Central Message
True or False?
We can learn the same thing as the character in the story does
True
True or false:
A character's actions can change the sequence of events.
TRUE!
What the text is mostly about
What the author wants us to know
What could be an effect of not brushing your teeth?
cavities
bad breath
Name a character trait
Teacher, is this a character trait?
What is central message?
What we are supposed to learn
What are some temporal words we can use to sequence events?
First, next, then, lastly
What are key details?
Facts that prove the main idea
What is the cause?
The car crashed because the road was slippery
The road was slippery
What is Sponge Bob's Character trait?
Silly
What is another word for central message?
Moral
Lesson
Theme
Message
Sequence the steps for making a sandwich
Use 4 temporal words
How'd they do teacher?
What is a strategy we can use to remember key details as we read?
How'd they do teacher?
Stop and reflect what you have read so far,
Underline, highlight
Name 2 words that signal us that there is a cause and effect relationship
- because
- so
- as a result
-therefore
-due to
How can we find a character's trait?
What they think,
What they do
What they feel
What they say
Lucy liked her third-grade teacher, Mr. Wilson. However, sometimes he gave some difficult homework. This week he told each student to come up with an interesting project to make and share with the group. He barely gave any directions.
Lucy was puzzled. “What is the project about?” she thought. “How should I do it? What should I use?”
Mr. Wilson just said, “Find something you want to make, and make it.” Lucy thought that wasn’t very helpful.
Next it was free time in class to read and think of project ideas. Lucy sat in her seat and looked out the classroom window. She saw a bright blue bird chirping in the tree. She wondered if the bird ever had to worry about doing a silly project. Lucy got lost in her thoughts. She thought about being that blue bird and flying high in the sky. She wondered what blue birds eat. It must be hard to find food on such a cool autumn day. She imagined being a bird, flying around, looking for food, and finding only broken twigs and dried–up leaves.
“Lucy? Are you using your time wisely to plan your project?” Mr. Wilson asked.
Lucy looked a little confused at first. Then she grinned and proudly stated, “Why, yes I am! I plan to make a bird feeder for that tree out our window!”
Mr. Wilson smiled. “I think that will be an excellent project, Lucy,” he said.
After school, Lucy’s mother reminded her, “Time to do your science reading for Mr. Wilson’s class.”
Lucy was not excited about the subject. She pulled out her book and flipped to the page about plant parts. She read about the leaves, the stems, and the roots. She realized how simple yet useful each part was.
Lucy glanced up from her book and saw a small bug climbing the window of her room. “What would it be like to be as tiny as a bug and see a plant?” she thought to herself. “I am so big that plants seem small and boring. But what if I were as tiny as a little insect?”
Lucy imagined herself as a bug walking up to a simple flower out in the garden. It would tower over her. The colorful petals would stretch overhead and shade her like a large umbrella. She would crawl over the thick roots, inch up the giant stem, and try to find a comfortable place to rest on a flat, broad leaf.
“Lucy! Dinner!” Her mother’s shout woke her out of her daydream. The bug was now gone, but somehow the plant picture in her book looked quite a bit more interesting. Lucy raced down to dinner. She wanted to hurry back to finish the chapter.
What is the theme?
"imagining can lead to new ideas"
Big Appetites
Have you ever been really hungry? That is, hungry enough to eat two hundred pounds of food? The answer is most likely not. Well, there is one animal that eats that much food every day. Have you guessed it yet? It's an Asian elephant. Can any other animal eat that much food? These elephants eat all the time. They eat for almost twenty hours each day. That's a lot!
Wild Food
These giant beasts can eat up to 200 pounds of plants each and every day. Elephants are herbivores. That means they only eat plants. What type of plants do they like? Most elephants could be found eating grass, shrubs, fruit, branches, and twigs. They sure do like their veggies!
Hay There
Some elephants may eat much differently. Elephants that live in a zoo are given other types of food. Normally, they would not be able to find it on their own in the wild. In zoos, they are fed hay instead of grass. They eat over one hundred pounds of it each day. That is way more than any other animal can eat.
