Dogs at Work

Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?

Therapy Dogs

Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals and nursing homes to keep people happy and comfort people. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.

Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.

Service Dogs

Some dogs have jobs to help people who cannot see or hear. These dogs are called service dogs. Service fogs go everywhere with their owners. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run in to something.

Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.

Detection Dogs

Some dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.

Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.

Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!

What is the main idea of the text?

Dogs at Work

Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?

Therapy Dogs

Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals and nursing homes to keep people happy and comfort people. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.

Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.

Service Dogs

Some dogs have jobs to help people who cannot see or hear. These dogs are called service dogs. Service fogs go everywhere with their owners. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run in to something.

Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.

Detection Dogs

Some dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.

Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.

Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!

Why did the author write this text?

Penguins

Penguins are birds.

Like all birds, penguins have feathers and lay eggs.

Penguins live on land and in water. Some penguins live in cold places. Some penguins live in warm places.

Penguins can be different sizes. Some penguins are big. Some penguins are small.

Penguins can be different colors. Some penguins are black and white. Some penguins are blue and white. Some penguins are all black. Some penguins have yellow or orange spots.

Penguins are birds but penguins cannot fly.

Some penguins walk. Penguins can walk on ice.

Some penguins slide. Penguins can slide on snow.

Some penguins hop. Penguins can hop on rocks.

All penguins are good swimmers. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.

Penguins are amazing birds.

What was this text mostly about?

African Elephants

Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult male elephant can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds and be more than 13 feet tall. The biggest elephants live in Africa.

Trunk

Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways. 

An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and plants. 

Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. 

Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks to make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.

Tusks

African elephants have 2 tusks on either side of their trunk. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes and find food and water. They also use their tusks to carry things and even rest their trunks on their tusks. An elephant’s tusks also help it stay safe. Elephants can use their tusks to battle and protect themselves from enemies.

Ears

Elephants have big ears. Elephants use their ears to stay cool on hot days. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.

Wrinkled Skin

Elephants have wrinkled skin. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from sunburn and bug bites.

Feet

Elephants have big feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to help them walk quietly.

What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!

What is the text mostly about?

African Elephants

Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult male elephant can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds and be more than 13 feet tall. The biggest elephants live in Africa.

Trunk

Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways. 

An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and plants. 

Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. 

Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks to make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.

Tusks

African elephants have 2 tusks on either side of their trunk. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes and find food and water. They also use their tusks to carry things and even rest their trunks on their tusks. An elephant’s tusks also help it stay safe. Elephants can use their tusks to battle and protect themselves from enemies.

Ears

Elephants have big ears. Elephants use their ears to stay cool on hot days. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.

Wrinkled Skin

Elephants have wrinkled skin. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from sunburn and bug bites.

Feet

Elephants have big feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to help them walk quietly.

What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!

What does the author want the reader to learn?

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.

Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.

Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.

Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.

Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.

Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.

Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.

Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.

The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.

What is the main idea of the text?

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.

Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.

Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.

Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.

Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.

Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.

Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.

Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.

The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.

Why did the author write this text?

Wolves

A wolf is a wild dog. They do not live in houses like a dog does, but they look alike. 

Body

Like a dog, a wolf walks on four legs and has a lot of fur. The fur keeps the wolves warm. Some wolves live in cold weather and need a lot of fur. The Arctic is a very cold place and many wolves live there.

Food

A wolf does not eat the same food as a dog. A wolf eats other animals. One animal that a wolf eats is called a deer. A wolf can run very fast, so it is able to catch a deer.

Family

A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs. A pack is like a family.  There can be as many as 20 wolves in a pack. 

Where can a wolf live?

Passage 1: Wolves

A wolf is a wild dog. They do not live in houses like a dog does, but they look alike. 

Body

Like a dog, a wolf walks on four legs and has a lot of fur. The fur keeps the wolves warm. Some wolves live in cold weather and need a lot of fur. The Arctic is a very cold place and many wolves live there.

Food

A wolf does not eat the same food as a dog. A wolf eats other animals. One animal that a wolf eats is called a deer. A wolf can run very fast, so it is able to catch a deer.

Family

A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs. A pack is like a family.  There can be as many as 20 wolves in a pack. 

Passage 2: Gray Wolves

Gray Wolves used to live all over America. Now, they only live in some parts of America. They form groups, or packs, of 7 to 8 wolves. They live and look for food together.  

There are two leaders in every pack. One leader is a girl wolf and one leader is a boy wolf. The leaders pick where the pack lives and what they eat.

Do not let the name trick you. Gray Wolves are not just gray. Their fur can be black, white, or gray.

What color is a Gray Wolf? 

Passage 1: Wolves

A wolf is a wild dog. They do not live in houses like a dog does, but they look alike. 

Body

Like a dog, a wolf walks on four legs and has a lot of fur. The fur keeps the wolves warm. Some wolves live in cold weather and need a lot of fur. The Arctic is a very cold place and many wolves live there.

Food

A wolf does not eat the same food as a dog. A wolf eats other animals. One animal that a wolf eats is called a deer. A wolf can run very fast, so it is able to catch a deer.

Family

A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs. A pack is like a family.  There can be as many as 20 wolves in a pack. 

Passage 2: Gray Wolves

Gray Wolves used to live all over America. Now, they only live in some parts of America. They form groups, or packs, of 7 to 8 wolves. They live and look for food together.  

There are two leaders in every pack. One leader is a girl wolf and one leader is a boy wolf. The leaders pick where the pack lives and what they eat.

Do not let the name trick you. Gray Wolves are not just gray. Their fur can be black, white, or gray.

How many Gray Wolves live in a pack?