ML1 EOY Reading

The car bumped along the gravelly asphalt road, and Michaela’s seat belt pressed into her stomach uncomfortably. Outside, the scenery had been green and leafy for hours. At first, it had been exciting and beautiful—Michaela had never seen so many trees and so much underbrush before. But after five hours stuck in a car with her younger twin brothers and nothing to look at but a bunch of plants, Michaela was ready to scream. Suddenly the idea of a whole entire week in the middle of a forest, hiking and looking at waterfalls with just her family, did not seem like a fun prospect. Why couldn’t they just go to the beach like all of her friends’ families?

“And all was well,” the British voice from the Harry Potter book on tape said.

“I never knew Harry Potter was so moral,” Michaela’s mom said, turning around in her seat to smile at Michaela, Zack, and Steve. “Did you guys like it?”

“It was good,” Michaela said, staring out the window.

Both Zack and Steve had (thankfully) fallen asleep, one head leaning on the other. The best part about being a twin, Michaela thought (and she would know, having watched her little brothers for five straight years), was that you always had a shoulder rest that was at the exact height you needed.

“Sadly, there are no more audiobooks,” her mom said, turning back to the front.

“That’s a tragedy,” Michaela’s dad said, as he pulled the car into a rest stop. “I have to stretch my legs. Michaela, do you want a chocolate bar?”

Michaela jumped out of the car and followed her dad to the gas station store. Theirs was the only car at the rest stop. Stretching, Michaela leaned back to look up at the tops of the trees.

“Pretty, huh?” her dad said.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Michaela shrugged.

Her dad smiled. “Ah, are we at that age yet?”

“What age?”

“When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!” He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.

“Dad, stop!” she shrieked.

“No one is around, I promise,” he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. “Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?”

She smiled and nodded.

He went in to buy the candy, and Michaela leaned up against the brick gas station and stretched her legs. She looked back at the car: it seemed that Zack and Steve were awake and pulling each other’s hair. Their mom had gotten out of the car, and she was trying to stop them from the open door.

“What hooligans,” her dad said, letting the gas station door close behind him.

“They’re so annoying,” Michaela said.

“Yeah, but they’re cute at least, right?” her dad said, throwing his arm around her shoulders and steering her back to the car.

“Kind of,” Michaela grumbled, taking the candy out of the plastic shopping bag her dad was holding.

“I know they’re hard to handle. But just try to ignore them… We’ll let Mom deal with them on this trip, huh? Either way, you’ll get used to them,” he said, and laughed. “I got used to Mom!”

“What’s that?” Michaela’s mom asked.

“Nothing, honey!” her dad said, grinning. Michaela held back a giggle and climbed into the car, feeling a teeny bit better about this week-long trip to the middle of nowhere.

How long has Michaela been in the car with her family?

• 2 hours

• 3 hours

• 4 hours

• 5 hours

Tags

CCSS.4.MD.B.4

The car bumped along the gravelly asphalt road, and Michaela’s seat belt pressed into her stomach uncomfortably. Outside, the scenery had been green and leafy for hours. At first, it had been exciting and beautiful—Michaela had never seen so many trees and so much underbrush before. But after five hours stuck in a car with her younger twin brothers and nothing to look at but a bunch of plants, Michaela was ready to scream. Suddenly the idea of a whole entire week in the middle of a forest, hiking and looking at waterfalls with just her family, did not seem like a fun prospect. Why couldn’t they just go to the beach like all of her friends’ families?

“And all was well,” the British voice from the Harry Potter book on tape said.

“I never knew Harry Potter was so moral,” Michaela’s mom said, turning around in her seat to smile at Michaela, Zack, and Steve. “Did you guys like it?”

“It was good,” Michaela said, staring out the window.

Both Zack and Steve had (thankfully) fallen asleep, one head leaning on the other. The best part about being a twin, Michaela thought (and she would know, having watched her little brothers for five straight years), was that you always had a shoulder rest that was at the exact height you needed.

“Sadly, there are no more audiobooks,” her mom said, turning back to the front.

“That’s a tragedy,” Michaela’s dad said, as he pulled the car into a rest stop. “I have to stretch my legs. Michaela, do you want a chocolate bar?”

Michaela jumped out of the car and followed her dad to the gas station store. Theirs was the only car at the rest stop. Stretching, Michaela leaned back to look up at the tops of the trees.