Sticky Treats
Have you ever seen an elephant eating peanut butter? That sounds a little strange. Well, zoo keepers have found that this sticky treat is a favorite of their big grey friends. In a small zoo in Hawaii, the keepers even give them pineapple and popcorn. They surely want their popcorn bowls refilled!
Large animals need to eat a lot of food. Most people know that they eat a lot. Not many people know how much they eat. When all is said and done, these big guys sure do have a full–size appetite!
Sequence this text using the words "first, next, then, lastly"
How'd they do teacher?
A Real Blast
Mount St. Helens is a volcano in the state of Washington. In 1980, it erupted for the first time in 123 years. Scientists had thought that it was going to erupt. For months, they had been tracking the rumbling in the mountain. They warned the people who lived on the mountain to leave their homes. On May 18, 1980, an earthquake started before the eruption. The volcano blew off the top of the mountain.
The explosion was very powerful. It blew off the top 1300 feet of the mountain! The shock from the blast knocked down all the trees for many miles. Ash rose 80,000 feet into the air. Large rocks and wet dirt rolled down the mountain in a huge landslide. Boiling lava melted the snow instantly. The water and the soil mixed, creating a huge mudflow. The mudflow raced down the mountain. It buried the forests and killed the animals that lived there. It ripped apart homes.
For hours after the explosion, the sky was dark. The ash was so thick it blocked the sunlight. Wind blew the ash to a dozen states. It covered cars and lawns. Sometimes the ash started fires.
Fifty–seven people died the day Mount St. Helens erupted. They did not want to leave their homes. Other people left their homes in time. They were safe.
Which best describes the main idea?
rocks and landslides on mountains
the eruption of Mount St. Helens
volcanoes in the state of Washington
earthquakes in Mount St. Helens
the eruption of Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is a volcano in the state of Washington. In 1980, it erupted for the first time in 123 years. Scientists had thought that it was going to erupt. For months, they had been tracking the rumbling in the mountain. They warned the people who lived on the mountain to leave their homes. On May 18, 1980, an earthquake started before the eruption. The volcano blew off the top of the mountain.
The explosion was very powerful. It blew off the top 1300 feet of the mountain! The shock from the blast knocked down all the trees for many miles. Ash rose 80,000 feet into the air. Large rocks and wet dirt rolled down the mountain in a huge landslide. Boiling lava melted the snow instantly. The water and the soil mixed, creating a huge mudflow. The mudflow raced down the mountain. It buried the forests and killed the animals that lived there. It ripped apart homes.
For hours after the explosion, the sky was dark. The ash was so thick it blocked the sunlight. Wind blew the ash to a dozen states. It covered cars and lawns. Sometimes the ash started fires.
Fifty–seven people died the day Mount St. Helens erupted. They did not want to leave their homes. Other people left their homes in time. They were safe.
What conclusion can be drawn about the effect of the events that happened right before Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980?
People knew that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt because trees fell down.
People knew that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt because it shook and made noise.
People knew that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt because snow melted and made mud.
People knew that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt when the top of the mountain was blown off.
People knew that Mount St. Helens was going to erupt because it shook and made noise.
Am I Brave Enough?
The park was so crowded today. It was like we were a lot of fish squirming around in a fishbowl. It didn't matter to me, though. My family and I were having so much fun. Every summer, we went to Daredevil's Dream Park. It was our family tradition, even before I was born.
Last summer, I was only eight years old. I was not brave enough to ride most of the roller coasters. My dad, mom, and sister went on the Battle Brawler without me last summer. I was too scared. All those loops and turns made my skin shiver like a kid wearing only a bathing suit out in the snow. However, this year was different. I was nine years old and ready for the loops.
As we move toward the ride, I got the same feelings I had the summer before. Goosebumps crawled on my arms like a spider crawling on its web. My heart started to race like a horse running down the tracks. My hands started to sweat like a man in the Sahara desert without shade. Could I face my fear? Am I brave enough? I thought to myself.
