Grade 2 Read-Aloud

98 Cycles in Nature:Supplemental Guide 5A | The Life Cycle of a Tree

 Show image 5A-8: Tree destruction

The length of a tree’s life depends on many things. It will always

depend on the tree having enough sunshine and water, but other

factors can affect its growth and lifespan, too. The condition of

the soil in which the tree is growing, and diseases such as insect

infestations and bacteria, can alter the natural lifespan of a tree.^12

Accidents such as fi res and natural disasters such as hurricanes

and fl oods can have an effect too. Also, people cut trees down so

that they can be used to make a variety of products.

When a tree lives for a long time and then dies, it is not totally

at the end of its journey. Decomposers, like earthworms, bacteria,

and fungi, take over the dead tree.^13 Through the decomposition

process, they help to slowly break down the tree into a rich

nutrient that feeds the soil and enables new tree seeds to grow.

 Show image 5A-9: Life Cycle of an Apple Tree

And there you have it, the life cycle of a tree.

Discussing the Read-Aloud 15 minutes

Comprehension Questions 10 minutes

If students have diffi culty responding to questions, reread

pertinent passages of the read-aloud and/or refer to specifi c

images. If students give one-word answers and/or fail to use

read-aloud or domain vocabulary in their responses, acknowledge

correct responses by expanding students’ responses using richer

and more complex language. Ask students to answer in complete

sentences by having them restate the question in their responses.

1. Literal What is the main topic of the read-aloud? (The main
   topic of the read-aloud is the life cycle of a tree.)


2. Literal What are several things that make trees an important
   part of life on earth? (Trees provide us with oxygen; trees
   help to clean up the soil by absorbing or changing harmful
   chemicals; trees take in carbon dioxide and therefore help to
   manage Earth’s climate; trees help to fi ght soil erosion; trees
   are used in the manufacture of many things; etc.)

12 An infestation occurs when a large
number of something harmful
enters an area.

13 Fungi are living things such as
molds, mushrooms, and yeasts that
live on dead or decaying things.