Describe It!
Name 2 things you can say about an acorn
Color-
Size-
Shape-
Texture-
Location-
A squirrel finds several acorns and carries them away. Why?
It may be collecting food to eat later.
How are an acorn and a leaf alike?
They both come from trees.
“The squirrel was scurrying, or moving quickly, across the forest floor.”
What does scurrying mean?
Moving quickly.
“In the fall, squirrels become busy gathering acorns. They carry the acorns to different places and bury some of them. Squirrels may return later to eat the stored food. However, they sometimes forget where they buried an acorn. When this happens, the acorn may remain in the soil and eventually grow into an oak tree.”
Why do squirrels gather acorns?
Squirrels gather acorns to have food to eat, especially during the winter when food may be harder to find.
Describe an acorn using 3 attributes.
Small, brown, smooth, oval
A squirrel buries an acorn in the ground. Why might it do this?
To save/store the food for later.
How are an acorn and a leaf different?
An acorn contains a seed and can grow into a new oak tree; a leaf cannot.
“Animals often shelter in safe places that protect them from bad weather.”
What does shelter mean?
A safe or protected place.
“In the fall, squirrels become busy gathering acorns. They carry the acorns to different places and bury some of them. Squirrels may return later to eat the stored food. However, they sometimes forget where they buried an acorn. When this happens, the acorn may remain in the soil and eventually grow into an oak tree.”
Why might some acorns grow into oak trees?
Squirrels sometimes forget where they buried acorns. If an acorn stays in the soil and has the right conditions, it can sprout and grow into an oak tree.
Describe an oak tree using its category, appearance, and function
Category- type of tree
Appearance- large, has branches
Function- produces acorns
You see many squirrels gathering acorns in the fall. What can you infer about what is coming?
Winter is coming, so the squirrels may be preparing for winter.
How are a squirrel and a deer alike?
Both are animals, both live in forests, and both can eat acorns.
“Many animals gather food before winter. For example, squirrels collect acorns and store them.”
What does gather mean?
To collect things together.
“In the fall, squirrels become busy gathering acorns. They carry the acorns to different places and bury some of them. Squirrels may return later to eat the stored food. However, they sometimes forget where they buried an acorn. When this happens, the acorn may remain in the soil and eventually grow into an oak tree.”
What does “stored” mean in this passage?
Stored means saved or kept for later use.
Tell me 2 ways an acorn and an apple are different
An acorn grows on an oak tree, while an apple grows on an apple tree.
An acorn is brown, while an apple can be red, yellow or green.
A squirrel buries an acorn but later cannot remember where it put it. What might happen?
The acorn may remain in the ground and could eventually sprout/grow into an oak tree.
Compare fall and summer. Give one similarity and two differences.
Both are seasons, but fall is cooler and leaves change color, while summer is warmer.
“Rory had an abundant supply of acorns. He had collected so many that his hiding places were almost full.”
What does abundant mean?
A lot of something, plentiful
“In the fall, squirrels become busy gathering acorns. They carry the acorns to different places and bury some of them. Squirrels may return later to eat the stored food. However, they sometimes forget where they buried an acorn. When this happens, the acorn may remain in the soil and eventually grow into an oak tree.”
Give one similarity and one difference between a squirrel and an oak tree.
Similarity: Both can be found in forests.
Difference: A squirrel is an animal, while an oak tree is a plant.
Describe an acorn using at least 4 details and put all your ideas into one complete sentence.
An acorn is a type of seed that grows on an oak tree and is small and brown.
Oak trees produce many acorns, but not every acorn becomes a new tree. Why might producing many acorns be helpful?
Many animals eat or move acorns, and some may not survive. Producing many increases the chance that some will grow into new trees.
Compare an oak tree and a pine tree. Give two similarities and two differences.
Both are trees and produce seeds. Oak trees have broad leaves and acorns, while pine trees have needles and cones.
“Some animals scatter their food in different places. Instead of keeping all of their acorns together, squirrels may hide them in many locations.”
What does scatter mean? What clues helped you?
To spread things out in different places.
Clue type: example/inference
“In the fall, squirrels become busy gathering acorns. They carry the acorns to different places and bury some of them. Squirrels may return later to eat the stored food. However, they sometimes forget where they buried an acorn. When this happens, the acorn may remain in the soil and eventually grow into an oak tree.”
Retell what happens to an acorn from the time a squirrel finds it until it potentially becomes a tree.
finds acorn → carries/buries acorn → squirrel forgets it → acorn stays in soil → sprouts → grows into oak tree.