HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 19Have you ever watched the waves undulating up and down on the surface of the
ocean? Have you ever looked at the white, frothing water and wondered about the
world that lies below the waves? The oceans are mysterious places. Scientists have
studied only a very small part of this world beneath the waves. Yet they are learning
more about the sea and the fascinating creatures that live there.
One of these creatures is the stingray. The stingray is a fl at, sleek fi sh that moves
through the water in a way that looks like fl ying. The stingray often hides in sand.
When it feels scared or threatened, the stingray raises a poisonous barb, or sting,
on its tail. It can thrust the barb into other fi sh that want to eat it. Sometimes human
divers step on a stingray by accident. If the poison from the barb penetrates a diver’s
foot or leg, it can hurt!
The octopus is another fascinating sea creature. The octopus doesn’t have any
bones, and it has eight legs called tentacles. An octopus has very good coordination—
it can use its body to whirl its tentacles around in a circle. Also, it can move all eight
of its tentacles at the same time! When it feels threatened, an octopus can release a
gush of dark liquid, called ink. The ink makes it diffi cult for predators to see the
octopus. The octopus is also a very curious animal. In science labs, it has been known
to play with toys and squirt water on people for fun.
The jellyfi sh is a unique sea creature. Like the octopus, the jellyfi sh does not have
any bones. It does not have a brain, either. It is made up almost entirely of water,
so it just fl oats along until it traps a fi sh. A jellyfi sh traps fi sh by using its long stinging
tentacles. The tentacles look like strings hanging from the jellyfi sh. A fi sh that swims
too close is poisoned by the tentacles and gets pulled inside the jellyfi sh. After the fi sh
is trapped, nutrients seep out of the fi sh’s body and into the jellyfi sh. This is how the
jellyfi sh “eats.”
The oceans are full of many other interesting creatures, such as fl ying fi sh that skate
across the surface of the water, and sea slugs that have frills and bright colors. These
kinds of creatures are what make the ocean such a mysterious and wonderful place!
COMPREHENSION Which sea creature do you think is the most interesting?
Which words help you understand how sea creatures or water move?
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Jonathan was worried about his new puppy, Trouble. The puppy certainly
earned his name! Trouble chewed up shoes. Trouble stole food from the kitchen
table. Trouble could not sit still for more than a minute. When the puppy
romped from room to room, no one could catch him. Trouble grabbed toys in
his mouth and thrashed them about vigorously, his ears fl ying from side to side.
Sometimes his thrashing broke things in the house.
At fi rst, Jonathan’s parents thought the puppy was funny. But when time
went on and Trouble did not calm down, they frowned.
“You have to teach Trouble to behave,” said Jonathan’s parents. “Otherwise,
we can’t keep him.” Jonathan looked at Trouble and sighed. Trouble just
wagged his tail.
The next day, Jonathan saw a small sign in the window next to the
bookstore. “PUPPY SCHOOL,” the sign said. Jonathan smiled. School was just
what Trouble needed!
Jonathan’s parents helped him sign up Trouble for four weeks of puppy
school. At fi rst, Trouble was as naughty as ever. He would not listen when
Jonathan told him to sit, stay, or come. The busy teacher, Ms. Obay, came
bustling across the room to help.
“You have to be fi rm with Trouble, Jonathan,” she said. “If Trouble yanks on his
leash, hold it steady until he starts checking his movements and comes back to you.
He should walk calmly by your side, without any abrupt turns and leaps.”
Jonathan did what she said. He used a low, fi rm voice to tell Trouble what to
do. He held the leash steady in his hand. Ms. Obay stayed, hovering close by.
She watched to see how Trouble would behave.
Jonathan walked six steps across the room. Trouble walked six steps, too.
Jonathan stopped walking. Trouble stopped walking, too. “Good dog, Trouble!”
Jonathan said.
Jonathan got down on his knees. He put his arms around Trouble, holding the
puppy in a warm embrace. Jonathan’s fears about Trouble receded. The puppy
could learn how to behave, after all.
COMPREHENSION What words help you picture Trouble in action? How
does going to puppy school help both Jonathan and Trouble?
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