Grade Decodable #1 Sand, Tan Hats, and a Mat
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When it is cool, pets change their ways. Just as you may put on a wool coat to stay warm, their fur thickens to make a winter coat. They shed a good deal less, too. They may look for more food to eat. Plenty of food helps animals stay warm. Do your pets beg when you cook good food? In winter, pets seek out warm places. They look for a spot of sun to nap in. They may look for a cozy nook by a book. They may curl up tightly to stay warm. Or, they may curl up together on a wool blanket! All winter long, they may sleep at the foot of your bed. It’s good to wash a pet that is dirty. That’s a fun way for them to cool off, too. But not all pets like to get washed! This one just took a bath, and it is dirty again! In winter, people provide warm homes for their pets. They may even have a hood and boots for the ice! Don’t forget to hang them on the hook when you get back! Pets are part of the family. These two stood for the family photo. People help pets feel good and stay safe. At times, they help the animals in the woods, too. 2nd Grade Decodable #36 Mr. Brown Sees the World Mr. Brown had never traveled far from his home. He wanted to have a look about and see the world. Mr. Brown set out, and right away he found a rock. He climbed up and took a look around. At the top of the rock Mr. Brown found a round brown thing. “I will climb to the top of this tree,” Mr. Brown decided. Mr. Brown climbed up. At last he came to a soft white object. “How did I get up in the clouds? How will I get down?” Mr. Brown took another look around. Mr. Brown made his way across the cloud. Suddenly there was a loud sound. The cloud shook. “It must be a storm,” Mr. Brown said. Mr. Brown climbed a mound and gazed down at the ground. Mr. Brown did not know how he would ever get home. Mr. Brown frowned, looked around, and kept going. Mr. Brown found a field of thick grass. The grass swayed in the breeze. Mr. Brown pretended to be a brave scout and walked into the field. At last Mr. Brown landed on another cloud. “I don’t know if I am up or down!” he said. “This land is mighty odd, with grass and clouds mixed in.” Before he knew it, Mr. Brown walked off the cloud back down to the ground. He walked down to a valley and then back up. “I found a bridge!” Mr. Brown gasped. The land was very narrow now. The bridge suddenly ended, but Mr. Brown did not have room to turn around. He was about to panic when… The bridge began to sway! “No! No!” Mr. Brown shouted. The bridge was rising up and up, higher and higher. Mr. Brown was sorry he ever wanted to prowl. And then the world was looking right at Mr. Brown and making some sort of sound. Who knew that the world had a mouth? Just then, the bridge dropped to the ground. Mr. Brown took a quick look around and found his way home. Mr. Brown went out and had quite a trip! He got to see the world, and the world go to see Mr. Brown! 2nd Grade Decodable #37 A Plant that Acts Like an Animal Like animals, plants adapt to their surroundings. One such plant is the Venus flytrap. It grows in bogs and marshes. Its roots cannot get the food it needs from the marsh. So the Venus flytrap eats bugs. This plant truly acts like an animal. The Venus flytrap eats flies, crickets, spiders, slugs, and more. Yet, it does not have a mouth and cannot chew. The pictures on these pages show how a plant can eat.
What will happen if you put your finger in the trap? The flytrap will not be fooled. The trap will close part of the way and then open again. The Venus flytrap is too smart to pounce on your finger. It will not chow down on a pebble or a twig either. It can tell that those things are not food! The Venus flytrap cannot eat large insects. Each trap is only about an inch long. The trap must be able to close and make an airtight pouch. But mold and other bad things will enter the trap. The trap may droop, turn brown, and drop from the plant. In that case, the plant will grow a new trap. When the trap closes, however, it’s dinner time! Acid oozes into the trap. The acid lets the plant digest the bug. It may take a week or more. Then, the trap opens. Look at what is left of the bug! Rain or wind will carry this away. In the past, a lot of Venus flytraps grew in the wild. Now, few are left there. Over the years, people took many of them home. Some marshes and bogs are dirty. Some have been cleared for human use. For these reasons, wild flytraps are endangered. Now, it’s a rule that people can no longer dig them up. However, you can get a Venus flytrap at a plant store. To learn more, find a book about flytraps.
