Unit at a Glance

Language Focus: Give Information,

Define and Explain

Unit 3
Reading Strategy: Make Inferences
Phonics Focus: Review: Two- and
Three-Letter Blends; Plurals: -s, -es, -ies
Topic: Plants

Life in
the Soil Share What You Know
1 Think of the most amazing
My plant grows
without much water.

?
plant you know. Draw it.
2 Display all the class drawings.

Big
What is so Don’t tell which is yours!

amazing 3 Say an amazing thing your

plant does. Can your class
Question about plants? guess which plant is yours?

SICHUAN, CHINA
A woman transplanting rice in a paddy field in Jiuchi Town

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 1 Language Frames Key Words
PART

Language Focus Science Vocabulary

blossom
• lts is .
cycle
• lts are
root
Give Information • It has
.
. Key Words seed
soil
Listen to Marco’s song. Then use Language Frames Look at this diagram. Use Key Words and other words
sprout
to give information about a plant you know. to talk about the life cycle of a pea plant.

Song
seed

My Big, Strong Plant soil

sprout

flower A big, strong plant lives in my yard.

Its stem is thick and wide.
Its leaves are nearly two feet long.
seed Life Cycle of a Pea Plant root
I’m glad it lives outside!
Chorus:
My big, strong plant!
It grows against my wall. blossom
It has flowers in the summer
And seed pods in the fall.
leaf
Tune: “Oh! Susanna”

Talk Together

What is amazing about a pea plant’s life cycle? Use

Language Frames from page 152 and Key Words to
stem seed pod
give information to a partner.
152 Unit 3 153
 1
PART

Thinking Map Academic Vocabulary

Sequence More Key Words

When things happen in a certain order, they are in sequence. Use these words to talk about “Hoa’s Little Garden”
When you talk about sequence, you can use: and “Gifts from the Earth.”

• time-order words: first, next, then, finally

characteristic conditions depend
• names of days, months, seasons: Monday, May, summer noun noun verb

Look at the pictures of a growing plant.

A characteristic is how When conditions are To depend means to

Map and Talk something looks or right, good things need something or
You can use a sequence chain to show when events happen. what something does. happen. Clear skies someone for support.
Here’s how you make one. A characteristic of this and wind are good A baby depends on its
plant is white flowers. conditions for sailing. mother.
Each event goes in a box in the sequence chain. The first
growth produce
event goes in the first box. The second event goes in the noun verb
Talk Together
second box, and so on.
Use a Key Word to ask a
Sequence Chain question. A partner uses a
Key Word to answer.
1. Marco 2. The seed 3. The plant 4. The flowers
plants grows roots grows become seed
What is a characteristic
a seed. and a stem. flowers. pods.
of some plants?

The growth of To produce means to

Some plants
Talk Together something is how much make something. This produce fruit .
bigger it gets. factory produces cars.
Tell your partner the steps of a plant’s life cycle. Your
partner makes a sequence chain.
154 Unit 3 155
 1 Language Frames
PART

Reading Strategy
I read .
Talk Together I know .

Learn to Make Inferences Read Marco’s “Gardener’s Journal.” Read the

And so .

Look at the picture. The text does not say how Marco and his
sample inference. Then use Language Frames to make
mom feel. Look at their expressions to figure out, or make an
inferences. Tell a partner about them.
inference about, their feelings.

Journal
This is for you!
Gardener’s Journal
June 15: I love my big plant! I water it every day. It is in a
sunny place, so it has all the right conditions to grow.
June 20: My plant bloomed today! The blossoms are bright
orange. The color is a characteristic of this plant.
Tomorrow, I go to Grandma’s house for a long visit. Sample Inference
July 10: I just got back from Grandma’s house. My plant “I read that Marco
was gone and the
looks terrible! I expected a lot of growth , but its plant looks terrible.
stem is bent over. I watered it, but I’m so worried. I know that some
plants need water
When you read, you have to make inferences, too. July 11: This morning I checked my plant again. It looks every day.
fine! The stem is strong and straight. The soil is And so the plant
damp and cool. must need water.”

How to Make Inferences August 1: Oh, dear! My plant is in trouble again! It looks like
someone has put little holes in its leaves.
What can I do? My plant depends on me!
1. Look for details in the text. I read .
August 2: Dad told me to wash each leaf with dish soap. That
sounds crazy!
2. Think about what you already know I know . August 8: The soap worked! My plant looks great.
about the details and the topic.
September 1: This week my plant produced giant pods. I’ll plant
the seeds . Next summer I’ll have more big,
3. Put your ideas together. What And so . strong plants!
else can you figure out about the
details? = A good place to make an inference

156 Unit 3 157

 1
PART

Phonics Focus

Review Two- and Three-Letter Blends Talk Together

Listen and read. Find the words with beginning and

ending blends.

