Making Connections (RI3.3)

​Have you ever seen a tall sunflower swaying in the breeze? These bright yellow flowers don’t start that way. They grow step by step through a special process called the life cycle.

It all begins with a seed. A sunflower seed is planted in the soil. The seed coat protects the tiny plant inside until the conditions are just right. When the soil is warm and the seed has enough water, it begins to sprout.

Next, a small root pushes down into the soil. The root’s job is to take in water and nutrients that help the plant grow. Soon, a green shoot breaks through the surface of the soil. This part of the plant stretches upward toward the sunlight.

As days pass, the shoot grows taller and develops leaves. These leaves soak up sunlight and use it to make food in a process called photosynthesis. The sunflower keeps growing until a bud forms at the top of the stem. Inside the bud, yellow petals are waiting to bloom.

After a few weeks, the bud opens, and the flower finally blooms into a full sunflower. Bees and other insects visit the flower to collect nectar and spread pollen, which helps make new seeds.

At the end of the summer, the sunflower begins to dry out. Its petals fall, and the center of the flower fills with hundreds of new seeds. Those seeds can fall to the ground or be collected and planted again. Each new seed can start the cycle all over!

The sunflower’s life cycle shows how one event leads to the next—from seed to sprout, to flower, to seed again.

​From Seed to Sunflower

Reorder

Put the steps of the sunflower’s life cycle in the correct order.

• A seed is planted and begins to sprout.

• Leaves grow and make food from sunlight.

• A bud opens into a full sunflower.

• The flower dries out and produces seeds.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best shows that the text is organized in sequence?

• “Bees and other insects visit the flower to collect nectar.”

• “The sunflower’s life cycle shows how one event leads to the next.”

• “Each new seed can start the cycle all over.”

• “Sunflowers can grow very tall.”

Multiple Choice

What happens right after the seed sprouts?

• The flower blooms

• The root grows into the soil

• The petals fall off

• Bees collect nectar

Multiple Choice

What happens right after the seed sprouts?

• The flower blooms

• The root grows into the soil

• The petals fall off

• Bees collect nectar

​Have you ever looked outside on a rainy day and wondered where all that water comes from? Rain doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s part of a cycle called the water cycle, which happens because of changes in heat and temperature.

When the sun shines on oceans, lakes, and rivers, it heats the water. The warm water turns into water vapor, which is a kind of gas. This process is called evaporation. Because the vapor is lighter than air, it rises up into the sky.

As the vapor rises higher, the air gets colder. The cool air causes the vapor to change back into tiny water droplets. This is called condensation, and it’s how clouds form. The clouds look fluffy, but they’re actually made up of many small drops of water.

When the clouds become full and heavy, gravity pulls the water back down to Earth. This causes rain! Sometimes, if the air is very cold, the water may fall as snow or sleet instead.

After the rain falls, it collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, and puddles. Then the sun heats the water again, starting the whole cycle over.

The next time you see dark clouds and feel raindrops on your head, you’ll know they are caused by the sun’s heat and the changes it makes in water all around our planet!

Why It Rains

Multiple Choice

What causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes, and rivers?

• The wind blowing across the surface

• The clouds becoming heavy

• The sun heating the water

• The air getting colder

Multiple Choice

What effect does cool air have on water vapor?

• It turns the vapor into tiny water droplets that form clouds.

• It causes the clouds to move faster.

• It turns the vapor into snow.

• It makes the vapor disappear.

Multiple Choice

What happens because the clouds become too full and heavy?

• The water vapor rises into the sky.

• The sun stops heating the water.

• Rain or snow falls to the ground.

• The water freezes into ice.

Dropdown

Rain falls to the ground because

​​

Select answer