Grade Decodable #1 Sand, Tan Hats, and a Mat

Ace Reporter: I just glanced around. And I can tell that this is not a simple task. Will you take us around the place?

Grace: No problem, Ace. It is not a big place. It is not like the home of a prince or princess.

Grace: We eat leaves and logs. We make the dirt rich. Then, little trees will begin a life in the rich dirt. It is a circle that happens again and again.

Ace Reporter: Grace, before I head back up, do you have advice for those on top of the dirt?

Grace: Look before you dig so you do not disturb us! That would make life nice and peaceful.

Ace Reporter: Thank you, Grace. And thanks to your force, too. Let’s face it. We need you in the dirt!

2^nd Grade Decodable #23

Uncle Gene

“Hello Roger!” said Uncle Gene. “I have an urgent matter to share with you, if I could just remember it!”

“Uncle Gene!” said Roger.

“What was it?” Uncle Gene asked. “A gingerbread man ran away! You may need to help catch him.”

“Uncle Gene!” said Roger.

“Maybe not,” Uncle Gene said. “There is a giant tomato bulging from the birdcage!”

“Uncle Gene!” said Roger.

“Well, I’m thinking,” said Uncle Gene. ”What could that urgent matter be? I remember! I am supposed to give you this present.”

Roger smiled and grabbed the present. “Great! Thank you,” he said.

“Open it up!” said Uncle Gene. “There are not germs on it.”

Roger opened the present. Inside was a rock. “Gee!” said Roger. “It is shaped like the Earth.”

“It is not quite as large,” said Uncle Gene. “I need a sock and a hammer.”

Roger did not understand this. “Place the rock inside the sock,” said Uncle Gene. “That will keep you from danger.”

Uncle Gene said, “I will hit the rock with the hammer. I will be gentle.”

“But that will hurt the rock!” said Roger. Uncle Gene had a huge grin.

So Uncle Gene gave the rock a gentle tap. It broke apart. Roger got it out of the sock.

“It’s great!” said Roger. “What kind of rock is this?”

“It is a geode,” said Uncle Gene.

“What is a geode?” asked Roger.

“It’s a kind of rock,” said Uncle Gene. “It’s from space.”

“Uncle Gene!” said Roger.

“Did I say from space?” said Uncle Gene. “I mean that it has an open space and a gem inside.” “We can have it for lunch,” said Uncle Gene.

“With a giant tomato,” said Roger.

“Wait!” said Uncle Gene. “That does not make sense! And it’s what I was going to say!”

2^nd Grade Decodable #24

A Green Leaf Print

What is the main difference between plants and animals? Think about this. Can an animal’s body make its own meal?

Well, green plants can feed themselves. Each plant is a little factory. Plants use the sun’s rays to make a sweet substance. With that, plants can feed themselves.

You can see a thin slice of a green leaf under a microscope. That would reveal cells, or tiny parts, of the leaf. Several cells look like green jellybeans! These cells are the ones that get the job done.

Would you like to make a green leaf print? It is fun and easy to do.

Objects needed to make a Green Leaf Print

• 
  green leaf
  
• 
  piece of cotton fabric
  
• 
  block
  
• 
  thumbtacks
  
• 
  rock
  

Start by picking a leaf from a tree. Wide, flat leaves will be best. Then lay the leaf on a block. Place a piece of fabric on top of the leaf. Use thumbtacks to hold the fabric in place. Use a rock to gently beat the fabric. Use even force. Trace around the edge of the leaf. Then beat the center. As you beat the leaf, the cells inside it are broken. This releases the green substance. When you are done beating the leaf, lift up the fabric. The leaf will have left its likeness in green.

Now what will you do with a leaf print? You may make the print into a nice hanging. Simply paste the print to a stick and add twine. Or you may make a spiral pad look fancy. Paste the print on the top. On the pages, sketch and write about trees! Write notes in the margins. What other things can you do with a leaf print? That is a challenge for you!

2^nd Grade Decodable #25

Meet the Firefighters

Hi! I’m Mike. Do you know what my job is? That is right! I’m a firefighter. I fight fires.

This is where I work. It’s open all the time. Fires can happen at any time. So, we firefighters work day and night.

This is our fire truck. Like most fire trucks, it’s red and white. We scrub and wax it a lot. We like it clean and bright.

If there is a fire, this alarm bell rings. There are times when I’m asleep, and the bell rings. What a fright!

All the lights go on, and all the firefighters run. Some run down the flight of steps. I like to slide down the pole.

We get into the fire truck. Five firefighters ride this night. Let me tell you, it’s pretty tight in there!

This fire truck needs two drivers. One drives in the regular spot, and one drives in the back.