Over to You

What a Plant Needs

crab globe
The stem of a plant is strong. Its stem is what helps it
Work with a
stand up tall. It has roots that hold it in the ground. Its roots partner.
drink water. Its leaves are what take in the sunshine. Take turns. Find
Find out what conditions a plant needs to grow. Get some a word from the
soil, some seeds, and four paper cups. Put soil in two cups passage that has
and plant some seeds in each one. Give both cups water. a blend and read it
aloud. Your partner
stream desk Place one cup in the sun and one in a dark closet. Plant seeds should find the word
in the other two cups, but don’t give them any water. Place and point to it.
one of these cups in the sun and the other in the closet.
Listen and Learn
Which seeds sprout? Which seeds grow?
Listen to the sounds in the blends. Choose the words with the What conditions do plants need to grow? Plants need sunshine.
same sounds. The seeds in the dark do not grow. Plants need
water. The seeds with no water do not grow.
1. 2.
The seeds that get both sunshine and water
sprout and grow tall.

crack flip glad cross brick class

3. 4.

Practice reading words with blends by reading “What a

wasp ask best strap split screech Plant Needs” with a partner.
158 Unit 3 159
 Read a Story Hoa’s Little
Garden
Genre
Realistic fiction is a story that sounds as if it could be
true. The characters, plot, and setting all seem real.

Characters
Characters are the people in the story.
by Susan Henderson

Mom

Hoa

161
160 Unit 3
 Set a Purpose
A girl who loves flowers wants to
grow her own garden. Find out At home, Hoa drew pictures of flowers and plants. She
what happens.
hung them all around the apartment. She knew that colorful
pictures made the apartment feel lighter and brighter.
Hoa’s mom picked up one of her drawings. “You’re a very
H oa loved to walk in the park with her family. She loved the
chirping birds, the tall trees, and the bright green plants. Most of
talented artist, Hoa,” she said.
Hoa replied, “If we had real plants and flowers, I wouldn’t
all, she loved the flowers and their sweet-smelling blossoms . have to draw them.”
“I wish we could have a garden,” Hoa said to her mom. “Your name means flower, ” her mom told her. “Maybe
Hoa’s mom smiled. “In our little apartment? Not very likely.” that’s why you love flowers so much.”

chirping singing hung put on the wall Before You Continue

lighter and brighter happier and less dark 1. Setting Where does Hoa live? How do
replied answered you know?
2. Make Inferences What does Hoa like
about flowers?

162 Unit 3 163

 Predict
How will Hoa get plants to grow
in her apartment?

A t school, Hoa’s class planted bean seeds . The plants

grew well in the classroom, so Hoa took her bean plant
home and set it on a table. But in a few days, her little
plant died.
“It doesn’t have the right conditions to grow,” said her
mom. “It needs more light.”

Hoa wanted a flower garden badly, but she knew there

was no space for one in her family’s apartment.
One day, when Hoa was working on one of her drawings,
she looked outside. She saw something she hadn’t noticed
before. The sun’s rays were shining into a corner of
the balcony.

badly very much

hadn’t noticed didn’t see
sun’s rays were shining sunshine was coming
through

164 Unit 3 165

 “Mom!” called Hoa. “Come look. The sun is shining on Hoa thought about what she should plant. I love
our balcony. I can have a garden!” flowers, she told herself, but it would be nice to grow
Her mom laughed. “Well, maybe you can have a small something to eat, too.
garden,” she said, “a very small garden. You can grow one plant Hoa thought about the different types of plants she
in a pot. But that’s it. There is no space for more than one pot.” had learned about at school. I know! A passion fruit plant
will give us flowers to enjoy and fruit to eat.

balcony terrace passion fruit a tropical fruit with lots of seeds Before You Continue
1. Confirm Prediction Was your prediction
correct? What else will Hoa need to do
to keep her plants growing?
2. Character Do Hoa and her mom get
along well? How do you know?

166 Unit 3 167

 Predict
Look at the picture. What will Hoa checked her plant every morning and every night.
happen to the passion fruit seeds ?
One night, after weeks of checking, she finally spotted a
little sprout growing in her pot.
A few weeks later, the sprout had grown into a small vine.
H oa’s mom got her a pot, a spade, and some soil . She
helped Hoa cut open a passion fruit. Hoa took a dozen seeds
The vine kept growing and growing until it spilled out of the
pot.
from inside the fruit and planted them in the dirt. “You need a stick for the vine to grow onto,” said her mom.
“Do you think any of these seeds will sprout?” she asked
her mom.
“I hope so, Hoa,” her mom said.

