This reading isn’t long, but is full of complex vocabulary that will more than likely be unfamiliar to students.

Vocabulary List (15 words):

Chirped: Birds make happy, short sounds.

Content: Feeling pleased and happy with what you have.

Dawn: The very beginning of the day, when the sun first appears.

Glimmered: Shone faintly or unsteadily.

Gnarled: Twisted, knobby, and rough, especially with age.

Lush: Growing thickly and strongly, with a lot of leaves.

Meandered: Moved slowly and without a clear direction.

Menacing: Suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.

Murmured: Spoke in a low, soft voice that is hard to hear.

Perched: Sat on a high or narrow place.

Resolve: Firm determination to do something.

Scampered: To run quickly with light steps.

Vast: Very great in size or amount.

Venture: To go on a dangerous or exciting journey.

Wandered: Walked slowly without a specific destination.

Here is a Vocabulary practice worksheet! Write the vocab word, and use it in a sentence that is 6+ words. This can be brought to me for review.

Bobo the Bear’s Perilous Discovery

At dawn, little bear Bobo woke up with a jolt! A strange, soft light was pulsing from outside his window. It wasn’t the warm, friendly sun. This light felt… wrong. His heart thumped a little faster, a tiny drum in his chest. He had to see what it was! He quickly got dressed, his sleepy yawns replaced by a growing sense of urgent curiosity.

Bobo crept to the kitchen, his paws silent on the wooden floor. His mom was still asleep, a gentle snore filling the quiet room. He grabbed a quick, delicious berry cookie, barely tasting it. “This calls for an adventure breakfast!” he thought, crunching quickly. He carefully opened the back door, the mysterious light pulling him forward into the cool morning air.

The forest was still draped in shadows, but the strange light seemed to call to him, brighter now. He followed a small, hidden path that meandered deeper into the lush trees. The light grew stronger with every step, making the dewy leaves glimmer with an unnatural glow. This was no ordinary morning walk; it felt like he was walking into a dream, or perhaps a secret that wasn’t meant to be found.

Suddenly, the path opened into a clearing. In the center, stood an enormous ancient tree, much bigger and older than any he had ever seen. Its branches twisted like gnarled, shadowy arms. The strange, pulsing light was coming from a tiny, almost hidden hole at the very base of this giant tree! Bobo felt a chilling mix of wonder and a strange sense of fear. What dark magic was inside?

He bravely peeked into the hole. Inside, a beautiful, sparkling crystal glimmered with a powerful, rhythmic pulse. It filled the air with a strange hum, making the small hairs on Bobo’s neck stand up. He reached out a paw, drawn by its magic, but just as his paw almost touched it, a shadowy form moved swiftly across the hole.

A small, brown owl was perched on a branch directly above the hole, its large, unblinking eyes fixed on Bobo. “Whoo… whoo… Little bear, you should not be here,” the owl murmured softly, its voice like dry leaves scraping together. “That crystal holds a great power, and a great, terrible warning.” Bobo froze, his paw still in the air. He hadn’t seen the owl come!

“A warning?” Bobo whispered back, his voice barely audible. “What kind of warning?” The owl dipped its head slowly. “The crystal shows the forest’s true heart. It protects us. But if you touch it without respect, it will show you what happens when that heart breaks. It shows the future if we are not careful.” A shiver of dread ran down Bobo’s spine.

Bobo felt a surge of curiosity mixed with fear. What did the owl mean by a “broken heart”? And a future warning? He looked at the crystal again. It seemed to pulse faster, as if impatient. He knew he had to understand. This wasn’t just about a pretty light; it felt like the fate of the forest rested on his small paws.

He tried to reach the crystal again, his paw trembling with anticipation. But just then, thick, thorny vines burst out from around the hole, twisting and growing, forming a menacing barrier! They were sharp, dark, and seemed to grasp at the air. “Oh no!” Bobo cried, pulling his paw back sharply. “How can I get through this?” The owl hooted, a sad, knowing sound. “Only a promise from a truly caring heart can make the thorns yield.”

Bobo thought hard, his mind racing. He remembered his mom always saying, “Nature gives us everything. We must give it care, or it will fade.” He looked at the angry, dark vines. “Please move, beautiful vines,” he spoke, his voice clear and true, filled with a sudden, strong resolve. “I promise, I will always care for our forest. I will protect its trees and rivers. I will make sure its heart stays strong and healthy!”

To his astonishment, the thorny vines slowly, painfully, began to pull back, but as they did, a horrifying vision swirled inside the crystal. He saw the beautiful, lush forest he knew, but then, like a terrible, fast-forwarded nightmare, the trees withered, their leaves falling like ash. The rivers dried up, turning to cracked earth. The animals looked sad, thin, and slowly disappeared. It was a forest dying, empty and silent, because no one had cared. Bobo gasped, tears forming in his eyes. The vision then changed, showing the forest vibrant and alive, full of song and laughter, as long as it was loved. He understood. He gently touched the crystal, a deep sense of responsibility washing over him. He knew his journey had changed him forever.

With the forest’s secret truly understood and the dire warning seen, the light from the crystal shone one last, brilliant time, then softly faded back to a gentle glimmer. Bobo turned to thank the owl, but it had silently wandered away into the vast expanse of the forest, its message delivered. The forest felt heavy, yet full of purpose. Bobo knew his mission now. As the sun began to set, painting the sky with colors, he headed home, carrying the weight and wonder of the forest’s future in his heart. Back in his comfortable bed, he felt content not just with a discovery, but with a promise made. He closed his eyes, already dreaming of how he would protect his beloved, magical forest from the silent, terrible threat of neglect.

Here are comprehension questions for the reading, including some open-ended ones: