A passage of about 260 words describes the four layers of a tropical rainforest for 3rd grade readers. It covers the emergent layer, canopy, understory and forest floor, with animals such as harpy eagles, toucans, jaguars and leafcutter ants. Page 2 has a diagram where students label four numbered layers from a word bank, then seven reading questions that start on the same page. It supports RI.3.1 and NGSS 3-LS4-3. Page 4 is the answer key.
RI.3.1
“Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.”
Question 5 asks students to quote a phrase as proof, and questions 6 and 7 ask for answers built on facts from the passage.
3-LS4-3
“Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.”
Question 4 links wide understory leaves to dim light, and question 6 links decomposers on the forest floor to the giant trees.
Five paragraphs with each layer name in bold, and a picture of a giant rainforest tree beside the text.
A side-view diagram with arrows numbered 1 to 4 and a word bank of canopy, emergent layer, forest floor and understory. Students write each name on its numbered line.
Questions 1 to 4 are multiple choice, on the layer with the most animals, the animals at the top, what dim means and why understory leaves are wide. Question 5 is true or false with proof from the text. Questions 6 and 7 need written answers.
The four layer names, the correct option for each multiple-choice question, and written answers with a quoted line for question 5.
Two reads
Read the passage aloud once, then have students read it again alone and underline each animal. Those underlines answer questions 1 and 2.
Label, then check
Students label the diagram straight after reading and compare with a neighbor. The middle layers are the ones they swap.
Teaching proof
Model question 5 on the board by finding the sentence that says few green plants can grow on the forest floor. Students then do the same for question 7.
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