We drive as fast as we can. The siren screams. The lights flash. This tells drivers, “Get out of our way!”

We arrive at the fire site. First, we ask, “Is anyone in there?” We are lucky. No one is in there.

Some firefighters get the hose ready. Then they turn on the water. It comes out quite strongly.

There are times we need to get up high to fight a fire. Then we use ladders. This ladder can reach higher than 100 feet!

There are times we must go in. Smoke rises, so we stay down. Smoke is dark. We use our lights. We get out as fast as we can.

That’s what you need to do, too. If you are ever in a fire, stay down and get out fast. Do not hide! It’s wise to keep a flashlight near the bed.

Well, time to head back. It was a delight to meet you! And remember, check you fire alarms! It just might save a life!

2^nd Grade Decodable #26

Try My Pie

Tyler came into the bakery. It smells so good! He licked his lips. Mrs. Bly bakes treats for him to try.

Tyler spied Mrs. Bly by the stove. “Hi, Tyler!” she yelled. “You’re just in time! This little pie is piping hot. It’s just waiting for you to try.”

“No, thanks, Mrs. Bly,” Tyler said, looking away. Mrs. Bly walked over.

“Now don’t be shy,” she said. “Just give the pie a try.”

Tyler looked up. “You know I’m not shy, Mrs. Bly.”

“Then why will you not try my pie?” she asked.

“I can’t deny it,” Tyler sighed. “I just don’t like pie, Mrs. Bly.”

“YOU DON’T LIKE PIE?” Mrs. Bly yelled to the bakers in the back. “Did you hear that? He said he does not like pie!”

She turned back to Tyler. “How can you not like pie? Why, that’s like saying you don’t like the sky! Or that birds can’t fly! Or that spies don’t pry!”

Mrs. Bly put the pie under Tyler’s nose. “You just have not tried the right pie. I baked this pie all by myself. It’s my best chicken pot pie.”

“Chicken pot pie?” Tyler asked. “Do you mean there is chicken in that pie?”

Mrs. Bly smiled. “Yes, chicken and veggies are in this pie. This pie is not sweet, but even flies want a try!”

“You need to make all those flies fly away from the pie.”

“Fly away, flies. Fly away.”

“Now, it’s time to try my chicken pot pie. I’m telling you, this pie is yummy! It’s so yummy, you’ll want to cry!”

“Okay, I give up!” Tyler yelled. “I’ll try your chicken pot pie!” He had a tiny bite. Then he had a bigger bite, and then a bigger one.

“Now, Tyler,” Mrs. Bly smiled. “Aren’t you glad you tried my chicken pot pie?”

“I can’t lie,” Tyler cried. “This is a great pie! In fact, I’m going to eat this little pie all by myself!”

“I’d like to see you try,” said Mrs. Bly.

2^nd Grade Decodable #27

The Boat Show

Hope’s home is Oak Cove, a little city along the coast. Every October, Oak Cove hosts its own boat show. This October, Hope is going to be in the show!

Hope chatted with all her pals.

“I am sailing with Mr. and Mrs. Dole in the boat show!” she boasted. “They told me I can sail my own boat when I’m grown up.”

The day of the boat show finally arrived. Hope met Mr. Dole at the docks.

“Hi, Hope!” he called.

“Hi, Mr. Dole! It’s a great day for a boat show!”

“I don’t know, Hope,” Mr. Dole looked up at the flagpole. The flag was not waving.

“No!” moaned Hope. “We can’t sail without wind!” Hope sat on the dock and moped.

“I told everyone I know to come see me in the show!” Mrs. Dole patted Hope on the back.

“Don’t mope, Hope,” Mrs. Dole said. “We can’t sail. But we can still be in the boat show.” “Do you want to use our rowboat or our motor boat?” she asked.

“The rowboat!” Hope jumped up. “It’ll be fun to row!”

Hope and Mrs. Dole hopped into the rowboat. “I’ll follow you in the motorboat,” Mr. Dole said. Hope rowed first. Then it was Mrs. Dole’s turn.

Mrs. Dole rowed and rowed. But the boat didn’t go. “No!” Hope groaned. “Water is flowing into the boat!”

“There must be a hole!” Mrs. Dole yelled.

Hope and Mrs. Dole tried to lighten the load. They started to throw heavy things overboard. But the boat kept sinking lower and lower. They both were ready to swim to shore. Then, they saw a boat approaching. It was Mr. Dole! Hope and Mrs. Dole climbed into the motorboat.

“Well, Hope,” Mr. Dole said. “Do you still want to sail your own boat in the show when you’re grown up?”