spade small shovel vine creeping plant

a dozen twelve

168 Unit 3 169

 Three months later, there was a big purple flower on It wasn’t long before Hoa’s family was enjoying a bowl full of
the vine. passion fruit. The family’s next-door neighbor, Mrs. Nguyen, also
“Mom,” Hoa called, “come look! My vine has produced had a bowl of passion fruit. Hoa’s passion fruit vine had grown so
a beautiful flower!” much that it grew onto Mrs. Nguyen’s balcony!
Her mom was very happy for her. “What a wonderful Hoa was very happy. Some of the passion fruit were sweet and
job you did, Hoa.” Hoa was beaming. She knew the juicy, and others were tangy and tart. But they were all very tasty.
beautiful flower would blossom into a fruit.

beaming smiling brightly tangy and tart sourish

170 Unit 3 171

 I’m a great gardener, thought Hoa. She asked her mom
for another pot.
“Another pot?” asked her mom. “What do you want to Meet the Author

Susan
grow now?”
“Chilies,” Hoa answered. “Bright red ones!”

Henderson
Her mom thought for a moment. “Hmmm,” she said,
“maybe we should ask Mrs. Nguyen if there’s enough room
on her balcony.” ❖

Susan Henderson likes to grow flowers and

basil on her Seattle balcony. She grows blue and
red petunias and bright orange marigolds. Her cat,
Frankie, likes the pots of grass she grows for him to
munch on.
Before she moved to Seattle, the author lived in
Australia. She taught many Vietnamese children, who
are now grown up and have children of their own. She
is still in touch with some of them through e-mail.
The author loves to read. She also enjoys writing
stories that she hopes children will love to read, too.

Writing Tip
Find places in the story where
Susan Henderson helps you
see and feel what is happening.
Before You Continue Then write your own sentences.
1. Confirm Prediction What did you think
would happen to the passion fruit seeds ? Describe the way your favorite
Were you surprised? plant looks and feels.
2. Point of View What does Hoa’s mom
think about Hoa’s gardening? How do
you know?
172 Unit 3 173
 1 Key Words
PART

Think and Respond Reread and Retell

blossom produce
characteristic root

Talk About It conditions

cycle
seed
soil Sequence
1. What seems realistic about the story? depend sprout Make a sequence chain to show what happens in “Hoa’s
Give two examples. growth
Little Garden.” Notice that some of the events in the sequence
influence future events.
The story is realistic because .

2. Imagine you are Hoa’s mom. Give information to Sequence Chain

Hoa about the life cycle of a passion fruit plant.

First, the plant has . Next, . Then, . 1. Hoa notices sunlight Write the
first event
on her balcony. here.
3. Think about the passion fruit that Hoa grew.
What were some of its characteristics ? 2. Hoa and her mom Write what
happens next
plant passion fruit because of the
All the passion fruit . seeds. first event.
Some passion fruit . Others .

First, .
Write About It Now use your sequence chain as you retell the
story to a partner. Use time-order words and
Next, .
Then, .
Hoa worked with her mom to grow passion fruit. What do Key Words. Record your retelling.
you think Hoa learned about the growth of a passion fruit
plant? Write two sentences. Use Key Words to explain your
thinking. Fluency
Practice reading with expression. Rate your reading.
I think Hoa learned that .

Talk Together

What is amazing about how a passion fruit plant grows? Draw a

picture. Use Key Words as labels. Share your picture with the class.
174 Unit 3 175
 1
PART

Word Work Making Connections Read poems about pineapples and other
amazing foods.
Genre A haiku is a poem that has three lines. The first line has

Multiple-Meaning Words five syllables. The second line has seven syllables. The last line has
five syllables. How many syllables do you count in each poem?
Some words have more than one meaning. You can use context,

Gifts from
or the words near the word, to figure out the correct meaning.

Roots is a multiple-meaning word. Compare these examples.

Pineapples
Juicy, delicious,
the Earth
Under a tropical sun.
Funny, spiky hair!
by Eloise Vivanco
The plant has long roots . The crowd roots for its
Meaning: the plant part favorite team.
that grows underground Meaning: cheers for

Try It Together
Pineapples
Juicy, delicious
Read the sentences. Then answer the questions.
Under a tropical sun
We live in the country. New homes sprout up every year. We sell carrots, bean
sprouts, and other vegetables to our new neighbors. Funny, spiky hair!

1. What does sprout mean in 2. Which word helps you understand the
the second sentence? meaning of sprouts in the third sentence?
A a new young plant A year
spiky sticking up Before You Continue
1. Make Inferences Based on the poem,
B to appear suddenly B homes what climate do you think pineapples
C to grow shoots or buds C neighbors need to grow in? Explain.
D a plant part you can eat D vegetables 2. Describe Name two characteristics of
pineapples, based on words in the poem.

176 Unit 3 177

 Apples
Falling from the trees,

Red, green, yellow takeout treat!

Crunch one for my lunch.

