Ribbons of Water, Fields of Green: How Rivers Shape Iowa Farming
Look at a map of Iowa, and you will notice two striking borders. On the east, the mighty Mississippi River winds southward. On the west, the Missouri River carves its path along the state's edge. Between these two giants, smaller waterways like the Des Moines, Cedar, and Iowa rivers crisscross the land like blue ribbons. For thousands of years, these waterways have shaped the landscape, making Iowa one of the most productive farming regions in the world.
Iowa's productive farmland has soil shaped by several natural processes, and those processes vary by region. Long ago, glaciers left deposits of mixed rock and sediment called glacial till. Wind carried fine silt called loess into parts of Iowa, and prairie vegetation helped form thick topsoil. In some river valleys, flooding deposited alluvium, or layers of sediment carried by water. Different parts of Iowa have different combinations of these materials. Today, this fertile soil acts like a giant sponge, holding the moisture and nutrients that crops need to grow tall and strong.
- productive:
- Able to grow or create large amounts of useful things, such as crops.
- decaying:
- Slowly breaking down and rotting over time.
- topsoil:
- The rich upper layer of dirt where plants grow their roots.
- fertile:
- Rich in nutrients and able to help plants grow strong and healthy.
- agriculture:
- The science and work of farming, growing crops, and raising animals.
- drainage:
- The process of extra water flowing away from wet land.
- downstream:
- In the direction that a river or stream is flowing.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage, and what are two major ways rivers support Iowa farming?
- 2Which natural processes helped form Iowa soils in different regions?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“Ribbons of Water, Fields of Green: How Rivers Shape Iowa Farming” is a informational reading passage about Iowa Agriculture, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (509 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.