Notebook - highland-k12.org

2nd GRADE

Notebook

Jodi Southard www.funinfirst.com

CONNECT WITH ME:

for purchasing from

VISIT MY BLOG: www.funinfirst.comFACEBOOK: FuninfirstblogINSTAGRAM: Funinfirstblog

By purchasing and/or downloading this electronic file, you agree to the terms of use stated below. For personal use/single classroom use only. No part of this document may be distributed, posted on the internet, copied, sold or edited without the direct

permission from the author. Violations are subject to the penalties of the Digital Millennium Act. To purchase additional sharing licenses, please visit my store. All

contents of this document are under copyright protection including all text, graphics, content, and fonts. All graphics and fonts are also protected by copyright from their

original author/artist. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

I haveThese notebooks can be used in a variety of ways. Here are a couple of ideas and suggestions:

-Even though these look nice in color, they can also be printed in grayscale. I send these notebooks to my copy machine at school.

My notebooks that I use in my classroom are NOT colored copied -I have a binding machine at home, so I print these double sided and bind them. I use cardstock for the front and back cover just to make

them a little more durable. I print mine so you can see the entire week layout when you open it up.

-I have also used 3-ring binders for these notebooks. One year, to go a cheaper route, I used folder with metal prongs in the center. These

lasted all year as well.

I personally use these with small groups because I use the different grade level packets to differentiate. However, I have also used them

successfully in whole group as well. Since our primary focus is on comprehension, I am fine with it being more “listening comprehension”

based for my struggling readers. They are still getting those important comprehension skills even if they are not fluently reading

the passages. If you want this to be an independent activity, I would definitely suggest choosing the notebook that would best meet each

child’s reading level.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A COPY OF THE COMPREHENSION NOTEBOOK FOR YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE ACCOUNT.

PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS LINK, AS ALL WORK IS COPYRIGHTED.

@JODI SOUTHARD

Notebook

1Lilly loved solving mysteries. She was always the person that people would go to when they misplaced something or needed help. One day, Lilly got an important phone call. Her friend, Sarah, had lost her pet rabbit and needed Lilly’s help. Lilly went to Sarah’s house to start

collecting clues. First, she noticed that the lock on the rabbit cage was broken. Then, Lilly saw rabbit paw prints on the ground. Lilly followed the paw prints until she got to a fence. The fence had a small hole at

the bottom. Lilly peeked over the fence and noticed Mr. Brown’s garden. “I think I’ve solved the mystery,” Lilly told Sarah. They

opened up the gate and found the rabbit in the garden eating a carrot.

Day 1

1. Who is the main character? _______________________________

2. What is the problem in the story? ___________________________

___________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Character AnalysisThink about how different

Sarah felt from the beginning of the story to the end. Write a sentence to describe her at the beginning and at the end.

Beginning End

1Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Draw a line to match the words that mean about the

same thing.

Draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

Beginning Middle End

misplaced findpeeked secretcollect lost noticed looked

mystery observed

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionThink about a time when you lost something. What did you lose and how did you find it?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

2 Every morning Farmer Dave woke up at sunrise when he heard the rooster crow. He would get out of bed, get dressed and head out to the barn to feed the animals. One morning, Farmer Dave woke up and noticed that it was later than usual. The rooster didn’t

Day 1


2. What is the setting of the story? ___________________________

___________________________________________________

Day 2

Let’s Visualize! Close your eyes while your

teacher reads the story. Draw a picture of what you think

Farmer Dave’s kitchen looked like with all of the animals in it.

www.funinfirst.com

crow and wake him up early! Farmer Dave got dressed and headed downstairs. He was in for quite a surprise. In his kitchen, stood his horses, cows, and pigs. They were eating all of his food. “What is going on!” yelled Farmer Dave. He walked each of the animals back to the barn and went looking for the rooster.

He finally found the rooster, just waking up, behind the barn. Farmer Dave explained to the rooster how important his job was to the farm. The rooster

was so happy that he was so important that he never slept in again.

2Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Fill in the sentences with the correct word from below.

usual quite explained

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWhat would you do if you found farm animals in your kitchen?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Problem and Solution

Write or draw the problem in the first box.

Write or draw the solution in the second box.

