English Language Arts March Homework Assignments

Transcription

1 English Language Arts March Homework Assignments Mr. Zindman s Class Name

2 Up, Up and Away! By Colleen Messina Due- March 6, 2018 Kites have been around for a long time. The Chinese invented kites over 2,000 years ago. A determined man named Mo Zi had an idea as he watched hawks fly. He spent three years making a wooden hawk "kite." It broke after one flight! Mo Zi and his Chinese friends did not give up. Soon they perfected the art of creating kites. Kites became part of many Chinese festivals. Pictures of kites were also on vases and in paintings. But kites were meant to fly in places other than China! Marco Polo visited China in the 13th century and brought kites back to Europe with him. Europeans loved them, and the art of kiting "took off!" Many kites have stories behind them. One Chinese novel, called "Journey to the West," was written around 1400 AD. In the story, a priest traveled with three students. One student was a monkey. A second student was a man with pig ears, called the Pig General. He had a trembling, tubby tummy hanging over his pants, which were stuffed into big, black boots. The third student was a former sea monster. These characters often appear on Chinese kites. Another splendid Chinese kite is the dragon centipede kite. A centipede kite is made from many round discs strung together. One day, a kite-maker attached a fancy dragon head to the discs and made the first dragon centipede kite. Often the dragon is bright red, with fat horns and white teeth. The dragon is the king of beasts in Chinese myths. He represents goodness, even though he looks scary. Two kinds of kites have pictures of birds on them. One kite is called the phoenix bird kite. The phoenix bird symbolizes peace. Another kite shows the redheaded crane. This kite can swoop and swerve! The crane represents happiness, good fortune, and a long life. Kites come in all shapes and sizes. Flat or bowed kites have a simple shape, such as a diamond or a rectangle. Cellular kites have three dimensions. The wind flows through channels made by the surfaces of the kite. Delta kites are triangular. Rokkaku kites are six-sided and often bear a striking image. Sometimes these kites "fight" each other until one kite drops from the sky. The other kite then wins the "battle." Sometimes kits are connected together by lines. These kites are called trains and centipedes. It is amazing to see a string of hundreds of kites forming a rainbow across the blue sky. The bright kites jiggle, dip, twist, and sway together like a line of happy dancers. A kite festival is an excellent place to see many kinds of kites. Each year in Long Beach, Washington, many people who love kites come together to share and stare. Long Beach is a wide stretch of endless sand along the Pacific Ocean. It is the perfect spot to enjoy the kite festival and watch the experts who can fly more than one kite at a time! They fly stunt kites, which have a triangular shape. Instead of a single string, or line, a stunt kite has two lines, one for each hand. A kite festival is fun. First, you watch the kites. Then, your fingers tingle. Why? Your fingers are itching to fly a kite. Perhaps your parents also have tingling fingers. This is the best possible situation! Before you know it, you find yourself in a kite store and your parents are purchasing a stunt kite. The next stop is the beach! Up, up and away! 2

3 Up, Up and Away! Questions 1. Where were kites invented? A. Europe B. Italy C. China D. Washington 2. Which statement expresses an opinion rather than a fact? A. Kites were invented 2,000 years ago. B. The dragon centipede kite is the most splendid Chinese kite. C. There are many different kinds of kites. D. There is a kite festival each year in Long Beach, Washington. 3. Which character was not a student in the novel, "Journey to the West"? A. a pig general B. a phoenix bird C. a monkey D. a sea monster 4. The phrase, "trembling, tubby tummy," is an example of what literary device? A. metaphor B. hyperbole C. simile D. alliteration 5. What does the redheaded crane represent? A. money and wisdom B. sunburned pets C. happiness, good fortune, and a long life D. that redheads have more fun 6. Which kind of kite is used to fight "battles" in the air? A. delta B. flat C. Rokkaku D. cellular 7. If you had to decide how to categorize a kite, what quality would you most likely use? A. line length B. shape C. color D. price 8. What is the tone of paragraph 9, which describes how you might end up buying a kite at a kite festival? A. anxious B. hopeless C. humorous D. scared 3

4 Grand Canyon National Park By Cindy Grigg Due- March 7, 2018 If you are visiting Arizona, you should include a trip to Grand Canyon National Park. You must see the canyon in person to appreciate its size. It is more than one mile deep and fifteen miles across. If you are brave enough, visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a glass platform shaped like a horse shoe. It juts seventy feet out over the canyon's rim. You can walk out on it and look down with nothing but glass separating you from the bottom of the canyon almost a mile below. You can end the day with a wagon ride. Enjoy watching the sunset beside a campfire. Bring your own hot dogs and marshmallows to roast over a roaring fire. There are museums you can visit, mule rides, and hiking trails. You can rent a bicycle or take a guided tour. You can float the Colorado River and see the canyon from a raft. There are many things you can do at Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon National Park Questions 1. In which state is the Grand Canyon? 2. How big is the canyon? A. one mile deep and fifteen miles wide B. one mile wide and fifteen miles deep C. ten miles deep and fifteen miles wide D. none of the above 3. What does the word appreciate mean in the story? A. welcome B. be grateful for C. be thankful for D. realize 4. Which of these is NOT something you can do at the park? A. rent a bicycle B. ride a mule C. float across the canyon in a hot air balloon D. take a guided tour 4

5 It's in the Can! By Cindy Grigg Due- March 8, 2018 Canned food is convenient and easy to use. We can eat corn and green beans in the middle of winter. We can eat canned foods like pineapple that are grown far away from where we live. Before canned food, people mostly grew their own food. What food they could eat depended on the season. People in cities had to shop almost every day to have fresh food. It was a small problem for most people. It was a huge problem for armies. About two hundred years ago, Napoleon was the leader of France. His armies tried to take over much of Europe. His men needed food that could travel with them. After all, when you are with an army invading another country, you can't stop and buy food! A reward of a large amount of money was offered to an inventor who could think of a way to keep food from spoiling. A man named Nicholas Appert won the prize. He invented a glass jar with a lid that could be sealed. Food that was cooked and stored in these jars could last for weeks without spoiling. A little later, tin-coated metal was invented. Cans made of this metal were cheaper than glass jars. They didn't break, either! Today, many foods are canned. It's in the Can! Questions 1. Who was the inventor of the glass jar that could be sealed? A. Napoleon, leader of France B. Nicholas Appert C. Tin Can Alley D. none of the above 2. Why was a reward offered for a way to keep food from spoiling? 3. What is the main idea of this story? A. The army needed a way to keep food fresh. B. Jars can break. C. Canning food keeps food from spoiling. D. Cans cost less than jars. 4. About how long ago was food first canned (in jars)? A. one hundred years ago B. three hundred years ago C. four hundred years ago D. two hundred years ago 5

6 Theodor Seuss Geisel: A Determined Author By Colleen Messina Due- March 9, 2018 Green eggs and ham do not sound particularly tasty. However, almost everyone has enjoyed the book with this title. It was written by Dr. Seuss, but you probably already know that! Dr. Seuss wrote books that children read with gusto. His style was unique. Today, almost everyone has heard of the Grinch who stole Christmas and other wacky Dr. Seuss characters. Dr. Seuss was one of the pen names of Theodor Seuss Geisel. According to one dictionary, a pen name is "a name used by a writer instead of his or her real name." Dr. Seuss books are popular now, but Geisel had to be persistent in the beginning of his writing career. His first children's book was rejected 27 times before it was published! Even though it was rejected many times, Geisel still believed in his book. His determination paid off. It was published in And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street became a classic. Geisel wrote more than 60 books. His children's books were translated into many languages. Millions of copies have been sold. Horton the elephant and other Dr. Seuss characters are loved by children and adults. Geisel died on September 24, 1991, but the magical words of Dr. Seuss live on. Theodor Seuss Geisel: A Determined Author Questions 1. What was this author's real first name? A. Thomas B. Horton C. Theodor D. Terry 2. Which of the following is an antonym for the word "unique" in paragraph 1? A. common B. rare C. exclusive D. distinctive 3. Horton was what kind of animal in a Dr. Seuss book? A. an elephant B. a cat C. a pig D. none of the above 4. What is the term for a name used by a writer that is not his or her real name? 6