Animal Expert in Outer Space “Hello, kids, and thanks for tuning in. In the past, the crew of Animal Expert has traveled around the globe. We have shown you how animals adapt to their surroundings.” “This week’s show is beyond the globe. That’s right! Our search for interesting animals will take us to outer space! Do animals in outer space adapt as those on Earth do? Let’s find out!” “Our first stop in outer space is to a place named Dot. Let’s see how many animals we can spot on Dot! Cooper, what are you looking at over there?” “Sue, this is a dotted blue goon. I had seen them in pictures, but this is the first one I’ve seen in the wild. Is the microphone picking up that low growl? That sound is what allowed me to find it. See how well it blends in with its home?” “Here we are at a place named Round. Wow! Everything is round! I don’t see many animals around, however. What about you, Cooper?” “Well, Sue, you must look really well. You see, most of the animals here are round, too! Look, I’m holding a round mouse. See his big round tooth?” “That’s interesting, Cooper. Now we are visiting another far-out place. Here on Stripe, the animals have stripes, as you might think by now.” “That’s right, Sue. Take a look in the brook. It’s full of striped trout. And over there is a striped zebra!” “Now here is a place that I’ve been hoping to visit. This is Three. Let me tell you kids, there are triangles everywhere I look!” “Yes there are, Sue. Look closely at the sand dunes in back of us. Some of those dunes are space hounds. They are sleeping now, but when the full moon rises, look out!” “Here we are at our last stop, a place named Blue. We’re deep in the Blue Woods. It’s full of blue trees and blue flowers with blue blooms. Cooper, what animals are in the Blue Woods?” “Well, Sue, there’s a blue fowl on your head. And a cool blue animal is climbing up your leg!” “Look, Sue, it’s a zebra from Stripe! What’s that doing down here on Earth?” 2nd Grade Decodable #39 The Lion and the Mouse Lack of fear is not the same as bravery. In fact, a lack of fear can be foolish. In this story, Mouse learns how they are different. * * * * * * It was a peaceful August afternoon in the jungle. Mighty Lion was napping. Playful Mouse was out for a run. Now, Mouse had a fault. He liked to take silly risks. He felt this made him brave. In truth, it simply made him foolish. Mouse paused and heard Lion snoring. He chose to tease the beast. Lion may be big and brawny, he told himself, but I’m faster. Mouse scampered across Lion’s paw. That didn’t wake Lion, so Mouse continued to play. He crawled all over Lion and then launched himself right into Lion’s nose! In a flash, Lion woke up. He smacked Mouse with his paw and trapped him under a claw. “I was just dreaming of a snack,” Lion said with a yawn. Lion hauled Mouse up and looked at him closely. “Mighty Lion, please don’t eat me!” bawled Mouse as he looked at Lion’s jaws. “Why not?” asked Lion. “Because I would taste awful,” said Mouse, trembling. “And, I learned a lesson. I’ll never bother you again.” “Go, then,” said Lion. “You’re too scrawny. I need a bigger meal. But never draw near me again.” Mouse kept away from Lion. Then, one autumn day at dawn, he heard Lion roaring for help. Mouse ran to the awful sound. He saw Lion trapped in a net. “Draw near and help me!” ordered Lion. “But I said I’d never come near you!” protested Mouse. “I didn’t hurt you when you acted foolish,” said Lion. “I will not hurt you for helping me now.” Shaking with fear, Mouse crawled to the net. He chewed I apart. Lion jumped out. “Thank you, Mouse,” said Lion. “You showed real bravery. “I learned bravery from you, Lion,” said Mouse. “I used to think I was brave when I had no fear. But now I know real bravery is helping even when I was scared.” 2nd Grade Decodable #40 The Bootmaker’s Daughter It takes bravery to right a wrong. Many times, it takes intelligence. In this story, a bootmaker’s daughter uses both. * * * * * Long ago, a bootmaker and his daughter lived in a small city. The bootmaker was called Walt. His daughter was Jenny. One day, Walt took all his boots to the city in his cart. Walt passed the stall of a rich merchant. “Halt!” cried the merchant. “How much for all you have?” “Ten gold pieces,” Walt said. The merchant paid Walt ten gold pieces. Then the merchant got into the cart and told Walt to get out. “Why should I get out of my cart?” asked Walt. “You agreed to sell all,” said the tricky merchant. “That includes the cart and horse. I bought it all. It’s mine. Ask the judge!” Walt sought the judge and told his story. “You ought to be clearer,” said the judge. “I cannot help you.” Walt walked slowly home and told Jenny all. “Don’t cry,” said Jenny. “I have a thought. Make more boots!” A week later, Jenny took the new boots to town in a small wheelbarrow. The rich merchant ran from his stall. “How much for all you’ve brought?” he asked. “How much will you offer?” Jenny countered. He held out three gold pieces. “You offer all that’s in your hand?” Jenny asked. “Yes,” agreed the merchant. The merchant gave Jenny the gold. “And your three gold rings,” Jenny said. “What?” cried the merchant. “You offered me all that was in your hand,” said Jenny. “Take off those rings, or I’ll call the judge!” “Let the judge rule, then!” said the merchant. “You ought to be clearer,” said the judge. “Give her those rings.” The merchant was caught in his own trap. He handed Jenny the rings. She kept two and held up the smallest. “Will you trade this for Walt’s horse and cart?” Jenny asked. “You’re Walt’s daughter!” gasped the merchant. They traded and Jenny rode home. “I taught that naughty merchant a lesson!” Jenny told Walt. 2nd Grade Decodable #41 Kim and the Wave
