4th grade nonfiction passage about mangrove trees: 183 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.
4th gradenonfictionmangrove trees183 words
Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts
Most trees would not survive with their roots in salty water, but mangroves do. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the sea comes and goes with the tide. Their tangled roots rise up and arch out of the mud like stilts, so the trunk stands above the water.
These roots are good at many jobs. Some of them hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air, which helps the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle the salt. Some push salt out through their leaves, and you may find white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above, and snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. The thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle, which keeps the shore from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests often depend on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
Questions
Where do mangroves grow? in the text
Why do the roots arch out of the mud like stilts? in the text
How do the roots that stick up into the air help the tree? in the text
How do some mangroves handle the salt? in the text
Why do young fish and crabs hide in the roots? think about it
How do mangroves keep a shore from washing away? think about it
Words to know
mangroves
trees that grow in salty water along warm coasts
shallows
places where the water is not deep
tangled
twisted together in a messy knot
nursery
a safe place where young plants or animals grow
Name ____________________________ Date ______________
Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts
4th grade reading passage
Most trees would not survive with their roots in salty water, but mangroves do. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the sea comes and goes with the tide. Their tangled roots rise up and arch out of the mud like stilts, so the trunk stands above the water.
These roots are good at many jobs. Some of them hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air, which helps the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle the salt. Some push salt out through their leaves, and you may find white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above, and snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. The thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle, which keeps the shore from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests often depend on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
Questions
Where do mangroves grow?
Why do the roots arch out of the mud like stilts?
How do the roots that stick up into the air help the tree?
How do some mangroves handle the salt?
Why do young fish and crabs hide in the roots?
How do mangroves keep a shore from washing away?
Words to know
mangroves: trees that grow in salty water along warm coasts
shallows: places where the water is not deep
tangled: twisted together in a messy knot
nursery: a safe place where young plants or animals grow
Free at teach.peabody.kids/passages/4/mangroves-trees-that-stand-on-stilts
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One passage, three levels
The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.
● Easier · 166 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.2
Most trees cannot live with roots in salty water, but mangroves can. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows. The sea comes and goes there with the tide. Their tangled roots rise and arch out of the mud like stilts. The trunk stands above the water.
The roots do many jobs. Some hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air. They help the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle salt. Some push salt out through their leaves. You may see white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs hide in the maze from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above. Snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. Thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle. This keeps the shore from washing away. People near mangroves often count on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
▲ This passage · 183 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 4
Most trees would not survive with their roots in salty water, but mangroves do. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the sea comes and goes with the tide. Their tangled roots rise up and arch out of the mud like stilts, so the trunk stands above the water.
These roots are good at many jobs. Some of them hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air, which helps the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle the salt. Some push salt out through their leaves, and you may find white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above, and snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. The thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle, which keeps the shore from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests often depend on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
■ Harder · 188 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.8
Most trees could not survive with their roots submerged in salty water, yet mangroves thrive in it. They grow along warm coastlines, in muddy shallows where the sea advances and retreats with the tide. Their tangled roots rise and arch out of the mud like stilts, lifting the trunk above the water.
These roots perform a remarkable number of tasks. Some of them anchor the tree firmly in the soft mud. Others project upward into the air, which helps the tree obtain the oxygen it requires, since mud provides very little. Many mangroves also cope with the salt. Some push it out through their leaves, and you may notice white crystals on the surface.
The roots form a sheltered nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from larger hunters. Birds build nests in the branches above, while snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also safeguard the land. The dense roots slow the waves and help mud settle, which prevents the shoreline from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests frequently depend on them for fish and for protection from storms.
Most trees cannot live with roots in salty water, but mangroves can. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows. The sea comes and goes there with the tide. Their tangled roots rise and arch out of the mud like stilts. The trunk stands above the water.
The roots do many jobs. Some hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air. They help the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle salt. Some push salt out through their leaves. You may see white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs hide in the maze from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above. Snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. Thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle. This keeps the shore from washing away. People near mangroves often count on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
Questions
Where do mangroves grow?
Why do the roots arch out of the mud like stilts?
How do the roots that stick up into the air help the tree?
How do some mangroves handle salt?
Why do young fish and crabs hide in the roots?
How do mangroves keep a shore from washing away?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________▲
Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts
Most trees would not survive with their roots in salty water, but mangroves do. They grow along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the sea comes and goes with the tide. Their tangled roots rise up and arch out of the mud like stilts, so the trunk stands above the water.
These roots are good at many jobs. Some of them hold the tree steady in soft mud. Others stick up into the air, which helps the tree get the air it needs, since mud has little to give. Many mangroves also handle the salt. Some push salt out through their leaves, and you may find white crystals on them.
The roots make a safe nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from bigger hunters. Birds nest in the branches above, and snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also protect the land. The thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle, which keeps the shore from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests often depend on them for fish and for shelter from storms.
Questions
Where do mangroves grow?
Why do the roots arch out of the mud like stilts?
How do the roots that stick up into the air help the tree?
How do some mangroves handle the salt?
Why do young fish and crabs hide in the roots?
How do mangroves keep a shore from washing away?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Name ____________________■
Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts
Most trees could not survive with their roots submerged in salty water, yet mangroves thrive in it. They grow along warm coastlines, in muddy shallows where the sea advances and retreats with the tide. Their tangled roots rise and arch out of the mud like stilts, lifting the trunk above the water.
These roots perform a remarkable number of tasks. Some of them anchor the tree firmly in the soft mud. Others project upward into the air, which helps the tree obtain the oxygen it requires, since mud provides very little. Many mangroves also cope with the salt. Some push it out through their leaves, and you may notice white crystals on the surface.
The roots form a sheltered nursery. Young fish and crabs slip into the maze and hide from larger hunters. Birds build nests in the branches above, while snails and oysters cling to the roots below.
Mangroves also safeguard the land. The dense roots slow the waves and help mud settle, which prevents the shoreline from washing away. People who live near mangrove forests frequently depend on them for fish and for protection from storms.
Questions
Where do mangroves grow?
Why do the roots arch out of the mud like stilts?
How do the roots that project into the air help the tree?
How do some mangroves cope with the salt?
Why do young fish and crabs hide among the roots?
How do mangroves prevent a shoreline from washing away?
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Answer key: Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts
● Easier (Flesch-Kincaid grade 2.2)
Along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the tide comes and goes.
So the trunk stands above the water.
They help it get the air it needs.
They push salt out through their leaves.
The maze hides them from bigger hunters.
Thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle.
▲ This passage (Flesch-Kincaid grade 4)
Along warm coasts, in muddy shallows where the tide comes and goes.
So the trunk stands above the water.
They help it get the air it needs.
They push salt out through their leaves.
The maze of roots hides them from bigger hunters.
Their thick roots slow down waves and help mud settle.
■ Harder (Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.8)
Along warm coastlines, in muddy shallows where the sea advances and retreats with the tide.
They lift the trunk above the water.
They help it obtain the air it requires.
They push it out through their leaves.
The maze of roots shelters them from larger hunters.
Their dense roots slow the waves and help mud settle.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
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Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.
Ideas for class
Before reading, put mangroves, shallows, tangled and nursery on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
Question 5 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.
What reading level is "Mangroves: Trees That Stand on Stilts"?
It was written for 4th grade. It has 183 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 4.0. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.
What do the questions ask?
There are six. 4 ask for something the text says directly and 2 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.
How long does it take to read?
About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.
Can I print it?
Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.
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