7 Blaine Kern, Mr. Mardi Gras By Brenda B. Covert Due- March 12, 2018 Blaine Kern designs and builds floats for a living. He's known in and around New Orleans as Mr. Mardi Gras. "Mardi Gras is my life," he says. "It's made me, a float builder, wealthy, but not just in terms of money... I've always been a dreamer, and it's allowed me to realize some crazy dreams." He got his Mardi Gras start when he was 19 years old. He painted a mural for a hospital, and Dr. Henry LaRocca, who was also the captain of a Mardi Gras parade, admired Kern's work. He invited Kern to create floats for his parade. Later, Kern traveled to Italy to learn more about float design. He went on to make a business out of building floats. He called it Blaine Kern Artists, Inc. Now he owns Kern Studios as well, which includes Kern Sculpture Company, Kern International, and Mardi Gras World. That last one is where many of his fantastical ideas have come to life! Now Kern dreams of becoming Mr. Halloween! He wants to turn New Orleans into the Halloween capital of America, complete with parades that feature his magical floats. Seeing how he has shaped Mardi Gras, you get the idea that this new dream will come true for Blaine Kern. Blaine Kern, Mr. Mardi Gras Questions 1. What did Blaine Kern paint that got a doctor's attention? 2. What is Kern's nickname? A. Mr. Mardi Gras B. Mr. Float Builder C. Captain Fantastic D. Mardi Gras Man 3. In what country did Kern learn more about float design? A. France B. Russia C. Italy D. Brazil 4. In which of the following states is much of Kern's business based? A. Louisiana B. Florida C. California D. New York 7

8 To Top It Off -- An Amazing Array of Pizza Toppings! By Colleen Messina Due- March 13, 2018 Basic pizzas usually have crusts with tomato sauce and cheese on top. If you want to add other ingredients, the real fun begins. There is an amazing array of toppings to pick from. Have you ever tried to order pizza with friends? Deciding on extra toppings can turn into a big debate! If you want to add anchovies, your friends might think it's a fishy choice. These little fish are not very popular on pizza. Lots of people like extra cheese and onions, though. Some people enjoy gourmet toppings such as oysters or dandelions. Herbs, fruits, and nuts can also be sprinkled on a pizza for a little extra pizzazz. More people like meat toppings than vegetarian ones. These people might add chicken, Canadian bacon, or even venison to their pizzas. The most popular topping is pepperoni. About 251,770,000 pounds of it are eaten on American pizzas each year. Toppings make plain pizza more exciting, and picking the right ones can be hard work. However, you get your reward in every tasty bite! To Top It Off -- An Amazing Array of Pizza Toppings! Questions 1. Which of the following is a synonym for the word "debate"? A. argument B. decision C. priority D. none of the above 2. More people like meat toppings than vegetarian toppings on pizza. A. False B. True 3. About how many pounds of pepperoni are used on American pizzas annually? A. 770,000 B. 251,770 C. 251,770,000 D. The paragraph did not say. 4. Which topping is the most popular? 8

9 Pizza Town By Beth Beutler I loved to go to Pizza Town. We always had a blast. They had an all-you-can-eat buffet, and several rooms of fun things to do. There was a TV room, a movie room, an adventure room, reading room, and video game room. My grandmother often took me there. She loved it too! We'd play video games and earn points. Once I even earned enough points to win a DVD movie! Grandma invited me to go to Pizza Town Friday after school. She had a coupon so two of us could get in for the price of one. She picked me up immediately after school, and we headed there. We had a routine. We'd pay, pick a table in the movie room, then go get the first round of the meal. She'd usually get a salad, but I'd go for one or two pieces of pepperoni pizza. I also treated myself to some soda. After we ate, we'd put our coats and her purse in a locker, then head to the video games. She liked playing the Whack a Rat game, and I did the best on the game "Zorpho Battle." In it, I was to fight the evil Zorphman with my army of well-trained and loyal subjects. As I journeyed through each battle, I gained more soldiers and equipment. I also gained more points. I kept the points building up on my card so I could get better prizes. This time, I was on level seven of Zorpho Battle. The evil Zorphman had afflicted my troops with a virus, giving them all head colds. My soldiers could only last about two minutes each before they became idle. In despair, I sent my commander, Jacques Whonose to extract the antidote from a rare flower. He searched in a series of caves until he found them. When he provided this to the troops, they were revived. They went after those savage aliens with new energy and defeated them soundly. I had gained another 3000 points! I took a break and headed to the tumble room, which could accommodate about 25 kids at a time. This gave me a chance to climb, jump, and run around. It was the noisiest room, so Grandma could only stand it for a brief time. After about 20 minutes of running off steam, I joined her for another round at the buffet. This time she insisted I have some salad. I also took a cinnamon roll and apple dumpling pizza. It was yummy! We enjoyed all this while watching a clever Abbott and Costello movie. They always made me laugh! We headed back to the game room. I was tempted to go back for more points on Zorpho Battle, but tried a racing game instead. I had almost as much fun pretending to be a famous racecar driver. It was such a realistic game. It even had a makeshift driver's seat that vibrated. The tracks on screen were designed to be equivalent to those in real races. I intended to dominate the track to make the top 10% of high scores this time. I did it! We played and ate for about three hours. Grandma then advised we head home. I decided to save my points so I could possess a video game system the next time we came. What a fun place! Grandma could take me to Pizza Town anytime! Pizza Town Questions 1. What types of activities were available at Pizza Town? (circle all that apply) A. tumbling B. eating C. swimming D. reading E. video games F. movies 9

10 2. What game does the child play regularly to gain points? 3. The child ate a dessert pizza. What was it called? 4. If you could rename the title of this story, what would your title be? 5. It normally cost $7.50 per person to go to Pizza Town. With Grandma's coupon, what percent of their normal cost did they save? 10

11 Ankylosaurus By Cindy Grigg Due- March 14, 2018 Ankylosaurids were armored dinosaurs. Their bodies were covered with bony plates called scutes (SKOOTS) that protected their bodies (except for the underbelly). They were quadrupeds, animals that walked on four feet. They were herbivores, or plant eaters. Ankylosaurus (ang-kie-low-sore-uss) was the largest of this group. It grew to a length of thirty or more feet and was six feet wide. It may have weighed 13,000 pounds. Its armored body was wide and low to the ground. Ankylosaurus was built like a tank! Its name means "fused lizard." It was named for the way many of its bones were fused together. At the end of its tail, some bony plates fused to form a bony club. This dinosaur used the club for defense against predators. Rows of spikes ran down its body, and it had small spiky horns on the sides of its head. Ankylosaurus had a very wide head, but its brain was small. Its small, leaf-shaped teeth were used to bite off leaves that it probably swallowed whole. It walked on four short legs, and its back legs were longer than the front ones. It lived in North and South America. This dinosaur became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 65.5 million years ago, along with all other dinosaurs. It was one of the last of the dinosaurs. Ankylosaurus Questions 1. Ankylosaurids were dinosaurs with. 2. Ankylosaurus was a/an dinosaur. A. armored B. quadruped C. herbivorous D. all of the above 3. Ankylosaurus was named for which body feature? A. small brain B. fused bones C. small teeth D. short legs 11