“Pretty, huh?” her dad said.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Michaela shrugged.

Her dad smiled. “Ah, are we at that age yet?”

“What age?”

“When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!” He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.

“Dad, stop!” she shrieked.

“No one is around, I promise,” he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. “Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?”

She smiled and nodded.

He went in to buy the candy, and Michaela leaned up against the brick gas station and stretched her legs. She looked back at the car: it seemed that Zack and Steve were awake and pulling each other’s hair. Their mom had gotten out of the car, and she was trying to stop them from the open door.

“What hooligans,” her dad said, letting the gas station door close behind him.

“They’re so annoying,” Michaela said.

“Yeah, but they’re cute at least, right?” her dad said, throwing his arm around her shoulders and steering her back to the car.

“Kind of,” Michaela grumbled, taking the candy out of the plastic shopping bag her dad was holding.

“I know they’re hard to handle. But just try to ignore them… We’ll let Mom deal with them on this trip, huh? Either way, you’ll get used to them,” he said, and laughed. “I got used to Mom!”

“What’s that?” Michaela’s mom asked.

“Nothing, honey!” her dad said, grinning. Michaela held back a giggle and climbed into the car, feeling a teeny bit better about this week-long trip to the middle of nowhere.

How does Michaela feel about spending a week in the forest with her family at the beginning of the story?

• frustrated

• happy

• bored

• meh

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

The car bumped along the gravelly asphalt road, and Michaela’s seat belt pressed into her stomach uncomfortably. Outside, the scenery had been green and leafy for hours. At first, it had been exciting and beautiful—Michaela had never seen so many trees and so much underbrush before. But after five hours stuck in a car with her younger twin brothers and nothing to look at but a bunch of plants, Michaela was ready to scream. Suddenly the idea of a whole entire week in the middle of a forest, hiking and looking at waterfalls with just her family, did not seem like a fun prospect. Why couldn’t they just go to the beach like all of her friends’ families?

“And all was well,” the British voice from the Harry Potter book on tape said.

“I never knew Harry Potter was so moral,” Michaela’s mom said, turning around in her seat to smile at Michaela, Zack, and Steve. “Did you guys like it?”

“It was good,” Michaela said, staring out the window.

Both Zack and Steve had (thankfully) fallen asleep, one head leaning on the other. The best part about being a twin, Michaela thought (and she would know, having watched her little brothers for five straight years), was that you always had a shoulder rest that was at the exact height you needed.

“Sadly, there are no more audiobooks,” her mom said, turning back to the front.

“That’s a tragedy,” Michaela’s dad said, as he pulled the car into a rest stop. “I have to stretch my legs. Michaela, do you want a chocolate bar?”

Michaela jumped out of the car and followed her dad to the gas station store. Theirs was the only car at the rest stop. Stretching, Michaela leaned back to look up at the tops of the trees.

“Pretty, huh?” her dad said.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Michaela shrugged.

Her dad smiled. “Ah, are we at that age yet?”

“What age?”

“When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!” He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.

“Dad, stop!” she shrieked.

“No one is around, I promise,” he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. “Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?”

She smiled and nodded.

He went in to buy the candy, and Michaela leaned up against the brick gas station and stretched her legs. She looked back at the car: it seemed that Zack and Steve were awake and pulling each other’s hair. Their mom had gotten out of the car, and she was trying to stop them from the open door.

“What hooligans,” her dad said, letting the gas station door close behind him.

“They’re so annoying,” Michaela said.

“Yeah, but they’re cute at least, right?” her dad said, throwing his arm around her shoulders and steering her back to the car.

“Kind of,” Michaela grumbled, taking the candy out of the plastic shopping bag her dad was holding.

“I know they’re hard to handle. But just try to ignore them… We’ll let Mom deal with them on this trip, huh? Either way, you’ll get used to them,” he said, and laughed. “I got used to Mom!”

“What’s that?” Michaela’s mom asked.

“Nothing, honey!” her dad said, grinning. Michaela held back a giggle and climbed into the car, feeling a teeny bit better about this week-long trip to the middle of nowhere.

Read these sentences from the story.

"Her dad smiled. 'Ah, are we at that age yet?' "'What age?' "'When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!' He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.' "'Dad, stop!' she shrieked. "'No one is around, I promise,' he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. 'Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?'"

