Emergency Contact Informationstaff.readingprograms.org/.../4thGradeActivityPacket.pdf · Lesson 4 ..... 19 The Cricket in Times Square Activities ..... 19 Nile River Valley Textbook

Emergency Contact Information

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Table of Contents

Weekly At-Home Assignments ............................................................................. 2

Lesson 1 ...................................................................................................................3 Henry Huggins Activities ............................................................................3 Lesson 1 Paragraph ..................................................................................... 6 Main Idea Activity ...................................................................................... 6

Lesson 2 ...................................................................................................................7 Lesson 2 Paragraphs ....................................................................................7 Main Idea and Supporting Detail Activity ...................................................7 Henry Huggins Activities ..........................................................................10

Lesson 3 .................................................................................................................13 Lesson 3 Paragraph Activity ......................................................................13 The Cricket in Times Square Activities .....................................................16

Lesson 4 .................................................................................................................19 The Cricket in Times Square Activities .....................................................19 Nile River Valley Textbook. ........................................................................22

Lesson 5 .................................................................................................................24 The Cricket in Times Square Activities .....................................................24

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Weekly At-Home Assignments

Below is a list of the at-home assignments you will complete each week. • Log on to the program website to see more detailed instructions and

to complete each assignment. • Be sure to check off each task on the website as you complete it.

Week 1:• Henry Huggins

- Read Chapters 2 & 3- Complete online comprehension activities & quiz

• Complete all other assignments listed under Week 1 on program website

Week 2:• Henry Huggins

- Read Chapters 5 & 6 - Complete online comprehension activities & quiz


Week 3:• The Cricket in Times Square

- Finish reading Chapter 3- Read Chs. 4-7- Complete online comprehension activities & quiz


Week 4:• The Cricket in Times Square

- Finish reading Chapter 9 - Read Chs. 10-13- Complete online comprehension activities & quiz


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Lesson 1 In-Class Activities

Henry Huggins

Chapter 1:

“I wish something exciting would happen,” Henry often thought.

Until he meets Ribsy, Henry feels like nothing exciting ever happens to him. Have you ever felt this way? Or do some exciting things happen in your life? Write about one exciting thing that has happened to you.

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“I didn’t mean to make any trouble,” said Henry. “My mother said I could keep the dog if I could bring him home on the bus.”

At first it seems like it will be simple to get Ribsy home. But this simple task turns into a lot of trouble. Why do you think Henry worked so hard to get Ribsy home?

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Continued on next page

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Write about a time that you had to work hard for something you really wanted.

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If you could have any pet you wanted, what would you get? Why?

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Thinking about characters:

Here are two lists. One is a list of some things Henry does in Chapter 1. The other is a list of what you learn about Henry as a person. Draw a line from the things Henry does to what they tell you about what he’s like.

What Henry does

1. Even though he doesn’t want to at first, Henry gives his ice cream cone to a hungry-looking dog.

2. He asked his mother if it’s okay to keep the dog. He tries to follow the bus driver’s rules about dogs on the bus.

3. He rides the bus around town. He needs to call his mom, so he uses a payphone for the first time.

4. He figures out a way to get a box for Ribsy. When that doesn’t work, he figures out a way to keep Ribsy covered up in a shopping bag.

What it tells me about him

He is not afraid to do things by himself.

He can find ways to solve problems.

He is kind and generous.

He is respectful and he follows the rules.

Being curious about characters:

Since you have only just started the book, you can count on learning a lot more about the main character. What else do you want to know about Henry? Be curious and write down some questions about him.

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What is Henry like at school? Does he ever get into trouble?

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Lesson 1 Paragraph

Desert animals have many ways to survive in hot, dry weather. Cape ground squirrels have large, bushy tails they use to create shade. Camels can survive off the fat stored in their humps for months. Javelinas are pig-like animals. They have mouths so tough that they can eat cactuses without even feeling the sharp spines.

Main Idea Activity

Instructions: Read each paragraph and then underline the main idea.

1. Highways in the United States need to be improved. In many places, the pavement is worn out and should be replaced. Many busy highways need more lanes to make room for the higher number of cars that now use them. In some places, there need to be changes to how cars come on and off the highway. This will help prevent traffic and car crashes.

2. Everyone needs somewhere to live. Overpopulation is when too many people or animals live in the same area. When an area is overpopulated, it gets harder to find food, water, and safe places to live.

3. If you see a spinning funnel coming down from the clouds during a storm, find someplace to hide! It’s probably a tornado. Tornadoes are rotating columns of air that form during some storms. Wind speeds during a tornado can reach hundreds of miles per hour. When a tornado touches the ground, it rips up trees and destroys buildings.

