Grade 3 English Language Arts Grade 3 English Language Arts

Directions: Read the selection. 5 So next time you see a worm remember: Even creatures that seem
scary or yucky play an important role in the natural cycle of our
Passage 1: Earthworms: Nature’s Recyclers environment.
by Christine H. Smith
Glossary
1 What comes to mind when you think about worms? Creepy, crawly,
debris: waste
and slimy? Good to put on the end of a fish hook? What else? Worms
have a more noble purpose than snagging some fish off the end of
“Earthworms: Nature’s Recyclers” by Christine H. Smith, from Fun For Kidz. Copyright © 2015 by
the dock. Worms have a job to do, as do all of nature’s inhabitants. Bluffton News Publishing Co. Reprinted by permission of Bluffton News Publishing Co. via Copyright
Clearance Center.

2 Worms are nature’s recyclers. It’s hard to tell by looking at them, but
earthworms have mouths, and they love to eat. Earthworms eat dead
and decaying matter like leaves, grass, and even garbage. Passage 2: Worm Farm
Earthworms eat the debris lying near the top of the ground, then they
by Staff Writer
dig into the dirt making small tunnels. These tiny burrows help water to
soak into the ground, making it easier for plants to grow. This passage will tell you the steps to take and the things you need to build
a worm farm.

6 Worms are not only great dancers—they are also important to the
environment. They change the dead material from plants and animals
into nutrients that help plants grow. Worms also dig tunnels in the
ground, which help the soil “breathe.” Watch them shimmy through
3 Worms also leave behind droppings called castings. Castings help their tunnels by creating your very own worm world!
plants to grow by creating a rich topsoil that plants like. Worms are
also a source of food for many other animals, birds, and reptiles.

4 Anywhere food and moisture are in the ground, earthworms can be

found. In some places, like parts of New Zealand and the Netherlands,
there can be as many as six million worms per acre. An acre is about
the size of a big backyard. That’s a lot of worms!

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 Grade 3 English Language Arts Grade 3 English Language Arts

7 What To Do Directions: Use the selection to answer questions 7 – 14.

1. Layer the bottom of the glass jar with gravel, then place 7. Read the sentence from Passage 1.
several inches of soil on top. Sprinkle dead leaves over the soil
and moisten with a few drops of water. “Worms have a more noble purpose than snagging some fish off
the end of the dock.” (paragraph 1)
2. Place the earthworms in the jar, then put the jar in a very dark
place (like a closet or basement). Important: Do not put a lid What is the meaning of the word noble as it is used in this sentence?
on the jar. Sprinkle the soil with water every 2 days.
A easy
3. When you water the soil, check on your worms’ progress. You’ll be
able to see the crazy tunnels they’ve dug! B important

C quiet
4. After a couple of weeks, bid your slimy friends goodbye and set
them free in a garden area. D scary
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8 What You’ll Need

Large, clean glass jar

Gravel
Soil
Earthworms (dug from your yard or purchased from a local bait shop)
Dead leaves
Excerpt from “Worm Farm” by Staff Writer, from Spider. Copyright © 2015 by Carus Publishing Co.
Reprinted by permission of Carus Publishing Co. via Copyright Clearance Center.

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 Grade 3 English Language Arts Grade 3 English Language Arts

8. Fill in the bubble before the sentence that helps the reader 10. What information would you expect to find under the heading
understand the meaning of the word burrows in Passage 1. What You’ll Need in Passage 2?

A “Worms are nature’s recyclers. B It’s hard to tell by looking at them, A materials used to dig up worms
but earthworms have mouths, and they love to eat. C Earthworms eat
dead and decaying matter like leaves, grass, and even garbage. B materials used to clean a worm farm

D Earthworms eat the debris lying near the top of the ground, then C materials used to build a worm farm
they dig into the dirt making small tunnels.” (paragraph 2)
D materials used to add worms to a garden
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9. Which statement describes the author’s point of view in Passage 2?

11. Using information from Passage 2, fill in the bubbles to complete the
table by showing the order of the steps needed to make a worm farm.
A Earthworms are good to have as pets.

B Building an earthworm farm is hard work. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

C Keeping earthworms in a jar is dangerous. The earthworms leave the
A B C D
D Watching earthworms dig tunnels is interesting. worm farm.
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The worm farm goes into
E F G H
a dark place.

Food and water go into the

I J K L
worm farm.

Tunnels can be seen inside the

M N O P
worm farm.

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 Grade 3 English Language Arts Grade 3 English Language Arts

12. The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B
Part B.
Which details support the correct main idea in Part A? Fill in the
Part A bubbles before two answers.

What is a main idea in both passages?

A “Worms have a job to do, as do all of nature’s inhabitants.”
(paragraph 1)
A Earthworms are good at digging tunnels into the earth.
B “It’s hard to tell by looking at them, but earthworms have mouths,
B Earthworms do a job that is important to the environment. and they love to eat.” (paragraph 2)
C Earthworms are thought of as scary creatures by many people. C “In some places, like parts of New Zealand and the Netherlands,
D Earthworms can be found in New Zealand and the Netherlands. there can be as many as six million worms per acre.” (paragraph 4)

D “They change the dead material from plants and animals into
nutrients that help plants grow.” (paragraph 6)

E “After a couple of weeks, bid your slimy friends goodbye and set
them free in a garden area.” (paragraph 7)
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13. Fill in the bubbles to show which information about tunnels is found Writing Prompt
in each passage.
14. Write a multi-paragraph response that explains why earthworms are
important. Include information about how they help the Earth in your
Passage 1 Both Passage 2 response. Use information from both passages to support your
response.
Tunnels help soil to breathe. A B C
As you write your response, be sure to:
Tunnels help water soak into
D E F
the ground. • Review the passages

Tunnels make it easier for • Create clear, organized paragraphs

G H I
plants to grow. • Draw information from both passages
• Use evidence from the passages to support your points
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• Pay attention to the grammar, structure and mechanics of your
sentences

Be sure to include

• An introduction
• Information from the passages to support your explanation
• A conclusion

Write your multi-paragraph response on the lines provided on the

following pages.

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Do not write your answer here.

Go to the next page to write your answer.

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