The sign in the front of the ride read 30 MINUTES FROM THIS POINT. That was going to be a half hour of worry. My dad patted me on the back. My mom gave me words of support. While in line I heard the screams of the people on the roller coaster. Were they screaming because it was fun? Were they screaming out of fear? I wondered.
5
It was our turn. I sat next to my dad. He checked my buckle to make sure it was tight enough. I closed my eyes when the ride worker counted down. 5–4–3–2–1. Zoom! Zip! I opened my eyes and saw the world upside-down. I let my hands fly in the air as we whipped around the loops. It was amazing! The ride came to a sudden stop. A big smile grew across my face when I realized I did it. I was brave enough!
Which of the following details from the passage BEST supports that both the main character's parents are caring?
My family and I were having so much fun. Every summer, we went to Daredevil's Dream Park.
My dad, mom, and sister went on the Battle Brawler without me last summer.
My dad patted me on the back. My mom gave me words of support.
He checked my buckle to make sure it was tight enough.
C. My dad patted me on the back. My mom gave me words of support.
A new music teacher came to my class. His name was Mr. Winsman. First, we learned to play the violin. Then we picked what we wanted to play. Some students decided not to play anything. I settled on playing the violin. I was getting better at it. At least, that is what my family told me.
The next year, Mr. Winsman started an orchestra. Many students, including myself, were in it. We practiced every day after school. My violin belonged to the school. It was too small for me. There were not enough full–size violins.
One day, I came home from school and noticed something. It was a black violin case on my bed. When I opened it, I saw a new, full–size violin. My parents had bought it for me. "Anyone who practices like you do deserves a good instrument," my father said.
I touched the red velvet lining. It was there to keep the violin from getting scratched. I could not believe something so beautiful was mine.
In a few months, the orchestra had its first concert. I was so nervous! I told my family that they did not need to come. I thought I would be too anxious if they came.
My mother drove me to the school that night. The show was going to be in the lunchroom. As we played, I felt like butterflies were in my stomach. I could not see into the audience. The stage lights were too bright.
After the show, I put my violin and bow back into its case. I walked down the stage steps and into the audience. There were my mother, my father, and my sisters! I acted really surprised. I was the happiest person in the room. I was secretly pleased that they had come.
What is the lesson?
It is comforting to be around family
Airmail
In 1793, the world's first airmail letter was sent. It went by balloon! A man named Blanchard had heard about two French brothers who flew hot air balloons. Blanchard became interested in balloons. Early balloons were filled with air. The air had to be heated so the balloons would float. Later balloonists used a gas called hydrogen, which is lighter than air. It did not need to be heated. Blanchard began building his own balloons. He made the first flight in North America. The flight was a great event. President George Washington came to see Blanchard take off. The president handed Blanchard a letter to carry with him and show to people who were scared of the balloon. The letter said that all people should help Blanchard with his ballooning.
Blanchard took off from Philadelphia and landed in New Jersey. He used a hydrogen-filled balloon. It was fastened to a wicker basket where he rode. The flight went well, ending with a safe landing in an open field. He had traveled about fifteen miles. The problem was that he now had to get back to Philadelphia! A curious farmer came over, and then more people. Blanchard showed them the letter from the president asking that everyone help him. The people helped him fold his balloon up and travel back to the city.
An Early Flight
On a day in 1783 in France, a duck flew through the air. This might not have been unusual, except that a sheep and a rooster flew with it. The three animals were the world's first passengers in a hot air balloon. The huge balloon was made out of paper and cloth. In a basket beneath, the animals stayed in the air for fifteen minutes.
The balloon was the work of two French brothers. They had noticed that smoke rose from a fire. They carefully put a paper bag over a fire so that it would fill with hot air. When the bag was full, it rose. The brothers thought that they had discovered a new type of gas, one that floated. In fact, they were just using air. Heating the air made it lighter than the air around it. That made the lighter air move upward.
There was one problem with using hot air in a balloon. As the air cooled, the balloon began to go back down. That meant that a hot air balloon could not stay up for very long. If a fire was kept burning beneath the balloon, sparks could make the balloon catch fire. Balloon travel had taken off, but it had a long way to go.
