Online Program
STUDENT DIRECTIONS
Animals Narrative Task
A zookeeper recently visited your school to explain about some of the different animals he works with on a daily basis. While he was there, your teacher realized how much you and your friends were really enjoying learning about different animals. Your teacher gives you four short informational passages to read and learn more about the animals.
After you have reviewed these sources, you will answer some questions. Briefly scan the sources and the three questions that follow. Then, go back and read the sources carefully so you will have the information you will need to answer the questions and complete your research. You may use scratch paper to take notes.
In Part 2, you will write a narrative paper using the information you have read.
Source # 1
Ostriches
Author Unknown
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world, but it cannot fly. Its legs are so strong and long that it can travel faster by running. Ostriches use their wings to help them gather speed when they start to run. They also use them as brakes when turning and stopping.
Ostriches have been known to run at a rate of 60 miles an hour. So, they can run faster than horses and match the average speed of car drivers on a highway.
These huge birds stand as tall as horses and sometimes weigh as much as 298 pounds. In North Africa, they are often seen with other larger animals. The zebra, which is also a fast runner, seems to be one of their favorite companions.
An ostrich egg weighs one pound, which is as much as two dozen chicken eggs. Ostrich eggs are delicious and are often used for food by people in Africa. The shells are also made into cups and beautiful ornaments.
Source # 2
Blue Whales
Author Unknown
The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature. To begin with, it is a mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean. The size of its body is amazing. This whale can grow up to 98 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making it the largest known animal to have ever existed. Its body is long and elegantly tapered, unlike other whales which have a rounder, stockier build. Their build, along with their extreme size, gives them a unique appearance and the ability to move more gracefully and at greater speeds than one might imagine. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time. Their normal traveling speed is around 12 mph, but they slow to 3.1 mph when feeding. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill. Since the krill are so small, the blue whale eats about four tons daily as they swim deep in the ocean.
Unlike other whales that live in small, close-knit groups called pods, blue whales live and travel alone or with one other whale. While traveling through the ocean, they surface to breathe air into their lungs through blowholes. They emerge from the ocean, spewing water out of their blowhole, roll, and reenter the water with a grand splash of their large tail. They make loud, deep, and rumbling low-frequency sounds that travel great distances, which allow them to communicate with other whales as far as 100 miles away. Their cries can be felt as much as heard. Their resonating call makes them the loudest animal on Earth. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear a blue whale, it will be an experience you will not soon forget.
Source # 3
Koalas – Bears or Not?
Author Unknown
Most people refer to koalas as koala bears, but they are not bears at all. They are actually marsupials and are in the same family as the wombat. Koalas live in eucalyptus forests in eastern and south-eastern Australia. Adult koalas are one of only three mammals that can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. These leaves contain 50% water, requiring them to seldom drink water since they obtain it through the leaves.
Since the koala is a marsupial, the baby crawls into the mother’s pouch as soon as it is born. Baby koalas are called “joeys.” When they are born, they are blind, hairless, and less than one inch long. They remain in their mother’s pouch for the next six months, feeding first on the mother’s milk and then on a substance called “pap” in addition to the mother’s milk. Joeys continue to take their mother’s milk until they are a year old. The young koala will remain with its mother until the appearance of another joey in the mother’s pouch.
Source # 4
Spring Peepers
Author Unknown
Do you like frogs? Do you know what a spring peeper is?
Spring peepers are tiny little tree frogs that live in wooded areas near ponds. Although these little frogs are tiny, only about an inch big, they make a very loud sound. They are found mostly in the central and eastern parts of the United States. So, when the weather begins to get warmer after winter, these little frogs start to sing. Their "peep," which is why they are called spring peepers, can be heard for miles around. They live near ponds so they can lay their eggs in the water.
When the weather starts getting colder again, the spring peepers start to go into hiding. They hibernate under logs or any other place they can find in the forest to protect them from the cold. For example, sometimes they hide under fallen leaves or even in a small hole in the ground.
Ostriches
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world, but it cannot fly. Its legs are so strong and long that it can travel faster by running. Ostriches use their wings to help them gather speed when they start to run. They also use them as brakes when turning and stopping.
Ostriches have been known to run at a rate of 60 miles an hour. So, they can run faster than horses and match the average speed of car drivers on a highway.
These huge birds stand as tall as horses and sometimes weigh as much as 298 pounds. In North Africa, they are often seen with other larger animals. The zebra, which is also a fast runner, seems to be one of their favorite companions.
