Rationale Goal Task Foci Objectives Materials Procedures PARCC Research Simulation Task Grade 4 Reading Lesson 8: Practice Completing the Research Simulation Task This lesson provides students with practice answering the selected and constructed response questions on the Research Simulation Task To complete a practice reading section of the Research Simulation Task CCSS RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text. CCSS RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text. CCSS RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area. CCSS RI.4.5: Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text. CCSS RI.4.6: Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided. CCSS RI.4.10: By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. Students will complete the reading section of the Research Simulation Task Research Simulation Task (excluding the prose-constructed response) Tell your students that today they will complete a practice PARCC Research Simulation Task. Remind students of the task focus. The focus of these questions is the aspects of informational text: claims, main ideas, supporting details, order of events, and text structure. Pass out the test. You have 30 minutes to complete this test. Ready? Begin. Remind class when five minutes remain. In closing, ask students for feedback on their test-taking experience. RST Reading Lesson 7: Practice Completing the Assessment Page 1 2015 Standards Solution Holding, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Teacher Observations during the Task Observe how much time students are spending reading the texts; note how many students are reading the texts more than once. Observe which students are returning to the texts for each question, and which students are speeding through the questions. Assessment Refer to the answer key (attached) Extension Activities Standards Solution has many PARCC-aligned practice tests available online. RST Reading Lesson 7: Practice Completing the Assessment Page 2 2015 Standards Solution Holding, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Animals in Volcanoes National Park, Hawai i by The National Park Service 1. A large variety of Hawaiian native species including birds, caterpillars, the largest dragonfly in the United States, endangered sea turtles, and bats live in Volcanoes National Park. Most native animal species in the Hawaiian Islands have been there for 70 million years. Their ancestors were birds, bats, or insects that were able to fly to the Hawaiian Islands, or snails and insects that were carried by birds. Some animals were blown to the islands by the wind or washed ashore on the beach. 2. The Hawaiian Islands are home to many interesting birds, including six different Hawaiian honeycreepers. Several species of Hawaiian birds found within Volcanoes National Park are endangered; the nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, Ua'u or Hawaiian petrel, and io or Hawaiian hawk. 3. Because the Hawaiian Islands were isolated and did not have any contact with the outside world for millions of years, these native animals were able to live safely. However, contact with the outside world has caused them to be endangered. The native animals are protected within Hawai i Volcanoes National Park, but these animals that have survived for millions of years now face many threats. New diseases, invasive plants, and rats, cats, feral goats, pigs and sheep all threaten the native species and harm their habitats. However, the National Park Service is working hard to repair the habitats and monitor threats of several of the endangered species, including the nēnē, ua u and the honu ea.
1. Part A: What is the meaning of the word isolated as used in paragraph 3 of this article? A. attached to other pieces of land B. did not have any friends or family C. set apart from other things; alone D. kept safe from danger Part B: Which detail from paragraph 3 supports the answer from Part A? A. did not have any contact with the outside world B. these native animals were able to live safely. C. contact with the outside world has caused them to be endangered. D. The native animals are protected within Hawai i Volcanoes National Park 2. Part A: According to the article, why are some of the Hawaiian native species endangered? A. They have lived in the Hawaiian Islands for 70 million years, which is too long. B. Living near a volcano is very dangerous. C. The National Park Service wants them to leave the park because they hurt the volcano. D. Contact with the outside world threatens their habitats and brought diseases and other animals. Part B: Which detail from the article supports the answer to Part A? A. The native animals are protected within Hawai i Volcanoes National Park (Paragraph 3) B. New diseases, invasive plants, and rats, cats, feral goats, pigs and sheep all threaten the native species and harm their habitats. (Paragraph 3) C. Most native animal species in the Hawaiian Islands have been there for 70 million years. (Paragraph 1) D. the National Park Service is working hard to repair the habitats and monitor threats of several of the endangered species (Paragraph 3)
