Inside Reading Level Intro

Unit 9 “Hydroponics” Pre-Reading Activities

Name: ________________________ Date: _________________________

Reading 1 in Unit 9 discusses hydroponics, which is a way to grow plants without soil.

A greenhouse is a building with glass sides and a glass roof, used for growing plants. The glass
construction of the building allows in sunlight, which plants need to grow.

You can tell that the meaning of greenhouse is different from green house. One is a house that is
green. The other is a building for growing plants. Let’s take a look at some other words from the
Reading that can have different meanings.

1. Should greenhouse or green house be used in the following sentence? Fill in the blank.

The ________________ will protect the plants from insects, rain, and too much heat from
the sun.

A commercial is an advertisement on the radio or television created to sell something. However, when
commercial is used as an adjective, it changes the meaning. Something that is commercial makes—or
means to make—money. For example, commercial boats are boats that transport people or goods as a
way to make money.

2. Circle the meaning of commercial that is used in this sentence.

In contrast, a commercial farm might use a hydroponic system to grow thousands of tomatoes
and carrots that will eventually be transported to nearby markets and sold.

a. an advertisement on the radio or television created to sell something.

b. making money

You might know the word kind as an adjective to describe someone who is caring and nice. The
shopkeeper was a kind old man who always said hello.
However, as a noun, kind has a different meaning. As a noun kind refers to a group of people or things
that are the same in some way. They sell all kinds of cookies at that bakery.

3. Read this excerpt from the Reading. Is kind a noun or an adjective in these sentences? ________

There are many different kinds of hydroponic systems. The kind of system used depends on
several factors. One factor is the kind of plant that will be grown.

4. What word comes after kind in each sentence? ________

5. Look at the Reading on pages 130–131. What three things does a plant need to grow?

_____________________________________________________________________________
 Inside Reading Level Intro
Unit 10 “Sun, Wind, and Water” Pre-Reading Activities

Name: ________________________ Date: _________________________

Reading 1 in Unit 10 is about how nature affects us and we affect it.

1. The title of the unit is “The Forces of Nature.” What do you think a force of nature is?

________________________________________________________________________

A phrase you will see used in the Reading is “powers of nature.” You might know that power refers to the
strength or energy of something, such as the power of a storm. When the word power is combined with of
nature, it refers to the effects that the sun, wind, and water can have on us. These are nature’s forces.

2. What are some effects from the sun? Think about things that need sunlight or how we use it.
Write one or two sentences.

__________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

The forces of wind and water can be very strong. A cyclone or hurricane is a storm with strong winds that
blow in a circular pattern. They form over water and often include a large amount of rain.

3. What do you think are effects of strong storms like cyclones and hurricanes? Write one or two
sentences.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Nature can have negative effects. Storms can cause a lot of damage. Cities can be destroyed. However,
it can also have positive effects. Nature provides humans with water and food.

4. List another way that humans rely on nature. _________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

The weather is the temperature and conditions outside in a particular place. Climate, however, is more
than just the weather. It is the regular pattern of weather that usually occurs.

5. Look for the word climate in the Reading on pages 146–147. Record a sentence with it below:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

6. Record a sentence you think will be a main idea in the Reading from pages 146–147:

_____________________________________________________________________________