12 4. A simile compares two things using the word "like" or "as." Find a simile in the story and write it here. 5. When did Ankylosaurus become extinct? A. about 13 million years ago B. at the end of the Cretaceous Period, about 65.5 million years ago C. at the end of the Permian period, about 251 million years ago D. about 13,000 years ago 6. What does "quadruped" mean? Extra Credit: Eight kids and two adults are going to the circus. Kid's tickets are on sale for only half the price of adult tickets. The total cost is $72. How much is one kids ticket? How much is one adult ticket? Emily wants to call Anna. Anna is on vacation in Asia. It is a 12-hour time difference. Anna's time is always later than Emily's time. If it is 9:36 P.M. where Emily lives, then what time is it where Anna is? List nine of the smallest whole numbers that are greater than 136, are multiples of 4, and are not multiples of 9. What can you multiply by 9 to get 6? What part of speech is underlined in this sentence? Our country is protected by brave soldiers. Circle the relative adverb. That's the school where I went to Kindergarten. 12

13 A Brief History of Pizza By Brenda B. Covert Due- March 15, 2018 Pizza is popular. It's usually round but can be made into other shapes. It's often made with tomato sauce but can be made without. It often has melted cheese; it can be made with none. While often made for dinner, pizzas can also be made for breakfast or dessert. Pizza may have begun as food for Italy's poor. They took flat bread and topped it with olive oil, tomatoes, and cheese. In 1889, a pizza was made that was fit for a king! It was made using items in the colors of the Italian flag. Tomatoes made red, the cheese was white, and fresh basil added some green. An Italian baker made this pizza for the king and queen of Italy. Pizza wasn't just for peasants anymore! Italian immigrants brought pizza to America. This happened during the late 1800s. Pizza gained fans outside the Italian community after WWII. Soldiers had tasted it in Italy. They brought home a craving for more. In 1948, a boxed mix appeared in grocery stores. People could buy Roman pizza mix and make their own pizzas. Pizza restaurants sprang up across the land. Pizza delivery got its start in America's love for pizza continued to grow. Now there are even taco pizzas and barbecue pizzas! On average, Americans eat 23 pounds of pizza per person each year. In October 2008, Joey Chestnut won $5,000 in a pizza-eating contest. This 24-year-old man ate 45 slices in just 10 minutes! Pepperoni pizza is the pizza of choice for the average 10-year-old. What do you like on your pizza? A Brief History of Pizza Questions 1. Which country's poor people may have eaten something a lot like pizza? A. Austria B. USA C. Italy D. France 2. In which year was pizza served to royalty? A B C D We can assume that before WWII. A. Americans ate 23 pounds of pizza apiece each year B. pizza tasted weird C. most Americans had not sampled pizza D. the only people who ate pizza were kings and queens 13

14 4. In 1948, what could be found in grocery stores? A. All answers are correct. B. take-and-bake pizza C. pizza mix D. frozen pizza 5. The colors of the Italian flag were mentioned in this article. Name them. 6. The favorite pizza of the average American kid is pizza. A. barbecue B. mushroom C. pepperoni D. cheese 7. In your own words, describe the history of pizza. Use supporting detaild for the article. 14

15 Maybe Later By Brenda B. Covert Due- March 16, 2018 When Aldric Verdell was born, nobody knew that something in his character was missing. It wasn't until he was old enough to attend school that it became evident. Aldric lacked ambition. "Shouldn't you be studying for the math test?" "Maybe later," Aldric would say. He put off studying and was never well-prepared for his tests. His lack of effort was apparent by the grades he received. Besides failing to earn better grades, Aldric missed out on other things as well. When his friends asked if he was going out for basketball, he shrugged and said, "Maybe later." When his art teacher asked if he wanted to help design a float for a parade, he thought a moment and said, "Maybe later." When Aldric's music teacher asked if he would like to sing a solo in the spring program, he shook his head and said, "Maybe later." Friends and teachers finally stopped asking Aldric to participate in their activities. They grew tired of his standard response, "Maybe later." Eventually, Aldric Verdell grew up. His parents celebrated. They expected him to move out and be an adult. Life brings changes with it. "Maybe later," he said with a yawn. As could be expected, he was not quick to look for work, either. His Uncle Max reluctantly gave him a job in his grocery store. Aldric stocked shelves and bagged groceries. Sometimes he thought about finding a better job, but he always decided that it could wait until later. He put off house-hunting, vacations, love, and marriage. He climbed no mountains. He built no towers. He wrestled no alligators. The years flew by. Aldric's hair slowly thinned until it was sparse and white. Still wearing his stock boy apron, he dreamed of the things he planned to do some day. One stormy night, a tall, shrouded figure knocked on the door with one bony fist. Aldric opened the door and stood face-to-face with Death. He began to tremble. Death held out his hand. "Come with me." Aldric stepped back. "Maybe later. I can't go now," he stammered. "There are so many things that I haven't done yet. I have dreams, you know!" Death looked intently into his eyes. "You've had a lifetime. Your time's up. Come with me. Now." Aldric really didn't have a choice. 15

16 Maybe Later Questions 1. What is the theme of this story? A. dreams B. boys C. procrastination D. growing up 2. Which happened first? A. Aldric got bad grades. B. Aldric's hair thinned. C. Aldric got a job bagging groceries. D. Aldric became an adult. 3. Which word best described Aldric's character? A. hesitant B. diligent C. anxious D. pleasant 4. Which paragraph implies that Aldric never changed jobs? A. paragraph nine B. paragraph eight C. paragraph twelve D. paragraph ten 5. A synonym for sparse is. A. bald B. scant C. filthy D. black 6. Which one of these is not a fact? A. Aldric's job was boring. B. Aldric was never married. C. Aldric did not move away from home. D. Aldric was in the school choir. 7. Why didn't Aldric have a choice in the end? A. Death felt sorry for him. B. He hadn't been good enough. C. People don't get to choose when to die. D. He was old. 16

17 Human Impact on Earth By Patti Hutchison Due- March 19, 2018 Land, water, air. Our lives depend upon them. The Earth has generously given us these resources for millions of years. Since humans evolved, our population has grown rapidly. We have used and abused our Earth. Humans have had a serious impact on the land. We use it to grow crops to feed our growing population. We also use it to provide energy. Each year one person in North America uses resources equal to over 12 acres of land! One of the largest impacts humans have had on the earth is the mining of mineral resources. Almost everything we use is made of metals and other land resources. We use copper to make wires that carry our electricity. We use sand and gravel to pave our roads. Many of our appliances are made of aluminum and other metals. The extraction of all these resources takes a toll on the Earth. Large amounts of soil and rock need to be moved. The landscape is completely changed. Topsoil is lost. Ecosystems are disturbed. Farming disrupts the natural ecosystems that exist on earth. Chemicals are used to kill pests such as insects and weeds. These chemicals can harm plants and animals that are good for the environment. When fields are plowed, topsoil is lost. It can take thousands of years for it to form again. Forests are often cut down. They provide wood for building and heat. Forests are also cleared to make more land for farming. This also causes loss of precious topsoil. Many species of animals are left homeless. Many forests have been cleared to build cities. Another negative impact from this is a huge amount of solid waste. This waste pollutes more of our precious land. Humans also depend on water. We drink it. We bathe in it. We cook with it. We irrigate crops with it. Industries use it to cool heavy machines. We couldn't live without water. However, we take it for granted. Human activities pollute our precious water supplies. Toxins leak from landfills, septic systems, and other sources. They can seep into the groundwater. Road salts and fertilizers cause pollution. Once the groundwater is polluted, it is very hard to clean up. It can become unusable. Even though the ocean is huge, it can still become polluted. Coastal areas are often harmed. Sewage water is a major source of pollution in these areas. It causes too much bacteria to be produced. The bacteria use up all the oxygen in the water, killing fish and other marine animals. Humans and other animals depend on the air we breathe. Yet human activities pollute the air we need to survive. Exhaust from automobiles produces smog. The smoke coming from industrial smoke stacks puts particle matter into the air. These pollutants cause breathing difficulties and lung diseases. Human activities are also causing the ozone layer to become thinner. This layer absorbs a lot of the harmful rays of the sun. This thinning will lead to eye damage and cancer in humans. Crop yields will be reduced. Coal burning power plants produce electricity we have come to depend on. These power plants put harmful chemicals into the air. They cause acid precipitation. This has a negative effect on plants and soil. Air pollution is not a problem of just one country. It is a global problem. The air above us does not stay in one place. Winds carry air all over the Earth. Air pollution is a growing concern. 17

