Introducing Jenna and Ranger White

Introducing Jenna and Ranger White Jenna White is a 15-year-old girl who loves to solve mysteries! Her dad, Ranger White, is a national park ranger. Jenna, her dad, and her twin brother Jacob are spending the summer traveling to national parks across the U.S. and Canada. As they are exploring each of the parks, mysterious events are occurring. A plane crashes, people are missing, animals are disappearing, a rainforest is being ruined, and who is dumping toxic waste? Join Jenna as she follows the clues and solves each mystery! Remedia Publications iii HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

TO THE TEACHER The short, high-interest reading passages in this book were written to capture the interest of readers who are not reading at grade level. The engaging mini mystery format encourages the reader to become a detective and solve the mystery they are reading along with the main character. The Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale was used to determine the approximate reading level for each story. Use your own judgment to determine if the story is at an appropriate reading level for your student. Since the story is high interest, there may be vocabulary that the student is not familiar with. On the Words to Know pages, we have featured these words along with their definitions and a sample sentence. In some cases, students may need extra help pronouncing the names of the people, places, or things in the story. Start with the Before You Read page. Take some time to discuss the Background Information with the student. This will help to set the scene for each mystery. A map skills activity can be added as students find where the story takes place on a map. What Do You Know and Make a Prediction are extra activities to enhance the learning process. Add a research element by asking students to use the Internet, an encyclopedia, atlas or other resource to find out more about the topic in the story or where the story takes place. After You Read engages students in the comprehension process of reading. These research-based activities follow state standards and incorporate some of the Best Practices in Reading. CONTENTS The Mystery of the Missing Ferrets (Reading Level 2.1 / Word Count 204)...1-5 The Mystery of the Missing Pilot (Reading Level 2.6 / Word Count 214)...6-10 The Mystery of the Stalactite Vandals (Reading Level 2.3 / Word Count 203)... 11-15 The Mystery of the Missing Brother (Reading Level 2.3 / Word Count 186)...16-20 The Mystery of the Cursed Wood (Reading Level 3.0 / Word Count 209)...21-25 The Mystery of the Lost Hiker (Reading Level 2.9 / Word Count 224)...26-30 The Mystery of the Ruined Rainforest (Reading Level 2.4 / Word Count 219)...31-35 The Mystery of the Cancelled Light Show (Reading Level 3.2 / Word Count 220)...36-40 The Mystery of the Toxic Waste Dump (Reading Level 3.4 / Word Count 224)...41-45 The Mystery of the Missing Artifact (Reading Level 2.4 / Word Count 200)...46-50 The Mystery of the Flying Boulder (Reading Level 2.9 / Word Count 206)...51-55 The Mystery of the Sick Manatees (Reading Level 2.1 / Word Count 221)...56-60 Answer Key... 61 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries ii Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Missing Artifact To Start Background Information Before You Read 1. Read about Jenna and Ranger White. 2. Read the title of the story. 3. Read the Background Information. 4. Get familiar with the Words to Know list. This story takes place at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. It is an archeological site that contains many, well-preserved Pueblo dwellings. The dwellings and other artifacts found in the park represent more than 700 years of history. One dwelling, called Cliff Palace, is the largest cliff dwelling in North America. What Do You Know? H Write something you already know about Pueblo Indians or Indian artifacts. Make a Prediction Using the information from the title, the Words to Know list, and the Background Information, write what you think might happen in this story. Then, read the story to find out if your prediction is correct. Remedia Publications 46 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Missing Artifact preserve artifact ancient culture dwellings Pueblo Words To Know to save from being destroyed or ruined Example: To preserve the ancient clay pot, it was kept in a vault. an old tool, weapon, pot, or other things made by people of the past Example: Artifacts help us understand how people of the past lived. having to do with times long ago; very old Example: You can see many ancient things in a history museum. the customs and beliefs of a group of people at a certain time Example: Ancient artifacts help preserve the culture of people from the past. places to live in Example: It is interesting to see the kinds of dwellings people lived in long ago. a tribe of Indians who live in the southwestern part of the United States Example: The Pueblos live together in peaceful villages. Choose two words from above and use each in a new sentence. 