assignment_returnWorksheet: Connect The Dots
Standard(s): RI.3.8

The troll was not happy. He had been trying to build a fence around his home for days, but it kept falling over. You see, the troll didn't like anyone. He wanted to build a fence, so none of his neighbors could visit him. He cut down many trees and then cut these large trees into posts for his fence. He dug holes in the ground and put the posts in them. Then he laid long logs on top of the posts, but the logs kept falling down.

As the troll was sitting on a log, feeling sad about the unfinished fence, one of his neighbors walked by and stopped to talk to him. "What's wrong, Mr. Troll?" said the neighbor.

"I can't build my fence to keep you out!" said the troll.

"I'll help you," replied the neighbor.

The neighbor went and got a hammer and some nails from his house. He and the troll nailed the logs on top of the posts. When the fence was all finished, the troll smiled. "Would you like to come into my house for some milk and cookies?" he asked his neighbor.

"I thought you wanted to keep me out?" said the neighbor.

What is the best closing sentence for this story?

THE BEE
from McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader

1. There are three kinds of bees: workers, drones, and queens.

2. Bees live in a house that is called a hive.

3. Only one queen can live in each hive. If she is lost or dead, the other bees will stop their work.

4. They are very wise and busy little creatures. They all join together to build cells of wax for their honey.

5. Each bee takes its proper place, and does its own work. Some go out and gather honey from the flowers; others stay at home and work inside the hive.

6. The cells which they build are all of one shape and size, and no room is left between them.

7. The cells are not round, but have six sides.

8. Have you ever looked into a glass hive to see the bees while at work? They are always busy.

9. The drones do not work. Every year before winter, all the drones are driven from the hive or killed. The reason the drones are driven from the hive or killed is that they did not help make the honey, so the other bees do not allow them to eat the honey.

10. It is not safe for children to handle bees because they have stingers. Bees use their stingers as a great defensive tool.

Based on this selection, what are you LEAST likely to see a bee doing?

PATTY AND THE SQUIRREL
from McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader

1. Little Patty lives in a log house near a great forest. She has no sisters, and her big brothers are away all day helping their father.

2. But Patty is never lonely; for, though the nearest house is miles away, she has many little friends. Here are two of them that live in the woods.

3. But how did Patty teach them to be so tame? Patty came to the woods often, and was always so quiet and gentle that the squirrels soon found they need not be afraid of her.

4. She brought her bread and milk to eat under the trees, and was sure to leave crumbs for the squirrels.

5. When they came near, she sat very still and watched them. So, little by little, she made them her friends, till, at last, they would sit on her shoulder, and eat from her hand.

6. Squirrels build for themselves summer houses. Those are made of leaves, and sticks, and moss. They are nice and cool for summer, but would never do for the winter cold and snow.

7. So these wise little people find a hollow in an old tree. They make it warm and snug with soft moss and leaves; and here the squirrels live all through the long winter.

How do the squirrels most likely feel about Patty?

Everything in nature follows a pattern. Circles, lines, spirals, and angles are repeated to make a design or a pattern. Patterns in nature are not just pretty adornments. They do serve a purpose that has helped nature survive and flourish.

Have you ever taken a close look at a beehive? Well, not too close or you might get stung! The natural pattern in beehives is so perfect that it seems to be computer designed. The hives are made up of layers and layers of cells. Each cell has perfectly equal six sides or hexagons. Why would bees build six-sided cells, why not circular or box shaped ones? That is because the bee is a genius at geometry and architecture! Six-sided cells use up every bit of space and allow bees to get maximum space for storing honey. Hexagons also use the least building material because all the six sides are common to other cells. The bees don’t waste space, material or effort. Aren’t they smart insects?

Why does the author ask, "Have you ever taken a close look at a beehive"?

Read the poem and answer the question.

Camels are bumpy,
Their backs are all lumpy,
Giraffes are long- legged and meek:
Bears are so growly,
Hyenas are howly,
Dolphins are slippery and sleek.

Kangaroos have a pocket,
But no way to lock it,
Their babies can look out and peep,
But monkeys are funny
I wish I had money,
Enough to buy one and keep.

What might have helped the author write this piece?