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Lesson 2 Paragraph

What is trial-and-error learning? It's when an animal learns something new from experience. The animal makes mistakes and tries new things until it is successful. For example, imagine a squirrel trying to get seeds out of a birdfeeder hanging in a tree. First, the squirrel tries to jump onto the feeder from a nearby branch. When that doesn’t work, the squirrel tries to climb down the wire the feeder hangs from. That doesn’t work either. Finally, the squirrel figures out that it can reach the feeder from the trunk of the tree and gets the seeds. The squirrel just used trial-and-error learning.

Main Idea and Supporting Detail Activity

Instructions: Read each paragraph and then write the main idea and one supporting detail underneath.

1. All soil is made up of layers. The layer of soil closest to the surface is called topsoil. Topsoil is rich in minerals and very dark in color. It is where seeds sprout and plant roots grow. Subsoil is the next layer down. It contains clay and minerals that drip down from the topsoil, and is usually lighter-colored. The rocky bottom layer is called bedrock.

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2. The earthworm is a segmented worm. It has a body that is divided into segments, with a head end and a tail end. Food enters through the mouth and waste leaves the body at the tail end. In between, the earthworm’s body is divided into many segments. Each segment has bristles that help the worm move through the earth.

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3. Farmers use many machines to help them grow their crops. For example, tractors are used to plow the ground and get it ready for seeds to be planted. Another example is the combine harvester used to harvest wheat. This machine cuts down the stalks of wheat. Then, it beats them in order to separate edible grain from stalks that cannot be eaten.

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4. Which class is more important for students, gym or music? The answer is both! Gym class provides healthy exercise. It also gives kids a break during the day, which helps them focus better on their school work. But music class also provides exercise – for students’ brains! Studies show that music class helps kids learn math. And, making music can feel just as good as exercise. Both classes are important.

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5. Early settlers on the prairie faced a problem. There were very few trees, which meant no wood for building houses. They found a cheap solution right under their feet. They made bricks out of dirt, or sod. They stacked these sod bricks together, leaving room for doors and windows. As you can imagine, sod houses weren’t very comfortable. They were small, dark and dirty. Once people could afford lumber from the East, most switched to wooden homes.

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Henry Huggins

Chapter 4:

It can be fun to predict what will happen in a story. When a character has a big problem like Henry’s, you should think about what the character might do about it.

It seems like Henry will do almost anything to avoid playing the role of the little boy in the school play. Do you think Henry will succeed in staying out of the school play? If so, how do you think he will get out of it?

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What would you do if you were in Henry’s situation?

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Thinking about characters:

Think back to Chapter 1, and some of the things you learned about Henry: he is responsible, kind, and respects the rules. Is Henry perfectly good all of the time? When is he good? When is he not so good?

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What was Henry’s plan when he sat down to use his mom’s typewriter?

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What does this plan tell you about Henry?

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After you have finished the chapter:

How does Henry finally get out of playing the little boy in the school play?

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What does Henry mean when he says that he is going to have a green Christmas and a white Christmas at the same time?

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Lesson 3 Paragraph Activity

Instructions: Read each paragraph and then circle what type of paragraph it is.

Description: Describes somethingSequence: Explains sequence of events or steps in a processProblem-Solution: Explains a problem and a possible solution

1. The first step for making steel is to heat a metal called iron until it is very hot. When the iron gets hot enough to melt, a gas called oxygen is mixed in. Finally, the mixture is cooled and forms solid steel. Steel is much stronger than the iron from which it was made.

What kind of paragraph is this? Circle your answer.

A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution

2. The human body has three different types of muscles. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones. They pull on bones to make your body move. Cardiac muscles are found only in the heart. They help pump blood throughout your body. Smooth muscles are part of your internal organs and blood vessels. For example, smooth muscles in your stomach help you digest food.


A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution


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3. In the early 1800s, many people living on the East Coast wanted to move west in search of land. However, going west was a challenge. The roads were narrow and made of dirt. They closed completely when there was a lot of rain or snow. In response, the federal government began building the National Road in 1811. This wide, paved road traveled from Maryland to Ohio. It made it much easier for Americans to move west.


A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution

4. There are three types of bees in a beehive. The queen bee controls the whole hive. Her primary job is to lay thousands of eggs that will hatch into new bees. Worker bees are all female, and they are the only bees that go outside the hive. Their job is to gather pollen and nectar. Drone bees are all male, and they never leave the hive. Their main job is to mate with the queen to produce eggs.


A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution

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5. The ancient Incas invented a smart way to preserve potatoes. First, they left the potatoes outside at night in the cold air to freeze. Next, they stomped on the frozen potatoes to squeeze out water. Then, they put them in the hot sun to finish drying. Finally, they stacked the dried potatoes in piles. They used the stored potatoes for food all year long.


A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution

6. Plastic bags are an easy way to carry groceries home from the store. But all that plastic winds up in garbage dumps. This is a big problem. One solution is to use paper bags instead. Paper is much easier to recycle. Some people have an even better solution. They bring their own cloth bags when they shop and use them again and again.


