HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 2-Lesson 10Imagine a puddle on a rainy day. It is full enough to splash in. But the next time
the sun comes out, the puddle disappears. Vernal pools are like giant puddles.
Sometimes they are full of water, like a pond. But then, a few weeks later, they
are all dried up. Then there is only dirt and sand where the water used to be.
The word vernal is Latin. It means “occurring in the spring.” Vernal pools are
named this way because they show up in the springtime. Do you ever wonder
where all the snow goes when it melts? A lot of the water fl ows into vernal
pools that only last until the hot summer sun comes out.
In the springtime, temperatures start to rise and the air feels warmer. All
the snow that fell during the winter begins to melt off higher land. It fl ows into
lower places, forming vernal pools. The pools fi ll up even more when it rains.
And then animals such as salamanders, frogs, and toads enter the pools and
make their homes there.
As the days lead into summertime, the temperatures continue to rise. In the
hot sun, the air soon becomes overheated. This high heat causes evaporation.
As the water in the vernal pools evaporates, the water levels go down and
eventually the pools disappear.
In the late summer and early fall, there may be a drought. This is a time
when little to no rain falls. The pools become very, very dry, like a desert. It is
hard to imagine that just a couple of months ago, this land was full of water,
plants, and animals.
Days, weeks, and months will go by. The hot sun of summertime will go
away for a while. Once again, the air will begin cooling down and snow will fall
in the mountains. Not too long after, it will be springtime again. The snow will
melt off the higher lands. Rain clouds will move in, creating shade against the
sun. The melted snow and the rainfall will fi ll the vernal pools with water. And
the frogs, toads, and salamanders will make their homes there once again.
COMPREHENSION What words can you use to describe the changes
that take place in vernal pools? Why can’t animals live in vernal pools
all year?
Vernal Pools
38
39
2_327419_RNACW_U2L10RA1.indd 39 5/29/09 9:06:48 AM
Daniel and Sarah trudged along the snowy mountain trail behind their father.
“Why couldn’t we have stayed home?” Daniel asked. “I wanted to play my new
video game!”
“Yeah, you said this would be fun,” Sarah said. “Has the fun started yet?”
Dad called back to them, “Wait until we get to the summit. The view from the top
is great!”
Sarah and Daniel exchanged frowns. After a few more minutes, the trail led them
out of the trees. From there, they could see that the summit was just a little bit higher.
Just then, a loud sound like faraway thunder made them look to the left. They saw
tons of snow tumble down the slope of a nearby mountain. The snow fell from a cliff
down into a valley far below.
“Wow!” Sarah shrieked. She grabbed Dad’s arm.
“You have nothing to worry about,“ Dad assured them. “An avalanche will only
happen on a tall, steep mountain like that one. A mountain with a high elevation. This
mountain is safe.”
“Good,” Daniel replied. “That avalanche was amazing to watch, though.”
Finally, they reached the summit. They could see a large forest below. The smell of
pine trees fl oated up to them.
“Those big trees look like tiny toys from up here,” Sarah said quietly. Suddenly, a
faint cry reached their ears.
“I wonder . . .,” Dad said. He searched the sky. “Aha! Look, there! Bald eagles!”
He pointed to a group of birds circling a tall mountain.
Sarah and Daniel stared at the large, beautiful birds fl ying in the sky. Somehow,
video games didn’t seem so important anymore. “You were right, Dad,” Daniel said.
“Being out in nature really is fun.”
After a while, they started to descend to the bottom of the mountain. As they
walked down the trail, Sarah asked, “Dad, can we come back soon? I want to show
Mom the eagles!”
COMPREHENSION Which words help you understand what the mountains are
like? Why do you think Sarah and Daniel thought climbing the mountain was fun
in the end?
40
2_327419_RNACW_U2L10RA2.indd 40 5/29/09 9:07:41 AM
41
2_327419_RNACW_U2L10RA2.indd 41 5/29/09 9:08:18 AM