Based on this evidence, how can Michaela's dad best be described?

• mean

• playful

• dull

• rigid

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The car bumped along the gravelly asphalt road, and Michaela’s seat belt pressed into her stomach uncomfortably. Outside, the scenery had been green and leafy for hours. At first, it had been exciting and beautiful—Michaela had never seen so many trees and so much underbrush before. But after five hours stuck in a car with her younger twin brothers and nothing to look at but a bunch of plants, Michaela was ready to scream. Suddenly the idea of a whole entire week in the middle of a forest, hiking and looking at waterfalls with just her family, did not seem like a fun prospect. Why couldn’t they just go to the beach like all of her friends’ families?

“And all was well,” the British voice from the Harry Potter book on tape said.

“I never knew Harry Potter was so moral,” Michaela’s mom said, turning around in her seat to smile at Michaela, Zack, and Steve. “Did you guys like it?”

“It was good,” Michaela said, staring out the window.

Both Zack and Steve had (thankfully) fallen asleep, one head leaning on the other. The best part about being a twin, Michaela thought (and she would know, having watched her little brothers for five straight years), was that you always had a shoulder rest that was at the exact height you needed.

“Sadly, there are no more audiobooks,” her mom said, turning back to the front.

“That’s a tragedy,” Michaela’s dad said, as he pulled the car into a rest stop. “I have to stretch my legs. Michaela, do you want a chocolate bar?”

Michaela jumped out of the car and followed her dad to the gas station store. Theirs was the only car at the rest stop. Stretching, Michaela leaned back to look up at the tops of the trees.

“Pretty, huh?” her dad said.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Michaela shrugged.

Her dad smiled. “Ah, are we at that age yet?”

“What age?”

“When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!” He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.

“Dad, stop!” she shrieked.

“No one is around, I promise,” he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. “Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?”

She smiled and nodded.

He went in to buy the candy, and Michaela leaned up against the brick gas station and stretched her legs. She looked back at the car: it seemed that Zack and Steve were awake and pulling each other’s hair. Their mom had gotten out of the car, and she was trying to stop them from the open door.

“What hooligans,” her dad said, letting the gas station door close behind him.

“They’re so annoying,” Michaela said.

“Yeah, but they’re cute at least, right?” her dad said, throwing his arm around her shoulders and steering her back to the car.

“Kind of,” Michaela grumbled, taking the candy out of the plastic shopping bag her dad was holding.

“I know they’re hard to handle. But just try to ignore them… We’ll let Mom deal with them on this trip, huh? Either way, you’ll get used to them,” he said, and laughed. “I got used to Mom!”

“What’s that?” Michaela’s mom asked.

“Nothing, honey!” her dad said, grinning. Michaela held back a giggle and climbed into the car, feeling a teeny bit better about this week-long trip to the middle of nowhere.

Who makes Michaela feel "a tiny bit better" about the trip?

• mom

• her brother

• dad

• Harry Potter

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

The car bumped along the gravelly asphalt road, and Michaela’s seat belt pressed into her stomach uncomfortably. Outside, the scenery had been green and leafy for hours. At first, it had been exciting and beautiful—Michaela had never seen so many trees and so much underbrush before. But after five hours stuck in a car with her younger twin brothers and nothing to look at but a bunch of plants, Michaela was ready to scream. Suddenly the idea of a whole entire week in the middle of a forest, hiking and looking at waterfalls with just her family, did not seem like a fun prospect. Why couldn’t they just go to the beach like all of her friends’ families?

“And all was well,” the British voice from the Harry Potter book on tape said.

“I never knew Harry Potter was so moral,” Michaela’s mom said, turning around in her seat to smile at Michaela, Zack, and Steve. “Did you guys like it?”

“It was good,” Michaela said, staring out the window.

Both Zack and Steve had (thankfully) fallen asleep, one head leaning on the other. The best part about being a twin, Michaela thought (and she would know, having watched her little brothers for five straight years), was that you always had a shoulder rest that was at the exact height you needed.

“Sadly, there are no more audiobooks,” her mom said, turning back to the front.

“That’s a tragedy,” Michaela’s dad said, as he pulled the car into a rest stop. “I have to stretch my legs. Michaela, do you want a chocolate bar?”

