Realistic

ealistic
iction
Fiction

os a’s
R r d en
Ga ill u s tr a te d b
y
l
Abig a il M a rble
by Eve Tonkin

PAIRED
Fresh from the City
READ

CV_CR14_LR_G4__U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 3 23/02/12 9:23 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Grades: 4 PDF
 STRATEGIES & SKILLS
Comprehension Vocabulary
Strategy: Make Predictions accountable, advise,
Skill: Problem and Solution desperately, hesitated,
humiliated, inspiration,
Vocabulary Strategy self-esteem, uncomfortably
Idioms
Content Standards
Social Studies
Civics and Government

Word Count: 1,326**

**The total word count is based on words in the running text and headings only. Numerals and words in captions,
labels, diagrams, charts, and sidebars are not included.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by
any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, network storage or transmission, or
broadcast for distance learning.

Send all inquiries to:

McGraw-Hill Education
Two Penn Plaza
New York, New York 10121

ISBN: 978-0-02-119134-4
MHID: 0-02-119134-4

Printed in the United States.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 QLM 15 14 13 12 11 10
A

IFCIBC_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 2 18/01/12 11:33 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Grade: 4 PDF
 Essential Question
How do your actions affect others?

s a’s
Ro de n
Ga r by Abig a il M a rb
le
ill us tr at ed
by Eve To n kin

Chapter 1
The Empty Lot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 2
Growing Begins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 3
The Missing Vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 4
The Garden in Bloom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Respond to Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
PAIRED
Fresh from the City . . . . . . . . . 17
READ
Focus on Literary Elements. . . . . . . . . . . 20

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 1 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Ch a pter 1

Th e E mp t y L ot
Everyone
E veryone iin
n R
Rosa’s
osa’s n
neighborhood
eighborhood
d complained
complaine
about the empty lot. Piled high with trash, old
tires, and broken junk, it looked terrible, and in
summer—whew, it smelled!
What’s more, the lot was no longer a safe
place to play. The ground was cracked, and kids
were always tripping over trash. Rosa remembered
how much fun she and her friend Maria used to
have playing there. Now it was too dangerous.

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 2 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Jamal’s mom grumbled to Rosa’s mom. “I’ve
told Jamal he’s not to play there anymore. The
problem is that it’s much closer than the park.”
“Don’t get me started!” Rosa’s mom replied.
“I’m tired of picking up trash over there. I feel
humiliated living next to it.”
Rosa stood at the window, staring down at
the empty lot. Rain seemed to fall like a curtain,
separating their place from everywhere else.

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 3 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Rosa watched the rain make puddles in the
lot. It pooled in the old tires and soaked clumps
of trash. From above, the lot looked like a giant
pot of trash soup.
Then Rosa noticed the flowers in the window
boxes outside Mr. Johnson’s apartment. The
bright pinks and purples of the flowers stood
out against the gray color of the day.
“Mr. Johnson’s plants are the only nice
things out there,” Rosa thought. Suddenly
inspiration struck.

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 4 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 “You know how everyone is always
complaining about the vacant lot? ” Rosa said that
evening. “Well, I’ve thought of a way to fix it!”
She presented her parents and her brother, Diego,
with a drawing she had done. “It’s my dream for
the lot,” she explained.
“What a beautiful drawing, Rosa!” her mom
exclaimed. “I love the chili plants and the
pretty flowers.”
“It’s really cool,” Diego agreed.
“A garden’s a fantastic idea, Rosa,” her
father said. “Let’s see if we can make your
dream happen.”

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 5 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Cha pter 2

Gr ow ing B e gins
A month
month later,
later, R
Rosa’s
osa’s father
father h
had
ad some
some good
news. “The city is going to allow us to turn the
lot into a community garden,” he said. “They’re
going to clear away the junk this week!”
On Saturday, the neighbors met at the lot,
which already looked much better without the
junk. First, everyone picked up the remaining
trash, and then they began creating garden beds.
“This is hard work!” said Diego’s friend David.
“Hard work builds character and self-esteem,”
Rosa’s dad said, launching into his favorite
speech. “It helps you to grow as a person, and—”
“The dump truck’s arrived!” Diego shouted.
The kids ran to watch the truck empty its load
of dirt.
Then David’s father arrived in a pickup. “The
compost is here!” he yelled. “I advise you to
work hard—if you don’t pull your weight, you’ll
end up shoveling compost!”