Five Things You Might
Not Know about Apples Winter banana

• Apples have more genes

than humans!
• Scientists think apples
originated in Kazakhstan,
but they grow in many
countries under many
conditions .
• There are 3,000 known
varieties of apples.
• One of the strangest names of a variety of apple
is “Winter Banana.”
• Apple trees blossom in spring or summer.

takeout food intended to be genes cells that determine characteristics of a Before You Continue
eaten away from where it living thing
was made 1. Make Inferences Why are apples
originated where something began “takeout food?”
Crunch Chew with a noisy, varieties different types
crackling sound 2. Details List two facts about apples that
you learned by reading the information
on this page.

178 Unit 3 179

 Rice
Green, wet paddy field,

Tall grass waving in the breeze.

Pass the hot bowl, please! ❖

More About Rice

• Rice is a grain, like corn or
wheat.
• Rice can be grown in
many places, but it needs
mild conditions .
• In many Asian countries, it
is common to eat rice for
breakfast.
• Some artists will write your
name on a grain of rice!

paddy field a watery field where mild gentle Before You Continue
rice is grown
1. Imagery After reading the poem and
breeze gentle wind looking at the picture, what do you imagine
working in a paddy field might be like?
What made you imagine it that way?
2. Details Name two things you learned about
rice from the information on this page.
180 Unit 3 181
 1
PART

Respond and Extend Key Words Grammar and Spelling

blossom produce
characteristic root

Compare Genres conditions

cycle
seed
soil Plural Nouns
A story and a haiku are different forms of depend sprout A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. A singular
growth
writing, or genres. What about the two noun shows “one.” A plural noun shows “more than one.”
genres is the same? What about them is
different? Work with a partner to Grammar Rules Plural Nouns
complete the Venn diagram.
singular noun plural noun
To compare, write what • Add -s to most nouns to cycle cycles
is the same here.
Venn Diagram show more than one. flower flowers
• Add -es to nouns that bush bushes
end in x, ch, sh, ss, z, tomato tomatoes
and sometimes o.
i
Story Both Haiku • For most nouns that berry berries
end in y, change the i
Can be different Use words Is always 3 lines family families
y to i and then add
lengths that describe -es. For nouns that end boy boys
with a vowel and y, day days
just add -s.

Read Plural Nouns

To contrast, write what Read this passage. What plural nouns can you find?
is different here.

Hoa loved the chirping birds, the tall trees, and the
bright green plants. Most of all, she loved the flowers
Talk Together and their sweet-smelling blossoms.

What is amazing about how a plant grows? Think about the Write Plural Nouns
story, the haiku, and the facts about plants. Use Key Words What do you see on pages 178–179? Tell your partner what
to talk about your ideas. you see. Then write a sentence for your partner. Use a
182 Unit 3
plural noun. 183
 2 Language Frames Key Words
PART

Language Focus Science Vocabulary

city
• means
. desert
rainforest
Define and Explain • For example, .
Key Words vine
weed
Listen to Lily and Nico’s dialogue. Then use Look at the pictures. Use Key Words and other words
Language Frames to define and explain. to talk about ecosystems, or different places where
Talk about places where plants live. Dialogue plants live.

city rainforest
tall
1. What does 2. Desert means a place tree
desert mean? where there is very little
rain. Plants in the desert
are unusual.
weed

In cities, plants grow through cracks and in

open areas around buildings. vine

desert broad
leaf

3. 4.
They can store water. They can change to
For example, this cactus survive. For example, cactus stem
fills its stem with water this plant drops its
when rain falls. leaves when it is dry. Many plants in deserts have thick stems that can In rainforests, broad leaves, tall
store water. trees, and climbing vines collect
sunlight.

Talk Together

What is amazing about where plants can grow? Talk with

a partner. Try to use Language Frames from page 184 and
Key Words to define words and explain your ideas.
184 Unit 3 185
 2
PART

Thinking Map Academic Vocabulary

Main Idea and Details More Key Words

When you explain something, start with the most important Use these words to talk about “A Protected Place” and “Rosie’s Reports.”
idea. This is called the main idea. Then give details to add
more information. diversity environment organism
noun noun noun
Look at the pictures of interesting desert plants. Read the text.
insect

leaf

This cactus can store water. This plant drops leaves to survive.
Diversity means a lot Your environment is the An organism is a
of different people or kind of place where living thing. This leaf
Main Idea and Details Diagram
Map and Talk things. Our school has you live. This is a hot, and insect are both
a great diversity of dry environment. organisms.
You can use a main idea people.
Desert plants are interesting. main idea
and details diagram to
organize information. Here’s protect unique
verb adjective
Talk Together
how you make one. One plant can store
details Make a Vocabulary Study
water.
The main idea goes in the spine Card for each Key Word.
top box. Each detail is listed Write the
under the top box. One plant drops leaves word on protect
to survive. the front.
On the to keep safe
back, write A fence protects
the meaning my garden.
You protect something Unique things are and a sentence. Use the
Talk Together cards to quiz your partner.
when you keep it safe. different from other
Sharp spines protect things. The yellow
Look back at page 185. Make a main idea and details the plant from animals. flower is unique.
diagram with this main idea: Rainforest plants are unusual.
Tell your partner about your diagram.