“I do!” she replied.

“What kind of boat do you want to own?” Mrs. Dole asked. “A sailboat, a rowboat, or a motor boat?”

Hope chuckled. “I just want a boat that floats!”

2^nd Grade Decodable #28

Apples Up High

Our class is taking a trip to an apple orchard. Before we go, Ms. Wright tells us how apples grow. She shows us photos of an orchard. The yellow bus pulls away and heads to the orchard. “It’s a fine day for picking apples!” exclaims our bus driver, Mr. Clive.

“There are many kinds of apples to pick,” shares Ms. Wright. “Cortland, Rome, and Granny Smith are some of them.”

Farmer Grove tells us the right way to pick apples. Then, he gives us a box and a picking pole. Joan and I carry the box. Kyle grabs the picking pole. In the orchard, we see row after row of trees. The trees grow high, right up to the sky! As we stroll between the rows, Ms. Wright shows us Cortland trees. “Can we pick from these?” I ask.

“Joan, will you hold the box? Kyle, may I try the picking pole?” I ask. I roll up my sleeves and grab the pole. The pole is long, and not very light.

“Can I help you lift it?” offers Joan.

“Thanks, but I think I can do it by myself,” I reply.

I lift the pole as high as I can. Then, with a slight twist, I pull the apple off the tree. Plop! It drops right into the box. Joan and Kyle take turns with the pole. Before long, our box has a load of apples that we carry back to the barn.

Ms. Wright asks us to divide the apples into three piles. We divide them into Cortland, Rome and Granny Smith. “I wish I could make cider!” cries Joan.

“I hope I can make a pie,” adds Kyle. Me? I just want to snack on a crunchy apple!

“Let’s each pick an apple to try,” suggests Ms. Wright. “But, we must clean them first,” she adds. I pick an apple from the pile and clean it as fast as I can. Then, I take a big crunchy bite. Mmmm-what a yummy snack!

2^nd Grade Decodable #29

A Stroll on Mule Avenue

Music from an alarm wakes me up. I see the sun. Is it time to get up? The huge clock on my dresser reads 7:35. But it’s Saturday morning! A few more winks, and then I’ll get up! Dad is singing a tune as I walk in. “Hi cutie!” he sings, as he turns off the alarm. “Did my music wake you up?” “I made a huge stack of pancakes. Grab a few!”

“Thanks. Where are you going?” I ask.

“To Mule Avenue to run a few errands,” he replies.

“Mule Avenue? Can I go, too?”

“Yes,” replies Dad. “But first eat a few more pancakes. Mule Avenue is quite a walk. You’ll need the fuel!”

I finish eating a few pancakes. Then I run to get dressed. What will I put on for my walk on Mule Avenue? My shirt with red cubes! “Cute shirt!” exclaims dad. “I like the fun cubes. Grab your coat, and let’s get going. We have a lot to do on Mule Avenue.”

The sun shines brightly. It gives the avenue a golden hue. Music comes from a music shop on the corner. What a fine day to be on Mule Avenue! “Dad, I need a costume for my class musical.”

“Maybe we can find one on Mule Avenue,” he suggests. “But we need to make a few stops first.” A few moments later we arrive at the vet’s. Dad needs to get some pills to cure Mac’s cold.

After, we walk across the avenue. Dad lets me use the key to open our mailbox. I see a few letters inside. One is for me! “The Mule Avenue Bakery! Dad, can we go in?” We do just that and leave with a huge loaf of bread!

Our last stop is the Value-Shop. Dad helps me find a nice costume for my musical. “What a fun time we had, cutie!” exclaims Dad.
“Yes, it was fun to walk on Mule Avenue!” I say. Dad and I hum tunes all the way home.

2^nd Grade Decodable #30

The Kitten’s Rescue

From my window I see Mrs. Fuse gazing up a tree. She is using a stick to poke the branches. “Are you okay, Mrs. Fuse?” I ask.

“No!” she cries. “My kitten, Hugo, is stuck in the tree!”

“Hugo likes to see from the tree. But the tree is high, and he is afraid. Do you have a ladder we can use to rescue Hugo?”

“No, I don’t,” I tell Mrs. Fuse. “But I will call the Fire Chief. He will rescue Hugo.”

“Thank you, Sam!” cries Mrs. Fuse.

“Mrs. Fuse’s cat, Hugo, is stuck in a tree,” I tell Mom. “I need to help rescue him.”

“Use this,” Mom suggests, as she hands me her cell phone. I make the call, and a nice lady responds, “Fire and Rescue, can I help you?”