1. It isn’t ______________ finished.

2. I _________________ the reason why I was late.

3. This is not my ___________________ lunch time.

3Elephants are the largest land living animals in the world. There are two different types of elephants, African and Asian. Both the female and the male African elephants have tusks, but only the male Asian elephants have tusks. Their tusks are like long teeth that they can use for digging to find food or water. Elephants have long trunks. They use their trunks to lift food and suck up water into their mouths. Elephants can also use their trunks like a snorkel when they are swimming. They also use their trunks to suck up water to spray on themselves when it is hot outside. Elephants eat a lot. They can eat 300 pounds of food in one day! Would you want to be an elephant?

Day 1

List three things you know about elephants.

1.__________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________

Day 2

Let’s Visualize! Close your eyes and imagine what it looks like when an

elephant is swimming. Then draw a picture.

www.funinfirst.com

3Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Circle the words in the box that mean about the

same as large.

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWould you want to be an elephant? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

huge enormoustiny massivegigantic petitemammoth hilarious

Fill in the blanks.

Elephants can use their trunks like a ____________ when they are swimming.

Elephants can eat 300 __________________ of food in one day.

Elephants are the ________________ land living animals in the world.

4Bryson had a wiggly tooth that would not come out. His mom told him to eat an apple. He went and picked a really big apple and took a bite. The tooth

did not budge. He took another bite. Still no luck! Bryson decided to give up. He went outside to ride his bike with his friend. As they were racing down

the hill, Bryson started going too fast and fell off his bike. He got up, brushed himself off, and jumped back on his bike. When they were finished riding, he smiled at his friend. “Your tooth is missing!” Bryson felt his mouth with his tongue and noticed a little hole. He had lost his tooth when he fell off his bike. Bryson was happy that his tooth had finally fallen out, but he

was disappointed that his tooth was lost forever.

Day 1

Day 2

Character Analysis

Draw a picture of how Bryson felt at the beginning of the story and at the end

of the story.

www.funinfirst.com


2. What is problem in the story?_____________________________

___________________________________________________

Beginning End

4Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWrite about a time when you were disappointed.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Write a sentence and draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.


VocabularyFocus

What does it mean when something will not budge?

___________________________________________________

5Maria was going to Olivia’s birthday party today. She was really looking forward to spending the day at her friend’s house. Maria picked out the perfect present for her and couldn’t wait until she opened it. Maria wrapped the present in yellow wrapping paper with white polka dots because yellow was Olivia’s favorite color. When Maria arrived at Olivia’s house, no one was there.

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

She kept knocking at the door, but no one answered. Maria went back to her mom’s car and they called Olivia’s mother. When Olivia’s mother answered the phone, they explained that they were at the house and no one was home. Maria and her mom found out that they had the time wrong and they were an hour early. Maria and her mother laughed about their mistake.

PROBLEM SOLUTIONProblem and Solution

Write or draw the problem in the first box.

Write or draw the solution in the second box.

True or False1. _______ Maria was late to the birthday party.

2. _______ Olivia’s mother was not home when Maria arrived.

3. _______ Maria wrapped the present in purple paper.4. ________ Maria’s mother called Olivia’s mother.5. ________ Maria was really looking forward to going to Olivia’s house.

5Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus


explained arrived perfect

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWhat is something that you really looked forward to? Why were you so excited about it?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

1. Today is the ______________ day.

2. I ______________ early to school.

3. She ___________________ the answer to me.

Main Idea Detail Detail Detail

6Pumpkins are usually orange, but can be yellow, white, or green. Many people think pumpkins are a vegetable, but they are actually a fruit. Pumpkins grow from a seed. The seed eventually grows into a sprout with leaves that becomes a vine. Next, yellow flowers grow on the vine. These flowers attract a lot of bees that pollinate the flower. The flower closes and a small green pumpkin begins to grow. The green pumpkin continues to grow and eventually turns orange. Pumpkins are used for many things. Some gigantic pumpkins are entered into contests. Many pumpkins are carved into

Day 1

What is something you know about pumpkins?

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Day 2

Make a List!Make a list of things you can make with pumpkins.

www.funinfirst.com

jack-o-lanterns. Some types of pumpkins are perfect for making pies, soups, or other foods. Many people also bake pumpkin seeds to eat as well. What do you like to do with pumpkins?

6Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Day 5

Write About It.What have you eaten that was made from pumpkins? Which one is your favorite?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

What does pollinate mean?

___________________________________________________

Fill in the blanks.

The flowers attract bees that __________________ the flower.

Some__________________ pumpkins are entered into contests.

The seed grows into a ________________ that becomes a vine.

7Tyler was going to the dentist. He was a little anxious because he worried that he might have a cavity. His mom always made him brush his teeth in the morning and at night, but he wasn’t sure if he was doing a good enough job. The dentist told him to sit up in the chair. He leaned him back and had Tyler open his mouth as wide as he could. As the dentist looked around and poked at his teeth, Tyler became even more nervous. Next, the dentist wanted to take some x-rays of his teeth. After they were over, the dentist told Tyler that his teeth looked great. Tyler was so relieved. The

Day 1

1. Who was the main character? _____________________________

2. What was the problem in the story?_________________________

___________________________________________________

Day 2

Cause and Effect

Write the cause to match the effect from the story.

www.funinfirst.com

Effect: Tyler was very anxious.

Cause: ________________ ________________________________________

dentist gave Tyler a new toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss and told him to come back in six months.

7Day 3

Day 4

Vocabulary Focus

Draw a picture to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.


Anxious ____________________ _________________________

Relieved ____________________ _________________________

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionThink about a time when you were anxious. Write about it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the

words in the next box.

8Cameron was always doing something silly. He loved to make people laugh and he was always trying to come up with new ways to be funny. One day Cameron decided to do a handstand. Unfortunately, he had never tried one before and he fell down right away. Cameron landed on his arm and started to cry. His arm really hurt so his mom took him to the doctor. The doctor looked at his arm and decided that Cameron needed anx-ray. Cameron was nervous because he did not want to have a broken arm. The doctor came back into the room and let him know that he would need a cast because his arm was broken. Cameron wasupset, but he would try to make the best of it.

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com


Let’s Infer! You make an inference by using what you already

know along with what you read in the text to answer

questions.

Do you think Cameron will try and do a handstand again? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________

8Day 3

Day 4

needy anxiousworried tensesmart edgywild uneasy

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionThink about something you have done that is funny. Write about it.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Character Analysis

Write words to describe Cameron.

VocabularyFocus

Circle the words that mean the same as

nervous.

9Spiders are not insects. They are arachnids. Spiders have eight legs and insects only have six. Spiders only have two main body parts, the abdomen and the thorax, whereas insects have three, the abdomen, the head, and the thorax. Spiders do not have antennae while insects do. There are

Day 1

Day 2

Let’s Label! Use the words below to fill in the labels on the spider.

thorax abdomen legs spinnerets

www.funinfirst.com

many types of spiders. All spiders can make silk, but only some spin webs to catch their food. Most spiders are harmless, but there are some types that can be poisonous to humans, such as the black widow. The largest spiders are tarantulas. Some tarantulas eat birds, mice, and lizards. Are you scared of spiders?

Compare & Contrast

Write things that are the same and things that are different between spiders

and insects.

Same Different

9Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWould you like to be a spider? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

What does harmless mean?

___________________________________________________

Circle the facts.

Most spiders are harmless, but some are poisonous to humans.Spiders are insects.Spiders have six legs.

All spiders make silk, but only some spin webs.The largest spiders are tarantulas.

10Charlie wanted to be a famous magician when he grew up. He practiced magic tricks every weekend. His favorite trick to perform was to pull a rabbit out of a hat. First, he would show the audience his empty hat. Next, he would wave his wand over the hat and say some magic words. Then, he would reach down into the hat and pull out a rabbit. The audience always loved it and they would always give him a huge round of applause. Charlie was invited to perform in a

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Determined MeanWonderful TalentedHardworking Lazy

popular talent show and he was so excited to show his talent. He was very determined to do well so he worked really hard to learn some new tricks. The day of the talent show came and Charlie was wonderful. He was entertaining and the audience loved him. Charlie won the entire talent show!

Character Analysis

Circle the words that describe Charlie in

the story.


10Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

What is something you think is entertaining?

