4 2 4 after school excitement

Suggested levels for Guided Reading, DRA,™
Lexile,® and Reading Recovery™ are provided
in the Pearson Scott Foresman Leveling Guide.

Genre

Realistic
fiction

illustrated by
Elizabeth Butler

Comprehension
Skills and Strategy

• Fact and Opinion
• Compare and
Contrast
• Monitor and Fix Up

Scott Foresman Reading Street 4.2.4

ISBN 0-328-13437-6

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by Evan Allen


Reader Response

After School
Excitement

1. Write two statements of fact and two statements
of opinion that you read about bowling.
2. Was there a part in the book that you did not
understand? What strategy did you use to help
with your understanding?

by Evan Allen

3. Using a chart similar to the one below, write the
meaning of each word and an antonym for it.
Word

Meaning

Antonym

immense
dependable
distracted

4. In the book, we learn that Jake Landry has trouble
keeping track of his responsibilities. How do you
organize your time?

illustrated by Elizabeth Butler

Editorial Offices: Glenview, Illinois • Parsippany, New Jersey • New York, New York

Sales Offices: Needham, Massachusetts • Duluth, Georgia • Glenview, Illinois
Coppell, Texas • Ontario, California • Mesa, Arizona


If the people who knew him had only one
word to describe Ethan Landry, it would have to
be responsible.
He was a dependable and reliable boy. If
Ethan said he’d do something, he did it; if
he made a promise, he kept it; and if he said
something, he meant it.
While everyone who knew Ethan appreciated
this about him, it did not necessarily make him
popular. Even his friends in school would say that
Ethan wasn’t the most exciting kid.
If you asked Ethan, however, the word he
would use to describe himself would probably
surprise everyone. Ethan would choose bowler.

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photographic material. The publisher deeply regrets any omission and pledges to
correct errors called to its attention in subsequent editions.
Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photographs are the property of Scott Foresman,
a division of Pearson Education.
Illustrations by Elizabeth Butler
Photograph 20 Photodisc
ISBN: 0-328-13437-6
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V0G1 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05

3


Ethan was big and strong for his age, and this
size and strength helped him with his bowling.
Ethan’s size came from his father. Mr. Landry was
so big that he looked like a grizzly bear. Ethan
had grown strong from helping his parents
around the farm.
Ethan carried gallons of milk. He carried wood
from the cords of wood piled behind the house.
A cord of wood is a pile four feet wide, four
feet high, and eight feet long. Ethan helped his
parents whenever he could.
Of all sports, Ethan loved bowling the most. If
Ethan wasn’t at home, helping with the chores,
he was probably bowling at the local bowling
alley. Ethan would bowl from the minute he
woke up until the minute he went to sleep if he
could. Ethan’s family could not understand why
he loved it as much as he did, but he did.
Ethan’s twin brother, Jake, liked to bowl, but
he had other interests too. He liked football,
soccer, and basketball. He loved to play checkers

and card games, and he liked to draw. Jake
thought lots of things were fun. He always had a
good time with his friends.
Jake did well at all the games he played, so it
was hard for him to pick a favorite. While Ethan
focused on one thing at a time, like perfecting
his bowling game, Jake liked to do as many
things as he could.
4

5


“You must be excited about your first day in
the fourth grade,” Mrs. Landry said to Ethan over
breakfast that morning.
“Sure, Mom,” Ethan mumbled over his
breakfast, rubbing his eyes. He liked school well
enough, but going back meant he had to wake
up really early to help his parents do the morning
chores.
The only exciting part about fourth grade as
far as Ethan was concerned was bowling.
“So when are you going to sign up for the
junior bowling team?” Mr. Landry asked.

Ethan did not understand Jake and Jake did
not understand Ethan. They loved each other
and got along, but they were as different as twin
brothers could be.

