015 Making Connections
👩🏫 Teacher’s Guide
Objective
Students will apply making connections using the examples and practice below.
Vocabulary
mulch, observe, compare
Teaching Notes
- Model one response, then ask students to work independently and explain their choices with specific words or evidence.
- Teach the rule, discuss the worked example, and cover answers during practice.
- Use incorrect responses to identify which part of the rule needs another example.
- Allow approximately 25–35 minutes, including discussion and independent practice.
🧒 Student Worksheet
Concept and Helping Material
Big Idea
Connect a text to experience or another text, then return to the evidence. A connection helps understanding but does not prove a claim.
Read: The Garden Water Test
Plants need water, but a garden can lose water quickly. A school gardening club tested two beds of the same size. Both had the same kind of soil and plants. The club covered one bed with mulch, a layer of dry leaves. The other bed had bare soil. Each bed received the same amount of water. At the end of the afternoon, the soil under the mulch felt wetter. The club decided to repeat the test before changing the whole garden.
Mulch can reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the soil surface. Evaporation is the change from liquid water to water vapor. The club’s observation was consistent with this explanation, but touching the soil did not provide an exact measurement. The students proposed using the same moisture meter in both beds. They also planned to record sunshine and rainfall, because changing weather could affect their results.
Club’s test plan
| Bed | Cover | Water added | Check time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Dry leaves | Same amount | Afternoon |
| B | No cover | Same amount | Afternoon |
The table describes the test plan, not numerical moisture measurements.
Vocabulary and Definition
- — a layer of material covering soil
- — notice carefully
- — look for similarities and differences
Words to Learn
mulch, observe, compare
Sentences to Fill In
- The term for a layer of material covering soil is ____.
- The term for notice carefully is ____.
- The term for look for similarities and differences is ____.
Think & Respond Q&A
- What everyday covering might help you understand mulch?
- Does a personal experience prove this test’s result?
- Make a connection to caring for a plant.
- What should you do after making a connection?
- Name a detail that supports one of your answers.
- What new information would help you understand the test better?
Hands-On Experiment or Activities
Draw the two beds side by side. Label the cover, equal water, and observation time. Use arrows or notes to show how today’s reading skill helps explain the investigation.
Reflection
- Explain one thing you learned.
- Write a short paragraph applying the skill. Underline your evidence or target words and explain one choice.