HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 2-Lesson 11❒✔
What can you do if you think a rule or law is wrong? How can you try to
make a change? One way you could tell your opinion is by creating a petition.
A petition is a special piece of writing. It usually explains a problem. Then it
tells what should be done to make the problem better. For example, let’s say
your school stopped letting students borrow books from the library. A petition
could explain why this rule is unfair and why it should be changed.
A petition can be very powerful. This is because it lets many people give
the same opinion together. Anyone who wants to can sign his or her name on
the petition. Signatures show that these people agree with the opinion that is
written on the petition. Let’s say almost all the students in school signed the
petition about borrowing from the library. The principal would probably take
the petition very seriously. If only a few students signed it, the principal might
take the petition less seriously. By working in association with others, you have
a better chance of getting your opinion heard. Then maybe you can make a
change!
Working on a petition is not an easy task. But it can be easier if you
collaborate with others. You can all work together to write the petition. You
can assist one another if you need help thinking of the best way to say your
opinion. Then you can work together to get others to sign the petition. Your
group should carefully plan how to get people to sign your petition. Everyone
working on the petition can go to different places where people hang out. You
can each ask people to sign a copy of the petition. Then you can get together
and count how many people signed it.
There’s one more thing you should know. Just because a lot of people sign a
petition doesn’t mean anything will change. But even if it doesn’t make a
change right away, a petition is still a great way of making your opinion known.
Is there a rule or law in your school or town that you think should be
changed? If so, get together with some friends and make a petition! If you
cooperate with one another, you could make a difference!
COMPREHENSION Which words help you understand how people work
on petitions? Why do people make petitions?
Petitions:
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
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Billy the bunny loved hopping and sniffi ng and walking around in the barn. He also
loved dinnertime. He would chew on carrots and hay. And best of all, he would eat
lettuce. It tasted so sweet and fresh. When he ate it, he felt healthy.
One day, just as Billy was about to eat his lettuce, Ron the rooster reached over
and grabbed a handful of lettuce leaves.
“Those look good,” said Ron. “I think I’ll have them.” Ron the rooster was well
known by all the farm animals because he was a big bully. In fact, his fame as a bully
didn’t end at the farm. He was known as a bully at every nearby farm and ranch.
Even most farmers were afraid of him.
Billy felt angry for a moment as he watched Ron puff out his feathers and chew on
the lettuce. Then Billy the bunny had an idea.
“Has anyone ever told you how respected you are at this barn?” Billy asked,
smiling kindly.
“What do you mean?” answered Ron, frowning.
“Every animal on the farm has a great deal of admiration for you, Ron. After all,
you are the most prominent, widely known rooster around. We see you as our local
expert at bullying. Everyone is afraid of you, and that must make you very proud.”
Suddenly the lettuce didn’t taste very good to Ron. He began to feel lonely and sad.
“I want you to have my last carrot as an honor,” Billy continued. “An honor for
being the scariest bully ever.”
Then Billy began to clap. Others joined in. Soon, the whole barn was clapping. All
the animals took the food scraps they had saved and placed them in front of Ron,
who by this time had a horrible bellyache.
Then everyone was quiet. The only sound was Ron gulping as he swallowed the
big lump of lettuce leaves he’d been chewing. Ron thought for a moment and knew
that he didn’t want to be famous because people were afraid of him. He just wanted
people to like him.
“I’m sorry, Billy. I won’t bother you anymore,” said Ron. He handed back the last
of the lettuce leaves.
“It’s OK, Ron. I’ll split them with you,” said Billy, smiling.
COMPREHENSION How does Billy use words to make Ron feel bad about
being a bully? What does Billy teach Ron?
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