Big Book of

Explorations
Acknowledgments
“Andre” from BRONZEVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS by Gwendolyn Brooks. Copyright
© 1956 by Gwendolyn Brooks. Reprinted by permission.
“Crunch! Munch! Thanks a Bunch!” text only from SESAME STREET MAGAZINE,
November 2001, Copyright © 2001. Reprinted by permission.
“Crusty Cornbread” from YOU BE GOOD & I’LL BE NIGHT by Eve Merriam.
Copyright © 1988 by Eve Merriam. Reprinted by permission of Marian Reiner.
“Everybody Says” from EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING by Dorothy Aldis.
Copyright © 1925-1927, © renewed 1953-1955 by Dorothy Aldis. Reprinted by
permission of G. P. Putnam & Sons.
“I Measure Myself” and “My Bike” from SING A SONG OF POETRY. Copyright
© 2004 by Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas. Reprinted by permission of
Heinemann, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
“If. . .” from ANY ME I WANT TO BE by Karla Kuskin. Copyright © 1972 by Karla
Kuskin. Reprinted by permission of Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.
“Making Friends” from NATHANIEL TALKING by Eloise Greenfield. Copyright
© 1988 by Eloise Greenfield. Reprinted by permission of Black Butterfly
Children’s Books.
“Riding The Subway Train” from WHEN A CITY LEANS AGAINST THE SKY by
Allan A. De Fina, illustrated by Ken Condon. Text copyright © 1997 by Alan A.
De Fina. Illustrations © 1997 by Boyds Mills Press. Reprinted by permission of
Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
“Tadpole, Tadpole” reprinted by permission of LADYBUG Magazine, June 1994,
vol. 4, No. 10, © 1994 by Marjorie A. Parker.
“The Fight” by Helen H. Moore. Copyright © 1997 by Helen H. Moore. Reprinted
by permission.
Illustration Credits
5: (c) Theresa Smythe; 11: (c) Shane Evans; 12: (c) Maribel Suarez; 22: (bl) Abby Carter;
(br) Abby Carter; 23: (tl to br) Kelly Kennedy; 28: (c) John Kanzler; 30–31: (t) Rita
Lascaro; (c) Scott Matthews; (br) Shawn Banner; 32: (t) Rita Lascaro; 33: (cl) Ron
Berg; 34: (tcl to br) Ron Berg; 38: (c) Nicole Rutten; 40–41: (t) Ted Thai; 41: (br) Kelly
Kennedy; 42: (t to b) Kelly Kennedy; (t) Ted Thai; (tc) Peter Fasolino; 43: (t, c, br)
Christy Schneider; 47: (c) Lisa Guida; 48: (r) Chris Boyd; 52: (cl to cr) David Sheldon;
55: (tr) Linda Lee Mauri; 57: (c) Pete Whitehead; 58: (c) Jenny Mattheson;
62: (c) Katherine Zecca.
Published by Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Two Penn Plaza, New York, New York 10121.
Copyright © 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any
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Photography Credits
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Contents
Start Smart Unit
THEME: We Are Special

Rules Are Important Nonfiction/Expository ..........2

Text Features: Photos • Social Studies

I Measure Myself Poetry ..................................5

Made From Clay Nonfiction/Expository ................ 6
Text Features: Photos • Science

Unit 1
THEME: Families

Andre Poetry ......................................................11

by Gwendolyn Brooks

Everybody Says Poetry ................................... 12

by Dorothy Aldis

Night Animals Nonfiction/Expository ....................13

by Emily Reel
Text Features: Photos • Science
Family Fun Nonfiction/Expository .......................... 19
Text Features: Photos • Social Studies

Unit 2
THEME: Friends

Friends Follow Rules Nonfiction/Expository ........23

Text Features: Photos/Signs • Social Studies

Making Friends Poetry ................................... 26

by Eloise Greenfield

The Fight Poetry ............................................28

by Helen H. Moore

Helping Hands Nonfiction/Expository ..................29

Text Features: Photographs • Social Studies
Unit 3
THEME: Transportation

Signs in the Park Nonfiction/Expository .............. 33

by Linda B. Ross
Text Features: Signs/Maps • Social Studies

My Bike Poetry ................................................37

Riding the Subway Train Poetry ...................38
by Allan A. De Fina

How Do You Go
to School? Nonfiction/Expository .......................39
Text Features: Maps/Captions • Social Studies

Unit 4
THEME: Food

From Strawberry Field

to Strawberry Salad Nonfiction/Expository ..... 43
by Lana Reyes
Text Features: Diagrams • Social Studies

Crusty Corn Bread Poetry .............................47

by Eve Merriam

Crunch! Munch!
Thanks a Bunch! Poetry ...............................48
by Leslie Kimmelman

Farming Then
and Now Nonfiction/Expository ..........................49
Text Features: Photos • Social Studies

Unit 5
THEME: Animals

Let’s Go to the Vet Nonfiction/Expository ........... 53

by Ana Rosa
Text Features: Diagrams • Social Studies

Tadpole, Tadpole Poetry ................................ 57

by Marjorie A. Parker

If... Poetry ........................................................58

by Karla Kuskin

At Home in the
Rain Forest Nonfiction/Expository ......................59
Text Features: Captions • Science
2
Rules help friends get along.
These children share and take
turns. They work well together.

3
 Rules keep us safe and healthy.
Wash your hands before
and after eating.

We may get hurt if we break a rule.

We may also hurt others.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Super Stars

Angel

Ajene

Brittney

Cristal

Christopher

Daquan

Deana

This chart shows children who are

following school rules. Which children
would you want in your class? Why?
4
 I
Measure
Myself
I measure myself
from my head to my toes,
I measure my arms,
starting right by my nose,

I measure my legs,
and I measure me all,
I measure to see
if I’m growing tall.

5
 This
is Clay!

Made From Clay

We make wonderful things from clay.

6
Clay comes from the Earth.
It is a natural resource.

7
 When clay is mixed with water
it is soft and smooth. People
shape wet clay. When it dries,
the clay keeps the shape.
8
People use clay to make many
things. This small, round pot
was made from clay. It is black,
white, and red.
9
 These large, rectangular houses
were made from clay and wood.
They are tan.

10
 Andre
I had a dream last night. I dreamed
I had to pick a Mother out.
I had to choose a Father too.
At first, I wondered what to do,
There were so many there, it seemed,
Short and tall and thin and stout.

But just before I sprang awake,

I knew what parents I would take.

And this surprised and made me glad:

They were the ones I always had!

—Gwendolyn Brooks

11
 Everybody Says
Everybody says
I look just like my mother.
Everybody says
I’m the image of Aunt Bee.
Everybody says
My nose is like my father’s
But I want to look like ME!

—Dorothy Aldis

12
 by Emily Reel

At night, you are asleep.

But many animals are awake.
13
 A mother skunk and her
babies look for food at night.

14
A raccoon family hunts by
the lake.

15
 In the morning,
you are awake.
But many animals
are asleep!

16
We can sort these
night animals into groups.
Mammals are animals
with fur or hair.
Skunks and raccoons
are mammals.

17
 Birds have feathers and
lay eggs.
Owls are birds.

18
 A Family
Gives Hugs

Family Fun
What can families do together?
19
Kinds of Families
Every family is different.

A family can be young.

A family can be old.

20 A family can live in a city.

A family can live in the country.

A family can be small. A family can be big.

How many people are in your family? 21
A Caring Family
Look at each picture. o u sho
w
ca n y
ut
Choose the sentence that How
a t y o u car e a b o
th a mily?
shows you care. yo u r f

1. 2.

I want to eat. Let’s read together.

I will set the table. It is my turn!

3. 4.

Come inside with me. We can play catch.

Can I help? That’s mine!
22
Friends play fair.

23
 Friends take turns.

Friends share.