Michaela jumped out of the car and followed her dad to the gas station store. Theirs was the only car at the rest stop. Stretching, Michaela leaned back to look up at the tops of the trees.

“Pretty, huh?” her dad said.

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Michaela shrugged.

Her dad smiled. “Ah, are we at that age yet?”

“What age?”

“When you stop talking to Mom and me. They warned me about this!” He picked her up by her armpits and swirled her around like he used to do when she was a kid.

“Dad, stop!” she shrieked.

“No one is around, I promise,” he said, setting her down gently. He playfully punched her arm. “Will that be a Reese’s peanut butter cup for the lady?”

She smiled and nodded.

He went in to buy the candy, and Michaela leaned up against the brick gas station and stretched her legs. She looked back at the car: it seemed that Zack and Steve were awake and pulling each other’s hair. Their mom had gotten out of the car, and she was trying to stop them from the open door.

“What hooligans,” her dad said, letting the gas station door close behind him.

“They’re so annoying,” Michaela said.

“Yeah, but they’re cute at least, right?” her dad said, throwing his arm around her shoulders and steering her back to the car.

“Kind of,” Michaela grumbled, taking the candy out of the plastic shopping bag her dad was holding.

“I know they’re hard to handle. But just try to ignore them… We’ll let Mom deal with them on this trip, huh? Either way, you’ll get used to them,” he said, and laughed. “I got used to Mom!”

“What’s that?” Michaela’s mom asked.

“Nothing, honey!” her dad said, grinning. Michaela held back a giggle and climbed into the car, feeling a teeny bit better about this week-long trip to the middle of nowhere.

What is the main idea of this story?

• Harry Potter helps Michaela appreciate her own family.

• The woods are dangerous.

• Family trips are the worst.

• Michaela's dad helps Michaela feel better about their family trip.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Have you ever played Pokémon games before? Pokémon is short for pocket monsters, and it is a series of Japanese video games. These games have also been made into television shows, movies, and merchandise. How did these video games become so popular? It all started with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

Satoshi Tajiri was born in rural Japan on August 28, 1965. He began collecting all sorts of insects at a young age. He would study their behavior and different characteristics for hours and hours. He spent so much time studying insects that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug.”

At a young age, Tajiri was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong developmental difference that may impact social skills, communication, or other behaviors. ASD shows up differently in different people. The ways in which people with ASD learn and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may need more support than others.

One characteristic of some people with ASD is remarkable focus and persistence. Satoshi Tajiri focused on his love of insects. His commitment and dedication to this hobby would go on to inspire many of the monster characters in Pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career.

Tajiri started a video game fan magazine called Game Freak. He didn’t publish it alone. The magazine’s artwork was done by Ken Sugimori. They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game. After studying computer coding, they transformed Game Freak in 1989 from a magazine about video games into a company that develops video games. In the early to mid-1990s, they made a few games. While they were making these games, Game Freak was working on a game that would eventually become one of the most popular video game series in the world. With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.

In the first games, players go on a journey to catch monsters and use their monsters to battle a number of different characters. The last battles of the games take place in a tournament, and the games end when players become the champion of the tournament. Players can also interact with other players by battling them.

One important characteristic of Pokémon is captured by one of its catchphrases, “Gotta catch ‘em all!” In the video games, players can try to collect as many monsters as possible. They do this by using their monsters to weaken other monsters in order to be able to capture them. A player can also trade monsters with other players.

Satoshi Tajiri says that he wants Pokémon to give children the same joy he had while he was collecting bugs. He is an example of someone who used his unique skills and focused interests to achieve his goals.

Game Freak began as a magazine about video games and eventually became a company that develops video games.What is the main idea of this text?

• Game Freak began as a magazine about video games and eventually became a company that develops video games.

• Satoshi Tajiri loved bugs so much when he was a child that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug” for his focus and interest in bug studying.

• Pokémon’s catchphrase, “Gotta catch ‘em all,” refers to the quest in the video games for players to catch as many monsters as possible.

• Satoshi Tajiri, a Japanese video game producer with Autism Spectrum Disorder, used his interest in insects and video games to create Pokémon, a popular video game series.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Have you ever played Pokémon games before? Pokémon is short for pocket monsters, and it is a series of Japanese video games. These games have also been made into television shows, movies, and merchandise. How did these video games become so popular? It all started with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

Satoshi Tajiri was born in rural Japan on August 28, 1965. He began collecting all sorts of insects at a young age. He would study their behavior and different characteristics for hours and hours. He spent so much time studying insects that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug.”