Kim liked to tell people all the stuff she knew, but the people in her town thought she was bossy. They laughed at her. Being the leader’s daughter did not help matters. Kim spent most days playing alone. One day, she was playing on the hilltop when she felt a small earthquake. Kim was used to such things. Still, she had a bad feeling. Kim caught sight of the sea. It was racing away from the shore. Her granddad had said: When the sea runs backwards, run up the hill. A huge wave is about to wash over the town. Kim ran to tell the people in town. She screamed, “Run up the hill! A huge wave is coming!” They didn’t understand what Kim meant. Some just laughed. How could Kim know a big wave is coming? “Stop bossing us around.” “You’re not our leader. You’re just the leader’s daughter!” Kim had to save them. She ran to the town’s gong. Only the leader was allowed to ring it. It meant that the people must gather on the hilltop to hear the leader speak. Kim struck the gong with all her might. Soon, all the people were running up the hill. When everyone was on the hilltop, a child cried, “I saw the leader’s daughter ring the gong!” “Kim, is it true?” her dad asked. Just then a mighty roar began. A huge wave, as high as a cliff, crashed over the town. The people saw it all from the hilltop. “We were wrong to laugh at the leader’s daughter,” a man said. “She saved us even when we laughed at her.” After that day, no one laughed at Kim or called her bossy. 2nd Grade Decodable #42 How Roy Got a Toy Drum
Roy was a boy who lived with his mom. Roy’s mom worked hard in the soil to grow food. She could not afford a toy drum for Roy. Roy’s mom wanted to get Roy the toy drum. But she didn’t have a single coin. Walking home, she found a coil of rope. “It’s not much,” she thought, “but I’ll give this to Roy.” Roy thanked his mom for the coil of rope. “Thanks. It’s nice of you to think of me,” Roy said. Soon he met the potter, who was yelling at his goat. “What’s wrong?” asked Roy. “I need a rope to tie this goat. She always runs off.” Roy gave the potter his coil of rope. The happy potter gave Roy a pot. Next Roy met a lady with children. The crying children were making an awful noise. “What’s wrong?” asked Roy. “They are hungry,” the lady said. “I have rice but no pot to boil it in.” Roy gave her his pot. “Take this oil,” the lady said. “I have too much, and it will spoil.” Next Roy met the baker. He had no bread to sell. “I have flour but no oil,” he said. “Without oil, I cannot make bread.” Roy gave him the oil. The baker held out a sheet of shiny foil. “Do you want this?” “Yes, please!” said Roy. Roy shaped the foil into a flittering toy. Soon an old man came along. “I want that toy for my granddaughter,” he said. “Will you accept this coin for it?” Roy raced to the store. He pointed at the toy drum and showed the seller his coin. At last, the toy drum was his! With joy, Roy joined a band. Later, Roy told his mom this story. “You put your own sadness aside and helped people,” she said. “And in the end, your bravery paid off.” 2nd Grade Decodable #43 The Koi at the Dragon Gate
In the East, there is a deep, salty sea. All kinds of fish live there, including koi. Mighty dragons live in the deepest part. They have amazing powers. For example, they can cause waves with the swish of their tails. All koi know of the Dragon Gate. It is the entrance to the dragons’ home. If a koi enters the Dragon Gate, it turns into a dragon. But only the bravest try to enter because the Dragon Gate is always blocked by dragons. One day, a small koi told his mom, “I will enter the gate and be a dragon!” “You’re just a small koi,” she said. “You ought to stay here.” The little koi said, “All dragons started as small koi. I know I can join them.” At dawn the small koi set out. He had to travel around patches of boiling water. The little koi was scared, but he kept going. At last, he saw the Dragon Gate. The small koi paused. He was in awe of the shining dragon at the gate. “I can do it,” he thought. He swam over. “Halt!” roared the golden dragon. “I will soon be a dragon, too!” called the koi. “That’s big talk for a little koi!” the dragon called back. “You ought to go home.” Over and over, the small koi tried to get in. But the dragon blocked him. The little koi was tired, but he would not give up. At last, he stopped and thought. “I thought dragons could fly,” called the koi. “But I don’t think you can.” “I can fly,” called the dragon. “Just look!” The dragon coiled his tail and launched himself into the air. He made a circle and fell back down. Pleased, he did it again. Meanwhile, the small koi entered the Dragon Gate. He became a mighty dragon. The new dragon swished his tail with joy. He was happy he faced his fears to reach his dreams.