What happened first?
Two French brothers flew hot air balloons.
People helped Blanchard fold up his balloon.
A farmer came over to look at the hot air balloon.
George Washington watched Blanchard take off.
Two French brothers flew hot air balloons.
Airmail
In 1793, the world's first airmail letter was sent. It went by balloon! A man named Blanchard had heard about two French brothers who flew hot air balloons. Blanchard became interested in balloons. Early balloons were filled with air. The air had to be heated so the balloons would float. Later balloonists used a gas called hydrogen, which is lighter than air. It did not need to be heated. Blanchard began building his own balloons. He made the first flight in North America. The flight was a great event. President George Washington came to see Blanchard take off. The president handed Blanchard a letter to carry with him and show to people who were scared of the balloon. The letter said that all people should help Blanchard with his ballooning.
Blanchard took off from Philadelphia and landed in New Jersey. He used a hydrogen-filled balloon. It was fastened to a wicker basket where he rode. The flight went well, ending with a safe landing in an open field. He had traveled about fifteen miles. The problem was that he now had to get back to Philadelphia! A curious farmer came over, and then more people. Blanchard showed them the letter from the president asking that everyone help him. The people helped him fold his balloon up and travel back to the city.
An Early Flight
On a day in 1783 in France, a duck flew through the air. This might not have been unusual, except that a sheep and a rooster flew with it. The three animals were the world's first passengers in a hot air balloon. The huge balloon was made out of paper and cloth. In a basket beneath, the animals stayed in the air for fifteen minutes.
The balloon was the work of two French brothers. They had noticed that smoke rose from a fire. They carefully put a paper bag over a fire so that it would fill with hot air. When the bag was full, it rose. The brothers thought that they had discovered a new type of gas, one that floated. In fact, they were just using air. Heating the air made it lighter than the air around it. That made the lighter air move upward.
There was one problem with using hot air in a balloon. As the air cooled, the balloon began to go back down. That meant that a hot air balloon could not stay up for very long. If a fire was kept burning beneath the balloon, sparks could make the balloon catch fire. Balloon travel had taken off, but it had a long way to go.
Which sentence BEST tells the main idea of Airmail?
A man named Blanchard made the first flight in North America in a hydrogen balloon.
A balloon carrying a letter took off from Philadelphia and landed in New Jersey.
Blanchard was a man who knew George Washington and liked balloons.
The air in early balloons had to be heated before the balloons could fly.
A man named Blanchard made the first flight in North America in a hydrogen balloon.
Have you ever wondered where the fabric that your clothing is made of comes from? Cotton is made from a plant. Polyester is made from oil. Wool is made from the thick fur of sheep. But where do we get silk? From the cocoons of caterpillars!
A silk moth lays around 500 eggs. These eggs bring caterpillars. The caterpillars start to eat as soon as they hatch from the eggs. Their favorite food is mulberry leaves. They begin to spin their cocoons after about one month. The cocoons are then collected. They are steamed and rinsed with hot water. This causes the thread to become loose. These threads are woven into cloth on a special loom. After the cloth is woven, it is pounded. This pounding makes it softer and smoother.
The Chinese invented silk thousands of years ago. There is a legend about how it was invented. The emperor's wife was drinking a hot cup of tea in her garden. A cocoon from a mulberry tree fell into her cup. The cocoon unraveled into a thin thread. This thread was soft and strong. She thought it would make a soft, strong cloth. As the legend tells, she then invented a special loom. Thread from cocoons could be woven into cloth on this loom. She also planted a forest of mulberry trees especially for the silkworms.
The story about the emperor's wife is probably not true. What is true is that it did not take long for silk making to spread throughout China. Before long, silk was being made in all parts of China. But not everybody was allowed to wear it. Silk was considered to be very special. Only the emperor and his family were allowed to wear silk clothing. Only the emperor himself wore white silk. His wife and children wore yellow. With time, wealthy and important people, called nobles, were also allowed to wear silk. People who worked for the emperor were often paid in silk instead of money.