At a young age, Tajiri was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong developmental difference that may impact social skills, communication, or other behaviors. ASD shows up differently in different people. The ways in which people with ASD learn and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may need more support than others.

One characteristic of some people with ASD is remarkable focus and persistence. Satoshi Tajiri focused on his love of insects. His commitment and dedication to this hobby would go on to inspire many of the monster characters in Pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career.

Tajiri started a video game fan magazine called Game Freak. He didn’t publish it alone. The magazine’s artwork was done by Ken Sugimori. They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game. After studying computer coding, they transformed Game Freak in 1989 from a magazine about video games into a company that develops video games. In the early to mid-1990s, they made a few games. While they were making these games, Game Freak was working on a game that would eventually become one of the most popular video game series in the world. With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.

In the first games, players go on a journey to catch monsters and use their monsters to battle a number of different characters. The last battles of the games take place in a tournament, and the games end when players become the champion of the tournament. Players can also interact with other players by battling them.

One important characteristic of Pokémon is captured by one of its catchphrases, “Gotta catch ‘em all!” In the video games, players can try to collect as many monsters as possible. They do this by using their monsters to weaken other monsters in order to be able to capture them. A player can also trade monsters with other players.

Satoshi Tajiri says that he wants Pokémon to give children the same joy he had while he was collecting bugs. He is an example of someone who used his unique skills and focused interests to achieve his goals.

How could you describe ASD’s impact on Tajiri’s career?

• Because of the social skills that are impaired by ASD, Tajiri had a hard time finding co-workers and mentors.

• ASD impacted Tajiri’s ability to understand video games so he had to hire other people to create new games.

• ASD impacted how Tajiri was able to structure his days because he needed to sleep a lot, which hurt his career.

• Because of the intense focus on insects and video games that ASD gave him, Tajiri was able to create Pokémon.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Have you ever played Pokémon games before? Pokémon is short for pocket monsters, and it is a series of Japanese video games. These games have also been made into television shows, movies, and merchandise. How did these video games become so popular? It all started with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

Satoshi Tajiri was born in rural Japan on August 28, 1965. He began collecting all sorts of insects at a young age. He would study their behavior and different characteristics for hours and hours. He spent so much time studying insects that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug.”

At a young age, Tajiri was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong developmental difference that may impact social skills, communication, or other behaviors. ASD shows up differently in different people. The ways in which people with ASD learn and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may need more support than others.

One characteristic of some people with ASD is remarkable focus and persistence. Satoshi Tajiri focused on his love of insects. His commitment and dedication to this hobby would go on to inspire many of the monster characters in Pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career.

Tajiri started a video game fan magazine called Game Freak. He didn’t publish it alone. The magazine’s artwork was done by Ken Sugimori. They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game. After studying computer coding, they transformed Game Freak in 1989 from a magazine about video games into a company that develops video games. In the early to mid-1990s, they made a few games. While they were making these games, Game Freak was working on a game that would eventually become one of the most popular video game series in the world. With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.

In the first games, players go on a journey to catch monsters and use their monsters to battle a number of different characters. The last battles of the games take place in a tournament, and the games end when players become the champion of the tournament. Players can also interact with other players by battling them.

One important characteristic of Pokémon is captured by one of its catchphrases, “Gotta catch ‘em all!” In the video games, players can try to collect as many monsters as possible. They do this by using their monsters to weaken other monsters in order to be able to capture them. A player can also trade monsters with other players.

Satoshi Tajiri says that he wants Pokémon to give children the same joy he had while he was collecting bugs. He is an example of someone who used his unique skills and focused interests to achieve his goals.

Read the following sentences from the text.

“Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career…They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game… With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.”

What can you conclude about Tajiri based on this information?

• Tajiri’s deep understanding of the way that video games work helped him improve the video game industry with his Pokémon games.

• Tajiri never really understand how video games worked, but his business partner taught him about their structures.

• Tajiri was mostly interested in being outside so he could study insects, but sometimes he also liked to play video games.