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 6 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 7

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 7 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Finally, they began planting. Every family
took one garden bed, except Mr. Johnson and
Mr. Garcia, who decided to share one.
It was early evening by the time everyone had
finished planting. “This looks awesome!” Diego
said to Rosa.
“Look out!” yelled David, showering the
children with the hose.
Jamal’s mom laughed as the kids started to
dance in and out of the spray.

001_008_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 8 23/02/12 9:48 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Ch apter 3

The Miss ing Vege tables

““Hurry
Hurry u
up,”
p,” R
Rosa
osa ccalled
alled tto
o D
Diego,
iego, ““or
or we won’t
be able
b bl to check
h k out the
h gardend before
b f school!”
h l!”
Summer had almost arrived, and the plants
were getting taller. The lettuce and other salad
greens were growing. Small green tomatoes were
appearing, and yellow beans were poking through
the green leaves.
Warm sun slanted across the sidewalk as
Rosa, Diego, and Maria walked to the garden.
“I wonder if anything’s ripe yet,” Diego said,
running ahead.
Suddenly he turned around looking dismayed.
“Our plants are wrecked!”
It was true. Most of the salad greens had been
pulled out, and some of the tomato vines had
been trampled. Tears filled Rosa’s eyes.
“Come on,” Maria said. “We’ll be late for
school. Mr. Johnson or Mr. Garcia will be along
soon. They’ll tell the others.”

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 9 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 Before class, Rosa and
Maria told their friends
and teacher about their
missing vegetables.
“There were pieces of
lettuce lying around,”
said Rosa.
“And broken stalks,”
added Maria.
“The mess suggests
that an animal may have
eaten the vegetables,” Mrs.
Fuller said. “Did you look
for tracks? ”
Rosa hesitated. “No … but we wouldn’t have
known what kind of animal left the tracks.”
“I can help you there,” said Mrs. Fuller. “Let’s
see if we can find a book on animal tracks at
the library today.”

10

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 10 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 When the children arrived at the garden
after school, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Garcia
were already there. “What if they’ve cleaned
everything up and we can’t find any tracks!”
Maria said desperately.
“Did you hear about our missing vegetables? ”
Mr. Garcia called.
“Yes,” Rosa replied. “We’ve brought a book
that shows different animal tracks!”
“This is interesting,” Mr. Garcia said, looking
at the book. “Mr. Johnson and I figured it
might be an animal, and then Mr. Johnson
discovered some prints behind your tomatoes.”
“No doubt about it,” said Mr. Johnson,
looking at the page. “It’s definitely a raccoon!”
“Let’s call City Hall and ask them to
send out an animal control officer,” said Mr.
Garcia. “They’re accountable for getting rid of
unwanted animals.”

11

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 11 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 The next day, people from the building met
in Mr. Garcia’s apartment.
“I have some good news!” said Mr. Garcia.
“The city has received other complaints about
raccoons in the area.”
“That’s hardly good news,” Mr. Johnson
said jokingly.

“But it is,” Mr. Garcia replied, “because

the city can give us a fence to keep the
raccoons out!”
“We could even build a special gate,” suggested
Rosa eagerly.
12

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 12 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 Cha pter 4

G a r d e n i n B l o o m
The
A few
few months
months later,
later, R
Rosa
osa was walking
wallking to
the
h garden
d with h her
h mom and d some ffriends
d ffor
Rosa’s birthday party.
When they reached the garden, the girls
admired the new fence and its funky gate.
“Our friend Mr. Garcia helped us make it
from trash,” Maria explained.
“Who made that beautiful sun? ” Jolie asked.
“Rosa, of course,” Maria replied.
Rosa blushed uncomfortably as a cheer went
up from the community gardeners.

13

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 13 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 As Rosa and Maria showed their friends
around the garden, they picked tomatoes.
“They taste so good!” exclaimed Kimora.
Diego ran up to them. “Dad says it’s time for
the piñata.”
Everyone had fun hitting the piñata, and after
Maria had dealt the final blow, Rosa’s mom
brought out a huge cake covered with flowers
from the garden.
“I’d like to thank you, Rosa,” her dad said.
“Without your imagination, we wouldn’t be in
this beautiful garden today!”
Rosa smiled at her friends and neighbors.
She realized that one small idea could make
a big change if people worked together.