1. 2. HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 47 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Missing Artifact Dad! Something awful has happened. Someone stole an ancient clay pot. It s missing from the museum inside the Far View Visitor s Center! Jacob shouted. He was running toward his dad, Ranger White. Jacob s dad and sister, Jenna, were standing outside Cliff Palace. They were standing in front of a group of visitors. They were getting ready to take them on a tour through the ancient dwellings. Jacob stopped them just in time. Oh, no! That is terrible, Ranger White said. Those ancient artifacts help us preserve the Pueblo culture. We can never replace them. I know. I went to visit the museum. I saw that a clay pot was missing, Jacob said. But, I found a note. It has some sort of riddle inside. I tried to figure it out. But I don t know what it means. It says: I was taken from the place I belong. Now it s time to right a wrong. I will turn back the hands of the clock, And return this clay pot to the kingdom of rock. Don t worry, Jacob, Jenna said. I think we will be finding it on our tour. Think about it... Jenna knows where the clay pot is. Do you? Remedia Publications 48 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Missing Artifact Main Idea After You Read 1. The main idea of this story is: a. Thieves are good poets. b. Visitors enjoy the Cliff Palace. c. A clay pot is missing. Drawing Conclusions 2. How did Jenna know where the clay pot was? Analogy Sequence 3. ancient is to new as adult is to a. baby b. old c. man 4. Number the events in the order that they happened in the story. Jacob runs toward his dad. Jenna figured out where the clay pot was. Jacob read a riddle out loud. Reading for Details 5. What did Jacob find at the Visitor s Center? HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 49 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Missing Artifact Summarizing After You Read (continued) 6. Write two sentences to tell what happens in the story. Vocabulary 7. An old tool from the past is an. Fact or Opinion (Write F for fact, O for opinion) 8. The riddle is impossible to solve. Cause and Effect 9. Why was Jacob running and shouting to his dad? a. He was worried about the clay pot. b. He didn t want Jenna to go on the tour. c. He wanted to take a note into the Cliff Palace. Inference 10. Why did Jacob most likely go to the Visitor s Center? a. He was looking for a missing pot. b. He wanted to learn more about the park. c. He was looking for his father. Remedia Publications 50 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Flying Boulder To Start Before You Read 1. Read about Jenna and Ranger White. 2. Read the title of the story. 3. Read the Background Information. 4. Get familiar with the Words to Know list. Background Information This story takes place at Yellowstone National Park located in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Yellowstone contains several hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers. The most famous geyser is Old Faithful. All of these formations were created when a massive volcanic eruption took place long before humans came to the area. H What Do You Know? Write something you already know about Yellowstone National Park or geysers. Make a Prediction Using the information from the title, the Words to Know list, and the Background Information, write what you think might happen in this story. Then, read the story to find out if your prediction is correct. HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 51 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Flying Boulder boulder fumarole mudpots geyser hot springs erupting Words To Know a large rock Example: A huge boulder fell onto the highway and blocked traffic. a hole in the ground near a volcanic region from which steam, smoke, and hot gases escape Example: Seeing steam and smoke coming out of a fumarole is a strange sight. underground hot springs rise to the surface and mix with clay to make thick, bubbling mud Example: Mudpots are sometimes called paint pots when the mud is made colorful by various minerals. an underground hot spring that shoots up hot water and steam through a hole in the ground Example: Some geysers send water and steam as high as 300 feet in the air. water that is heated underground and comes to the surface as pools of hot or warm water Example: Sometimes people sit or lay in hot springs for medical reasons. bursting out or releasing suddenly with great force Example: When a geyser sends up its water and steam, it is said to be erupting. Choose two words from above and use each in a new sentence. 