______________________________________________________

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWhat do you want to be when you grow up? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

1. What is Charlie’s favorite magic trick? ______________________________

__________________________________________________________

2. Why was he determined to do well? ________________________________

3. What happened at the end? _____________________________________

11Carly used to like school. She loved getting up in the morning and looked forward to spending the day learning and playing. However, this year was different. This year, a girl named Ivy was in her

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Problem

Let’s Predict! A prediction is when you make a guess about what

will happen.

Do you think Carly will start enjoying school again? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________

Solution

class. Ivy was always mean to Carly. She would call her names at recess and make fun of her clothes. Ivy would make mean faces at Carly and spread rumors about her. Carly pretended like she was sick every morning and would tell her parents that she shouldn’t go to school. Carly would cry herself to sleep every night. Her mom finally sat Carly down and asked her what had been bothering her. She eventually decided to tell her mom about Ivy. Carly’s mom called the teacher and let her know what was going on. The teacher talked with Ivy and her parents and things started improving at school. Carly was very happy that she let someone know that she was being bullied.

11Day 3

Day 4

Draw a picture and write a sentence to show what happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.


Day 5

Author’s MessageWhat message is the author trying to teach in this story?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus


same thing.

rumors troublingpretended sobbothering invented improving gossipcry getting better

12Native Americans were the first people to live in North America. There were many different tribes of Native Americans that lived in our country. All of the tribes were different. They wore different clothes, had different hairstyles, and built many different types of houses depending on where they lived. Some Native American tribes would build teepees because these were easy to move as they traveled. Other tribes built houses that would last longer with materials such as wood, clay, vines, grass, and bark. The types of housing materials depended on the climate of the area. The different tribes also spoke different languages. There are still about 3 million Native Americans living in North America today.

Day 1

List three things you know about Native Americans.

1.__________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com


12Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-SelfWhat do you think it would have been like to have been some of the first people to live in North America?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Write an F if the statement is a FACT. Write an O if the statement is an OPINION.

_______ Native Americans lived in many different types of houses.

_______ Native Americans are very smart.

_______ Native American homes are not very comfortable.

_______ There are about 3 million Native Americans living in North America today.

VocabularyFocus

Make a list of the materials that were used to build Native American homes.

13Gage wanted to go sledding, but he had never been before. All of his friends convinced him to give it a try. Gage found an old sled in his garage. He went inside and put on his coat, hat, gloves, and boots, then he walked to the park. He found the perfect hill

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Character Analysis

Draw a picture of how Gage felt at the beginning

of the story and at the end of the story.

Beginning End

and pulled the sled up to the top. Once he reached the top of the hill and looked down, he got a little nervous. He watched the other kids sledding down the hill and they seemed like they were having such a great time. Gage pushed his sled to the edge of the hill and sat down. He scooted himself in the snow until he started racing down the hill. He couldn’t believe how fast he was going. Once he reached the bottom, he realized how much fun it was and he couldn’t wait to try it again!

Characters Setting

13Day 3

Day 4

Write a 1,2,3, and 4 in the front of each sentence to show the sequence of the story.

_______ Gage couldn’t wait to sled down the hill again.

_______ He found an old sled in the garage.

_______ Gage pulled the sled up the hill.

_______ Gage’s friends convinced him that he needed to try and sled.

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWhat is something new you have wanted to try? What do you think it would be like?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Vocabulary Focus

Convinced __________________ _________________________

Scooted ____________________ _________________________



14Jake went to the penguin exhibit at the zoo with his parents. He loved penguins and was so fascinated with all of them. A little penguin walked up close to Jake, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked Jake if he could come home with him. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He opened up his backpack and the penguin jumped inside. Jake took the penguin home with him as a pet. Soon, Jake’s parents found out what had happened. They were astonished that Jake actually took the penguin home with him. They

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Characters Problem

Cause and Effect


Effect: Jake couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Cause: ________________ ________________________________________

told him that he couldn’t keep a penguin at his house and made him take him back to the zoo. Jake was really sad, but he understood. He went and visited the penguins a lot after that, but never brought his backpack with him again.

14Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionThink of a time when you were really sad. Why were you sad?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Main Idea Detail Detail

VocabularyFocus

What does astonished mean?

