Wangari and the Green Trees
Wangari Maathai grew up in the green hills of Kenya. When she was a girl, she loved being outdoors. Tall trees gave cool shade. Clean water flowed in the streams.
Wangari loved to learn. She went to school and studied science for many years. When she returned home, she saw a big change in the land. Many trees had been cut down to clear space for big farms. Without tree roots to hold the soil, the wind blew the dirt away. The streams began to dry up.
Wangari listened to the women who lived in the villages. They told her that they had to walk very far to find firewood for cooking. They also needed clean water and healthy soil to grow vegetables for their families.
Wangari knew that nature could help, but people needed to work together. She shared a simple plan. She showed the women how to collect seeds from native trees. The women planted the seeds in small pots made from tin cans or sacks. They watered the tiny seedlings until they were strong. Then, whole communities planted the young trees in the ground.
- streams:
- Small, flowing bodies of water like little rivers.
- soil:
- The top layer of earth or dirt where plants grow.
- seedlings:
- Young, small plants that have just grown from seeds.
- communities:
- Groups of people who live in the same area and work together.
- moisture:
- Tiny drops of water that make something slightly wet.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where did Wangari Maathai grow up?
- 2What subject did Wangari study in school for many years?
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About this biography passage for 2nd Grade
âWangari and the Green Treesâ is a biography reading passage about Wangari Maathai, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (264 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.