18 The Earth has taken care of us for many years. It has given us the land, water, and air we need to live, work, and play. It is time we started taking care of our Earth. One person can make a difference. Find out what you can do to help reduce pollution. Human Impact on Earth Questions 1. Each year, one person in North America uses resources equal to how much land? A. 12 miles B. 120 acres C. 12 acres 2. Name two ways farming has a negative impact on the land. 3. Groundwater that is polluted is easily cleaned up. A. false B. true 4. A major source of pollution in the coastal areas of the ocean is: A. sewage water B. coal C. loss of topsoil 5. Many lung diseases are caused by: A. cutting down forests B. water pollution C. air pollution 6. Chemicals put in the air by coal burning power plants cause: A. sewage water B. loss of topsoil C. acid precipitation 18

19 Everything You Think Is Wrong Day By Colleen Messina Due- March 20, 2018 Bethany sank deeper into her warm bed. The pink flannel sheets were so soft. She stretched her arms above her head and stretched a delicious stretch. She glanced over at the alarm clock and immediately became distressed. The clock read 8:00. She was late for school! This was especially poor timing because she had a math test today. She jumped out of bed and promptly stubbed her big toe on the corner of the dresser. Ouch! She hopped up and down on one leg into the bathroom, where she lost her balance and almost fell into the bathtub. Bethany had never had such trouble getting up in the morning! What else could go wrong? Then Bethany grabbed her hairbrush and began to brush her blond hair. She recently had it cut into layers because it was so thick. She usually brushed her hair in small sections so she could untangle any knots, but today she was in a hurry. The brush got stuck! Bethany felt a knot in her stomach that matched the knot in her hair. She did not have time to waste on her hair, so she decided to go downstairs and at least throw some bread in the toaster. She ran downstairs with the hairbrush bobbing on the side of her head like a prickly ball. Bethany popped a couple of slices of bread into the toaster, and then she went into the small laundry room off the side of the kitchen to grab her white sweater. She reached down and opened the dryer door and saw a surprising sight. Inside the dryer was a sea of pink! Her white sweater had somehow gotten mixed in with a new red shirt in the wash and had turned pink. Bethany knew the rules about doing laundry, and she never mixed white and colored clothes. Her little brother must have thrown his red soccer shirt into the washing machine when no one was looking. Then the acrid smell of burnt toast greeted her, and Bethany didn't know whether to laugh or cry. With a jolt, Bethany sat up in bed. The only thing that was real about everything she had just experienced was the smell of burning toast that filled her room. The rest of it had been a terrible dream. She looked at her clock, and she was glad to see that it was only 7:00 a.m. She looked over into her closet and saw her beautiful sweater hanging on a hanger. It was still white. Bethany looked at the calendar hanging on her wall. Today was Everything You Think Is Wrong Day. She must have thought about that right when she went to sleep, and maybe that inspired her funny dream. Bethany was very glad that she had not overslept, that her sweater was not pink, and that she did not have a hairbrush stuck in her hair. All she had to do now was to make some fresh toast! 19

20 Everything You Think Is Wrong Day Questions 1. What time did Bethany think it was in her dream? A. 7:30 a.m. B. 8:00 a.m. C. 9:00 a.m. D. 10:00 a.m. 2. Bethany made waffles for breakfast. A. true B. false 3. What got stuck in Bethany's hair in her dream? A. a comb B. a hairbrush C. a piece of toast D. a toothbrush 4. In which class did Bethany have a test that day? A. math B. Spanish C. science D. social studies 5. When Bethany thought she had overslept in her dream, how did she feel? A. angry B. distressed C. happy D. calm 6. What type of sheets did Bethany have on her bed? A. flannel B. silk C. cotton D. none of the above 7. The phrase "with the hairbrush bobbing on the side of her head like a prickly ball" is an example of which literary device? A. metaphor B. homonym C. simile D. alliteration 8. Who probably put the red shirt in the washing machine in the dream? 20

21 Magical Inspiration By Phyllis Naegeli Due- March 21, 2018 Young Ehrich Weiss was born in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, When he was four, his family came to America and settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. When he was a boy, his family was very poor. However, Ehrich always dreamed of making a name for himself. Eventually, he became the famous Harry Houdini. The inspiration for his life's work came from two special events in his young life a circus act and a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "I am going to be a magician," Ehrich announced one hot, summer afternoon. "Oh, you are!" said his mother. "Where did you get such a silly idea?" "At the circus," Ehrich said. "The magician showed me how to do a coin trick." "When were you at the circus?" his father, Rabbi Weiss, asked. Ehrich humbly turned to face his father. "I sneaked under the ropes to go today, Father." "Did you not sell papers with your brothers?" Ehrich hung his head. "No, I did not." "Oh, Ehrich, you know we must all work hard to earn money. We do not have time for such worthless activities as going to the circus," said his father. "I know I must work to help our family," he said. Then his face lit up. "But, Papa, I learned a wonderful trick today. Now I can earn money by doing magic at the circus." His father shook his head. "Always dreaming. You will earn money by selling papers and shining shoes. That is honest, hard work." "But, Father," he pleaded. "There will be no 'buts.' Tomorrow you will sell papers with your brothers." "Yes, Papa," Ehrich replied, with shoulders drooping. Ehrich did sell newspapers with his brothers. He also shined many shoes. However, he was not happy with this work. In the afternoon, he would sneak into the circus and watch the magic show. He watched closely and learned to do the tricks he saw. He went to the dump and collected locks, trying to figure out how they worked. He ran and exercised to become strong. After practicing different tricks, he went to the circus to ask for a job. "But we are only here for another week," said the circus manager. "I will work hard for you. I want to learn," said Ehrich. "Please let me work for you this week." To his delight, the circus manager hired him. For the next week, he worked with the acrobats. He learned to do flips and help with the ropes. He helped the magician and learned how he did many of his tricks. When the circus was ready to move on, they invited Ehrich to come with them, but his father refused to let him go. "You are too young," his father explained on the way home. 21