186 Unit 3 187

 2 Language Frames
PART

Reading Strategy
I read .
I know .

Learn to Make Inferences Talk Together And so .

Look at the picture. It does not show the complete plant. Look Read Nico’s report, “So Many Plants!” Read the sample
at the details to figure out, or make an inference about, what inference. Then use Language Frames to make inferences.
this plant is like. Tell a partner about them.

Report

So Many Plants!
by Nico Lutz

This summer, my family drove to our new home. Along

the way, we saw many different environments . Our Sample Inference
country has such a diversity of plants! “I read that the
In my old home, the ground is covered with sidewalks ground is covered with
sidewalks and streets.
and streets, but there are still different kinds of plants. I know that cities are
People grow plants in pots. Some plants sprout in open like this.
areas around buildings. And so they must have
lived in a city.”
When you read, you have to make inferences, too. In another place we saw, there are tall trees all around.
Small, leafy plants grow around them. It’s a good
environment for organisms like snails.
The plants are so
How to Make Inferences different in our new home!
The cacti are unique .
For example, some have
1. Look for details in the text. I read .
round stems. Others have
long, thin branches. We
2. Think about what you already know I know . have to protect ourselves
about the details and the topic. from their sharp spines!

3. Put your ideas together. What else And so .

can you figure out about the details? = A good place to make an inference

188 Unit 3 189

 2
PART

Phonics Focus

Plurals -s, -es, -ies Talk Together

Listen and read. Find the plural words in the passage.

Over to You

tree + s = trees dish + es = dishes puppy + ies = puppies Amazing Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are very hot and humid. Rainforests get
Work with a
at least 75 inches of rain each year. Many get even more rain. partner.
Listen and Learn There are four layers in a tropical rainforest. The trees in Choose five plural
Listen to each sentence. Choose the correct plural to complete the top two layers are very tall. The top layers get most of words in the passage
the sunlight. The third layer is made up of leaves, branches, and list them. Take
the sentence. turns with your
and vines. This layer gets much less sunshine. This means
1. I have one watch. He has 2. One fluffy cat is cute. Two partner to make up
that only small plants and trees grow there. The fourth layer
new sentences using
two . fluffy are even cuter. is the forest floor. Very little sunlight reaches the forest floor. the words.
Hardly any plants grow there. Animals, insects, and birds live
in all four layers.
Rainforests help Earth in many ways. For example, they produce
40 percent of the world’s oxygen. Rainforests also clean the
watchies watchs watches cates cats caties air of greenhouse gases. They help maintain Earth’s
water cycle. They also provide foods for people.
3. Tam has one pony. Sam 4. Two is better than
Finally, half of Earth’s animal and plant species
has three . one penny.
live in rainforests. They are truly amazing places.

ponies ponys ponyes pennys pennies pennyes

Practice reading words with plural endings by reading

“Amazing Tropical Rainforests” with a partner.

190 Unit 3 191

 A
Protected
NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC
EXCLUSIVE

Read a Science Article

Genre
A science article is nonfiction. It gives facts about a topic
in nature.

Text Features
Look for photographs with captions. They help you
Place
by Elizabeth Sengel

understand the text better.

photograph

caption
An okapi eats leaves.

193
192 Unit 3
 Set a Purpose
Find out about a rainforest in Africa.

A Special Place AFRICA

The Okapi Reserve is an amazing OKAPI If you flew over the reserve in a plane, all you would see is
RESERVE
place, full of amazing plants. It is in the DEMOCRATIC a thick, green cover. But plant life fills the forest. From top
HB25 15 G4_U#_p182 Africa Locator
REPUBLIC OF
northeastern corner of Congo and is part of First proof THE CONGO to bottom, it is a tangle of roots, branches, and leaves. The
ATLANTIC
a tropical rainforest called the Ituri Forest. OCEAN forest is so dense that very little sunlight seeps in.
The reserve covers 5,200 square miles
of land. HB25 16 G3_U#_p182 Okapi Reserve
Second proof

The tops of trees create a cover over the Ituri Forest. is so dense has so many plants Before You Continue
seeps in enters 1. Main Idea and Details Give two details
about the Okapi Reserve that support the
idea that it is an amazing environment .
2. Make Inferences What would the
environment of the Okapi Reserve be like?

194 Unit 3 195

 An okapi runs through the woods.

