Arctic Armor Worksheet Case File: Arctic Armor
Classification: Animal Adaptations // RI.3.2
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Evidence Item #1
The Fox of the Frozen North
The Arctic is a very cold place with lots of snow and ice. To stay alive there, the Arctic fox has a very special body. This animal is a master of staying warm and hiding from danger.
One way the fox stays warm is with its thick, fluffy fur. This fur is the warmest of any animal in the world! It acts like a heavy winter coat that covers its whole body, even the bottoms of its paws. The fox also has small, round ears. Small ears are better than big ones because they don't let much heat escape from the fox’s body.
The Arctic fox also uses its fur to hide. In the winter, its fur is bright white. This helps the fox blend in with the white snow. Predators like polar bears cannot see it easily. When the snow melts in the summer, the fox’s fur turns brown or gray to match the rocks and dirt. Its changing colors help it stay safe all year long.
Step 1: The Big Picture
What is the main idea of the entire passage? Write it in the box below.
Step 2: Supporting Evidence
Find three specific details from the text that support your main idea.
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Secret Signals Worksheet Case File: Secret Signals
Classification: American Revolution // RI.3.2
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Evidence Item #2
The Spy with the Laundry
Long ago, during the American Revolution, the American colonists were fighting for their freedom. It was a dangerous time. To win the war, George Washington and his soldiers needed to share secrets without the British army finding out.
One clever way they shared secrets was by using "invisible ink." Spies would write notes using lemon juice or milk. When the paper dried, the words disappeared! To read the message, the person receiving it would hold the paper over a warm candle. The heat made the secret words turn brown so they could be read.
Another group of spies used a clothesline to send codes. A woman named Anna Smith Strong lived near the water. She would hang her laundry in a special order to send messages to American soldiers across the bay. For example, a black handkerchief might mean that a spy was ready to meet. The soldiers would look through their telescopes to see her laundry "code" from far away.
Step 1: The Main Message
What is the main idea of this passage? What is it mostly about?
Step 2: Hidden Details
List three details from the text that explain how people sent secrets.
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Main Idea Detectives Answer Key Answer Key: Main Idea Detectives
RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details // Grade 3
Case #1
Arctic Armor
Main Idea (Sample Response)
The Arctic fox has special adaptations, like thick fur and changing colors, that help it survive in the freezing cold Arctic.
Key Details (Possible Answers)
It has thick, fluffy fur that is the warmest in the world.
It has small, round ears to keep heat from escaping.
In winter, its white fur helps it blend into the snow.
In summer, its fur turns brown or gray to match rocks.
The fur even covers the bottoms of its paws.
Case #2
Secret Signals
Main Idea (Sample Response)
During the American Revolution, soldiers and spies used clever methods like invisible ink and codes to share secrets.
Key Details (Possible Answers)
Spies used invisible ink made from lemon juice or milk.
Messages were read by heating the paper over a candle.
Anna Smith Strong hung laundry in special codes.
A black handkerchief meant a spy was ready to meet.
Soldiers used telescopes to see secret laundry signals.