22 "But, Father, you saw that I have talent. I could earn money for the family," Ehrich replied in earnest. "No, the subject is closed. We will get by." Ehrich felt as though his dream had ended. A few weeks later, his father took Ehrich on a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Rabbi Weiss was performing a wedding for the daughter of a friend. After the ceremony, Rabbi Weiss was given two tickets to a magic show in thanks for coming to Milwaukee. He and young Ehrich went to see the famous Dr. Lynn perform his magic act. As they entered the theatre to see the show, Ehrich looked in amazement at the beautiful theatre. "Oh my!" he exclaimed looking around with wonder. "It is quite lovely," his father said. "Here are our seats." Ehrich took his seat. "They are so close; we should get a good view of the show." "Hmm, yes," said the rabbi. A few minutes later, the lights went down and the curtain went up. There, in the middle of the stage, was Dr. Lynn. "I am an illusionist," he announced grandly. "What you see today, you will not believe!" Ehrich leaned over to his father, "What's an illusionist?" "It is someone who makes things appear different than they really are," said his father. Ehrich was puzzled. "You will see; watch the show." Ehrich watched intently as Dr. Lynn pulled long lengths of brightly colored silks from an empty jar, made pigeons appear out of nowhere, and smashed a watch only to have it come out of a handkerchief whole. Ehrich was amazed by the show. These tricks were much better than he had learned at the circus. He was more determined than ever to be a magician. He was going to learn how to do all the tricks Dr. Lynn performed. Then he would be a great magician, too. At age 17, Ehrich changed his name to Harry Houdini. He performed magic shows in circuses, learned how to escape from handcuffs, and performed escapes from strait jackets while hanging upside down on a crowded city street. After five years of stunts, his act became famous. Today, his name means "magic." Magical Inspiration Questions 1. Where was Ehrich Weiss born? A. Appleton, Wisconsin B. Milwaukee, Wisconsin C. London, England D. Budapest, Hungary 22

23 2. What was the first magic trick young Ehrich learned? A. making pigeons appear out of nowhere B. to escape from handcuffs C. to pick locks D. a coin trick 3. What kind of show did Ehrich see in Milwaukee? A. a circus act B. an illusionist C. an escape artist D. none of the above 4. What kind of work did Ehrich do to earn money for his family? A. sold newspapers and shined people's shoes B. sold things he found at the dump C. collected newspapers D. performed magic tricks on street corners 5. Ehrich went to Milwaukee because his father had to. 6. Ehrich changed his name to Harry Houdini when he was years old. 7. Ehrich traveled with the circus when he was a young boy. A. false B. true 8. Ehrich's family was very poor. A. false B. true 23

24 A Funny Old Ballpark A Funny Old Ballpark W.M. Akers Due- March 23, 2016 Have you ever seen a baseball stadium with a hill in it? In Nashville, Tennessee, there used to be a ballpark called Sulphur Dell. It was one of the strangest ballparks in history. In most ballparks, the right field fence is about 330 feet from home plate. In Sulphur Dell, it was only 262 feet which made it very easy to hit home runs, if you hit the ball to just the right spot. That's pretty odd, but not half as weird as the hill in the outfield. It sloped up in front of the right field fence, until it got to about twenty two feet high! Skip Nipper, a historian who wrote about Sulphur Dell in his book Baseball in Nashville, calls the stadium "quirky." He likes to tell a story about a player named Phil Weintraub, who had some trouble with the outfield hill in "A hard line drive came his way," says Nipper, "and he ran down the hill and reached down to catch the ball and missed it. It went between his legs. He turned around, went up the hill to catch it, and once again it went between his legs. When he finally got it, he threw it over the third baseman's head." In baseball, when a player makes a mistake, he's charged with an "error." It's pretty bad if a player makes more than one error in a game, but on that play, Phil Weintraub made three! 24

25 A Funny Old Ballpark A lot of great players came through Sulphur Dell, including Bill Dickey, Honus Wagner, and the sultan of swat himself: Babe Ruth. When Ruth came to town, the whole city was excited. The state Senate even made a special resolution, allowing them to leave the Capitol early so they could all go to the game. Back then, you couldn't watch players on TV, and they didn't want to miss their chance to see Babe Ruth. Ruth was in the outfield when he played there in 1934, Nipper says, and "almost broke one of his legs" running on it. But even though the ballplayers didn't like hills, the people of Nashville loved their ballpark. They called it "the Dell." Nipper started going to games at the Dell when he was a child. His father would take him, and so would his grandfather. "My dad would take me and my cousin or my brother," he says, "and we would sit on the first base side, so we could see that right field hill. And my grandfather would not let us go to the concession stand until the seventh inning stretch. He wanted us to watch the game." One of the greatest games ever played at the Dell was on July 11, A pitcher named Tom Rogers was on the mound for the Tennessee Volunteers. They called him Shotgun Rogers, because he threw the ball so fast. That night, he pitched better than he ever had. He did something that's only happened a few dozen times in all of baseball history: he threw a perfect game. That means that, in nine innings of play, nobody on the opposing team got a hit. Nobody got a walk. Nobody even got to first base! By 1963, the old ballpark wasn't so popular anymore. Teams stopped playing baseball there, and eventually tore it down. But in 1978, a new team came to town: the Nashville Sounds. They built themselves a brand new ballpark called Greer Stadium. A lot of famous players have played there: Don Mattingly, Ryan Braun, Rick Ankiel even Michael Jordan, when he was playing baseball. Sulphur Dell had been around for almost 100 years when they tore it down. Greer Stadium probably won't last that long. The city is now building a brand new ballpark for the Sounds. The new ballpark will be located right beside the state Capitol, on a spot of land called Sulphur Dell. Where does Skip Nipper think they should build the new stadium? He doesn't care. "I'm a baseball fan," he says. "I'm going to go wherever they play. 25

26 Questions: A Funny Old Ballpark Name: Date: 1. What was Sulphur Dell? A a baseball B a historian C a ballpark D a meeting place for state senators 2. What does this passage describe? A This passage describes the career of baseball stars like Babe Ruth, Don Mattingly, and Ryan Braun. B This passage describes a strange old ballpark and some of the things that happened there. C This passage describes the reasons that some people want to build a new ballpark next to the state Capitol in Tennessee. D This passage describes the different players on the Nashville Sounds. 3. Sulphur Dell was a strange ballpark. What evidence from the passage supports this statement? A In most ballparks, the right field fence is about 330 feet from home plate. In Sulphur Dell, it was only 262 feet which made it very easy to hit home runs, if you hit the ball to just the right spot. B The city is now building a brand new ballpark for the Sounds. The new ballpark will be located right beside the state Capitol, on a spot of land called Sulphur Dell. C One of the greatest games ever played at the Dell was on July 11, A pitcher named Tom Rogers was on the mound for the Tennessee Volunteers. D A lot of great players came through Sulphur Dell, including Bill Dickey, Honus Wagner, and the sultan of swat himself: Babe Ruth. When Ruth came to town, the whole city was excited. 4. Based on the information in the passage, how did baseball fans feel about Sulphur Dell? A Baseball fans hated Sulphur Dell and almost never went to games there. B Baseball fans loved Sulphur Dell and were excited about going to games there. C Baseball fans did not care much about Sulphur Dell one way or the other. D Baseball fans did not like Sulphur Dell at first but started liking it more in the 1960s. 5. What is this passage mainly about? A what watching a baseball game at Sulphur Dell was like for Skip Nipper B what it means for a pitcher to throw a perfect game C what made Sulphur Dell a strange and special ballpark D how the right field fence in Sulphur Dell made it easy to hit home runs 26

27 Questions: A Funny Old Ballpark 6. Read the following sentence: By 1963, the old ballpark wasn't so popular anymore. Teams stopped playing baseball there, and eventually tore it down. What does the word ballpark mean? A a hill in the outfield of a baseball stadium B a fence that is about 310 feet from home plate C a baseball game in which no player gets a hit D a place where baseball is played 7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Sulphur Dell was eventually torn down it had once been popular and loved by baseball fans. A although B because C before D especially 8. According to the passage, what was weird about the outfield at Sulphur Dell? 27

