. After it baked Mia cut herself a slice. It was the worst cake she had ever eaten. She must have used salt instead of sugar. Mia decided next time she would work slowly and carefully.
Why does Mia's cake taste bad?
a. because Mia works too slowly
b. because Mia does not enjoy baking
c. because Mia did not bake the cake long enough
d. because Mia used salt instead of sugar
d. because Mia used salt instead of sugar
The conflict that the character(s) are dealing with and the way in which they resolve it.
problem and solution
An introduction that provides details about characters an the setting.
Exposition
Words that are bold/dark, and that are very important to the topic.
Bold words
Ramona Quimby first appeared in 1955, she was four years old. She turned nine in 1989. Ramona is the main character in a series of books written by Beverly Cleary. Beveryl Cleary grew up in Portland, Oregon. Her family lived near Klickitat Street. It became the street where Ramona lives. Kids all over the world know about Ramona Quimby. Videos and television programs have been made from the stories.
What is the main idea?
a. a character created by Beverly Cleary
b. an author named Ramona Quimby
c. a street named Klickitat
d. all the books written by Beverly Cleary
a. a character created by Beverly Cleary
The elephant's trunk is the world's most useful nose. The trunk is used to drink, eat, smell, bathe, and greet other elephants. Elephants use their trunks to help them find food and water. Their trunks are so large, they can smell water or fruit that is miles away. They can use their trunks to drink water and eat grass, leaves, and fruit. Elephants eat about 300 pounds a day. So it's trunk is very busy. Elephants also use their trunks to show their feelings. They do this by patting their babies or "shaking trunks".
Because an elephant's trunk is so large, it can_____.
a. smell food from far away
b. greet other elephants
c. eat branches instead of leaves
d. pat baby elephants
a. smell food from far away
Who is telling or narrating the story. It can either be first person or third person.
Point of View
The event(s) after the climax, or turning point that lead to the resolution.
Falling Action