___________________________________________________

15Polar bears live in the Arctic, which is in the northern part of the Earth. It is very cold and icy in the Arctic so polar bears have special features that help them live in this type of climate. Their paws are rough so they do not slip on the ice. Their paws also help them to be excellent swimmers. Polar bears have lots of fat under their skin to keep them warm. Their fur and skin also help them to stay warm and dry. Polar bears actually have black skin which allows

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

them to absorb the sunlight. They have a layer of fat called blubber that helps them stay warm in the icy Arctic water. Polar bears are the largest type of bears. A female polar bear can grow to be seven feet tall and a male polar bear can be ten feet tall.


1. What is the layer of fat on a polar bear called? ________________________

2. Where do polar bears live? ______________________________________

3. What are some special features that help them live in the Artic? ____________

__________________________________________________________

15Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Compare and ContrastWhat are some similarities about polar bears and other bears? What are some differences?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus


rough absorb features

1. The sandpaper was very __________.

2. Her _____________ are like her mom’s.

3. This towel will _________________ the water.


_______ Polar bears are the best bears.

_______ Polar bears have rough paws to keep them from slipping on the ice.

_______ Polar bears have black skin that absorbs sunlight to keep them warm.

_______ Polar bears are the most interesting Arctic animal.

16Hot chocolate is such a delicious treat. It is so rich and chocolaty. I love to drink it on a really cold day after playing in the snow. I come inside and my mom mixes together the chocolate and the milk, warms it up, and puts it in a special mug for me. I also love it when she adds marshmallows to the top. It is just so delicious and sweet. One time we were out of marshmallows so my mom found a can of whipped cream in the refrigerator. She sprayed it on top of my hot chocolate and I could not believe how amazing it tasted. It was

Day 1

www.funinfirst.com

cool and creamy on top, but nice and warm underneath. Hot chocolate is my favorite drink in the winter. I like that it warms me right up on cold, windy, winter days. Do you like hot chocolate?

Day 2


1. When does the author like to drink hot chocolate? _____________________

__________________________________________________________

2. Why does the author like hot chocolate so much? _____________________

__________________________________________________________

16Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWhat is your favorite drink? Describe the drink using your five senses.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus

Write words that describe hot chocolate.

Compare & Contrast

Write things that are the same and things that are

different between hot chocolate and milk.

Same Different

17Brownie was very happy living on the farm. She had a beautiful stall and plenty of room to roam in the field. Brownie even had a little girl that would come and take her on a ride. Even though she was happy, Brownie always dreamed

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Let’s Predict! A prediction is when you make a guess about what

you think will happen.

How do you think Brownie will feel when she gets to be in the horse race?

____________________________________________________________

Summarizing

Summarize the story. Try to answer the

questions, who, what, when, where, and why.

of being a race horse. She longed for the wind to blow past her face and the excitement and the thrill of racing other horses. Brownie would pretend she was racing in the field sometimes. One Saturday afternoon, the little girl came for her weekly ride. She told Brownie that she wanted to start training her for a race. Brownie was thrilled. They started practicing every day for the big race. Brownie could not wait until her special day!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionVisualize what it would be like to ride a horse during a horse race. Describe what you are visualizing using

your five senses.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus


same thing.



plenty wanderroam sufficientlonged for pretty thrill wantedbeautiful excitement

18Sharks are fish that live in the ocean. There are many types of sharks including great white, bull, hammerhead, and tiger sharks. Sharks do not have any bones in their bodies. Their skeletons are made of cartilage instead. Some types of sharks remain moving for their entire lives because they must keep moving water over their gills to get oxygen into their bodies. Some sharks lay eggs and others give birth to live sharks. Baby sharks are called pups. After they are born, they swim away quickly so the mother shark does not eat them. Sharks constantly lose teeth, but new ones move forward to take their place.

Day 1

Day 2

Let’s Label! Use the words below to fill in the labels on the shark.

teeth tail fin dorsal fin gills

www.funinfirst.com

List three things you know about sharks.

1.__________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________

They are always making new teeth. Sharks have an amazing sense of smell and hearing, which helps them hunt for food.

18Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWould you want to be a shark? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

What does constantly mean?

