Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said. 

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

What type of text is this?

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said. 

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

How do you know this is a fictional story and not a true story?

Ants

Ants live in many different places around the world. There are many different species of ants. Ants come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be black, brown, red, and yellow.

Ants are insects. They have six legs and their bodies have three parts. Ants have two large eyes and two antennae on the top of their heads. They use their antennae to touch and feel. Ants communicate using their antennae. Ants also have a strong jaw. They use their jaw to cut food and wood and to fight.

Ants live in trees, grass, dirt, and in tunnels underground. A group of ants living together is called a colony. Thousands of ants can live together in one colony. Ants living in a colony have many different jobs.

The queen ant lays the eggs. Some colonies have only 1 queen ant while others have many queens. Drone ants are all males. Their job is to mate with the queen. Only the queen ant and male ants have wings. Almost all ants in a colony are females. Worker ants are all females. They take care of the eggs and baby ants. Worker ants also find food. Soldier ants guard and protect the nest. They also collect food and find places to build nests.

Ants are amazing insects.

What type of text is this?

Ants

Ants live in many different places around the world. There are many different species of ants. Ants come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be black, brown, red, and yellow.

Ants are insects. They have six legs and their bodies have three parts. Ants have two large eyes and two antennae on the top of their heads. They use their antennae to touch and feel. Ants communicate using their antennae. Ants also have a strong jaw. They use their jaw to cut food and wood and to fight.

Ants live in trees, grass, dirt, and in tunnels underground. A group of ants living together is called a colony. Thousands of ants can live together in one colony. Ants living in a colony have many different jobs.

The queen ant lays the eggs. Some colonies have only 1 queen ant while others have many queens. Drone ants are all males. Their job is to mate with the queen. Only the queen ant and male ants have wings. Almost all ants in a colony are females. Worker ants are all females. They take care of the eggs and baby ants. Worker ants also find food. Soldier ants guard and protect the nest. They also collect food and find places to build nests.

Ants are amazing insects.

How do you know this is an informational text?

The Cats

Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by. 

Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue. 

Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.

Who is telling this story? 

Fox and Friends

Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.

As I walk to the pond, I hear laughing and a lot of splashing. I see a deer and a rabbit playing in the water. The deer is laughing and smiling. He looks very happy.

I decide to hide behind a bush and ask them if I can play. This way they can hear me but not see me. “Can I come play with you?” I yell.

The deer and rabbit look for me, but they cannot see me. The deer says, “Yes, but you have to stop hiding!”

When I come out the rabbit seems scared, but the deer comes straight to me and gives me a big hug. As I play in the pond with my two friends, I feel so happy.

Who is telling the story?

When I Grow Up

When I grow up I want to be tall like my mom! I have a lot to do before I become an adult.

First, I will go on a trip just like my siblings. When I finally get to my new home I will be very thirsty. I will soak up as much water as I can. 

Once I have enough water I will begin to grow. First I will grow my roots. My roots will help me get even more water and nutrients, or vitamins, so I can grow taller and stronger. My roots will also help me stay in my home. My roots will grow long and strong so I do not blow over in a strong wind or storm.

Now that I have water and vitamins I can start to grow tall. I wish I could touch the sun. I will try! I will grow as tall as I can. The sun gives me my food. As I grow taller I will also grow leaves. My leaves help me get more water and sunlight so I can grow even bigger and stronger.

When I am an adult I will grow pink petals just like my mom! Then I will have seeds of my own.

Who is telling the story?

Seed to Plant

A plant starts as a small seed. Different seeds become different plants. It is a long journey from a seed to a plant.

First, a seed finds its spot in the dirt. Some seeds travel very far before they finally land. Wind can spread seeds long distances. Other seeds are carried and dropped by animals, such as squirrels or birds. 

Next, seeds need water and sunlight. Soon the seed breaks open and roots begin to grow down into the ground. Roots soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Soon a small stem pops out above the ground.

The small stem continues to grow and forms leaves. The leaves soak up more water and sunlight to help the plant grow. Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow.  Water and sunlight are food for plants.

Some plants have flowers and others have fruit. Flowers and fruit make more seeds. These seeds will drop and spread and soon start their journey to becoming a plant.

Who is telling the story?

Good Job Jack!

Every morning when I wake up I run into my brother Sam’s bedroom, jump on top of him, and wake him up with wet kisses. “Good morning Jack!” he says to me. Sam is the best brother!

We eat breakfast and then Sam heads to school. I miss Sam when he is gone. Sometimes I even cry when mom and Sam leave in the morning.

While Sam is working hard at school I am busy at home. First, I play with my toys. My favorite game is to take all my toys out of my toy basket and hide them throughout the house. I take some of my bones and hide them in the backyard for later. Sometimes the mailman comes by. I do not like the mailman and I growl at him to stay away from our house. After I play with my toys I am very tired and take a nap. Then I wait by the door for Sam to get home from school.

When Sam gets home I am so excited that I jump up and yell “hello!” Sam puts my leash on and we go outside for a walk around the block. Some days we go to the park and play fetch. I am very good at fetch, much better than Sam. When we get home I drink lots of water and Sam gives me a treat.

I love my brother Sam. I wonder if he will find the bones I hid.

Who is telling the story?

Good Job Jack!

Every morning when I wake up I run into my brother Sam’s bedroom, jump on top of him, and wake him up with wet kisses. “Good morning Jack!” he says to me. Sam is the best brother!

We eat breakfast and then Sam heads to school. I miss Sam when he is gone. Sometimes I even cry when mom and Sam leave in the morning.

While Sam is working hard at school I am busy at home. First, I play with my toys. My favorite game is to take all my toys out of my toy basket and hide them throughout the house. I take some of my bones and hide them in the backyard for later. Sometimes the mailman comes by. I do not like the mailman and I growl at him to stay away from our house. After I play with my toys I am very tired and take a nap. Then I wait by the door for Sam to get home from school.

When Sam gets home I am so excited that I jump up and yell “hello!” Sam puts my leash on and we go outside for a walk around the block. Some days we go to the park and play fetch. I am very good at fetch, much better than Sam. When we get home I drink lots of water and Sam gives me a treat.

I love my brother Sam. I wonder if he will find the bones I hid.

Who is Sam?