“Yes,” I say. “A cute little kitten named Hugo is trapped in a tree. The tree is in my yard. Can you come to rescue him?” “My name is Sam Smith. I live at 35 Cuba Avenue.”

“I’ll send the fire truck right away,” she replies.

A few moments later, we see a huge red fire truck. It is turning right onto Cuba Avenue. When the red truck stops, a few firefighters jump off the back. The Fire Chief runs over to Mrs. Fuse and me. “We’re here to rescue a cute little kitten,” declares the Chief.

“That’s Hugo. He’s sitting on that huge branch at the top of the tree!” cries Mrs. Fuse. Hugo starts to meow and does not stop.

“I think he’s scared!” cries Mrs. Fuse.

“We’ll rescue Hugo as fast as we can,” replies the Chief.

They use their tallest ladder to climb the tree. A few moments later, Hugo is rescued.

“Hugo!” cries Mrs. Fuse, “You gave us quite a fright today!”

“Thank you for rescuing Hugo!” cries Mrs. Fuse.

“Don’t thank us,” replies the Fire Chief. “Thank this smart fellow for calling. He helped rescue Hugo. Sam was the real hero today!”

2^nd Grade Decodable #31

The Museum

Hubert liked to play with his helicopter. “Want to play with me, Pamela?” he asked.

“No, it’s way too hot in the sun,” she said. Pamela picked up another ice cube.

“Let’s go to a museum,” said Dad.

“Not a museum!” cried Hubert. “I don’t want to go. Museums are boring!”

“A few museums are amusing,” argued Pamela.

“Museums can have lots of fun things,” added Dad.

“Like what?” mumbled Hubert.

“Like helicopters, planes. . .”

“Planes? Really? Can we go, Dad?” asked Hubert.

“But museums are boring, right?” teased Dad as he winked at Pamela.

“Well, maybe I’ll change my mind,” said Hubert.

Dad, Pamela, and Hubert drove eight miles to the museum. “It’s huge!” cried Pamela.

“Yes, but it better have amusing things!” cried Hubert.

“What luck! Today the museum has a display on things that fly.”

“I will see planes!” cried Hubert.

“Is that music I hear?” asked Pamela.

“Yes,” Dad nodded. “It’s the music of birds! Let’s start there.”

“Look at these birds!” said Pamela. “Some are huge!”

“And some are sort of puny!” said Hubert.

“I like the cute yellow birds,” said Pamela.

“Me, too,” said Hubert. “But I like this red one best.” All the birds were flying and singing.

“That red bird is singing hip-hop music!” joked Dad.

“You’re the real amusement here, Dad,” cried Pamela.

“Eight planes!” And they’re all flying!” gasped Hubert.

“They’re not really flying,” said Dad. “They’re hanging from wires.”

“That old one over there is huge!” cried Hubert.

“Think of all the fuel it used!” added Pamela.

“This place is packed!” said Pamela. “There are just a few empty seats.”

“I see three over there,” said Hubert. Then they sat and waited for the show. In a few seconds, the lights dimmed. “It’s dark in here,” whispered Hubert. Then bright white stars started to shine. Before long, they lit up the entire sky.

“So, what did you think of the museum?” asked Dad.

“Neat,” said Pamela. “I liked the music best!”

“Today I learned that museums are amusing,” said Hubert. “Thanks for taking us to the museum, Dad!”

2^nd Grade Decodable #32

Under the Moon

At noon the light is strong and you can see the animals. They shoo flies on the farm and play at the zoo. But soon it will be night. Darkness hides the animals. Then, only your ears can tell you who is out with the moon. What is the first thing you hear? Is it a cricket’s loud chirp in the grass? Or is it a bat’s whoosh in the wind? Maybe it’s a swallow’s swoop to get food?

Who else is there? If you hear a soft coo, a pigeon is there. Many little coos mean she has a brood, too.

Do you hear a hoot, hoot? A wise old bird perches high in the tree. Cluck, cluck, cluck means chickens in the coop.

Who is in the field? Some say moo. And some do not say a thing-they are taking a snooze.

Who paddles on the lake, alongside the moon? A moan or a wail is the cry of a loon. Do you hear a honk? There is a goose afloat, too.

Who is loose in the forest? That mighty munching must be a moose! And that slither and hiss can only be a snake under a root.

Who is staying up late at the zoo? Splashes and barks mean a seal in the pool. ROAR! An artic animal is cooling off, too.

When an animal roars back, it must be the lion in the zoo. And only the elephant has a nose that can toot to the moon.

What’s that chattering up on the roof? Is it a bunch of chipmunks in a goofy mood? Or is it a flock of birds creating a clatter?

And what is that rushing whoosh in the leaves? The panther and the tiger are running in a loop. Who can zoom faster and win the race?