28 Questions: A Funny Old Ballpark 9. Describe the trouble Phil Weintraub had with the outfield hill in Was Sulphur Dell a good place or a bad place for baseball games? Explain your answer using evidence from the story. 28

29 Due- March 27, 2018 Homo Sapiens By Jesse Kohn It was about four months after I graduated from college that I finally got a job working at the zoo. The pay wasn t bad: all the chicken nuggets I could stomach and my own room in the cage where they kept the human beings. I ve always been a little nervous starting anything new, but I remember that first day being particularly unnerving, waiting for the zoo to open. I asked Joseph, who had been there for years, if there was anything I could help set up. He told me just to relax, maybe go down the slide a few times. Nothing like the slide to clear your mind, he said. Emily and Cindy were waiting in line to go down the slide. You look a little green, Emily said. First day, I replied. First day, huh? said Cindy. I remember my first day. I spent the whole day hiding in the laundry closet. Listen, said Emily. There s nothing to be nervous about. We just do our thing and the people come and watch and sometimes ask us to do a trick. When I got to the top of the ladder, a blow horn resounded through the park announcing that the gates were opening. My heart did a somersault, and I slid down the slide. *** Sure, the job had little to do with what I had studied in college, but after having spent four months looking for work, I was desperate. It wasn t so bad at the zoo, either. I liked our habitat. It reminded me a lot of home. The part of our habitat that faced the visitors was kind of like a backyard. Behind the backyard was the fake house where we each had our own little room; we could always go nap there when we got tired. There was a pond sized bathtub we were encouraged to swim in, and there was always music playing in case we felt like dancing. 29

30 Homo Sapiens Rainy days were best because there weren t many visitors. The zookeepers had hired a wonderful bunch of human beings, and it was a pleasure getting to know them all. It turned out every single one of them had something special they could do Joseph composed music, Emily wrote poetry, Cindy read Tarot cards but even more impressive than what they could do, was who they all were. Sometimes I wondered if the zookeepers or even the wide eyed and fascinated visitors had any idea just how special we all were. *** On sunny days, the visitors crammed around our cage and hollered and cooed at us. Our trainers entered every hour and had us perform tricks in exchange for chunks of cookie dough, which, of course, none of us could refuse. My tricks usually had to do with dancing. One of our trainers spotted me dancing one evening and realized quickly that I had formidable moves. Of course the visitors ate it up. Many nights I d go to sleep with my toes painfully calloused from fancy footwork and my limbs aching from my shaking legs. Joseph did mostly magic tricks, and Emily rode her bicycle in circles. Once I recited a poem I d memorized in French, but by the time I d reached the third stanza no one was listening. *** On the third Sunday of every month, our trainers would leash us up and take us for a leisurely walk about the park. Without the glass between us and them, the visitors were much more respectful. They even seemed a little frightened. One time a little girl dropped her doll, and Cindy picked it up and handed it to her. Her father suddenly pulled her away from Cindy. Don t touch it, Amanda! he shouted. That s a wild animal! Cindy was so angry the trainer had to wrestle the girl s doll away from her. *** But working in the zoo had its perks, too. And eventually I d been there so long that many of visitors started to remember me. 30

31 Homo Sapiens It s Jesse! the children would shout. Do the dance! Dance for us! And they d dance with me on the other side of the glass. There was even an old woman who came now and then and asked me to recite French poetry to her. One time I slipped out of the cage late at night and snuck into the Oceans of the World exhibit. The lights were out, but glowing jellyfish illuminated the walkways. I followed those drifting pillows of light through tunnels of artificial coral, past walls of water flashing with silver schools of tuna, and the circular tank with the circling sharks. Finally, I found what I was looking for: an immense cylindrical tank in the very center of the exhibit. In the dark, I could just barely read the plaque: ARCHITEUTHIS, Giant Squid. It was murky in the tank, and I stared at that black abyss for a long time, seeing only my own reflection trying to peer in through the glass. And I started thinking about who I was and about the other human beings, and I thought about what we were all doing in that zoo. And then, all at once, I realized that I had been looking into the eye of the squid. And in a flash of twisting tentacles and a cloud of ink even darker than the water, it disappeared into the shadows. And who are you really? I whispered, staring into the tank. 31

32 Questions: Homo Sapiens Name: Date: 1. Where does the narrator of the passage work? A at a library B at a zoo C at a movie theater D at an amusement park 2. From which point of view is this story told? A first-person point of view ( I ) B second-person point of view ( you ) C limited third-person point of view ( he or she ) D omniscient, or unlimited, third-person point of view ( he/she/they ) 3. Read the following sentences from the story: It wasn t so bad at the zoo, either. I liked our habitat. It reminded me a lot of home. The part of our habitat that faced the visitors was kind of like a backyard. Behind the backyard was the fake house where we each had our own little room; we could always go nap there when we got tired. What can be concluded from this information? A The narrator does not like working at the zoo very much. B The zookeepers are not taking good care of the narrator. C The narrator is a human being on display at a zoo. D The narrator has spent his or her whole life working at the zoo. 4. How does the narrator s attitude about being at the zoo change throughout the story? A laid-back at first, then thoughtful, and finally nervous B laid-back at first, then nervous, and finally thoughtful C nervous at first, then laid-back, and finally thoughtful D thoughtful at first, then laid-back, and finally nervous 5. What is a theme of this story? A true love B religious belief C the horrors of war D human nature 32

33 Questions: Homo Sapiens 6. Read the following sentences from the story: You look a little green, Emily said. First day, I replied. What might the word green mean in the sentence above? A inexperienced or sick B healthy or confident C friendly or very happy D old or exhausted 7. Select the word that best completes the sentence. The human beings at the zoo have special talents, composing music, writing poetry, and dancing. A consequently B otherwise C earlier D such as 8. What does the narrator sneak off to see at the end of the story? 33

34 Questions: Homo Sapiens 9. What question does the narrator ask at the very end of the story? 10. Why does the narrator ask the question at the very end of the story? Support your answer with evidence from the passage. 34

35 Leprechauns at the Amusement Park By Beth Beutler Due- March 28, 2018 The Leprechauns were so excited. Today was they day they would be going to the Greenville Amusement Park. They did this every March on Saint Patrick's Day. They rented the entire park and joined hundreds of other leprechauns for a day of fun. Marvin and Mabel were leprechauns that had known each other for over 20 years. They shared many of the same interests, including going to amusement parks. They had attended the Saint Patrick's Day celebration in Greenville almost every year for over ten years. Marvin and Mabel sat down a week before the celebration and planned their day. They enjoyed most of the rides, so they always mapped out a way to get on as many as possible, riding some more than once. "I think we should start with the Screaming Green Machine," Marvin suggested. (This was a brand new ride.) "Ummm, that looks kind of dangerous," Mabel replied. "So? Are you scared?" Marvin asked. At first Mabel did not want to admit her fear. However, she answered honestly, "A little." "Ahh, Mabel. You've always gone on these rides before!" Marvin countered. "Yes, but this one looks even scarier than the Whip, and that one really bothered me." "Suit yourself," Marvin replied. "I'm going on everything!" Mabel sighed. She was a little mad at herself for being scared. She was also worried that Marvin may not want to hang around her any more if she didn't enjoy the same things he did. On Saint Patrick's Day, they walked into the park as soon as it opened. Marvin decided he wanted to head right to the Screaming Green Machine. Mabel gulped. She'd finally have to decide if she was going to ride it. She looked up at the huge contraption and watched riders get strapped into a car without a floor. They climbed a hill over 500 feet high and stayed suspended at the top for an unknown number of seconds. They then plunged down the hill at 100 miles per hour, quickly whipping to the right and directly into an upside down loop. If that wasn't enough, the cars then sped through a long, green, dark tunnel with flashing lights, and spraying water. The water did not spray constantly, so some riders got out without being soaked. Other riders weren't so lucky. The ride ultimately ended with an abrupt stop just before appearing to crash through a brick wall. People coming off the ride had all sorts of looks on their faces, but every one of them was green. (This was especially true today, since most of the people there were leprechauns.) Mabel decided not to go on the ride. Marvin tried one last time to convince Mabel to try it. She stood her ground. "No, Marvin, I don't want to. I'll try it when I'm ready, but not because you force me into it." "Okay. It's your loss." Marvin stated. 35