Silk was not only used to make cloth. Its fine, silky surface made it a good material for paper and canvas. It was also very strong. Strong fishing lines and bowstrings were made from silk.
Two thousand years later, China began to trade with other lands. These included Egypt and Rome, which were thousands of miles away. Silk was one of China's most important exports. People from other lands loved silk. They were willing to pay a lot of money for it. Silk made many Chinese merchants very rich. The trade route that merchants followed from Europe to China was even called the Silk Road!
Merchants were concerned that people outside of China might learn how to make silk. This made the Chinese try very hard to keep the way silk was made a secret. Strict laws forbade anyone from revealing this secret. For over a thousand years, the Chinese were the only ones who knew how to make silk.
Two monks who were visiting China from Europe stole the secret by hiding silkworm eggs and bringing them back home. Afterwards, Chinese silk was still thought to be the best. But people from across the globe no longer had to travel far or pay high prices for this luxurious cloth. Over many years, the Europeans invented new machines for making cloth. They allowed silk to be made more quickly and in larger amounts. Silk was no longer rare. People who were not royals or nobles could buy and wear it.
In the twentieth century, fabrics like polyester and nylon became popular. These fabrics feel much like silk. They are also easier to make. As a result, silk is not as important as it once was. But since less is being made, silk has become a luxury again. Today, the Chinese still make more silk than anyone else in the world.
What happened as a result of China's trading silk with other countries? Pick TWO that are correct.
A new process for making silk was created.
People in China began to wear silk less often.
People from other countries wanted to make silk.
People started using other fabrics more than silk.
Strict laws were enforced only allowing royals and wealthy people to wear silk.
Silk became even more expensive than it was before.
1. A new process for making silk was created.
&
3. People from other countries wanted to make silk.
A Small Town School
The first day of school can be scary. The first day at a new school can be really scary. I know because I had to move to a new school several times. Fourth grade was the worst. When my dad walked me into that classroom on the first day, everyone just stared. No one made a sound. Then the whispers started. "Who is she?" I heard one person say.
My teacher showed me to my desk. The girl next to me did not even smile.
Lunch was even worse. No one in the lunch room talked to me or asked me to sit with them. I felt invisible. After I ate, I walked to the playground and sat on the swings alone. Then I went across the monkey bars a few times, alone. I hoped recess would end soon so I could go back to class and read. I loved to read.
A whole week went by and I had not made a new friend. A whole month went by and nothing changed. It was not like this when I had moved to a new school before. I always made friends right away. My teacher told me this town was probably a little different. It was a very small town. She said new kids rarely moved into town. All the students had been together since kindergarten.
One day the teacher made an announcement to the class. We were to complete a report on an animal and share it with the class. She paired us with a partner, and she told us what animal we needed to research. My partner was named Julia. We had to learn about anteaters. Everyone giggled when they heard that.
For the next two days at school, Julia and I worked together on our animal report. We looked up facts in the encyclopedia. We found a book in the library called Anteaters in the Jungle. Julia had never even heard of anteaters. I was shocked! I told Julia I had pictures of anteaters at home. I could bring the pictures to use in our report.
"You have pictures of these at home?" Julia asked. She could not believe it.
"Sure I do," I answered.
"How come you have pictures of these at home?" she asked.
"I used to live in Panama. Anteaters are everywhere down there. I have even seen a sloth and a boa constrictor," I said.
"Where is Panama? And what is a sloth?" she asked.
I explained to her that Panama is a country in Central America and a sloth is a very slow moving animal that lives in the trees of the rainforest. Julia was amazed. She had never met anyone who had lived in another country.
We sat together at lunch that day and I told her more stories about the jungles of Panama, snakes slithering in the tall grass, and giant green iguanas that ran like dinosaurs. At recess she took me to the tetherball court. I did not have to sit on the swings alone anymore.
Which word BEST describes how the narrator felt at the end of the passage?
shy
shocked
smart
thankful
thankful