___________________________________________________


19James wanted to play on the school’s basketball team. He had never really played basketball before, so he knew he had a lot of work to do. He called his friend, Jake, to come over because Jake was a really good basketball player. James and Jake practiced every evening for weeks. When the day came for basketball tryouts, James felt like he was ready to go. He really tried his best and he felt pretty good when he left. The next day, the school postedthe names of the new team members. James looked over the list and could not believe that his name was not listed. James was really disappointed. He really wanted to be on the team, however, Jamesdecided to not give up. He would continue to work hard and try outagain next year.

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Let’s make a

Prediction!



Do you think James will make the basketball team

next year? ________________________

Explain your reasoning. Why did you make that

prediction? ____________________________________________________

19Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Author’s MessageWhat lesson was the author trying to teach in this story?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Character Traits

Write words to describe James.

VocabularyFocus

Draw a picture to show the meaning of the sentence

from the story.

The school posted the names of the new team members.

20Maryssa had not been feeling well. She had a horrible cold and she had been coughing and sneezing all day. Her mom called the doctor to see if she could get an appointment. Maryssa did not want to go to the doctor because she was worried that she would have to get a shot. Her mom reassured her

that the doctor would help her to feel better. When Maryssa arrived at the doctor’s office, the nurse took her temperature, checked her height and weight, and looked in her ears and throat. When the doctor came in, he noticed that Maryssa’s throat was really red. He checked it closer and

diagnosed her with strep throat. He prescribed some medicine and told her that she would feel better in a couple of days.

Day 1



___________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Cause and Effect


Effect: Maryssa went to the doctor.

Cause: ________________ ________________________________________

20Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionDo you get nervous when you go to the doctor? Why or why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Sequence of EventsFirst Next Then Finally

Vocabulary Focus

Reassured __________________ _________________________

Prescribed __________________ _________________________



21Do you know how to blow a bubble? It can be a challenging skill to learn. First, you need to make sure you have the best kind of gum for blowing bubbles. They make chewing gum and bubble gum, so make sure you purchase the right kind. Chew the gum

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Write the steps for blowing a bubble.

1. Blowing bubbles takes____________________, but you will continue to get better.

2. Blowing bubbles can be a ___________________________skill to learn.

3. You may need to chew your gum for ______________________________ so it is ready to blow a bubble.

for awhile so it is ready to blow a bubble. Once your gum is ready, bring the gum to the front of your mouth and use your tongue to start to push through the gum. Pull your tongue out and blow while holding onto the gum with your lips. It will definitely take some practice, but you will continue to get better. Did you know that the largest bubble ever blown was over 20 inches across? Do you think you could blow bubbles that big someday?

21Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Day 5

Author’s PurposeWhat do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this story?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

What does challenging mean?

___________________________________________________


_______ Blowing bubbles is easy.

_______ You can buy chewing gum and bubble gum.

_______ The largest bubble ever blown was over 20 inches across.

_______ Grape bubblegum tastes the best.

22I was walking in the park one day and found a black hat on the ground. As I got closer, I noticed that the hat was shaking and making a strange humming sound. I thought it was odd, but I was just too curious to walk away. I picked it up. It started shaking

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

even harder and I thought I heard it say something. I brought the hat up closer to my ear and I heard it say, “Make a wish!” I had found a magic hat! I asked the hat for a dog. “Poof!” A dog appeared. Next, I asked the hat for a new bike. “Poof!” A brand new bike appeared in front of me. I thought and thought about what my next wish should be. All of the sudden, the hat vanished. I could not believe that it was gone. I still look for that hat every time I go to the park.


Let’s Visualize! Close your eyes while your

teacher reads the story. Draw a picture of what you

visualized.

22Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-World ConnectionWhat would you wish for if you found a magic hat? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Vocabulary Focus

Appeared __________________ _________________________

Vanished ___________________ _________________________




_______ A new dog and a bike appeared.

_______ The magic hat vanished.

_______ The hat started shaking and humming.

_______ A magic hat was laying on the ground in the park.

23 Michael and his dad went to the beach. They saw a massive sailboat go by and Michael was amazed at how big it was. He ran over to his dad and begged him to go on a sailboat ride. His dad thought it was a great idea so they went to the boat rental shop. They got everything set up to go on a sailboat ride in two hours. When the time came, Michael and his dad put on their life jackets and climbed on. The captain of the boat explained to them how to help with the sails. Once they got out on the water, Michael and his dad learned allabout the sailboat and how everything worked. They were sointerested and couldn’t wait to learn more about sailing. Michael andhis dad had such a wonderful time learning to sail and they knewthey had found a new hobby to do together.