36 Mabel watched as Marvin rode. She caught quick glances at him speeding by. His eyes were shut and he was screaming. When Marvin got off the ride, water was dripping off his face. He looked dizzy and shocked. "Well, how was it?" Mabel asked. The only thing Marvin said as he walked away was, "Mabel, maybe you are a little smarter than I am!" Mabel laughed and caught up with him. Now, she really was content to stay off the ride. "C'mon," she said. "Let's join the others on a gentler ride-the merry go round!" Leprechauns at the Amusement Park Questions 1. From this story, what can you conclude about Mabel and Marvin's relationship? A. They are brother and sister B. They do not get along C. They have been friends for a long time 2. What holiday did the leprechauns celebrate at the amusement park? 3. What can you conclude happened to Marvin as he went through the green tunnel? 4. Which of the following is a FACT from this story? A. Friends should not force friends to try something they aren't ready for B. Leprechauns always celebrate Saint Patrick's day C. Roller coasters are dangerous D. Some people don't enjoy wild rides 5. The story refers to all the riders of the roller coaster coming off with their faces being. 36

37 6. How did Mabel feel about staying off the ride? Circle the best answer. A. Careless. B. Happy. C. Decisive. D. A little angry with herself. 7. How did Mabel feel after she saw the others ride the roller coaster? Circle the best answer. A. Proud of her choice. B. Angry she did not go. C. Glad she did not go. D. Relieved she did not go. Extra Credit: 4 x 10 = Sara will win if a random number pulled of of a box is a number divisible by pieces of paper, numbered 42 to 65, are put inside of a box. What is the chance that Sara will win? 27 9 = Wendy is getting messy. She has made a 3' x 1' x 1' cube made out of clay blocks. She wants her art project to have at least a surface area of 16 square feet. Does she need to add more clay? 11 kg = g

38 Pizza Town By Beth Beutler Due- March 29, 2018 I loved to go to Pizza Town. We always had a blast. They had an all-you-can-eat buffet, and several rooms of fun things to do. There was a TV room, a movie room, an adventure room, reading room, and video game room. My grandmother often took me there. She loved it too! We'd play video games and earn points. Once I even earned enough points to win a DVD movie! Grandma invited me to go to Pizza Town Friday after school. She had a coupon so two of us could get in for the price of one. She picked me up immediately after school, and we headed there. We had a routine. We'd pay, pick a table in the movie room, then go get the first round of the meal. She'd usually get a salad, but I'd go for one or two pieces of pepperoni pizza. I also treated myself to some soda. After we ate, we'd put our coats and her purse in a locker, then head to the video games. She liked playing the Whack a Rat game, and I did the best on the game "Zorpho Battle." In it, I was to fight the evil Zorphman with my army of well-trained and loyal subjects. As I journeyed through each battle, I gained more soldiers and equipment. I also gained more points. I kept the points building up on my card so I could get better prizes. This time, I was on level seven of Zorpho Battle. The evil Zorphman had afflicted my troops with a virus, giving them all head colds. My soldiers could only last about two minutes each before they became idle. In despair, I sent my commander, Jacques Whonose to extract the antidote from a rare flower. He searched in a series of caves until he found them. When he provided this to the troops, they were revived. They went after those savage aliens with new energy and defeated them soundly. I had gained another 3000 points! I took a break and headed to the tumble room, which could accommodate about 25 kids at a time. This gave me a chance to climb, jump, and run around. It was the noisiest room, so Grandma could only stand it for a brief time. After about 20 minutes of running off steam, I joined her for another round at the buffet. This time she insisted I have some salad. I also took a cinnamon roll and apple dumpling pizza. It was yummy! We enjoyed all this while watching a clever Abbott and Costello movie. They always made me laugh! We headed back to the game room. I was tempted to go back for more points on Zorpho Battle, but tried a racing game instead. I had almost as much fun pretending to be a famous racecar driver. It was such a realistic game. It even had a makeshift driver's seat that vibrated. The tracks on screen were designed to be equivalent to those in real races. I intended to dominate the track to make the top 10% of high scores this time. I did it! We played and ate for about three hours. Grandma then advised we head home. I decided to save my points so I could possess a video game system the next time we came. What a fun place! Grandma could take me to Pizza Town anytime! Pizza Town Questions 1. What types of activities were available at Pizza Town? (circle all that apply) A. reading B. swimming C. video games D. tumbling E. movies F. eating 38

39 2. What game does the child play regularly to gain points? 3. The child ate a dessert pizza. What was it called? 4. If you could rename the title of this story, what would your title be? 5. It normally cost $7.50 per person to go to Pizza Town. With Grandma's coupon, what percent of their normal cost did they save? Extra Credit: Write an equation to represent this: The sum of twelve and six is eighteen. In the number 919,042,829,557, the digit 7 is in what place? Sara multiplied two one-digit numbers and then added 132. The result was 240. Anna does not believe her and thinks Sara made a mistake. Who is correct? Complete the pattern. 200,000 x 4 = 20,000 x 4 = 2,000 x 4 = 200 x 4 = 39

40 Jon Bon Jovi - Rock Star Dad By Toni Lee Robinson Due- March Frenzied flashes of light crisscross the stage. Music pounds. In ragged jeans, the lead singer leaps and whirls across the stage. His hair lashes his face. He holds the mike out to the screaming crowd and leads them in one last chorus. The music thunders to an end. Members of the band bound to center stage and take a bow. A fiery blaze of lights follows them offstage. Then, the stage goes dark. The concert is over. Where does a rock star go when the concert ends? If the star is Jon Bon Jovi, he goes home to his wife and children. He and wife Dorothea Hurley have four kids. The oldest, Stephanie Rose, was born in Jesse James came along in Jacob was born in The littlest, Romeo Jon, made his entrance in Can a screaming, head-banging rocker be a good dad? Jon Bon Jovi thinks so. Being the leader of a hot rock group means lots of traveling on tour. In the past, Jon was gone from home for much of each year. Now, his home life is very important to him. He still tours with his group, Bon Jovi, but he plans time in each tour to come home. He tries not to miss holidays or important family events. Dressed in black leather, Papa Bon Jovi recently attended daughter Stephanie's school play. Getting there had been a scramble. Dashing from a meeting, the rocker roared out of the driveway in his black Dodge Viper. He wheeled into the school parking lot and raced inside, just in time for the opening curtain. "For too many years," he says, "there were too many plays I missed when I was on the road. I just couldn't miss one more." Family life brings a healthy balance in the life of the megastar. Bon Jovi says it keeps him from believing media myths about himself. Kids can be humbling, observes the star. Just see how you rate on the "fun scale" next to the family dog. Copper, a German shepherd, is a big part of the Bongiovi family. "I jokingly used to say my house was the singer's house - it was all me, me, me," he says. "No more. Now it's all about kids. I'm right below Copper." There is much about this wild rock star that might surprise his fans. Most know that Jon's real name is John Bongiovi. They might know that he was born in 1962 and grew up in New Jersey. But does sweeping floors and emptying garbage cans sound like the way to get started in a music career? When he was in high school, Bon Jovi worked as a janitor in his uncle's recording studio. In the middle of the night or other times when the studio wasn't busy, Jon got to record demos of his own songs. The band had several monster hits in the late 1980s. "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer" were two of their biggest songs. Their sound was known as "hair metal." Rockers of this era had big, wild hair-dos. Some painted their faces in jagged streaks of color or used lots and lots of makeup. Bon Jovi didn't use paint, but his long, brown hair was spiked and teased into a huge pouf. In 1989, the band was named the rock group of the year at the American Music Awards. They sold millions of albums. In the 90s, the band's shining star faded a little. As styles and tastes changed, Bon Jovi's music wasn't as big with the American public as it had been. Rock star Jon became interested in acting. He took acting lessons and landed some roles. Then, in 2000, the Bon Jovi band came back. They changed from heavy metal music to a more middle of the road rock. With one hit and then another, they charged back to stardom. Their shows were sold out again, and the awards began to roll in. Success brought many good things for the hard-working star. The most important was the freedom to control his schedule and plan time for his family. Another was the ability to be very generous. In a 2001 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the band donated one million dollars to the Angel Network. (This group, founded by Oprah, helps needy women and children.) That same year, Jon Bon Jovi was named Humanitarian 40 of the Year for his gifts to the hungry in New Jersey. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from a state university for