2nd Grade Decodable #44 Brave After All
One fall day, a boy and a girl saw a pair of fine-looking cats. They adopted the cats and called them Tom and Joy. They taught Tom and Joy all about their new home. “Just look out for Paul’s big hound!” the boy said. Tom and Joy were small white cats. They were both pretty and sweet. And they always stayed together. They liked to stalk bugs on the lawn. The boy once gave them a foil ball for a toy. The girl gave them moist cat food. Tom and Joy had a nice, easy life. Soon all the animals began to tease Tom and Joy. They thought the cats were spoiled. Once, a bird laughed at them for always staying together. “They’re afraid,” cackled the bird. “Look how they cling together! Those small cats are afraid of their shadows!” Tom and Joy heard it all. They ignored the animals because they knew it wasn’t true. “I hope they never meet Paul’s big hound!” teased the turtle. “They’ll wish they had shells to crawl into!” All the animals laughed. “Pretty kitties, do you even have claws?” “Don’t fall! You must not get hurt!” Tom and Joy did not mind. They had no cause to let fools upset them. Then one day, Paul’s hound got loose. All the animals ran. But the turtle could not crawl fast. Soon Paul’s hound had the turtle in his jaws. Tom and Joy ran to help. “Silly hound, put that turtle down,” Joy said calmly. “Turtles are not good to eat. That shell will make your tummy hurt. You will get an awful pain.” Paul’s hound tilted his head and thought a bit. Then he dropped the turtle and trotted away. The turtle told all the animals how brave the cats were. All the animals were in awe of Tom and Joy. They were sorry they teased the brave cats. “You are brave after all,” the turtle said. 2nd Grade Decodable #45 Chinatown in San Francisco Many people came to the United States from different lands. They came in search of a better life, and settled in major cities. They based their new life on the ways they knew from back home. In time, entire areas took on the feel of the old land. Let’s take a look at one of these communities. Let’s learn a little more about Chinatown in San Francisco. You can find something new around each corner of this community. Chinatown has a long history, In the 1800’s, many laborers came to San Francisco from China. Today, the community is a mix of old and new. It’s also true that Chinatown hosts many visitors each year. Enter Chinatown at the Dragon’s Gate. Then you have your first clue that you are in a Chinese community. You can walk down narrow streets jammed with shops. Inside, you can buy things usually found in shops in China. There are foods, toys, and much more. The best food shopping is at a market on Saturday afternoons. Sellers offer produce they have grown. They also sell live animals such as turtles, chickens, and more. These markets get very crowded. Speaking of food, Chinatown offers lots of places to eat. There are family noodle bars and fancy places to eat. Many give a true taste of China. People in Chinatown celebrate Chinese New Year in a big way. They value the older people in their families. Children get red envelopes with new dollar bills. At midnight, firecrackers are set off to greet the New Year. The party ends with a big parade. It is filled with floats and people in costume. There are bands and dancers, too. The last thing in the parade is a huge dragon that seems to dance. It’s a time of hope for a bright New Year. Chinatown is a community full of life. It is filled with shops, places to eat, art galleries, and museums. Many people visit it because it gives such an interesting look at Chinese ways of doing things. And many people know Chinatown as their home. 2nd Grade Decodable #46 Little Havana in Miami You know that people from different places came to live in America. What do they bring with them? What kinds of things make people feel at home? Different communities have different ways of doing things. Foods, music, art, and ways of talking and celebrating are part of the way of life in a community. So what kinds of foods, music, art, and ways of talking and celebrating are found in Little Havana? This part of Miami, Florida, is all about Cuba. Cubans have been living in south Florida since the early 1900s. But in the 1960s, large numbers of Cubans began leaving their island home. Many went to Little Havana. Part of Miami is known as Little Havana. As soon as you step into Little Havana, you get the flavor of Cuba. Signs are written in Spanish. Listen, and you might hear music to match. As you walk down the street, you will find delights enjoyed by those who live here. You will see places that offer Cuban foods. People here might try a beef dish or real coconut. There are also pork and chicken sandwiches. They look so good, you might ask the clerk to wrap a few up! There are also many stores that sell all kinds of goods from Spain and Latin America. A well-known place in Little Havana is Domino Park. It has lots of tables and chairs for people to play dominoes. The park can get quite full. This is a game people played in Havana, Cuba, and then they brought it with them to America. Tower Art Center is another place in Little Havana that lets you know about the way of life here. You can see Spanish films, singers, dancers, and such at the Tower Art Center. Local artists display their paintings in nearby galleries. The community often has street parties. There is food, Latin music, Cuban dance, and street theater. The community has a big festival each year in March. There is no doubt that it is one of the biggest festivals in the United States. You will see people of all ages. They will be singing, eating, and dancing in the Cuban way! 2nd Grade Decodable #47 Little Italy in New York Think about going to live in a new land. It will take a lot of strength just to make such a long trip. When you get to the United States, everything is new and strange. You will like to make this new place feel like home. What can you do? Say that you know people who also came to America from your old home. Will you spread out all over the new city? Or will you try to stay in the same place? Yüklə 144 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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