24
Rules help friends get
along and stay safe.

Class Rules
1. Raise your hand to speak.

2. Keep hands to yourself.

3. Treat others the way you

want to be treated.

What rules do you have at home?

What rules do you have at school?

25
 when I was in kindergarten
this new girl came in our class one day
and the teacher told her to sit beside me
and I didn’t know what to say
so I wiggled my nose and made my bunny face

and she laughed

then she puffed out her cheeks
and she made a funny face
and I laughed
so then
we were friends
—Eloise Greenfield

26
27
 The Fight
I have a friend.
We had a fight.
I cried myself
to sleep last night.

And when I see

My friend today,
I’ll say, “I’m sorry.
Want to play?”

I hope she’ll say

she’s sorry, too—
I’m sure she will—
that’s what friends do.
—Helen H. Moore

28
 Painting
the Town

T hese friends are helping families

who need food. How can you help
in your community?
29
 You Can Help!
In a community, people help
each other.

You can make

people smile.

You can clean up.

You can plant.

30
You can make things beautiful.

The park near your

school is ugly and dirty.
You and your friends feel sad
because it is not a nice place to play.
What can you do about it?
31
Look Around Town
This map shows part of a community.

2nd Avenue
Red Street
1st Avenue

Blue Street

Green Street

1. Point to a place where you

and a friend can play.
2. Trace a path with your y o u r class
can
What your
finger from the park to do to
h e l p
?
m m unity
the firehouse. c o

3. What is next to the dentist’s office?

32
by Linda B. Ross

There are signs around the park.

They show us where to go.

33
 They tell us what to do.
What do the signs say?

34
There are signs and signals on streets.
They show us where to go.
They show us when to stop and go.
35
 Arkansas
Oklahoma

New Mexico

Louisiana

KEY
State Capital Plateau
Other City Coastal Plain
River Mountains
Lake

There are symbols on maps.

They show us where land, water, and
cities are located.
36
My Bike
One wheel, two wheels,
on the ground,
My feet make the pedals
go ’round and ’round.
The handlebars help me
steer so straight,
Down the sidewalk
and through the gate.

37
 Riding the
Subway Train
by Allan A. De Fina

Hurrying, hustling, hurtling past,

the subway train
approaches at last!
Whooshing, whizzing, whistling air,
blows in faces
and messes hair!
Rumble, rattle, screeching stop!
The train rolls in,
and on all hop.
Snap! Shut! Train doors close!
It jerks and lurches
as off it goes!
Whooshing, whizzing, whistling along!
The subway sings
its noisy song.

38
 Scooting
to School

How Do
You Go to
School?

Kayla
and Hannah
go to school
on unicycles.
39
Off to School!
Do you walk or ride a bus to school?

These kids go
to school on a
bicycle rickshaw.
Jack goes to school
on a scooter.

Donna goes to These kids go to

school on snow school on a boat.
40 shoes.
Zip Across the Forest
Daisy goes to school on a cable.
Daisy lives in a rain forest.

Daisy is hooked up
to a strong cable.

Daisy uses a tree

branch to slow down.

Daisy carries her

books in a bag.

12
Daisy gets to school very fast.
^
It only takes her one minute!
9 3
^

How long does it take you to

6
get to school?
41
Find the Way
Use your finger to
trace a path from
the bus to the post office

school. school

bank
fire e d o you
els get
station How s c a n
kid
market think ool?
park to sch

Go Safely Match the way to

go to school with the safety rule.

bus scooter walking

Go with Stay in Wear a

42 others. your seat. helmet.
 by Lana Reyes

Strawberry salad is fun to make.

First, you have to get the
ingredients.
43
 fruit
leaves
flower

roots stem

Strawberry plants in fields make the

berries we eat. You can pick berries
or buy them at the grocery store.

After getting the ingredients, wash

the fruit and follow the recipe
directions.
44
Strawberry Salad Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 pint strawberries
1 bunch bananas
1 bunch grapes
Directions:
1. Take the leaves off
of the strawberries
and slice them.

