grades 3-6 32 short paragraph cards in a multiple...

Grades 3-6

Aligned with Common Core Standards Great for test prep and fast finishers Recording sheet and answer key included

32 short paragraph cards in a multiple choice format.

Here are 32 multiple choice task cards to help students identify different types of text structures. For the purposes of these cards, five text structures are used: description, sequence (sometime called or used in addition to chronological), compare and contrast, cause and effect, and problem and solution. Each card features a short informational paragraph (with signal words and phrases included) and a choice of text structures. There is also a Challenge Card that can be used with any other card in the set which asks students to explain how they found the correct answer.

In addition, there is handout/poster explaining the five structures, as well as a student answer sheet and answer key so that students can check their work. These task will work well for test prep, reading strategy centers, partner work, or with the whole class using a game like Scoot.

These cards will look best in color, but will also print out fine in grayscale. Simply print and cut along the guidelines. Laminate and use them again and again. Alternatively, you could print on cardstock. It works well to keep them in a baggie, envelope, or folder. Another option is to hole-punch a corner of each card and put them all on a ring. This resource is aligned with the following Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.8 Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.5 Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.5 Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.

Note: This set was designed for teachers who are using the Common Core Standards. This same set is also available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store with term Nonfiction Text instead of Informational Text for those who are NOT using the Standards.

This resource was created by Rachel Lynette copyright 2012. It may be printed and photocopied by the original purchaser

for single classroom and personal use only and may not be put on the internet, sold, or distributed in any form. Thank you for respecting the copyright.

http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/01/scoot-solutions-for-when-you-have-more.html

http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RI/3/8/



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Description

Signal Words: such as, for instance, in addition, also, specifically Tips: Ask yourself: what specific person, place, thing, or idea is being described? Look for a topic word or phrase and for synonyms.

Problem and Solution

Signal Words:

problem, issue, since, as a result, solution, idea, so, leads to, causes Tips: Ask yourself: what is the problem and what is the solution? Look for the problem first and then the solution.

Compare and Contrast

Signal Words: similar, same, alike, both, as well as, unlike, as opposed to, on the other hand, in contrast, instead Tips: Ask yourself: what is being compared? How are they the same? How are they different?

Cause and Effect

Signal Words: since, because, if, due to, as a result of, causes, leads to, consequently, then, therefore Tips: Ask yourself: what happened and why did it happen? Remember, you are looking for a cause, not a solution.

Sequence

Signal Words: first, second, third, then, next, before, after, finally, following Tips: Ask yourself: Is this event taking place over time? Look for steps or references to time such as dates.

Informational Text Structures Task Cards created by Rachel Lynette Copyright ©2012 all rights reserved http://www.rachel-lynette.com


The Vancouver Island marmot is a kind of large rodent that lives high in the mountains of Vancouver Island in Canada. Climate change and logging have caused a large decrease in their population. Scientists believe that there are less than a hundred of them left in the wild.

Which text structure is used in the paragraph?

a. compare and contrast b. description

c. cause and effect d. sequence

1 I do my chores each Saturday. First, I fold the laundry and put it away. Then I sweep and mop the kitchen floor. After that, I empty all the garbage cans and the recycling. Finally, when all of my chores are finished, I can go outside to play.



c. problem and solution d. sequence

2

Did you know that not all deserts are hot? Both hot and cold deserts are very dry, but unlike hot deserts, cold deserts have long winters when the temperatures can reach below freezing. Cold deserts also get a great deal of snow, which is certainly not true for hot deserts.


a. compare and contrast b. cause and effect

c. problem and solution d. description

3 Spending too much time in the sun can lead to sunburn, dehydration, and even skin cancer. One way to help prevent these problems is to make sure that you wear sunscreen whenever you are outside. It is also a good idea to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.




4


The Space Needle was built in 1962 in Seattle, Washington for the World's Fair. It is 605 feet tall (184 m) from the ground to the aircraft warning beacon at the very top. Visitors can ride an elevator to the observation deck at 520 (158 m) feet. They can also dine in a revolving restaurant near the top of the needle.




5 Malaria is a serious problem in many developing countries. Thousands of people get sick with Malaria every year. Because Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, one way to help solve the problem is for people to use mosquito nets over their beds. If the mosquitoes cannot get to the people, they cannot infect them!




6

To make a yummy smoothie, first put some milk into a blender. Then add a banana and some frozen berries such as strawberries and blueberries. You may also want to add some grapes. Next, turn your blender to its lowest setting and gradually increase the speed until everything is blended. Then pour it into a glass and enjoy!




7 Electricity can flow through some kinds of materials, but not through others. Materials that electricity can flow through are called conductors. Metal and water are both conductors. By contrast, materials that electricity cannot flow through are called insulators. Plastic, glass, fabric, and wood are all insulators.




8


Beagles are medium-sized members of the hound family. Beagles generally make good pets because they are intelligent, good-natured, and good with children. Beagles are also quite playful and need a great deal of exercise.


a. problem and solution b. description


9 Today more people are connected to the internet than ever before, not only at home, but also on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Many of these people now get their news from the internet rather than reading newspapers. As a consequence, many newspapers have gone out of business.




10

When a family of beavers wants to construct a dam across a river, they begin by using their teeth to cut down trees. Then they drag the trees to the river where they construct the dam from the bottom up. They continue to add more trees, branches, and mud until the top of the dam is above the water.




11 Do you ever forget to bring your completed homework to school? This can be so frustrating when you know you did your homework, but it won't count since you can't turn it in on time. One way to prevent this issue is to put your homework in your backpack as soon as you finish it. Another solution is to leave yourself a note on the door.