A) Description

B) Sequence

C) Problem-Solution

Now go back and circle the signal words in each paragraph. Remember, signal words help you understand what a paragraph is doing. For example, the word first might help you recognize a sequence paragraph.

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The Cricket in Times Square

Chapter 1:

This story takes place in a newsstand in the Times Square Subway Station. Look back at pages 2 to 4, and the picture on page 5. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells of this place.

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What do you think it would be like to work there if you were Mario?

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Mario helps his parents by working at their family business. What do you do to help your family?

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Do you like helping your family and friends? How does it make you feel when you can do something useful for someone you care about?

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Chapter 2:

Mario finds a cricket in the subway station and brings him home. How does Mario’s mother feel about Mario’s new pet?

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Have you ever really wanted something your parents didn’t want you to have? What was it?

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Did you try to convince your parents to let you have it? If so, how? Did it work?

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In the first few chapters of The Cricket in Times Square, we meet several new characters. Below is a list of some of the characters and the things they do. In the spaces below, write what the thing the character does tells you about what the character is like.

Tucker watches the Bellinis carefully and enjoys listening to their conversations:

He is very curious and interested in Mario and his family.

Mario cleans off the cricket, feeds him, and makes him a comfortable home:

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Mario works at the newsstand on Saturday nights so his parents can have the night off:

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Paul the train conductor gives Mario an extra 25 cents when he buys his Sunday paper:

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Chapter 8, p. 54-59:

When Chester Cricket accidentally eats half of a two dollar bill, he and Tucker want to deal with his mistake in two very different ways. What does Tucker want to do?

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What do you think of Tucker’s ideas? Why?

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How does Chester decide to deal with the problem? What does this tell you about what he’s like?

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What would you do if you were in this situation?

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In order to be able to keep Chester, Mario must pay back the money the cricket ate. Mario decides to do so without complaining, by giving up some fun and working an extra job. Why do you think he does this?

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Write about a time you had to face a big problem. What was the problem?

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How did you end up dealing with it? Do you think you made the right choice?

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Chapter 8, p. 59-66:

Even though he doesn’t want to at first, Tucker mouse gives up his life savings to help Chester. Why do you think he changes his mind?

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What does Tucker’s decision to share his money tell you about him?

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Have you ever helped someone else even when it was difficult for you? What was it that you had to do?

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Why did you do it?

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The Nile is the world’s longest river. It is 4,160 miles long. The Nile begins in

central Africa. It runs through ten countries before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. It is so long and wild that it took until 2004 for the first person to travel down the entire river. The trip took four and a half months!

The Source of the NileA river’s source is where it begins. The source of the Nile River is two smaller rivers, the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile starts at Lake Victoria, a huge lake in eastern Africa. The Blue Nile flows down from Lake Tana, in the highlands of Ethiopia. The two rivers join together in Sudan and flow north through the Sahara desert. This desert covers most of northern Africa. Ancient Egyptians were unable to travel farther than 650 miles up the Nile. This was because of cataracts, places where the river gets shallow and rocky. Boats cannot pass safely through these areas. As a result, the source of the Nile was not discovered until 1858.

NILE RIVER VALLEY

Figure 1: Cataracts on the Nile River.

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The Nile River DeltaAs it nears the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile branches into many streams and swampy areas. This area is known as the Nile River Delta. A delta is an area of soil left behind where a river empties into a larger body of water like the sea. Most of the land around the Nile is dry desert. However, the rich soil near the delta is very good for growing crops. Egyptians have been farming here since ancient times. The Nile River delta is home to many types of plants and animals. Hippos and crocodiles live in the river and nearby swamps. Fish thrive in the river’s water. Palm trees and other green plants grow along the edge of the river. The delta is also home to more than 39 million human beings!

Figure 2: Homes along the modern-day Nile

ThINkINg AbouT mApsWhy do you think there are so many cities directly along the Nile River?

What is the advantage of building a city right on a river?

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Chapter 14:

In this chapter, all of Times Square stops to listen to Chester Cricket’s beautiful music. What is the most beautiful or special thing that you have seen or heard?

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Where did you see or hear it?

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What made it so special?

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No one expected Chester the Cricket to be a wonderful musician, but he is. Do you have any hidden talents? What are they?

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Chapter 15:

In this story, many of the characters become friends with people who are very different from them. For example, Mario befriends the old Chinese man Sai Fong, and Chester Cricket becomes friends with a mouse and a cat. Who are you friends with who is very different from you?

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How did you become friends with them?

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What is good about having friends who are very different from you?

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End of Book:

What did you like best about this book?

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In this book, Mario takes good care of Chester, and Chester trusts Mario. Who do you trust most in your life? What makes them trustworthy?

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Why is it important to have people you can trust in your life?

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Documents

Emergency Contact Informationstaff.readingprograms.org/.../4thGradeActivityPacket.pdf · Lesson 4 ..... 19 The Cricket in Times Square Activities ..... 19 Nile River Valley Textbook