41 his career success and his generosity. Jon Bon Jovi was also able to make a personal dream come true. He purchased a franchise in the Arena Football League and formed a team called the Philadelphia Soul. The Soul began playing in Like its owner, the team was involved with giving. Bon Jovi and the Soul financed a playground at a Philadelphia home for foster kids. They also supplied beds and jobs for runaway kids living in a halfway house. Today, Jon Bon Jovi continues to work hard at his career. He and his band have shows lined up in the U.S. and Europe a year ahead of time. In 2004, the band received a Merit Award for their 20 years of success. At the World Music awards, they were recognized for reaching the 100 million mark in album sales. But for the energetic rocker, there is one award that outshines them all. It's as simple as his children's shouts of "Dad! Dad!" as he comes in his front door. Jon Bon Jovi - Rock Star Dad Questions 1. Is Jon Bon Jovi's lifestyle different from what you thought a rock star's life would be? If so, how? 2. Jon Bon Jovi's stage name is. A. a simplified version of his real name B. taken from a kind of Italian food C. his mother's maiden name D. taken from a French movie title 3. Explain what being "on tour" means to a rock band. 4. How could being "on tour" be hard on family life? 5. Before he became a star, Jon Bon Jovi worked toward a music career by: A. shining shoes in Nashville, the home of country music B. building guitars and other instruments C. teaching music in an elementary school D. working as a janitor in his uncle's recording studio 41

42 6. The Bon Jovi sound of the 1980s was known as. A. punk rock B. pop country C. acid rock D. hair metal 7. Jon Bon Jovi wears several "hats" in his life and career. Which does he say is most important to him? A. rock star B. football team owner C. parent D. actor 8. Let's say you are the child of a rock star. What would you want most from your famous parent? Extra Credit: What can you multiply by 12 to get 11? Circle the digit in the hundredths place Circle the pronoun(s) in the sentence. Give me a call tomorrow; I will try to help you. Jenna invented a robot. The robot's name is Nathan. Nathan can go a maximum speed of 4 mph. At that rate, how long would it take Nathan to go 14 miles? 3 x 11 = Circle the smallest number: 7,921,485,360 8,513,674 4,019 90,212,798,356 42

43 Farmers' Market By Beth Beutler Due- March 29, 2018 Megan loved Saturdays. That was the day Megan and her mom would visit the farmers' market. Megan and her mom went to the farmers' market almost every Saturday. It was about a half hour from their house, and Mom liked to get there early. Megan's brother Bryan preferred to sleep in on Saturday, and so did her father. But Megan and her mother really enjoyed this time and always looked forward to it. The market opened at 7:30 A.M. Megan's mom would get up about 6:30 A.M. and gently wake Megan, who was usually snuggled under her pink comforter. They would get ready quietly, go downstairs for a quick toaster pastry with milk, and head out the door. (Saturdays were the only days Megan got to eat toaster pastries.) On the way downtown to the market, Megan and her mom would listen to popular music. They would sing along and laugh together. They probably would not have done that if Dad or Bryan were in the car. It was their own silly little thing to do, but it sure was fun. Once they got to the market, they took out their reusable bags and began to walk from booth to booth. Mom would always get some fresh fruits and vegetables. Every week, she got tomatoes, squash, and peppers. Some weeks she would also get peaches and grapes. They often would buy other items like cheese, fresh-squeezed juice, or natural peanut butter. One time Mom even bought homemade pasta. Boy, was it good, especially when she combined it with her homemade spaghetti sauce! Mom could have bought many of these things at the local grocery store. After all, she went there every Monday, and it was only about five minutes from their house. But Megan's mom grew up on a farm. She knew how healthy the fruits and vegetables were when they came straight from the farm. She also knew how hard farmers worked. So as often as she could, she traveled straight to the farmers' market for her produce. To her, it was one small way to show how much she appreciated the hardworking farming families. She knew that these families often made part of their living from what they sold at the market. She was always happy to support them. It would be some time before Megan thought in the same terms. She simply enjoyed the time alone with her mom and the good tasting foods they bought. She didn't often think of the positive impact their purchases had on farming families. She just knew that Saturday mornings were her favorite time of the week. Farmers' Market Questions 1. What time did Megan get up on Saturdays? A. 7:00 A.M. B. 7:30 A.M. C. 6:00 A.M. D. 6:30 A.M. 43

44 2. What did Megan and her mom do in the car on the way to the farmers market? 3. What is Megan's brother's name? A. Ricky B. Charlie C. Bryan D. Brad 4. Megan's mom grew up. A. in a small town B. in a big city C. in a country outside the United States D. on a farm 5. Which of the following items is NOT mentioned in the story? A. grapes B. eggs C. squash D. natural peanut butter 6. What item did Megan's mom buy one time? A. grits B. tomato sauce C. cornbread D. homemade pasta 7. What was nearby that Megan and her mom could have shopped at? 8. Which word describes Saturday for Megan? A. boring B. enjoyable C. tiring D. frustrating 44

45 Grand Canyon National Park By Cindy Grigg Due- March 29, 2018 If you are visiting Arizona, you should include a trip to Grand Canyon National Park. You must see the canyon in person to appreciate its size. It is more than one mile deep and fifteen miles across. If you are brave enough, visit the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a glass platform shaped like a horse shoe. It juts seventy feet out over the canyon's rim. You can walk out on it and look down with nothing but glass separating you from the bottom of the canyon almost a mile below. You can end the day with a wagon ride. Enjoy watching the sunset beside a campfire. Bring your own hot dogs and marshmallows to roast over a roaring fire. There are museums you can visit, mule rides, and hiking trails. You can rent a bicycle or take a guided tour. You can float the Colorado River and see the canyon from a raft. There are many things you can do at Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon National Park Questions 1. In which state is the Grand Canyon? 2. How big is the canyon? A. one mile deep and fifteen miles wide B. one mile wide and fifteen miles deep C. ten miles deep and fifteen miles wide D. none of the above 3. What does the word appreciate mean in the story? A. realize B. be grateful for C. welcome D. be thankful for 4. Which of these is NOT something you can do at the park? A. float across the canyon in a hot air balloon B. rent a bicycle C. ride a mule D. take a guided tour 45