1. 2. Remedia Publications 52 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Flying Boulder Jenna and her dad, Ranger White, were walking through Yellowstone National Park. These fumaroles and hot springs are neat, she said. Wait until you see the mudpots. The geysers are great, too, said her dad. You ll be surprised when they shoot water. I am excited about seeing Old Faithful. I heard it is erupting every 55 minutes, Jenna said. It s not that great, said a nearby stranger. People should spend more time at the rest of the park. Maybe they would if they weren t always looking at Old Faithful. A few minutes passed. Then, Jenna and her dad were at Old Faithful. It should erupt again soon, said Jenna s dad. Great! We re just in time, Jenna said. A few minutes later, the geyser erupted. Strangely, a boulder flew out of the geyser, too. Many visitors had to run away. They were afraid of getting hurt. Why would someone put a boulder in Old Faithful? Jenna s dad asked. Someone was trying to plug it up. The water pressure is too strong, though. Jenna said. It pushed the boulder out when it erupted. Who would want to plug up Old Faithful? Jenna s dad asked. Think about it... Jenna knows who put the boulder in Old Faithful. Do you? HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 53 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Flying Boulder Main Idea After You Read 1. The main idea of the story is: a. Someone tried to plug up Old Faithful with a boulder. b. Yellowstone National Park has fumaroles. c. Many people enjoy visiting Old Faithful. Inference 2. Why does Jenna think the nearby stranger knows about the boulder? Vocabulary 3. A hot spring that throws water into the air is a. a. fumarole b. mudpot c. geyser Fact or Opinion (Write F for fact, O for opinion) 4. People should spend time visiting all of Yellowstone National Park. 5. It is surprising to see Old Faithful shoot water. Remedia Publications 54 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Flying Boulder Summarizing After You Read (continued) 6. Use two sentences to tell what happens in the story. Reading for Details 7. How often is Old Faithful erupting during Jenna s visit? a. every 55 minutes b. every two hours c. every other day Drawing Conclusions Analogy 8. Old Faithful erupts a. more than 10 times a day b. every half hour c. less than 10 times a day 9. fumarole is to hot as snow is to a. white b. water c. cold Predicting Outcomes 10. Do you think people will most likely stop visiting Old Faithful because they will be afraid of flying boulders? Why or why not? HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 55 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Sick Manatees To Start Background Information Before You Read 1. Read about Jenna and Ranger White. 2. Read the title of the story. 3. Read the Background Information. 4. Get familiar with the Words to Know list. This story takes place at Biscayne National Park, located in the upper Florida Keys, which are islands off the southern tip of Florida. The park includes narrow islands that have many tropical plants and rare birds. It has a beautiful, living coral reef that is popular with divers. H What Do You Know? Write something you already know about manatees or the Florida Keys. Make a Prediction Using the information from the title, the Words to Know list, and the Background Information, write what you think might happen in this story. Then, read the story to find out if your prediction is correct. Remedia Publications 56 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Sick Manatees manatee Words To Know a large water mammal that has two front flippers and a broad, flat, rounded tail and lives in shallow tropical waters Example: The average adult manatee weighs 1500 to 1800 pounds and measures 10 to 12 feet in length. scuba diving swimming underwater with the help of a special breathing tank filled with oxygen Example: People like to go scuba diving to see the different kinds of fish in the water. coral reef a hard, stony formation, found in the sea, that is made from the skeletons of tiny sea animals Example: A coral reef is often yellowish-pink or reddish-orange in color. concerned to be worried or troubled Example: She had a concerned expression on her face. Choose two words from above and use each in a new sentence. 1. 2. HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 57 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Sick Manatees I can t wait to jump in that water, Jenna said to her dad, Ranger White. Me, either, said her dad. Make sure your scuba gear is on right. I m ready whenever you are, said Jenna. With that, they both sat on the side of the boat. They counted to three, and then dropped off backwards into the warm water. Jenna and her dad were scuba diving at Biscayne National Park. They swam together next to the coral reef. Many fish were swimming around the reef, too. Jenna was worried when she saw the manatees, though. They seemed sick. When she got closer to them, she saw they had small cuts on their bodies. Jenna signaled to her dad to go back to the surface. What s wrong? her dad asked. Did you see the manatees? Jenna asked. She was concerned. Yeah, her dad said. What could be causing them to get hurt? I don t know. We need to find out soon, though. Otherwise, they may start to die, Jenna said. Just then, a large fishing boat pulled up to the dock. The fishermen started pulling in their fishing nets. The nets had been dragging behind the boat. I think I know what is cutting the manatees, dad, said Jenna. Think about it... Jenna knows how the manatees are getting hurt. Do you? Remedia Publications 58 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Sick Manatees Main Idea After You Read Inference 1. The main idea of the story is: a. Fishermen enjoy their job. b. National parks have fishing laws. c. Something was making the manatees sick. 2. How did Jenna know the fishermen were hurting the manatees? Reading for Details Analogy Sequence 3. What did Jenna notice on the bodies of the manatees? a. seaweed b. coral reefs c. cuts 4. sick is to well as happy is to 5. Number the events in the order they happened in the story Jenna and her dad dropped off the boat. The fishermen pulled fishing nets behind the boat. Jenna noticed the manatees were sick. HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 59 Remedia Publications

The Mystery of the Sick Manatees Vocabulary After You Read (continued) 6. What word in the story is the opposite of forwards? Fact or Opinion (Write F for fact, O for opinion) 7. The fishermen didn t like the manatees. Drawing Conclusions 8. The manatees were sick because: a. they were hurt b. they were hungry c. they were not getting sleep Cause and Effect 9. Why did Jenna signal for her dad to go back to the surface? a. She was ready to eat lunch. b. She was worried about the manatees. c. She was scared of being under water. Summarizing 10. Write two sentences to tell what happens in the story. Remedia Publications 60 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries

The Mystery of the Missing Ferrets Page 4 Page 5 1. Someone is taking the 6. c black-footed ferrets. 7. free 2. Ranger Smith had a new car, 8. new red sports car gold watch, diamond ring - 9. F he was selling the ferrets to 10. b get extra money. 3. b 4. student 5. a The Mystery of the Missing Pilot Page 9 Page 10 1. b 6. The can tipped over and 2. She followed the yellow opened during the plane crash. spots from the spilled paint 7. driver into the rainforest. 8. answers will vary 3. b 9. searching 4. 3, 1, 2 10. answers will vary 5. an extra pair of clothes The Mystery of the Stalactite Vandals Page 14 Page 15 1. c 6. O 2. She knew spray paint had 7. F been used. She had blue paint 8. c on her fingers. 9. 2, 1, 3 3. c 10. awful 4. b 5. blue The Mystery of the Missing Brother Page 19 Page 20 1. c 6. Kilauea 2. Playing with her video game. 7. glad 3. missing 8. He thought he might get 4. a caught in the lava. 5. 3, 1, 2 9. a 10. answers will vary The Mystery of the Cursed Wood Page 24 Page 25 1. c 6. letters 2. He has been having bad luck. 7. 1, 3, 2 3. F 8. a 4. F 9. a 5. c 10. answers will vary ANSWER KEY The Mystery of the Ruined Rainforest Page 34 Page 35 1. b 6. b 2. The one who was dirty and 7. b dusty and carried a large 8. a backpack. 9. protected 3. F 10. answers will vary 4. F 5. c The Mystery of the Cancelled Light Show Page 39 Page 40 1. c 6. O 2. She saw a man walk past 7. answers will vary with a pocket knife. 8. b 3. b 9. 1, 3, 2 4. Falls Illumination 10. answers will vary 5. a The Mystery of the Toxic Waste Dump Page 44 Page 45 1. c 6. a 2. He is dumping toxic waste. 7. spectacular 3. O 8. answers will vary 4. F 9. 1, 2, 3 5. ten 10. answers will vary The Mystery of the Missing Artifact Page 49 Page 50 1. c 6. answers will vary 2. From the last line in the riddle: 7. artifact And return this clay pot to the 8. O kingdom of rock. 9. a 3. a 10. b 4. 1, 3, 2 5. A note with a riddle. The Mystery of the Ruined Rainforest Page 54 Page 55 1. a 6. answers will vary 2. Because he thinks people 7. a should spend more time in 8. a other parts of the park. 9. c 3. c 10. answers will vary 4. O 5. O The Mystery of the Lost Hiker Page 29 Page 30 1. A hiker is missing. 6. b 2. a 7. O 3. 3, 1, 2 8. b 4. a 9. answers will vary 5. jeans 10. answers will vary The Mystery of the Sick Manatees Page 59 Page 60 1. c 6. backwards 2. Their nets had been dragging 7. O behind their boats. 8. a 3. c 9. b 4. sad 10. answers will vary 5. 1, 3, 2 HIGH-INTEREST Mini Mysteries 61 Remedia Publications