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The Beaver Creek — Reading Comprehension

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2-LS2-1

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This science reading passage, 'The Beaver's Big Build', explores cause and effect relationships in animal behavior for second-grade students, aligning with NGSS 2-LS2-1. It details the observable patterns of a beaver's work, such as chewing trees and building dams and lodges, directly linking these actions (effects) to the beaver's needs (causes) for shelter and protection. The narrative vividly illustrates how one animal can significantly alter its environment, emphasizing that events have causes that generate observable patterns. This resource enhances reading comprehension and fosters an understanding of how living things interact with and change their surroundings.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Far back in the woods, where a small river flowed, lived a very busy beaver. One day, Leo and his grandpa were hiking when they saw something amazing! A tall tree near the river had been chewed almost all the way through, and the water in the river looked a little deeper and wider than usual.

"Wow, look at that!" Leo exclaimed. "What happened here?"

Grandpa smiled. "That's the work of a beaver, Leo. In nature, when an animal does something (that's the cause), it creates a change (that's the effect). If we watch closely, we can see some very clear observable patterns."

They looked around the riverbank.

Observable Pattern 1: Many trees along the river had been chewed by strong teeth, and some had fallen down.
- Cause: The beaver needs wood to build its home and to block the river.
- Effect: The beaver chews down trees.
Observable Pattern 2: Sticks, mud, and small logs were piled up across the river, slowing down the water.
- Cause: The beaver needs a still, deep pond to protect its home from predators and to store food underwater.
- Effect: The beaver builds a dam to make the river wider and deeper.
Observable Pattern 3: A sturdy, dome-shaped house made of sticks and mud sat in the middle of the new, wider pond.
- Cause: The beaver needs a safe place to live, raise its babies, and store food away from danger.
- Effect: The beaver builds a lodge in the pond.

Leo couldn't believe it! The beaver wasn't just chewing trees for fun. Its strong instincts (the causes) made it do all this amazing building (the effects), creating a whole new environment! He saw clearly how one busy animal could cause so many big, observable changes.

What do stars look like in the night sky?

Big, round moonsTiny, sparkling lightsBright, warm sunsDark clouds

When can we usually see the stars?

In the morningDuring the dayOn a clear nightWhen it is raining

Why can't we see stars during the day?

They go away.The moon hides them.The sun is too bright.They are too small.

What are stars actually made of?

Little diamondsCold iceHot gasTiny rocks

What happens to the stars during the day?

They hide.They go to sleep.They are hidden by sun's light.They move very fast.

How is seeing stars at night a "predictable pattern"?

It happens only sometimes.It is a surprise.We know it will happen every clear night.It changes often.