An ostrich egg weighs one pound, which is as much as two dozen chicken eggs. Ostrich eggs are delicious and are often used for food by people in Africa. The shells are also made into cups and beautiful ornaments.
Source # 2
Blue Whales
Blue Whales
Author Unknown
The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature. To begin with, it is a mammal that lives its entire life in the ocean. The size of its body is amazing. This whale can grow up to 98 feet long and weigh as much as 200 tons, making it the largest known animal to have ever existed. Its body is long and elegantly tapered, unlike other whales which have a rounder, stockier build. Their build, along with their extreme size, gives them a unique appearance and the ability to move more gracefully and at greater speeds than one might imagine. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time. Their normal traveling speed is around 12 mph, but they slow to 3.1 mph when feeding. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill. Since the krill are so small, the blue whale eats about four tons daily as they swim deep in the ocean.
Unlike other whales that live in small, close-knit groups called pods, blue whales live and travel alone or with one other whale. While traveling through the ocean, they surface to breathe air into their lungs through blowholes. They emerge from the ocean, spewing water out of their blowhole, roll, and reenter the water with a grand splash of their large tail. They make loud, deep, and rumbling low-frequency sounds that travel great distances, which allow them to communicate with other whales as far as 100 miles away. Their cries can be felt as much as heard. Their resonating call makes them the loudest animal on Earth. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear a blue whale, it will be an experience you will not soon forget.
Source # 3
Koalas – Bears or Not?
Koalas – Bears or Not?
Author Unknown
Most people refer to koalas as koala bears, but they are not bears at all. They are actually marsupials and are in the same family as the wombat. Koalas live in eucalyptus forests in eastern and south-eastern Australia. Adult koalas are one of only three mammals that can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. These leaves contain 50% water, requiring them to seldom drink water since they obtain it through the leaves.
Since the koala is a marsupial, the baby crawls into the mother’s pouch as soon as it is born. Baby koalas are called “joeys.” When they are born, they are blind, hairless, and less than one inch long. They remain in their mother’s pouch for the next six months, feeding first on the mother’s milk and then on a substance called “pap” in addition to the mother’s milk. Joeys continue to take their mother’s milk until they are a year old. The young koala will remain with its mother until the appearance of another joey in the mother’s pouch.
Source # 4
Spring Peepers
Spring Peepers
Author Unknown
Do you like frogs? Do you know what a spring peeper is?
Spring peepers are tiny little tree frogs that live in wooded areas near ponds. Although these little frogs are tiny, only about an inch big, they make a very loud sound. They are found mostly in the central and eastern parts of the United States. So, when the weather begins to get warmer after winter, these little frogs start to sing. Their "peep," which is why they are called spring peepers, can be heard for miles around. They live near ponds so they can lay their eggs in the water.
When the weather starts getting colder again, the spring peepers start to go into hiding. They hibernate under logs or any other place they can find in the forest to protect them from the cold. For example, sometimes they hide under fallen leaves or even in a small hole in the ground.
Animal Narrative Task
You will now review your notes and sources, and plan, draft, revise, and edit your writing. You may use your notes and go back to the sources. Now read your assignment and the information about how your writing will be scored; then begin your work.
Your Assignment:
Your class is creating a book about animals that will be published on your teacher’s website. She asks each of you to write a different story. You choose to write a story about what happens when during your summer vacation, you come across two of the animals you read of in the passages.
Her website will be read by parents, teachers, and other students. You should use information from multiple sources to write your story. In your story, describe what happens when you encounter the animals. When writing your story, find ways to use information and details from the sources to improve your story. Make sure you develop your character(s), the setting, and the plot, using details, dialogue, and description.
REMEMBER: A well-written story:
- Has a clear plot and clear sequence of events
- Is well-organized and has point of view
- Uses details from multiple sources to support your story
- Uses clear language
- Follows rules of writing (spelling, punctuation, and grammar usage)
Now, begin your work on your narrative story. Manage your time carefully so that you can
- Plan your story
- Write your story.
- Revise and edit the final draft of your story.
Word-processing tools and spell check are available to you.
You are being asked to write an narrative story that is several paragraphs long. Type your response in the box below. The box will get bigger as you type.
Remember to check your notes and your prewriting/planning as you write and then revise and edit your narrative story.
Writing Standards (W.4.3)
Incomplete AnswerYou have not completed your question. Please complete it to measure your learning proficiency.
Give Your List Name
Word List
