Non-fiction: Ants in Action
Ants in Action
An Ant’s Life
Welcome to the world of ants.
Ants are busy insects. They live and work together in groups called
colonies. Millions of ants can live in one colony! Each colony has at least
one queen. The queen lays eggs. The other ants have work to do. Here are
just a few of their jobs.
Worker Ants
Most ants live in underground nests. Worker ants dig the nests using their
jaws. They take the extra dirt outside. That dirt forms an anthill above the
nest.
Graphic Science/Alamy
Each nest has many rooms. They are connected by tunnels. Some rooms are
places to rest. Other rooms are used to take care of the young ants. Food is
stored in some rooms.
Scout Ants
Some ants are scout ants. They hunt for food. When a scout ant finds food,
it goes back to the nest. The ant leaves a scent trail along the way. Other
ants follow the trail to find the food. They carry the food back to the nest
and share it with the colony.
Ants eat different foods. Many ants eat seeds and fruits. Other ants eat
insects. Some ants even eat small animals.
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Non-fiction: Ants in Action
Soldier Ants
Some ants are soldiers. Their job is to protect the nest. They stand near the
nest’s entrance and guard it. They fight off enemy insects that try to enter
the nest.
Graphic Science/Alamy
Some soldier ants have large heads. They use their heads to block the
entrances to the nest.
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®
© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Article: Copyright © 2010 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved.
Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation.
Used by permission.
Questions: Ants in Action Name: ____________________________
Date: ________________
Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information
in the passage.
1. Which type of ant lays eggs?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. What is the job of soldier ants?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. Based on the information in the passage, would a very large nest have
a large or small anthill above it?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is this passage mostly about?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Questions: Ants in Action Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or
phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided
for you.
When they find food, scout ants leave a scent trail for other ants to follow.
What? scout ants
5. (do) What?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. When?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
7. Why?
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
____________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Questions: Ants in Action 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that
best completes the sentence.
Some ants eat seeds and fruits, _______ others eat small animals.
A but
B because
C so
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer
questions 9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: store (store): to put away for later use; a place where
you go to buy things.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word store.
a. A cookie jar is used to store extra cookies so that they won’t go stale.
b. I have to go to the grocery store to buy milk and eggs.
c. I store all of my extra pencils in my desk drawer.
d. In the back of the pizzeria, the chefs store many bags of flour to make
the pizza dough.
e. Some foods must be stored in a refrigerator because they need to be
kept cold.
10. Which picture shows something that can be used to store things?
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Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Ants in Action Teacher Guide and Answer Key
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 450
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a
concept or topic
Passage Summary: “Ants in Action” describes how ants live and work together in a
colony. The writer describes the jobs of the queen ants, the worker ants, the scout ants,
and the soldier ants.
To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show
the passage on a whiteboard or give students a copy of the passage so that they can
follow along].
Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to
ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage.
Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can
use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary].
1. Which type of ant lays eggs? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The queen ant lays eggs. [paragraph 1]
2. What is the job of soldier ants? [Important Detail]
Suggested answer: The soldier ants’ job is to protect the nest. [paragraph 6]
3. Based on the information in the passage, would a very large nest have a large or
small anthill above it? [Inferential]
Suggested answer: It would have a large anthill above it because the anthill is
made of the extra dirt from the nest. A bigger nest would have more dirt removed
from it than a small one. [paragraph 2]
4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea]
Suggested answer: The passage is mostly about how ants live and their different
jobs in a colony.
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Ants in Action Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best
answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you.
When they find food, scout ants leave a scent trail for other ants to follow.
What? scout ants
5. (do) What? leave a scent trail
6. When? when they find food
7. Why? for other ants to follow
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Some ants eat seeds and fruits, _______ others eat small animals.
A but
B because
C so
To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the
whole class out loud using the four steps listed below.
Vocabulary Word: store (store): to put away for later use; a place where you go to buy
things.
Step 1: Introduce the word
a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (store)
b. Teacher says: “This word is store. What is the word?” [All students reply together
out loud: “store.”]
Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition
a. Teacher says: “Store means to put away for later use. A store is also a place
where you go to buy things.”
b. Teacher says: “The passage says that each room in a nest is used for something
different. Some of the rooms are used to keep food, or store it, for when the ants
need it later.”
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© 2012 ReadWorks , Inc. All rights reserved.
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Ants in Action c. Teacher says: “What is the word?” [All students reply together out loud: “store.”]
Step 3: Practice the word
Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the
first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to
the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish
reading the sentence out loud to your students.
Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9
and 10.
Vocabulary Word: store (store): to put away for later use; a place where you go to buy
things.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word store.
a. A cookie jar is used to store extra cookies so that they won’t go stale.
b. I have to go to the grocery store to buy milk and eggs.
c. I store all of my extra pencils in my desk drawer.
d. In the back of the pizzeria, the chefs store many bags of flour to make the pizza
dough.
e. Some foods must be stored in a refrigerator because they need to be kept cold.
Step 4: Check for student understanding
To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an
independent practice.
10. Which picture shows something that can be used to store things?
Suggested Additional Vocabulary: insect, colonies, connect, scent, protect, guard
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