Maple Street Comparison Assessment
CASE FILE #505 • DUAL-TEXT CFU • ARIZONA 3.RL.9
Name:
Date:
Two Maple Street Adventures
Comparing Series Stories by Megan Rossi • Grade 3 Reading & Evidence
Arizona Standard 3.RL.9 Focus:
Compare & contrast how the author uses settings, plots, and character actions across two series stories.
TEXT 1
The Backyard Circus
from Leo and Ella Take the Stage
¶ 1 Leo stood on an old wooden picnic bench in the backyard. "Every big circus needs three things," he told Ella, waving a cardboard megaphone. "A red curtain, funny clown acts, and one wild animal."
¶ 2 Ella brushed dry leaves off the wooden table with a cloth. "We also need tickets," she added. "If we want to win the Block Party Gold Ribbon on Saturday, our show has to be amazing. We can train Barnaby the cat to jump through a yellow hula hoop."
¶ 3 "Exactly," Leo said, grinning. "We will charge ten cents for front-row grass seats. By Saturday afternoon, the whole street will come cheer for our circus."
¶ 4 Just then, Leo's older brother, Dylan, leaned over the backyard wooden fence. "You two couldn't train a goldfish to swim," he sneered. "Nobody is going to pay money to watch a lazy cat take a nap."
¶ 5 Leo crossed his arms and looked Dylan right in the eye. "We aren't quitting, Dylan. We have colorful costumes and a brave tiger act. Now step back—our first rehearsal starts right now!"
Text 1 Setting: Backyard lawn & wooden picnic bench
Text 1 Goal: Perform a pet circus to win the Block Party Gold Ribbon
TEXT 2
The Monster Cookie Stand
from Sweet Treats on Maple Street
¶ 1 Leo marched out to the front porch steps carrying a blue mixing bowl. "We need fifteen dollars," he told Ella. "Fifteen dollars buys the giant Mega-Splash water slide at the toy shop. And the fastest way to get that cash is by selling monster cookies."
¶ 2 Ella sat on the porch step, smoothing out a fresh sheet of yellow poster paper. "A real cookie stand needs giant treats," Ella said, pulling out her markers. "We can't just bake plain cookies. We have to pack them with chocolate chunks and rainbow sprinkles."
¶ 3 "Like the treats Grandma bakes with sticky caramel drips?" Leo asked, setting up the red card table by the sidewalk. "Neighbors will smell our warm cookies from three houses away."
¶ 4 Dylan walked out the front door, bouncing a basketball on the concrete. "A cookie business? You two don't even know how to use an oven timer," Dylan mocked. "No one on this block will buy your messy baked blobs."
¶ 5 "Watch us, Dylan," Leo declared, taping their colorful menu sign to the porch railing. "Our monster cookies are going to sell out fast, and we'll be sliding on our new water slide by sunset!"
Text 2 Setting: Front porch steps & sidewalk card table
Text 2 Goal: Sell monster cookies to earn fifteen dollars for a water slide
Arizona English Language Arts Standards: 3.RL.9 & 3.RL.1 Page 1 of 2 (Proceed to CFU Assessment on Page 2)
CFU ASSESSMENT • ARIZONA STANDARD 3.RL.9
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Score: / 6
Series Comparison Assessment
Compare and contrast themes, settings, and plots written by Megan Rossi.
AZ.3.RL.9: Compare & contrast plots, settings, and themes across series books
AZ.3.RL.1: Cite explicit text evidence
1 Which statement best describes how the plot is the same in both passages?
3.RL.9
A. The kids launch an exciting neighborhood project to reach a big goal and refuse to quit when Dylan doubts them.
B. The kids get locked inside the garage and have to follow secret map clues to escape before dinner.
C. The kids ask Dylan for baking tips and invite him to become the official leader of their new club.
D. The kids search all around Maple Street to help a neighbor locate a runaway pet cat.
2 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
3.RL.9 & 1
Part A: How does Leo and Ella's main plot goal in Text 1 contrast with their goal in Text 2?
A. In Text 1, they repair an old wagon; in Text 2, they clean up trash at the local park playground.
B. In Text 1, they want to win a contest ribbon; in Text 2, they want to earn money to purchase a toy slide.
C. In Text 1, they plan to hide from Dylan; in Text 2, they invite Dylan to be their full-time partner.
D. In Text 1, they build a tree house; in Text 2, they train Barnaby the cat to do skateboard tricks.
Part B (HOT TEXT): Which sentence from Text 2 provides explicit evidence of what the kids intend to buy with the money they earn? (Shade the box.)
[ "We need fifteen dollars," he told Ella. ]
[ "Fifteen dollars buys the giant Mega-Splash water slide at the toy shop." ]
[ Dylan walked out the front door, bouncing a basketball on the concrete. ]
3 HOT TEXT: Select TWO sentences—one from Text 1 and one from Text 2—showing Leo refuses to let Dylan discourage their plans.
3.RL.9
From Text 1:
[ Ella brushed dry leaves off the wooden table with a cloth. ]
[ Leo crossed his arms and looked Dylan right in the eye: "We aren't quitting, Dylan." ]
From Text 2:
[ Ella sat on the porch step, smoothing out a fresh sheet of yellow poster paper. ]
[ "Watch us, Dylan," Leo declared, taping their colorful menu sign to the porch railing. ]
4 This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
3.RL.9 & 1
Part A: Which statement contrasts the settings in Text 1 and Text 2?
A. Text 1 is set in a school cafeteria, while Text 2 is set on a playground swingset.
B. Text 1 is set inside an attic, while Text 2 is set inside a moving school bus.
C. Text 1 is set outside on a backyard lawn, while Text 2 is set on the front porch and sidewalk.
D. Text 1 is set in Dylan's bedroom, while Text 2 is set inside a neighborhood grocery store.
Part B: Which pair of details from the texts best provides evidence for the answer in Part A?
A. The dry leaves (Text 1) and the blue mixing bowl (Text 2).
B. The gold ribbon on Saturday (Text 1) and the fifteen dollars needed (Text 2).
C. Dylan leaning over the fence (Text 1) and Dylan bouncing a basketball (Text 2).
D. The wooden fence and picnic bench (Text 1) and the front door and porch railing (Text 2).
Arizona English Language Arts Standards: 3.RL.9 & 3.RL.1 Page 2 of 2 • Mastery Assessment Complete
