HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 27Catalina glowed with pride as she ran onto the fi eld for the model rocket contest.
Her hard work had paid off, because she was one of four fi nalists! Now all she had
to do was get her rocket ready to launch and hope it fl ew the highest.
After Catalina set up her rocket, she turned to watch the other fi nalists. The
formal rules stated that no one was allowed to help them. She felt sorry to see one
worried fi nalist studying his broken rocket. But then she saw his father look around
sneakily, as if he was a culprit who didn’t want to get caught. In the blink of an eye,
the father defi ed the contest rules and fi xed the rocket for his son.
Then Catalina watched another fi nalist setting up his rocket. His older brother was
helping him! “You’re gonna win,” the older boy whispered. “I’m a great builder.”
As she turned away, she saw another fi nalist walking toward her rocket. She
watched as his foot darted out and kicked it!
“Leave that alone!” Catalina cried. Luckily, nothing had broken.
Catalina couldn’t believe all the violations. She knew that there were no exceptions
to the rules. Clearly, other people felt the contrary. They didn’t think they needed to
follow the conventions.
When it was time to launch the rockets, Catalina’s didn’t go as high as the others’,
but she didn’t care. She felt proud for being the only one who played fair. The others
were rebellious and had to break the rules to win.
A judge stepped up to the microphone. “It is with regret that I disqualify a fi nalist.
This contest relies on kids to honestly follow the procedures they read in the rules.
This fi nalist tried to harm another’s rocket, so he is out of the contest.”
The crowd gasped as the judge continued, “Based on the fl ights we’ve seen—“
“Wait!” The boy whose dad helped him stepped forward. “You’ve got to disqualify
me, too. My rocket broke, and my dad helped me fi x it.”
“And disqualify me, too,” said the boy whose brother helped him. “My brother
built my rocket. I’m sorry.”
Catalina was declared the winner! Her rocket may not have fl own the highest, but
it fl ew straight and true!
COMPREHENSION What words tell about the rules? What do you think the
four fi nalists learned from this experience?
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America has been called “a country of immigrants.” This is because almost
everyone in America has ancestors—relatives of long ago—who came from
another country.
Many families immigrated to America during the 1800s. Many of these
families were poor, and they were hoping for a better life. They no longer
wanted to live in apartments that were dark and sparsely furnished. They no
longer wanted to salvage furniture that other people threw away. In America,
they dreamed that they wouldn’t have to scrounge for spare change, or eat
bland vegetables, like boiled cabbage, day after day.
Sometimes only part of a family, like the father, might come to America
before the rest of the family. He would look for a job and a place to live. But
it could be hard to fi nd a job in America during the late 1800s. There was a
scarcity of jobs because so many immigrants needed one. If the father found
a job, though, and worked to earn a meager amount of money, he would pay
for the rest of his family to come live with him in America.
Many immigrants were incredibly hard workers. Some of them even
started businesses in their own homes. They would earn money by selling
things like homemade clothes and shoes.
Immigrants often lacked an education. Many of them spoke only
rudimentary English, or knew very few English words. Immigrant parents did
not want to deprive their children of school. But sometimes, parents needed
their help. Children often worked to help their families earn money. They did
this instead of studying.
Though life was hard, families stuck together. Many people today are proud
to say that their ancestors immigrated to America long ago, and made a new
life for themselves and their children.
COMPREHENSION How did immigrant families work together? Which
words tell you how hard life was for immigrants during the 1800s?
Working Together
for a Better Life
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