A Variety of Plants zebra

One amazing thing about the Okapi Reserve is its diversity of

plants. There are hundreds of native species of plants in the
reserve. Vines dangle from trees. The leaves of giant ferns
curve like dinosaur tails. Tall trees reach toward the sky and
make a roof with their thick leaves.
horse

A strangler fig grows around another tree in the forest.

giant fern

The Purpose of the Reserve

The Okapi Reserve was created in 1992. The
vines purpose of the reserve is to protect the rich
diversity of plants and animals.
giraffe
The reserve’s name comes from one of those
animals—the okapi. This strange-looking animal has
the stripes of a zebra and the neck of a horse. But
guess what? It’s related to the giraffe!

native species of plants related to in the same animal Before You Continue
different kinds of plants family as
that grow naturally 1. Use Text Features How do the photographs
help you understand the text?
dangle hang
2. Make Inferences Why was it important to
create the reserve?

196 Unit 3 197

 A Leafy Home Many animals also rely on plants for food. Remember the
okapi? It eats the leaves of plants that grow well in the dim
Many different animals, such as elephants, light of the forest. It has a long tongue that rips the leaves
duikers, and pottos, depend on the forest. off the branches. The Okapi Reserve has plenty of leaves for
Some of the animals make their homes in trees. okapis to munch!

yellow-backed duiker potto, or tree bear

An okapi eats leaves that grow in shady spots.

An elephant eats plants in the forest.

dim low, weak Before You Continue

munch eat 1. Make Connections How does the okapi’s
long tongue help the animal survive?
2. Details Name two ways the plants in the
reserve meet the animals’ needs.

198 Unit 3 199

 A Home for Humans
People make their home in the Okapi Reserve, too. Mbuti Pygmies Mbuti Pygmies travel from place to place to hunt and fish.
have been living in the rainforest for hundreds of years. According They don’t just catch game, though. They also collect insects,
to one botanist, Mbuti Pygmies are “walking dictionaries of nature.” seeds, fruit, and honey to eat. They make nets, arrows, and
They understand everything about the forest, and they rely on it for other necessities from forest materials like wood, bark, mud,
food, shelter, and clothing. and leaves.

A Mbuti Pygmy child fishes. Mbuti Pygmies made these huts from forest materials.

Mbuti Pygmies A group of game wild animals to eat Before You Continue
people native to Africa necessities things that 1. Make Inferences Why do you think
botanist scientist who they need Pygmies know so much about the
studies plants
rainforest ?
2. Details Name three things that Pygmies
do in the forest.

200 Unit 3 201

 A Brave Botanist
Corneille Ewango is a botanist
who works on the reserve.
He loves the forest and its
plants and animals.

In 1996, something terrible

happened. A war broke out in
Congo. Soldiers invaded the
forest. They destroyed plants
and killed animals.

Many of the workers on the

reserve ran away, but Ewango This bridge is important to Ewango. He hid under it once during the war.
wouldn’t leave. He knew he
had to save the forest. “I was
Ewango rushed to save what he could. He grabbed computers
afraid,” he says, “but I didn’t
and buried data files in the forest. He packed thousands of
have a choice.”
plant samples in boxes. Friends kept the plants safe.

Ewango hopped on a bicycle and carried other plants into a

Soldiers march
during the war.
neighboring country.

Because of Ewango, unique and valuable plants were saved.

They would continue to grow again after the fighting stopped
in 2002.

broke out started data files folders with information Before You Continue
invaded the forest plant samples different kinds 1. Details Why did Ewango stay in
came into the forest of shrubs, bushes, and trees
the rainforest during the war?
with force
2. Make Inferences How do you know
destroyed ruined
that Ewango is a brave person?

202 Unit 3 203

 The Future of the Reserve
Today, the Okapi Reserve still faces threats. Sometimes Ewango believes that Congo needs more scientists to study its forests.
people destroy animals’ homes. They chop down trees. He is working hard to train a new generation of students.
Yet Ewango and other people work every day to solve
He wants young people to understand and protect the Okapi Reserve
these problems.
and other rainforests in Congo. ❖

People sometimes sneak into the Okapi Reserve. They cut down trees. Ewango wants to train young people. He wants to help protect forests in Congo.

threats problems train a new generation of students Before You Continue

teach children about plants
1. Details Name two problems that the
Okapi Reserve has today.
2. Paraphrase What does Ewango believe
about Congo? How is he helping?

204 Unit 3 205

 2
PART

Think and Respond Key Words Reread and Summarize

city protect
desert rainforest

Talk About It diversity

environment
unique
vine Main Idea and Details
1. Give two facts about nature from the organism weed Make a main idea and details diagram for “A Protected Place.”
science article.
Main Idea and Details Diagram
The first fact . The second fact .
Main Idea: The main idea
2. Define the word reserve and explain The Okapi Reserve is an amazing place, full of goes here.
the purpose of the Okapi Reserve. amazing plants.
Reserve means . The purpose Supporting Detail:
of the Okapi Reserve is . Add details that support
the main idea.
3. How do you think the author of Supporting Detail:
the article feels about the Okapi
Reserve environment ?
Now use your diagram as you
The main idea is .
I think the author . I can tell summarize “A Protected Place” for a
A supporting detail is .
because . partner. Use the sentence frames and
Key Words. Record your summary.

