Evidence Detectives Slides
Evidence Detectives
Collecting Text Evidence
Today's Mission
I can collect text evidence while reading a standardized test passage.
Think Like a Reader
The Detective's Toolkit
Notetaking
Writing down key thoughts and summaries.
Annotating
Adding symbols and labels to the text.
Underlining
Marking specific words and sentences.
Strategy: Notetaking
Write down important information while you read!
Try these methods:
- Write a quick summary
- Make a bulleted list of key details
- Draw a graphic organizer
Use your scratch paper or margins!
Strategy: Annotating
Talk to the text using symbols and notes!
How to annotate:
- Use symbols (✓, !, ?) for key details
- Label details in the margins
- Jot down the main idea of each section
!
Important Fact
?
I have a question
★
Main Idea
Strategy: Underlining
Mark the evidence that matters most!
Underline things like:
- Topic sentences in nonfiction
- Transition words or phrases
- Parts mentioned in the questions
CAUTION!
"Don't underline EVERYTHING. Only the parts you need to remember or used to answer a question."
Put it into Practice
We are going to read "Monarch Butterflies." As we read, try to find places to note-take, annotate, and underline.
Monarch Butterflies
Use the selection Monarch Butterflies to help you answer the questions below. Your goal for today is to focus on collecting text evidence. Try to use notetaking, annotating, or underlining to help you find and confirm your answer choices.
Monarch Butterflies
Passage Reading
1 Beautiful monarch butterflies migrate in the winter, much like birds and ocean life. To avoid the freezing winter, monarch butterflies head south and west. Monarchs rest in the eucalyptus trees in Pacific Grove in California. They also stay in the Oyamel Fir tree in Michoacan, Mexico. Once spring begins, these butterflies migrate back to the north.
2 When they return north, monarchs look for milkweed so they can lay their eggs. This phase of the monarch’s life cycle takes one to five days. Milkweed leaves are usually between three and nine inches long with a short, thick, red stem.
3 The next 10 to 14 days is when the eggs transform into larva and caterpillars. The monarch caterpillars hatch and eat their own shell. Then they move on the leaf and eat the milkweed.
Look for topic sentences to underline!
Monarch Butterflies
Passage Reading
4 The next phase in the monarch butterfly life cycle is the pupa and chrysalis phase. Typically, this lasts from 9 to 14 days. This is when the caterpillar attaches to a twig. Here it sheds its skins, leaving a soft shell called a chrysalis.
5 At first, the adult butterfly is folded and floppy with wet wings. It hangs upside down for about an hour as blood flows to the wings, and they dry and harden. Adult monarchs feed on nectar and search for mates.
6 Monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction due to pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides, and more. Less than ten percent of the eggs survive to adulthood. Maybe you can help by planting milkweed!
Which section would you annotate with a (!) ?
1
Finding Evidence: Vocabulary
What does the word "migrate" mean in paragraph 1?
A. live
B. travel
C. grow
D. develop
2
Finding Evidence: Organization
How is the article mainly organized?
A. cause and effect
B. description
C. problem and solution
D. sequence of events
3
Finding Evidence: Author's Purpose
What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?
A. To provide the reader with facts and details about monarchs.
B. To explain the migration patterns of monarch butterflies.
C. To describe the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.
D. To tell the reader where they can find monarch butterflies.
4
Finding Evidence: Direct Support
Which sentence best supports the idea that monarchs are in danger of extinction?
A. To avoid freezing winter, monarch butterflies head south and west. (para 1)
B. At first, the adult butterfly is folded and floppy with wet wings. (para 5)
C. Less than 10% of the eggs survive to adulthood. (para 6)
D. Maybe you can help, by planting milkweed at home. (para 6)
Strategy Debrief
"Strong readers collect evidence as they read. You can do the same thing even on a test."
Let's Discuss:
-
- What are some ways you plan on collecting evidence on the state test?
-
- Why is it important to collect evidence while you read?
-
- Which strategy do you find most helpful? Why?
Evidence Detectives Practice Worksheet
Evidence Detectives
Case File: Monarch Butterflies
Name:
Date:
Instructions:
Read the selection below. While you read, use your Evidence Detective skills: annotate with symbols, underline key details, and jot down notes in the margins.
Monarch Butterflies
1
Beautiful monarch butterflies migrate in the winter, much like birds and ocean life. To avoid the freezing winter, monarch butterflies head south and west. Monarchs rest in the eucalyptus trees in Pacific Grove in California. They also stay in the Oyamel Fir tree in Michoacan, Mexico. Once spring begins, these butterflies migrate back to the north.
2
When they return north, monarchs look for milkweed so they can lay their eggs. This phase of the monarch’s life cycle takes one to five days. Milkweed leaves are usually between three and nine inches long with a short, thick, red stem. The top of the leaf is smooth, but underneath the leaf, there is hair. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the underside of the milkweed leaves. Usually, monarchs lay only one egg on a leaf. Within two to five weeks, female monarchs can lay up to 500 eggs. The eggs are white or yellow and shaped like rice grains with ridges.
3
The next 10 to 14 days is when the eggs transform into larva and caterpillars. The monarch caterpillars hatch and eat their own shell. Then they move on the leaf and eat the milkweed. These caterpillars shed skin (molt) up to five times before they are full-grown. Each stage of growing and molting is called an instar. The caterpillar is full-grown in about 17 days.
4
The next phase in the monarch butterfly life cycle is the pupa and chrysalis phase. Typically, this lasts from 9 to 14 days. This is when the caterpillar attaches to a twig. Here it sheds its skins, leaving a soft shell called a chrysalis. The chrysalis hardens for approximately 8 days. Inside the chrysalis, the butterfly wings form. The chrysalis becomes transparent, and metamorphosis is complete. The adult butterfly emerges.
5
At first, the adult butterfly is folded and floppy with wet wings. It hangs upside down for about an hour as blood flows to the wings, and they dry and harden. Adult monarchs feed on nectar and search for mates. After about five days, the females are old enough to lay eggs. Males have a black dot on their hindwings. These dots are actually scent sacs which attract females for mating. Once monarchs mate, the entire cycle begins again.
6
Monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction due to pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides, and more. Less than ten percent of the eggs survive to adulthood. Maybe you can help by planting milkweed or raising some monarchs at home!
Evidence Detectives Answer Key Guide
Answer Key
Evidence Detectives / Teacher Guide
Lesson: Evidence Strategies
1. What does the word "migrate" mean in paragraph 1?
B
travel
2. How is the article mainly organized?
D
sequence of events
Teacher Note: Choice C (problem and solution) is a great distractor. In the last paragraph, the author mentions that monarchs are an endangered species and shares two ideas readers can do to help, but most of the article is organized in sequential order of the life cycle.
3. What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?
C
To describe the life cycle of the monarch butterfly.
Teacher Note: Choice A might be a distractor for students. They might be tempted NOT to pick answer C since the text isn't organized in a description text structure, but if they read the entire option, they will realize that it's the best choice.
4. Which sentence supports the idea that monarchs are in danger?
C
Less than 10% of the eggs survive to adulthood. (paragraph 6)
Instructional Support
Partner Practice
This activity works great in partners. Have students discuss the text and talk through which evidence is helpful to include vs. which might be a waste of time.
White Space Tip
Encourage students to use the margins and bottom space of the test booklet. Remind them it's not "art class"—sketches should be quick and functional.