12


President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He graduated from high school in 1979. After attending college at Harvard, he married Michelle Robinson in 1992. Obama became an Illinois senator in 1997 and on January 20, 2009, he became the 44th president of the United States of America.




13 Some trees are conifers while others are deciduous. Deciduous trees have broad leaves, which they lose each autumn. Maple, oak, and elm trees are deciduous. Conifers, on the other hand, usually have thin, narrow leaves called needles. Pine, fir, cedar, and other conifers do not lose their leaves in the fall.




14

At 4,160 miles (6,670 km), the Nile River in Africa is the longest river in the world. It begins in Lake Victoria in Central Africa and flows through five countries before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is an important source of water for the people who live near its banks.




15 In America, more people are eating fast food than ever before. Fast food, such as cheese burgers, chicken nuggets, tacos, and French fries are high in calories and fat. All of this fast food is one reason that over a third of Americans are overweight.




16


English peas and sugar peas are both a kind of vegetable. Both can be eaten raw or cooked. They are easy to tell apart because sugar pea pods are flat while English pods are plump. Another important difference is that with English peas, you only eat the peas, and not the pod, however, with sugar peas, you eat the pod too.




17 The capybara is the world's largest rodents. Capybaras can weigh up to 145 pounds (66 kg). They love the water and spend most of their time in swamps, ponds, and rivers. If you want to see a capybara in the wild, you will need to go to Central or South America.


a. problem and solution b. sequence

c. cause and effect d. description

18

It is fun to make leaf rubbings in autumn. First, collect some interesting leaves. Then choose one leaf and put it underneath a piece of white paper. Next, peel the paper away from a dark-colored crayon and use the side of the crayon to color the paper over the leaf. Soon, you will see the shape of your leaf on the paper.


a. compare and contrast b. sequence

c. cause and effect d. description

19 An earthquake that occurs under the ocean may cause a tsunami. A tsunami is a series of giant waves that can cause a great deal of destruction, as well as many deaths when it hits the coast. So, if you are ever at the beach and hear a tsunami warning siren, you should run to higher ground as fast as you can.




20


The largest ball of twine ever created by one person is located in Darwin, Minnesota. It was made by Francis A. Johnson who began winding the twine in 1950. By 1979, he had created a twine ball that measured 40 feet (12.2 m) around and weighed 8.7 tons!



c. problem and solution d. cause and effect

21 When I get to my classroom in the morning, the first thing I do is hang up my coat and my backpack. Then I turn in my homework and sharpen my pencil. After that, I am ready for work, so I sit down at my seat and start on the morning assignment on the board.




22

Next time you are thirsty, try drinking a glass of water instead of a soda. Although both will quench your thirst, soda is full of sugar and chemicals. Water, on the other hand, is a much healthier choice. Water helps your digestive system to function properly and keeps you immune system strong so you won't get sick.




23 Most people know that Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, but did you know that Mercury also orbits the sun faster than any other planet? At a speed of 31 miles (50 km) per second, Mercury completes an orbit every 88 days. That means that a year on Mercury is less than three Earth months long!


a. problem and solution b. description


24


When farmers use fertilizer to fertilize their crops, the left over fertilizer can run into nearby ponds, streams and rivers. The result is that the nutrient-rich fertilizer causes way too much algae to grow. All that algae is bad for the plants and animals that live there.



c. problem and solution d. cause and effect

25 Some of the students in room 52 were upset because they never got to use the balls and jump ropes at recess. Another group of kids always got them first and they refused to share. When Mrs. Kelly found out what was going on, she developed a rotation system so that everyone would have a chance to use the equipment.




26

To make a snowman, start by rolling a big ball for the body. Then roll a smaller ball and put it on top of the big ball to use as the head. Next, find two sticks to use as arms. Then you can use objects such as coal, a carrot, and raisins to make the face. Add a hat and your snowman is complete!




27 Marsupials are a kind of mammal. Most female marsupials have a pouch to carry their babies. A newborn marsupial is very small and underdeveloped. It will spend the first part of its life in its mother's pouch. Kangaroos, wombats, and koalas are all marsupials.




28


Moths and butterflies often look similar. Both have large wings and long, thin bodies, and both start their lives as caterpillars. However, butterflies usually have brighter colors on their wings than moths. Also, butterflies are most active during the day, while moths are generally creatures of the night.




29 Mrs. Jonas was worried about Marco because he often fell asleep in class. She decided to call Marco's parents to discuss the problem. During the phone call, Mrs. Jonas suggested that an earlier bedtime might help Marco to get more sleep at night so that he would not need to sleep during class.




30

The beloved children's writer, Shel Silverstein is well known for his three books of children's poems. The first book, Where the Sidewalk Ends was first published in 1974. The second book, A Light in the Attic, came out seven years later in 1981. The final book, Falling Up, was published in 1996.




31 The Mona Lisa is a painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It was painted between 1503 and 1506. Today, it is thought to be the most well known painting in the world. You can see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. About six million people view the famous painting each year.



c. problem and solution d. description

32

Name ____________________________________ Name ____________________________________

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24.

25. 26. 27. 28.

29. 30. 31. 32.

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24.

25. 26. 27. 28.

29. 30. 31. 32.

1. c 2. d 3. a 4. c

5. b 6. c 7. d 8. a

9. b 10. c 11. d 12. c

13. d 14. a 15. b 16. c

17. a 18. d 19. b 20. c

21. b 22. d 23. a 24. b

25. d 26. c 27. d 28. b

29. a 30. c 31. d 32. d

Check your work!

Explain how you knew which answer was correct. Which words or phrases gave you clues?

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grades 3-6 32 short paragraph cards in a multiple...

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