FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME! Sample 1-Page Informational Text Passage - "Octo-Defense" & 1-Page Task Targeted to Summarizing Central Ideas

Middle Grades ELA Teachers: For a limited time, in an effort to introduce you to a product I am very proud of and want to share with all you middle grades ELA teachers, I am offering a free sample 1-page interesting informational text passage called "Octo-Defense" that is paired with an engaging 1-page task to organize central ideas. It comes from my book of High-Interest Informational Text Passages & Tasks shown below. The book is perfect for middle schoolers who are reluctant to read any more boring passages!

The passages are NON-BORING!!! They have been tried and tested on middle schoolers who are starting to think everything is boring!

They are all 1-page long and represent a variety of authentic text types.

Authentic Text Types Include: "blog" post, medical advice & arguments from 4 doctors as if on WebMD, literary nonfiction by Jack London as a reporter, science article, short science video on same topic, steps of the movie-making process, a tricky web page that tests their eye for "fake news," comparison of Japanese and American middle schools, and analysis of the scientific procedure used in the Pavlov's Dogs psychological study.

Engaging Activities Aligned to 10 Reading Informational Text Standards: Cite Text (RI.1), Summarize Central Ideas (RI.2), Analyze Interactions Between Individuals, Events, & Ideas (RI.3), Determine Word & Phrase Meanings (RI.4), Analyze Text Structure (RI.5), Analyze Author's Purpose & Point of View (RI.6), Compare Print to Multimedia Version (RI.7), Trace the Argument & Distinguish Claims (RI.8), Analyze How Authors Shape Their Presentations Differently (RI.9), Comprehend Literary Nonfiction (RI.10).

They  PRACTICE ALL 10 READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARDS SKILLS. STUDENTS KEEP REPORTING HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE TEXTS!!! TRY BOTH VOLUMES:

Free-for-a-Limited-Time Sample Passage & Summarizing Task:

"Octo-Defense"

by Loving Language Arts

          Animals rely on their defense mechanisms to avoid getting eaten by predators. One animal that has mastered the art and science of defending itself is the common octopus. The common octopus uses a wide array of advanced defensive techniques to avoid or escape from its would-be attackers.

          First of all, the octopus can hide in plain sight. Within an instant, it can match the colors, patterns, and textures of its surroundings. Predators such as dolphins, eels, and sharks swim by without even noticing them! It is quite astounding.

Free Image from Wikimedia

          If it does get discovered, the octopus can release a chemical concoction of black ink that not only makes it hard for the predator to see but also hard for the predator to smell.

          When the octopus needs to make a speedy getaway, it can jet forward by pushing water out from its mantles (the muscly area behind its bulbous head that protects its organs and serves as a funnel for water). It can actually reach speeds of up to 25 mph!

          Looking at the common octopus, with its massive bulbous head and big long arms, you wouldn’t expect it to be able to squeeze into impossibly small cracks and crevices. But it can! Squeezing into spaces more narrow than itself is its specialty!

          As you know, the octopus has eight arms. These arms are very strong and flexible with an unlimited range of motion. The octopus can bend its powerful arms any which way to grasp another animal. Its suckers help it hang on. If a predator does happen to grasp one of its arms, the octopus can lose its arm and regrow it later!

Public Domain/Wikimedia

          The octopus has quite a set of jaws! It can use its beaklike jaws to deliver a nasty bite. What makes it worse is that it can also deliver its venomous saliva at the same time in order to subdue its predator. This predator might be an eel, a seal, a barracuda, or some other hungry swimmer.

          When the octopus itself is the predator, it feeds on animals such as crabs, crayfish, and mollusks. Its strong jaws help it break past the thick shells of its favorite foods.

          Speaking of favorite foods, many people consider the octopus a delicious delicacy. No wonder the common octopus has to work so hard not to get caught!