What did you hear by the light of the moon? You have snooped with your ears, but have not seen the proof!

Soon the sun will rise. The moon will set, and it will be light again. And only the animals know what happened last night.

2^nd Grade Decodable #33

A Robin’s Red Plumes

Some time ago, Rudy the Robin had plain feathers. It was Luna the Fox who gave the robin bright red plumes. Many people do not know the story. Here is how it happened.

It was June, and the animals were playful. Bruce the Raccoon was most playful of all. Bruce was rude and liked to tease Luna. Bruce liked to trick Luna, too. Luna was playing a tune on her flute. Bruce challenged Luna to a race. Truth be told, Luna could run faster. But Bruce started first.

The race was a ruse to get Luna to the river. Bruce ran up a dune on the river’s bank. He peered into the water. Soon Luna came to the river. She saw Bruce’s face in the water. Thinking Bruce was in the river, Luna jumped in. Luna swam and swam, trying to get to Bruce.

At last Luna dragged herself to the bank and fell asleep. Then Bruce played his rudest trick. He packed thick mud on Luna’s face. When Luna woke up, she could not see! The mud was dry and hard. Luna could not get it off.

Luna yelled for help, but the animals were afraid of Luna. Rudy the Robin was afraid too, but he felt sorry for Luna. “Luna, I am just a plain bird,” Rudy began. “I will help you if you will not hurt me.”

Luna offered a truce. Rudy pecked the mud from her face. Luna was truly grateful. “Kind Rudy, you helped me. Now it is my duty to help you!” Luna said.

“Jump on my back!” Luna told Rudy. Luna ran to a secret place where the water ran red. Luna picked a tulip and dipped it in the water. She used it to paint Rudy’s chest feathers red.

“These red plumes will stand out,” she said. “I will know not to harm you.”

To this day, all robins have a red chest. Animals and people admire the robin’s red feathers. All tell the tale of how Rudy the Robin was brave and kind, and how Luna gave him bright red plumes.

2^nd Grade Decodable #34

Drew’s True Lesson

Peacock Hill Farm was a happy place. A nice breeze blew. Pretty peacocks strutted in the yard. Crows grew fat on the farmer’s corn. Not all those at Peacock Hill Farm were happy. While people praised the peacocks, Drew the crow grew tired of being ignored. Drew wanted to feel important, too.

Drew spotted a peacock plume speckled with dew. He admired its deep greens and dazzling blues. What would it be like. . .?

In Drew’s unhappy brain a plan was brewing. If only he could have a few peacock feathers.

Drew gathered the peacock’s cast-offs.

On Tuesday Drew had new plumes and a tube of glue. Soon Drew was strutting like a peacock. He felt quite fancy! A few crows spotted Drew.

“Drew thinks he’s a peacock!” What a fool!”

“It does not matter what you think!” Drew told them. “I don’t need you plain old crows!”

Drew’s new plan was to spend his days with the peacocks. But the peacocks had their own plans.

“You are not one of us!” they told him. “Go back to your own crew!” Now Drew was sad and blue. He hung his head and heaved a sigh. Slowly Drew flew back to the crow’s tree.

“We don’t let peacocks land in our tree!” yelled one crow.

“You don’t need us!” yelled another. And so Drew flew sadly away.

Then the wise old crow spoke up. “Don’t be so hard on Drew,” she said. “He made a mistake, but you have, too.”

Then she flew off to find Drew. The crows knew that what she said was true.

Drew threw away his peacock plumes. Drew was still blue and shed a tear. “Don’t cry, Drew. Fly back to the crew where you belong.”

Drew gave the crows the “sorry” they were due. Slowly, Drew’s crew forgave him, and Drew felt better. He groaned his glossy black plumes.

After a while Drew said to the crows, “Did you know that peacocks can hardly fly? That’s why they walk from here to there!”

Drew knew he was happy to be with his crew! Drew learned a true lesson that day. He knew never to pretend to be something he was not.

2^nd Grade Decodable #35

Look at How Pets Adapt

Wild animals are good at adapting. They must adapt to survive and thrive. Life in the woods can be hard. Most pets do not have to look for food or work hard to survive. People help pets have easier lives. Still, pets are good at adapting to change.

Pets shed more when it is hot. These pets shook, and took off their coats! Their fur is now thinner, which helps them stay good and cool. Pets may eat a good deal less when it’s hot. You may note that they look thinner.

Pets are good at finding cool spots. A cat may look for a cool clay pot. A foot in a brook is even better! Pets may hide from the heat beneath a wood porch. They may lie under a hood. These pets stood beside the fan all day!