Butterflies in Formation
October 14
I survived. Honestly, when my alarm went off at seven o'clock this morning, I was convinced today would be an absolute disaster. It was finally time for our fifth-grade ecosystem presentations in Mrs. Ruiz's science class. I had spent the last two weeks researching the temperate deciduous forest, drawing colored diagrams of barn owls and oak trees, and writing out neat index cards. Yet, standing in front of my bedroom mirror this morning, my mouth felt like sandpaper, and my stomach was fluttering with what felt like a swarm of bumblebees.
The bus ride to school did not help at all. Every time the bus hit a bump, my heart leaped into my throat. During morning math and spelling, I could hardly focus on fractions or word lists. All I could imagine was standing up at the front of the room while twenty-two pairs of eyes stared directly at me. What if my voice cracked? What if I accidentally dropped my poster board and scrambled all my notes across the tile floor?
- ecosystem:
- A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
- temperate:
- Having moderate weather conditions without extremes of heat or cold.
- deciduous:
- Describing trees and shrubs that shed their leaves annually.
- easel:
- A wooden or metal stand used to hold and display a board or picture.
- anchor:
- To hold firmly in place or provide a sense of stability and support.
- canopy:
- The high, spreading roof formed by the tops of trees in a forest.
- formation:
- An orderly arrangement or pattern of people or things moving together.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What specific topic did the narrator spend two weeks researching for science class?
- 2Which figurative phrase does the narrator use in the first paragraph to describe extreme nervousness?
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About this diary entry passage for 5th Grade
“Butterflies in Formation” is a diary entry reading passage about overcoming public speaking anxiety, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (452 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.