14

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 14 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 15

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 15 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 Summarize Character

Setting
Summarize the effects that
Problem
Rosa’s actions had on the Events
community. Use your graphic
organizer to help.
Solution

Text Evidence
1. What kind of fiction story is Rosa’s Garden?
How can you tell? GENRE

2. What is the problem with the garden on

page 9? PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

3. What does Rosa’s mother mean when she

says, “Don’t get me started!” on page 3?
IDIOMS

4. Write about how Rosa and her neighbors

solve the problem described on page 9. WRITE
ABOUT READING

16

009_016_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 16 23/02/12 9:52 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 1R
 Compare Texts
Read about how community gardens improve
neighborhoods.

Fresh from the City

People who live in cities usually buy their fruits
and vegetables from supermarkets. However, more
and more people are growing their own food.
Thousands of empty lots in city neighborhoods
have been turned into community gardens.

Grow Your Own Food

(t bkgd and b bkgd) sbk_20d pictures/Getty Images, (br) Fast Food/INGFD/Ingram Publishing

As Rosa and her friends discovered,

a home-grown tomato can taste much
uch
better than a store-bought tomato. Fresh
vegetables
The fruits and vegetables you grown in a
garden taste
buy from a supermarket are
delicious.
often a few weeks or months
old. Chemicals are usually
used to help the fruits
and vegetables grow.

17

017_020_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 17 18/01/12 11:40 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Community gardens are good for neighborhoods
in other ways too. When an empty lot is turned into
a garden, the neighborhood looks better. In addition,
gardening gives neighbors a chance to work together.

Saving money is another great reason for starting

a community garden. For example, between 2007
and 2010, many people in Cleveland, Ohio, lost their
jobs when factories closed down. Some supermarkets
also closed, so people couldn’t buy fresh food.

That’s when the city began helping people turn

Tony Anderson/Digital Vision/Getty Images

empty lots into community gardens. City farming
saved people in Cleveland money and helped them
have fresh fruits and vegetables to eat.

Many community
gardens are started
by volunteers who
want to clean up
empty lots in their
neighborhoods.

18

017_020_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 18 18/01/12 11:40 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Would you like to grow your own fresh food?
Even if you don’t have much space, you can still
grow food in containers.

Making a Container Garden

1. You can make a garden using
old tires, plant pots, or bathtubs.
2. Create drainage by putting gravel
in the bottom of your container.
If you are using a container
without holes at the bottom,
ask an adult to help you make
some holes.
3. Fill your containers
two-thirds full with moist,
crumbly soil and compost.
4. Dig small holes in the soil,
put your plants in, then add d
more soil around them.
5. Place your containers in
(t and c) Rachel Weill/UpperCut Images/Getty Images, (b) sbk_20d pictures/Getty Images

a sunny spot. Water your

plants regularly.

Make Connections
How does a community garden help a
neighborhood? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What have you learned from Rosa’s Garden and
Fresh from the City about the ways people can make
a difference in their communities? TEXT TO TEXT
19

017_020_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 19 18/01/12 11:40 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Idioms Idioms are words or phrases that have a
different meaning from the meaning of the actual
words. For example, the idiom sit on the fence means
that you can’t make up your mind about something.
To pull someone’s leg means to play a joke on them
or tease them.

Read and Find On page 6 in Rosa’s Garden,

David’s father tells everyone to “pull their weight”
when they are making the garden. This means he
wants everyone to work as hard as they can.

Your Turn
The idiom piece of cake means that something
is easy to do. Against the clock means that you
are in a hurry and don’t have much time. With
a partner, make a list of idioms you know. Talk
about what they mean. Write sentences using
the idioms from your list. Share what you wrote
with another group.

20

017_020_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 20 18/01/12 11:40 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Level: 38 PDF
 Literature Circles
Fiction

Setting
Where did Rosa’s Garden take place?
When did it take place?

Characters
Who are the main characters?
Who are the other characters?
How did Rosa’s family and friends change
during the story?

Plot
What problems did the characters face in
the story?
How did they solve the problems?

Conclusions
What is the message or theme of Rosa’s Garden?

Make Connections
What community projects do you know about?

IFCIBC_CR14_LR_G4_U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 3 18/01/12 11:33 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Grade: 4 PDF
 Think of Others

GR P • Benchmark 38 • Lexile TK

Grade 4 • Unit 1 Week 2

www.mheonline.com

ISBN-13 978-0-02-119134-5
MHID 0-02-119134-4
99701
EAN

9 780021 191345
4

CV_CR14_LR_G4__U1W2L38_O_119144.indd 2 23/02/12 9:23 AM

Program: CR 14 Component: LR G4 U1 W2 O
Vendor: Learning Media Grades: 4 PDF