• The most important thing in Tajiri’s life and career was his interest in writing about video games in a magazine.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Have you ever played Pokémon games before? Pokémon is short for pocket monsters, and it is a series of Japanese video games. These games have also been made into television shows, movies, and merchandise. How did these video games become so popular? It all started with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

Satoshi Tajiri was born in rural Japan on August 28, 1965. He began collecting all sorts of insects at a young age. He would study their behavior and different characteristics for hours and hours. He spent so much time studying insects that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug.”

At a young age, Tajiri was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong developmental difference that may impact social skills, communication, or other behaviors. ASD shows up differently in different people. The ways in which people with ASD learn and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may need more support than others.

One characteristic of some people with ASD is remarkable focus and persistence. Satoshi Tajiri focused on his love of insects. His commitment and dedication to this hobby would go on to inspire many of the monster characters in Pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career.

Tajiri started a video game fan magazine called Game Freak. He didn’t publish it alone. The magazine’s artwork was done by Ken Sugimori. They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game. After studying computer coding, they transformed Game Freak in 1989 from a magazine about video games into a company that develops video games. In the early to mid-1990s, they made a few games. While they were making these games, Game Freak was working on a game that would eventually become one of the most popular video game series in the world. With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.

In the first games, players go on a journey to catch monsters and use their monsters to battle a number of different characters. The last battles of the games take place in a tournament, and the games end when players become the champion of the tournament. Players can also interact with other players by battling them.

One important characteristic of Pokémon is captured by one of its catchphrases, “Gotta catch ‘em all!” In the video games, players can try to collect as many monsters as possible. They do this by using their monsters to weaken other monsters in order to be able to capture them. A player can also trade monsters with other players.

Satoshi Tajiri says that he wants Pokémon to give children the same joy he had while he was collecting bugs. He is an example of someone who used his unique skills and focused interests to achieve his goals.

What effect did Tajiri’s interest in insects have on his career?

• He became an insect scientist and studied insects’ lives.

• His business partner was also interested in insects.

• Insects inspired many of the monster characters in Pokémon.

• His insect collection was valuable and he sold it for money.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Have you ever played Pokémon games before? Pokémon is short for pocket monsters, and it is a series of Japanese video games. These games have also been made into television shows, movies, and merchandise. How did these video games become so popular? It all started with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon.

Satoshi Tajiri was born in rural Japan on August 28, 1965. He began collecting all sorts of insects at a young age. He would study their behavior and different characteristics for hours and hours. He spent so much time studying insects that his classmates called him “Dr. Bug.”

At a young age, Tajiri was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong developmental difference that may impact social skills, communication, or other behaviors. ASD shows up differently in different people. The ways in which people with ASD learn and solve problems can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may need more support than others.

One characteristic of some people with ASD is remarkable focus and persistence. Satoshi Tajiri focused on his love of insects. His commitment and dedication to this hobby would go on to inspire many of the monster characters in Pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri also loved video games as a young adult. He would break games apart and put them back together to see how they worked. Because of his focus on games, he understood many aspects of gaming and used this skill throughout his career.

Tajiri started a video game fan magazine called Game Freak. He didn’t publish it alone. The magazine’s artwork was done by Ken Sugimori. They eventually became more and more disappointed with the video games they were playing. They thought they could make a higher-quality game. After studying computer coding, they transformed Game Freak in 1989 from a magazine about video games into a company that develops video games. In the early to mid-1990s, they made a few games. While they were making these games, Game Freak was working on a game that would eventually become one of the most popular video game series in the world. With the help of a few mentors, Tajiri led Sugimori and workers at Game Freak to develop the first Pokémon games.

In the first games, players go on a journey to catch monsters and use their monsters to battle a number of different characters. The last battles of the games take place in a tournament, and the games end when players become the champion of the tournament. Players can also interact with other players by battling them.

One important characteristic of Pokémon is captured by one of its catchphrases, “Gotta catch ‘em all!” In the video games, players can try to collect as many monsters as possible. They do this by using their monsters to weaken other monsters in order to be able to capture them. A player can also trade monsters with other players.

Satoshi Tajiri says that he wants Pokémon to give children the same joy he had while he was collecting bugs. He is an example of someone who used his unique skills and focused interests to achieve his goals.

What video game series did Satoshi Tajiri create?

• Pokémon

• Yu-Gi-Oh!

• Call of Duty

• World of Warcraft

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