Write About It Fluency

The photographs in the science article help you understand Practice reading with phrasing. Rate your reading.
the ideas. Write a caption to explain the photograph on
page 193. Use at least one sentence and at least one Key Word.

This is . Talk Together

Choose a photograph from “A Protected Place.” Use Key

Words to tell a partner what the photograph shows about
the Okapi Reserve.

206 Unit 3 207

 2
PART

Word Work Making Connections Read this blog to learn more about the
plants of the Okapi Reserve.
Genre A blog is a site on the Internet where you can post

Suffixes your thoughts about a topic for others to read.

A suffix is a word part. A suffix comes at the end of a word.

It changes the word’s meaning. About Rosie’s Reports
https://eltngl.com/reachhigherseries
Look at this example. How does the word weed change?

The suffix -y means

“full of.”
weed + -y = weedy

Weedy means
“full of weeds.” Rosie’s Reports
Search All Posts

About Rosie’s Reports BLOG ARCHIVE

November
Rosie Ruf works at the Okapi Reserve. One of her September
jobs is to take care of several okapis. The okapis are May
Try It Together February
kept in a special breeding station. Every day, workers January

Read each item. Choose the correct answer. gather fresh leaves for the okapis’ food. POSTS BY
CATEGORY
okapi
1. The suffix -less means 2. The suffix -ness means Africa
“without.” What does vineless “state of.” What does
mean? uniqueness mean?
A with vines A in a unique way
breeding station place where they can Before You Continue
have babies
1. Make Inferences How does Rosie
B full of vines B full of unique things probably feel about okapis? Why do
C without vines C without anything unique you think so?
D the state of vines D the state of being unique 2. Predict What do you think this blog will
be about? Explain why you think so.

208 Unit 3 209

 About Rosie’s Reports
https://eltngl.com/reachhigherseries
Category: Okapi | Date: November 10
MAIN SCREEN
Preparing Leaves
Search All Posts

Category: Okapi | Date: November 8 The workers bring the leaves to a special building.

Collecting Leaves BLOG ARCHIVE

The next step is to prepare 1,536 bundles of leaves!
November These are the leaves that the okapis will eat in the
It is early in the morning. Baya and Apomau are September
May afternoon and the next morning. ❖
already preparing their machetes. They will walk February
January
45 minutes to reach the place where they will cut
POSTS BY
the leaves for today. In the afternoon, some of the CATEGORY
okapi
leaves will be fed to the okapis. Africa
Okapi Reserve

MOST POPULAR
KEY WORDS
protected
rainforest

November
Apomau and S M T W T F S
Baya have 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
collected and 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 A worker gets ready to wrap a bundle of leaves. The
bundled their 21
28
22
29
23
30
24 25 26 27
bundle will hang in an okapi’s pen.
leaves. It took October
them less than
three hours.
POSTED BY: Rosie
It is amazing how well they and the other workers
4 COMMENTS LINKS TO THIS POST
know the forest! They are able to find the right
amount of leaves every day.

POSTED BY: Rosie

7 COMMENTS LINKS TO THIS POST

machetes large, Before You Continue

heavy knives
1. Make Inferences Why do you think Baya
and Apomau know the rainforest so well?
2. Steps in a Process List the steps the
workers follow to feed the okapis.

210 Unit 3 211

 2 Key Words
PART

Respond and Extend Grammar and Spelling

city protect
desert rainforest
diversity unique
Compare Text environment vine More Plural Nouns
Features organism weed Count nouns are nouns that you can count. They change
in different ways to show the plural form.
A science article and a blog post both have
captions. What other text features do they both have? Noncount nouns are nouns that you cannot count. They have
What different text features do they have? Work with only one form for “one” and “more than one.”
a partner to complete the comparison chart.

Comparison Chart
Grammar Rules Plural Nouns

Count Nouns
“A Protected Place” “Rosie’s Reports”
Feature: captions Feature: captions • Add -s or -es to make most nouns tree trees
Example: An okapi runs Example: A worker gets ready plural. lunch lunches
through the woods. to wrap a bundle of leaves.
• A few nouns use special forms to tooth teeth
Feature: Date line
show the plural. child children
Example: Date: November 8
Noncount Nouns

Talk Together • Use the same form to name “one” corn corn
and “more than one.” sunshine sunshine
What is amazing about the plants in the Okapi
Reserve? Think about the science article and the blog
postings. Use Key Words to talk about your ideas. Read Plural Nouns
Read these sentences based on “A Protected Place.” What
plural nouns can you find? Can you identify a noncount noun?