2. Peel and slice the

bananas.

3. Pick the grapes

from the stems.

4. Put the slices and

grapes in a bowl.
Stir them together.
45
 Next, invite your friends to share
your healthy snack.

Last, enjoy strawberry salad

together.
46
Crusty Corn Bread
Crusty corn bread
crumbly crumbs,
mumbly muffins,
buttery thumbs.

Flaky biscuits,
crunchy toast,
cracks in the crackers
crumble the most.

—Eve Merriam

47
 First we wash the lettuce clean,
add the peppers, shiny green,
grated carrots for some crunch,
and mushrooms that are nice to munch.

Lettuce clean, peppers green,

carrots crunchy, mushrooms munchy.

Red tomatoes look delicious,

avocados quite nutritious;
then add one thing, pretty please,
some chewy, yummy yellow cheese.

Tomatoes delicious, avocados nutritious,

and yummy cheese—sure to please.

Now our salad bowl’s complete.

To the table, time to eat!
—Leslie Kimmelman
48
 Farming
Has
Changed!

Farming
Then and Now
Growing food on a farm is hard work.
Farmers have machines to help them.

49
Working on a Farm
There are many jobs on a farm.
Farm work has changed over time.

Long ago, a horse Now a tractor

pulled the plow. pulls the plow.

Long ago, planting Now a machine

seeds took a long plants seeds fast.
time.
50
Long ago, water Now it is easier
for crops came to water crops.
from wells.

Long ago, a wagon Now a big truck

carried food to takes food to
the market. the store.

51
A Day on the Farm
What is a day on a dairy farm like?
Morning Af ternoon

Milk the cows. Clean the milking

place.

Lead the cows to Milk the cows.

the grass.

1 . At what time is the first job?

2. What do the kids do at 3:00 in
the afternoon?
3. How often are the cows milked?
52
by Ana Rosa

Meet Dr. Ann. She is a vet.

She takes care of sick pets.
She helps pets stay healthy.
53
 Dr. Sam sees many animals each day.
This puppy is having a check-up.
Dr. Sam listens to its heartbeat.
54
 eye tail
ear
fur
eye ta
ear
fur

nose

tongue
nose
leg
paw

tongue

leg
paw

He checks its eyes, ears and fur.

The puppy is healthy!

55
 Dr. Pat and Kim look at an iguana.
They feel its scales.
They love their patients!

56
Tadpole, Tadpole
Tadpole, tadpole,
Swimming in my pail,
Big round head,
And wiggly tail,
Some day soon
Four legs will sprout,
And then, small frog,
You’ll hop right out!
—Marjorie A. Parker

57
 If . . .
If you,
Like me,
Were made of fur
And sun warmed you,
Like me,
You’d purr.

—Karla Kuskin

58
 Tiny Frogs

Why do rain forest

animals need rain
forest plants?

At Home in the
Rain Forest
59
The rain forest is full of living things.
The plants and animals need each
other. See how these rain forest
animals need rain forest plants.

Spider monkeys This beautiful

live in the trees. quetzal makes
They eat lots its nest in a tree.
of fruit.

A tiny frog lays

its eggs in a pool
of rainwater.
The pool is in the
leaves of a plant!
60
This jaguar uses
a tree to rest.

Farmer Ants

Leafcutter ants carry bits

of leaves to their nest.
They do not eat the leaves.
They use the leaves to grow
a fungus. The fungus is their food.
61
Rain Forest Animals
Study the picture. It shows
h ese
some rain forest animals. a r e t
How using rain
ls
anima st plants?
Jaguar fore

Spider monkeys
Quetzal

Leafcutter ants
Poison frog

Match each fact with a rain forest

animal in the picture.
1. These little insects take bits of leaves
to their nest.
2. This furry animal is high in the trees.
It eats lots of fruit.
62 3. This big cat takes a nap in a tree.