"Octo-Defense" Task (Option 1):

Summarizing Central Ideas
(Note: Answer Key at end of post)

Task Option 1: Summarize Central Ideas

In the text, the author describes six different defense mechanisms that the common octopus uses to defend itself from predators. In each of the spaces below, write one to two sentences in your own words to summarize each of the defenses a common octopus uses.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

(OR, HERE IS ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE SAME TASK USING A FUN

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER INSTEAD):

"Octo-Defense" Task (Option 2):
Summarizing Central Ideas
(Note: Answer Key at end of post)

Task Option 2: Summarize Central Ideas

In the text, the author describes six different defense mechanisms that the common octopus uses to defend itself from predators. From the list of Animal Defense Mechanisms below, choose the 6 defense mechanisms that were highlighted in the text -- and write one in each of the arms.

Animal Defense Mechanisms: (Choose 6 and fill 1 in each arm.)
It hides in plain sight.
It lives underground.
It ejects a chemical that mimics food.
It releases chemicals making it hard to see & smell.
It gets away quickly.
It makes a loud, alarming noise.
It plays dead.
It squeezes into tiny spaces.
It jabs its attacker with short, barbed spines on its skin.
It bends & grasps with arms.
It bites.
It moves toward the center of the herd.

If you and your students liked this passage and task, you and your students will surely like the whole collection of High-Interest Informational Text Passages & Tasks. There is a SUPER INTERESTING passage for every task that is aligned to each of the 10 Reading Informational Text Standards (Common Core & More).

CONTENTS:

Text #1: “8 Differences Between Japanese and American Middle School” (Blog Post)
Task #1: Read Closely and Cite Textual Evidence
Aligned to: CCSS RI.1

Text #2: "Octo-Defense”
Task #2: Summarize Central Ideas 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.2, CCSS RST.6-8.2

Text #3: “Pavlov’s Dogs” 
Task #3: Analyze Interactions (among individuals, events, or ideas in a text)
Aligned to: CCSS RI.3, CCSS RI.7.3, CCSS RST.6-8.(NOTE: Student Summarizes Scientific Procedure)

Text #4: “Brain Freeze” 
Task #4: Determine Word & Phrase Meanings 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.4, CCSS RST.6-8.4

Text #5: “Moviemaking Magic” 
Task #5: Analyze Text Structure 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.5, CCSS RH.6-8.5

Text #6: “Beware of the Endangered Tree Octopus” 
Task #6: Analyze Author’s Purpose & Point of View
Aligned to: CCSS RI.6

Text #7: Use “Brain Freeze”
Task #7: Compare Print to Multimedia Version 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.7,CCSS RI.7.7

Text #8: “Do This to Fall Asleep” 
Task #8A: Trace the Argument and Distinguish Claims 
Task #8B: Distinguish Among Facts, Reasoned Judgment Based on Research Findings, & Speculation in a Text
Aligned to: CCSS RI.8, CCSS RST.6-8.8

Text #9: Use “Do This to Fall Asleep” 
Task #9: How Authors Shape Presentations Differently 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.7.9

Text #10: “The Story of an Eyewitness” (excerpt) by Jack London
Task #10: Comprehend Literary Nonfiction 
Aligned to: CCSS RI.6-8.10, CCSS RH.6-8.10

"Octo-Defense" Answer Key:

Task Option 1 

1. The octopus can hide by matching the colors, patterns, and textures of its surroundings. 
2. The octopus can release a chemical concoction of black ink that makes it hard for the predator to see and smell.
3. The octopus can jet forward by pushing water out from its mantles and reach speeds of up to 25 mph.
4. The octopus can squeeze into very small cracks and crevices. It can squeeze into spaces more narrow than itself.
5. The octopus uses its very strong and flexible arms with an unlimited range of motion to grasp another animal or divert its attention. It uses its suckers to help it hang on. The octopus can lose its arm and regrow it later if it needs to sacrifice an arm for the cause.
6. The octopus uses its beaklike jaws to deliver a nasty bite. It can subdue its predator with its venomous saliva. 

Task Option 2