STAR Practice

The term "Uncle Sam" stands for the United States. He was a real person. He did not wear a hat with stars and a coat with stripes. A long time ago, there was a man named Sam Wilson. He live in Troy, New York. Everyone liked him. They called him Uncle Sam.

The U.S. Army would come to buy food from Sam. Sam would send boxes of food to the Army. He marked the boxes with "U.S." That showed they were for the U.S. Army. A worker saw the letters. He asked what they were for. A man said they were the first letters of Uncle Sam's name. People started saying that anything for the U.S. Army was Uncle Sam's. It is still that way today.

Why did Sam mark the boxes with "U.S."?

• because he was a soldier in the United States Army

• so that people would know the boxes were unsafe and would be careful

• because his real name was Uncle Sam

• so that people would know they were for the army

Yumi loves horses and reading about horses.

When she goes to the library, which book would she most likely choose?

• Life in the Woods

• Music and Dancing

• Swim in the Sea

• Take Care of Your Pony

Taking Care of the Earth

Everyone can help take care of the earth. Look around inside your home. Turn off lights when you do not need them. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Do not throw away glass, paper, and cans. They can be used to make new things.

You can do many things outside your house. You can clean up a park. You can plant some trees and flowers.

Which question can you answer by reading "Taking Care of the Earth"?

• How do you clean up a park?

• Why should you help take care of the earth?

• How does using both sides of your paper help the earth?

• Why should you brush your teeth?

How Balls Bounce

Bouncing a ball is a fun way to play. Have you ever wondered why a ball bounces? The shape of a ball helps it bounce. A ball is round, but the shape changes when it bounces. What happens to the shape of the ball?

When someone drops a ball, it hits the ground. The bottom of the ball becomes flat. The ball does not stay flat. It becomes round again. This happens very quickly. This pushes the ball back up. That is a bounce.

What does "How Balls Bounce" tell about balls?

• The shape of a ball changes when it bounces.

• A bouncing ball takes some force from the person who drops it.

• A person can guess how high a ball will bounce.

• The size of a ball is different after it bounces.

Making Orange Juice

Orange trees grow many oranges. Most of the oranges are used to make juice. People buy juice at the store. There is another way that you can get orange juice. You can make it yourself!

You will need about five oranges and a small bowl. Wash the oranges. Ask a grown-up to cut each orange in half. Squeeze each orange half over a bowl. The juice will run into the bowl. If there are any seeds in the bowl, take them out. Pour the juice into a glass. Taste the sweet juice. How do you like the orange juice that you made?

What does "Making Orange Juice" tell you?

• It tells where orange trees grow.

• it teaches about different kinds of oranges.

• it tells a story about someone buying oranges.

• It teaches you how to make something from oranges.

When You Grow Up

What do you want to be when you grow up? Do you know what you want to be when you get older? Do you like to help people? Maybe you could be a doctor or a teacher. Do you like to find things? Maybe you could be a deep sea diver. Do you like music? Maybe you could be a singer. Do you like plants? Maybe you could be a farmer. Do you like to go to new places? Maybe you could be a truck driver. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. You have to try. Then try some more.

You might be a doctor or teacher if you _____.

• live in a large city

• like to help people

• like to travel

• are good at music

Cooking Noodles

Do you like noodles? Have you ever made them? Noodles are a yummy food. Some noodles are thin. Other noodles are wide.

You can cook noodles in water. Ask a grown up to help you. All you need is a pot. Let the water get really hot. Then add the noodles. Turn down the heat. Let the noodles cook. You can taste one to see if it is done. Add some oil to the noodles so they do not stick together.

Noodles taste best when something is added to them. What would you add to your noodles? Tomato sauce? Cheese? Fish? It is your choice!

These directions are about _____.

• one way to cook noodles

• a talking noodle that liked to cook

• one noodle's day at the store

• words that sound like noodle

Cooking Noodles

Do you like noodles? Have you ever made them? Noodles are a yummy food. Some noodles are thin. Other noodles are wide.

You can cook noodles in water. Ask a grown up to help you. All you need is a pot. Let the water get really hot. Then add the noodles. Turn down the heat. Let the noodles cook. You can taste one to see if it is done. Add some oil to the noodles so they do not stick together.

Noodles taste best when something is added to them. What would you add to your noodles? Tomato sauce? Cheese? Fish? It is your choice!

"Noodles taste best when something is added to them." This means that _____.

• everyone adds something to noodles before eating them

• plain noodles taste bad

• you must put something on noodles to eat them

• the writer likes to eat noodles with something on them

Caves

In some places caves are made by water. This happens in places where there is soft rock.

When it rains, water goes into the ground. It goes down to the rocks under the ground. It runs through cracks in the rock. The water takes away little bits of rock. Every time it rains, the water slowly takes away more rock.

After years and years, the water makes holes in the rock. The water goes through the holes faster. After many more years, the holes get bigger. They might be big enough for people to fit inside. The holes are caves.

What does this writer say about caves?

• Caves are made by water in places with soft rock.

• A young man once lived in a cave.

• Caves have many secrets hidden inside of them.

• There are big parks near some of the best caves.

 You should brush your teeth after you eat. Bits of food are still on your teeth. This food can hurt your teeth. Brushing keeps your teeth clean.

Look at the words with the line under them. What do these words tell you?

• where to get the best kind of brush

• which kind of food you should eat

• why you should brush after you eat