Day 1


2. What was the setting in the story?_________________________

___________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Do you think Michael and his dad will go sailing again?

_______________________________

Explain your reasoning. Why did you make that

prediction? ____________________________________________________

Let’s make a

Prediction!

23Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWhat is your favorite hobby? Why is it your favorite thing to do?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com


Vocabulary Focus

Massive ___________________ _________________________

Hobby ____________________ _________________________



24Ants are insects. They have three main body parts, a thorax, head, and abdomen as well as six legs and antennae. Ants use their antennae for their sense of touch as well as their sense of smell. There are many species of ants and they live all over the world,

Day 1

Write three things you know about ants.

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

except Antarctica, which is too cold for survival. Ants are very strong. They can lift over 20 times their own body weight. Ants live together in colonies, which can consist of millions of ants. The colonies are led by the queen ant. The queen ants have wings, which they shed when they start a new nest. The queen lays all of the eggs, so when a queen ant dies, the rest of the colony will eventually die. A queen ant can live up to twenty years.

Let’s Label! Use the words below to fill

in the labels on the ant.

thorax antennae abdomen head

24Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-World ConnectionWhat do you find to be most interesting about ants? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

Fill in the blanks.

Ants can lift _________________ times their body weight.

Ants use their antennae for ___________ and ____________.

Ants live together in ________________.

VocabularyFocus


same thing.

eventually kindsspecies made up ofexcept finally consists livingsurvival not including

25Daisy loved her family. She had a huge yard that she could run and play in all day and lots of toys to chew on. The kids in the family loved to play with Daisy. They would throw balls and sticks for her to fetch and chase her all over the yard. At night, Daisy had a huge doghouse with her name on it and a fluffy dog bed inside. One day, Daisy woke up and heard the kids coming outside to play. They ran right over to Daisy and yelled, “Happy Birthday!” Daisy didn’t know

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com


1. Why are the kids celebrating? __________________________________

__________________________________________________________

2. What do the kids like to do with Daisy? ____________________________

__________________________________________________________

it was her birthday. She was so excited. The kids put a party hat on Daisy and gave her a huge dog bone wrapped in a gigantic red bow. They sang “Happy Birthday” to her and hugged her tight. Daisy was so fortunate!

25Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWhat would you do on your birthday if you could pick anything you wanted?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus

Cause and Effect


Effect: Daisy is so fortunate.

Cause: ________________ ________________________________________

What does fortunate mean?

___________________________________________________

26Mia was a dreamer. She could daydream about anything. Her favorite thing to dream about was what she wanted to be when she grew up. Some days she wanted to be a pediatrician and take care of sick kids. Other days she wanted to be a singer. She just couldn’t decide. Mia was thinking about her future one day. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was her teacher telling her

Day 1


2. What was the solution to the problem? _______________________

___________________________________________________

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

that she needed to be paying attention in class. Mia realized that she had been daydreaming and had not been listening and learning. Mia knew that she needed to do well in school and work hard in order to be whatever she wanted to be when she grew up. Mia started trying harder to pay attention and always do her best in school. Mia had big dreams and she had to work hard to achieve them.

Let’s Visualize! Draw a picture to show what

you think Mia was daydreaming about when her teacher told her to start paying attention.

26Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWhat do you daydream about?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus


suddenly attention daydream

1. I like to _______________about my future.

2. _____________, it started to rain.

3. Please pay _____________________ !


_______ Mia was daydreaming in class.

_______ Mia knew she had to start trying harder to pay attention.

_______ Mia couldn’t decide if she wanted to be a pediatrician or a singer.

_______ Mia’s teacher told her that she needed to start paying attention.

27Loggerhead sea turtles are a species of sea turtles that live in the ocean. They are the most common sea turtles in the United

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

What are five things that turtles eat?