The forest is a tangle of roots and branches. It is so dense that

very little sunlight seeps in.

Write Plural Nouns

Make a list of the things you see on pages 204–205.
Compare your list with a partner’s.
212 Unit 3 213
 Writing Project

Write Like a Scientist Prewrite

1. Choose a Topic What topic will you write about in your
Write an Article article? Discuss with a partner to choose the best one.
Write an article that explains what you think is so amazing
about plants. Add your article to a class science magazine to Language Frames
share with others in your school. Tell Your Ideas Respond to Ideas
• Plants can . That might • I think/do not think that is a
Study a Model be a good topic. good topic because .
• I know a lot about , so • sounds interesting. Tell
An article includes facts and details about a topic. I’ll write about that. me more.
Read this article that Mariah wrote about plants. • My favorite plant is .I • I like that plant, too. I would
would like to say more about it. like to read about .

Plants Are Everywhere 2. Gather Information Find all the facts and details you’ll need
by Mariah Ruiz for your article. Do they all tell about the same topic?
The topic Plants are amazing because they can 3. Get Organized Use a main idea and details diagram to help
sentence tells grow in so many different places. We you organize what you’ll say.
the main idea.
know that plants grow in soil, but they
pop up in other places, too. Did you Main Idea and Details Diagram
know that seeds can sprout in tiny
Main Idea:
cracks on sidewalks? Some daisies, for Plants grow everywhere. The main idea
example, grow big enough to break the goes here.
Each fact or Supporting Detail:
pavement! detail supports in cracks on sidewalks
the main idea. Add details that support
Other plants, like seaweed, live The writing is Supporting Detail: the main idea.
focused. underwater
completely underwater. There are even
plants, like mistletoe, that grow on other Draft
The concluding plants!
Use your main idea and details diagram to write your draft.
sentence
connects all the So, the next time you’re outside, take a • Turn your main idea into a topic sentence.
ideas. It makes look around. You might see a plant or
the writing • Turn your details into sentences that tell more about the
two growing in the most unusual places!
complete. main idea.

214 Unit 3 215

 Writing Project, continued

To make most
nouns plural, add
Revise Edit and Proofread -s or -es. For most
Work with a partner to edit and proofread your nouns ending in y,
1. Read, Retell, Respond Read your draft aloud to a partner.
change y to i and
Your partner listens and retells what your article is about. article. Check the spelling of plural nouns. Use add -es.
Next, talk about ways to improve your writing. revision marks to show your changes.

Language Frames
Present
Retell Make Suggestions
• The topic is . • The detail about does not 1. On Your Own Make a final copy of your article.
tell about . Can you take
• Most of the facts and details out that detail? Then choose a way to share it with your classmates.
tell about .
• I like the examples you used to You might want to read your article aloud, or you can
tell about . just retell it from memory.

2. Make Changes Think about your draft and your partner’s Presentation Tips
suggestions. Then use revision marks to make your changes.
If you are the speaker... If you are the listener...
• Delete details that don’t tell about the topic or support the
Speak slowly and clearly. Take notes to help you
main idea.
understand and remember.
Did you know that seeds can sprout in tiny cracks on sidewalks?
Provide more details if your Make inferences based
There are many plants near my house.
listeners do not understand on what you know.
what you thought was
• Add details or examples that support your main idea and amazing.
keep your writing focused.
2. With a Group Work with your classmates
Some daisies, for example, grow big enough to break the pavement!
Did you know that seeds can sprout in tiny cracks on sidewalks? to put all the articles into a science
magazine. Make several copies to share
with others in your school. You can post
your magazine online, or turn it into a
series of web pages.

216 Unit 3 217

 Unit

3 Wrap-Up

Share Your Ideas

Choose one of these ways to share your ideas
about the Big Question.

? Write It! Talk About It!

Big
Question
What is so amazing
about plants? Make a Cartoon Talk Show
Draw a cartoon about an Choose classmates to talk
amazing plant. Write a about each selection in
caption to show this unit. Each guest on the
Talk Together what is so talk show gives amazing
amazing about information they have learned
Concept Map the plant. Explain about plants. Use formal
In this unit, you found lots of
answers to the Big Question. your cartoon to language.
Now, use your concept map in the class. T his plant
ow
r ces.
eats bug s!
to discuss the Big Question g a
la nts of pl
with the class. P ts
dese

lo
rainf
rt

ores
t Do It! Write It!
amazing
things about
plants Perform a Skit Plant Poem
Write a skit about people Think about your favorite
who work with plants. Show plant. Write a haiku about it.
why the people think plants Count the syllables in each
are amazing. Decide whether line. Then read
to use formal or informal your poem
language. Perform your skit aloud to a
for the class. partner.

Write a Journal Entry

Choose one amazing thing about plants from your
concept map. Write a journal entry about it.
218 Unit 3 219