HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 5It was the last week of baseball camp, and Russell was anxious for the fi nal
game to start. If he hit a home run today, he would break the camp record of
sixteen home runs! Not only that, but if Russell’s team won the game, they
would win the baseball championship and receive the gold trophy.
Russell’s coach, Mimi Garcia, called all her players together. “OK, Wildcats,”
she said to Russell’s team. “Show me what you’ve got!” The Wildcats whooped
as they headed for their dugout. They were excited to win the competition and
prove that they were the best athletes.
When the umpire yelled, “Play ball!” the opening pitch was thrown. Soon,
Russell was batting, and he smacked the ball. He ran at a fast pace to fi rst base.
“Safe!” yelled the umpire. Within a few minutes, Russell had scored the fi rst run
of the game.
Back in the dugout, Russell sat near the sideline and watched the other
team, the Pirates, playing in the outfi eld. He noticed one of the participants
having a diffi cult time fi elding the ball. This player was named Ben.
Russell had talked to Ben a few days earlier at lunch. “It’s like I have a
hole in my glove,” Ben had said. “Just once, I’d like to catch the ball and get
somebody out.” Russell was lucky—baseball came easily to him. But as he
watched Ben struggling on the fi eld, Russell felt sorry for him.
The game continued, and the score was very close. By the last inning, the
Wildcats had nine runs and the Pirates had ten. “I need that home run now
more than ever,” thought Russell as he got ready to bat.
When the pitch came, Russell struck the ball straight into left fi eld—and
straight toward Ben! “Please be a home run,” Russell said hopefully. He ran
swiftly, but was soon cut short by the umpire. “You’re out!” he said. Russell
looked up in disbelief to see Ben happily waving the ball in his glove.
“I got it!” Ben shouted.
Russell cracked a smile. “Guess I won’t be breaking that record,” he
thought, “but it was worth it just to watch Ben make the catch!”
COMPREHENSION Do you think Russell would make a good role model?
Why or why not? Which words about sports help you picture the story in
your mind?
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Jackie Chan is one of the most popular stars of Asian action movies. He has become
a major Hollywood star in comedies as well as action fi lms. In addition, Chan has worked
hard to help young people in need.
Jackie Chan was born in Hong Kong, China. When Chan was a young boy, he began
to learn kung fu from his father. Later, he learned from a kung fu master. His master, Yu
Jim Yuen, taught only the best students. He looked for students who showed agility, or
were quick and could bend easily. He looked for students who also had endurance. These
students were able to practice for a long time without getting tired. While studying with
his master, Chan learned a very diffi cult set of aerobic exercises and martial arts skills.
When Chan was a teenager, he joined two other students who studied with Yu Jim
Yuen. They formed a team and called themselves the Three Brothers. Then they began
performing in action movies. Their routines in the movies allowed them to use the skills
they had learned from their master. They got to show their dexterity and timing by doing
amazing fl ips and running up walls.
Soon after, Chan began starring in movies where he could show his fl exibility.
Sometimes he would dodge things, and other times he would move very quickly. American
fi lm companies grew interested in him, but his fi rst American fi lms did not sell many
tickets. So Chan went back to Hong Kong and began making his own movies. These
movies had a mix of action and comedy. The audience’s favorite part was always the
showdown. In a showdown scene, Chan and his opponents showed all their martial arts
skills by fl ipping, running, climbing, and jumping. It was amazing to watch. It wasn’t long
before Chan became famous in the United States and around the world.
Chan wanted to use his fame for a good cause. He decided to help kids with talent in
kung fu, acting, and singing. He also wanted to pay for medicine for kids with serious
illnesses. Chan founded a program that helps kids, especially kids from Hong Kong,
China. The program is called the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.
Today, Jackie Chan continues to make movies. He has appeared in about one hundred
movies and has fans all over the world.
COMPREHENSION Retell how Jackie Chan became a star. What words help you
understand what skills it takes to be an actor in martial arts movies?
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