3. Choose the two main ideas from the list on the right and write them in the empty box labeled Main Ideas. Then choose one detail that best supports each main idea. Write each detail in the empty box labeled Supporting Details. Main Ideas Supporting Details Possible Main Ideas Possible Supporting Details Some animals were blown to the Hawaiian islands by the wind. The Hawaiian islands are home to many interesting birds. Contact with the outside world endangers the Hawaiian native animals. Their ancestors were birds, bats, or insects that were able to fly to the Hawaiian Islands, or snails and insects that were carried by birds. The largest dragonfly in the United States lives in Volcanoes National Park. Most native animal species in the Hawaiian Islands have been there for 70 million years. The National Park Service is working hard to restore habitats of endangered birds. New diseases, invasive plants, and rats, cats, feral goats, pigs and sheep all threaten the native species and harm their habitats. Hawaiian Native species have been there for a very long time. the Hawaiian Islands were isolated and did not have any contact with the outside world for millions of years
Hawaiian Sea Turtles by The National Park Service 1. The Honu Called Honu by the Hawaiians, the hawksbill is an endangered sea turtle that lives in the waters of the islands. They are known to nest on nine beaches on Hawai i, on one beach on Maui and several beaches on Moloka i. Three of the beaches on Hawai i are protected along the remote coast in Volcanoes National Park. The Honu are now endangered because of habitat loss and predators such as sharks. The Honu are also in danger because of poaching, where some people kill the Honu and make their shells into jewelry. Poaching is against the law. 2. Nesting The nesting season for Honu goes from late May through December. Females wait until night to crawl on the shore to find a safe place near plants. She uses her strong flippers to dig a hole in the sand. After she lays her eggs, she covers the nest with sand. The Honu then returns to the ocean for about two months to wait for her eggs to hatch. Female Honu lay about 178 eggs at a time. After the eggs hatch, the tiny Honu work as a team to scrape the sand away and uncover themselves. When they are about an inch from the surface, the baby Honu test the sand. If it is cool, they know it is dark and they will be safer from predators on their walk to the ocean. 3. How to Help Protect the Honu To help protect endangered Honu turtles, follow this advice: Do not camp or bring pets on sandy nesting beaches because you may disturb female turtles, their eggs, or babies. Do not build campfires or use flashlights on nesting beaches. The light from the fire and flashlights could confuse the baby turtles. Keep the beaches clean. Food scraps and other garbage attract predators such as mongoose and cats. Keep nets and other barriers away from the beaches.
4. Part A: What is the meaning of the word poaching as used in paragraph 1 of this article? A. laying eggs in a nest B. hunting animals without permission C. cooking an egg in simmering water D. making tortoiseshell jewelry Part B: Which detail from the article supports the answer to Part A? A. some people kill the Honu and make their shells into jewelry. (Paragraph 1) B. The Honu are now endangered because of habitat loss and predators such as sharks. (Paragraph 1) C. Three of the beaches on Hawai i are protected along the remote coast in Volcanoes National Park. (Paragraph 1) D. She uses her strong flippers to dig a hole in the sand. (Paragraph 2) 5. Part A: Why do the mother and baby turtles test the sand before walking on it? A. They don t want to burn their feet on the hot sand. B. The baby turtles are afraid of the dark. C. To make sure there are no campfires and flashlights out. D. Their journey to and from the ocean in safer in the dark. Part B: Which detail from the article supports the answer to Part A? A. If it is cool, they know it is dark and they will be safer from predators on their walk to the ocean. (Paragraph 2) B. The light from the fire and flashlights could confuse the baby turtles. (Paragraph 3) C. Food scraps and other garbage attract predators such as mongoose and cats. (Paragraph 3) D. After the eggs hatch, the tiny Honu work as a team to scrape the sand away and uncover themselves. (Paragraph 2)
6. This article explains the turtles nesting process. Write the letters for the steps of the nesting process in the correct order in the flow chart below. One letter won t be used. (A) She lays her eggs. (E) The female returns to the ocean to wait for her eggs to hatch. (B) She uses her flippers to dig a hole in the sand. (F) The female lays about 178 eggs. (C) The baby turtles test the sand and make their way to the ocean. (G) Females wait until night and crawl on shore to find a safe place. (D) She covers her eggs with sand. (H) The baby turtles hatch and dig their way out of the hole.