1.______________________ 2.__________________________

4.______________________ 3.__________________________

5.________________________

States. Loggerheads have powerful heads and jaws. They can crush the shells of horseshoe crabs, conches and other shelled animals. They also like to eat fish, seaweed, and even jellyfish. Sea turtles swim to the shore to lay their eggs. The female turtles dig a hole and bury their eggs in the sand. The eggs are often eaten by predators including raccoons. Once a turtle has hatched, it crawls out of the sand and heads towards the water. During their journey to the ocean, the turtles must beware of raccoons, birds, and crabs looking for a meal. Loggerhead turtles have many predators throughout their lives, but it is possible for them to live to be 50 years old.

True or False1. _______ Sea turtles live in the ocean.2. _______ Sea turtle eggs may get eaten before they ever hatch.3. _______ Sea turtles only live for 5 years.4. ________ Loggerhead sea turtles have strong jaws.5. ________ Sea turtles never come out of the water.

27Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text-to-Self ConnectionWhat do you think would be the best and worst thing about being a sea turtle?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com


VocabularyFocus

What is a predator? ________________________________________________

What are some predators of sea turtles? ______________________________________________________________

28Avery had a very important math test tomorrow and she forgot to study all week. Her stomach started to ache because she knew she wasn’t going to do well on the test. On Friday morning, she tried to come up with an excuse to not go to school so she wouldn’t fail the test. She told her mom that she wasn’t feeling very well. Avery’s mom told her to go sit on the couch and she would check her temperature. She came in with the thermometer and put it in Avery’s mouth. When her mom came back, she told Avery that her

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

temperature was completely normal and she would have to go to school. Avery kept begging her mom, but she would not give in. Avery finally ended up going to school. She didn’t do well on her test, but she definitely learned her lesson.



___________________________________________________

Let’s Infer! You make an inference by using what you already

know along with what you read in the text to answer

questions.

Do you think Avery will study for her next math test? Why do you think that?

____________________________________________________________

28Day 3

Day 4


_______ Avery’s mom took her temperature and it was normal.

_______ Avery pretended like she was sick.

_______ Avery went to school and took her math test.

_______ Avery had a math test on Friday and she didn’t study for it.

Day 5

Author’s PurposeWhat lesson was the author trying to teach in this story?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

VocabularyFocus


same thing.

excuse hurtache normalregular reasonimportant imperative

29I needed a new pair of shoes. Mine were so torn up, but I loved them. They were so comfortable and fit my feet so well. I hated to get a new pair, but my mom insisted that it was time. I went to the store and tried on twelve pairs of new shoes and did not like any of them. Finally, I found the perfect pair. They were red and white, which I loved because red is my favorite color. They had striped shoelaces and a yellow star on the top. The shoes were so clean and new. When I put them on, they were so cozy on the inside and shiny on the outside. I tied them up and walked around the store. They were perfect! I loved them even more than my old shoes. I could not wait to wear them to school tomorrow. I knew everyone would adore them!

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

Problem Solution

Let’s Visualize! Draw a picture of what you think the new shoes looked

like.

29Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Text to Self ConnectionWhat would your perfect pair of shoes look like?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com


VocabularyFocus


adore comfortable insisted

1. My bed is so __________________.2. My mom ____________________ that I eat my vegetables.3. I __________________ my baby sister.

30Most of the time, Frankie the Flounder loved being a fish. He loved being able to swim fast and dive deep into the water, but

sometimes he wished he was a huge, scary shark. Frankie

Day 1

Day 2

www.funinfirst.com

would often pretend like he was a great white shark. He loved finding schools of minnows and swimming towards them as fast as he could. He would open his mouth and imagine he had enormous, sharp teeth. One day he was swimming towards the minnows and noticed one of the smallest minnows crying. Frankie stopped to see what was the matter and the minnow screamed and swam away as fast as he could. Frankie chased after him, but could not catch the minnow. He felt bad because he was just trying to have fun and didn’t mean to scare the minnow. Frankie decided that he loved being a flounder and didn’t want to be a shark anymore.

Character Traits

Write words to describe Frankie.


30Day 3

Day 4

VocabularyFocus

Circle the words in the box that mean about the

same as pretend.

Day 5

Character AnalysisHow did Frankie’s character change from the beginning of the story to the end?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.funinfirst.com

make believe previewpretest imaginaryinvent enjoyfiction fantasy

Compare & Contrast

Write things that are the same and things that are different between Frankie and a great white shark.

Same Different

Notebook - highland-k12.org

Documents

Transcript of Notebook - highland-k12.org