All About Grass

by Will McGovernby Will McGovern

All AboutGrassAll AboutGrass

1387974

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Online Leveled Books

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

Level: K

DRA: 20

Science

Strategy:Infer/Predict

Word Count: 522

3.2.8 Build Vocabulary

by Will McGovern

All AboutAll AboutGrassGrassAll AboutAll AboutGrassGrass

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: Cover: PictureNet/Corbis, Title Page: Image Plan/Corbis; 2-3 (b) PictureNet/Corbis; 5 Image Plan/Corbis.

All other photos Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers

Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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Printed in China

ISBN-10: 0-547-25292-7ISBN-13: 978-0-547-25292-6

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Why Is Grass Important?Grass is everywhere. It is under the

swings at the park. It is on the soccer fi eld. It is next to the sidewalk in the city. Grass is one of the most important plants on earth.

Many animals eat grass. People eat grains, like rice, which are a kind of grass.

Some kinds of grass, like bamboo, are used for building homes. Other kinds of grass keep soil safe from wind and rain.

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How Does Grass Grow?Grass is easy to grow. It grows from

seeds. The seeds need good soil to grow in. They need water every day. They need sunlight, too.

The roots of the grass grow down into the soil. The roots soak up the water. They gather the food they need to grow. They keep the grass held to the ground.

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4Where Can Grass Grow?Grass can grow in most places. It can

grow on a small patch of land or in a large fi eld. It can grow in a desert. It can grow next to a beach. It can grow on the top of a mountain.

Grass can grow next to a beach.


Grass Is a Source of FoodMany animals eat grass. Horses,

sheep, and cows eat grass. Many farmers plant grass to feed their animals.

Hay is tall, dry grass. Farmers cut hay in the fall. After the harvest, they separate the hay into stacks. They feed it to their animals in the winter.

Breakfast cereal is made from grain. Grain is another kind of grass. So if you think about it, people eat grass, too!

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6Grass Helps Keep Soil Safe Wind can blow soil away. Water can

wash soil away. Some kinds of grass can help to keep the soil in place. The roots of the grass hold the soil from below.

Have you ever seen grass on sand dunes at the beach? That grass helps to keep the sand from washing into the sea.

Grass keeps the sand on these dunes in place.


7Grass Makes Nice LawnsMany people grow grass in their

yards. Some are very serious about having a perfect green lawn.

They borrow books about grass from the library. They listen to advice from their friends. They try to get rid of weeds in the grass.

Flowers can add color next to a green lawn.


8Parks Are Full of Grass You can visit a park in many parts of

the world. You will see large fi elds of green grass.

People go to parks to relax and have fun.In some parks, signs give people a

warning. Keep off the grass! You should be ashamed to step on the grass!

But its hard for people and dogs to stay off of the grass at a park!

9Sports Are Played on Grass Many sports are played on grass.

Baseball is one. Golf is another. Football and soccer are both played on grass. Tennis is sometimes played on grass, too.

In some games, white lines are painted on the grass playing fi eld. The players must stay inside these white borders.

Many sports are played on grass.

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What do you like to do best on a fi eld of grass?


Responding TARGET VOCABULARY Word Builder Can

you give advice about how to grow grass? Maybe not! What can you give advice about? Copy this word web and add to it.

Text to Self Write a short paragraph. Tell what you like to do on grass. You may like playing a sports game or having a picnic. Give reasons to support what you say.

Write About It

riding a bike

advice

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adviceashamedbordersborrow

harvestpatch separateserious

TARGET VOCABULARY

TARGET STRATEGY Infer/Predict Use clues to figure out more about the selection.

Which word has another word in it that is the name of a food?


by Will McGovernby Will McGovern

All AboutGrassAll AboutGrass

1387974

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

Online Leveled Books

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

Level: K

DRA: 20

Science

Strategy:Infer/Predict

Word Count: 522

3.2.8 Build Vocabulary

Documents

All About Grass