Nēnē by The National Park Service 1. Hawai i is not a place with a lot of large native animals. You may see humpback whales or porpoises swimming in the ocean. Io (Hawaiian hawks) and pueo (shorteared owls) sometimes fly in the sky, and ōpe ape a (Hawaiian bats) flutter across bays and roadways at dusk. But the Island's most noticeable large native animal is the nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, and is Hawai i s State Bird. 2. The nēnē goose is an herbivore, and feasts on native plants. The nēnē is a strong flyer, but its short wings, long legs and reduced webbing between its toes let us know that it often walks and seldom swims. 3. About 25,000 nēnē existed in Hawai i when Captain Cook arrived in 1778. By the mid 1940 s only 50 birds remained. The number of nēnē was drastically reduced when people brought predators such as mongooses, cats and dogs to the island. Other animals such as cattle, goats and pigs, as well as hunters also caused the nēnē population to get smaller. Plants brought in from other places took over much of the plants the nēnē ate and changed their habitat. 4. In the 1970's, Hawai i Volcanoes National Park started a program to help make the number of nēnē larger. Scientists captured the nēnē, allowed them to lay eggs in safety, and then returned the nēnē to the wild. The scientists are still running into problems. Mongooses and wild cats kill adult nēnē and goslings. Cars hit and kill nēnē along roadways. Nēnē like the grassy fairways of golf courses but can get injured or killed by golf balls. 5. Nēnē will probably always need our help to survive. Currently, park staff have several strategies to help the nēnē. Park staff keep predators out of the habitat when the nēnē are laying eggs. They mow pastures, close their habitat to people, and make areas where the nēnē live difficult for predators to enter. 6. Park staff mark nēnē with leg bands to help identify and track the birds. Usually, this is done when birds are young and cannot yet fly. Tracking and monitoring allows the Park staff to learn a lot about the birds habits and habitats.
7. Part A: What is the meaning of the word herbivore as used in paragraph 2 of the article? A. An animal that eats plants. B. An animal that lives in bushes. C. An animal that does not like plants. D. A bird that does not fly. Part B: Which detail from the article supports the answer to Part A? A. its short wings, long legs and reduced webbing between its toes let us know that it often walks and seldom swims. (Paragraph 2) B. and feasts on native plants. (Paragraph 2) C. The nēnē is a strong flyer (Paragraph 2) D. Plants brought in from other places took over much of the plants the nēnē ate and changed their habitat. (Paragraph 3) 8. Part A: This article gives several details about the nēnē goose: Mongoose, cats, and dogs eat nēnē. Nēnē are often injured on golf courses or by cars on the road. The nēnē s main food source has been taken over by other plants in some areas. Cattle, goats, and pigs are dangerous to the nēnē. What do these details help show about the nēnē goose? A. The nēnē are brave animals. B. Nēnē like to be around people. C. Nēnē will be around for many years to come. D. The nēnē face many dangers. Part B: Paragraph 2 gives information about the nēnē and the dangers it faces. Which other paragraph gives information about the nēnē s dangers? A. Paragraph 1 B. Paragraph 5 C. Paragraph 3 D. Paragraph 4
9. From the six choices below, choose the four that describe the nēnē from the article and write them in the graphic organizer. A. Nēnē are herbivores. B. Nēnē is a strong flyer. C. Nēnē has strong wings and short legs. D. Hawai i is not a place with a lot of large animals. E. Nēnē has reduced webbing in its feet. F. Park staff mow pastures and keep predators away from Nēnē. Nēnē
Answer Key 1A. C 1B. A 2A. D 2B. B 3. Main Ideas Contact with the outside world endangers the Hawaiian native animals. Hawaiian Native species have been there for a very long time. Supporting Details New diseases, invasive plants, and rats, cats, feral goats, pigs and sheep all threaten the native species and harm their habitats. Most native animal species in the Hawaiian Islands have been there for 70 million years. 4A. B 4B. A 5A. D 5B. A 6. G, B, A, D, E, H, C (F is not used) 7A. A 7B. B 8A. D 8B. C 9. A, B, C, E