Jake was well-meaning, but easily distracted.
Because of this, the boys’ parents gave Ethan
more responsibility on the farm. Mr. and Mrs.
Landry knew, to their dismay, if they sent Jake
off to milk the cows, it might not get done.
Jake would probably end up inside the farm’s
immense barn playing in the hay.
6

7


After hearing his father mention the bowling
team, Ethan perked up. “After school—that’s
when they’re having the Activity Fair.”
“Promise me you’ll at least take a look at
some of the other clubs at the fair. The fair has
bowling and lots of other fun activities too,” said
his mother.
“But Mom, I really want to get some bowling
practice in before coming home.”
“I know you do, Ethan, and you’ll still have
time. I’m just asking you if—”

“Hey, Mom! Can I go play basketball after
school? Bobby and Chris and everyone else are
going!” Jake said, walking into the kitchen.
“Jake,” scolded his mother, “I was talking to
your brother. It’s not polite to interrupt.”
“But, Mom!” Jake tried to explain.

“Jake,” his father prompted.
Jake took a deep breath and apologized for
interrupting.
“That’s better, Jake. Now you are late for
breakfast and I don’t want you to miss your bus,
and yes, you can go play basketball after the
Activity Fair,” said his mother.
8

9


“The Activity Fair?” Jake asked. “Oh yeah,
that’s today, right?”
His parents exchanged glances. Mrs. Landry
sighed at her forgetful son and said, “Yes,
sweetheart, it is. I was just telling your brother
that I wanted him to look at all the activities they
are offering. The same thing goes for you too.”
Jake eagerly nodded his head up and down.
He was actually looking forward to the fair, once
his mother reminded him about it. Jake knew he
would find lots of things to sign up for at the fair!

When Jake walked into the fair, he was filled
with excitement. It looked like every teacher
on the school’s payroll had a club at the fair. He
saw sports teams and arts-and-crafts clubs, music
groups, and more!
Jake signed up for bowling because he knew

his brother would sign up too. He signed up for
tag football. He signed up for basketball and
soccer because he had friends on both teams.
He signed up for chorus when he saw that the
drawing-and-painting club was full, and he
signed up for checkers. Jake added his name to
each group’s list. He was going to have fun!
Jake didn’t know it, but by the time he left
the fair, he had managed to sign up for more
activities than any other student in his grade!
10

11


When Ethan entered the Activity Fair, he
remembered what his mother had said. He
needed to look into other activities besides
bowling. He liked the posters at one of the
booths and decided to check it out. The booth
was for the movie club.
Every Tuesday after school the club met to
make a snack together and watch a movie
and sit in beanbag chairs. That sounded fun to
Ethan as long as it did not meet on the same
day as bowling. He would have to check. Ethan
headed over to the junior bowling team booth.
With a sigh of relief, he decided to sign up for
both activities. Bowling met on Wednesdays.
His mother would be proud of him for trying

something new. He grinned. He would still have
time for any chores he needed to do at home on
the other days of the week.
12

At the start of the school year, Ethan found
himself really enjoying the fourth grade. He
liked his teacher a lot, and he looked forward
to going apple picking with his class. He liked
his after-school activities too. The movie club
members even elected Ethan treasurer, and with
each practice his bowling game got better.
Ethan’s parents did not have to worry about
Ethan being happy. The more he did, the happier
he was. He was glad to be so busy.
Most important to his parents, Ethan kept his
grades up and stayed on top of milking the cows
and stacking the wood. Ethan noticed that Jake
never seemed to be around to help with chores.
Even though Jake was easily distracted, Ethan
thought it would be nice to get some help!

13


At the start of the school year, Jake also found
himself busy—too busy. Between school and all
of his clubs, he did not always have time for his
homework, not to mention chores.
“Jake, honey, you don’t look well,” said Mrs.

Landry, as Jake slowly walked to the breakfast
table. “And Ethan did your chores again last night.”
“I’m OK, Mom, just tired,” Jake yawned.
“I’ll feel better after breakfast.” As he said
this, Jake put his head down on the table,
just barely missing his bowl of cereal. “After
school today I have bowling, but then I’ll have
to leave early for a tag football game,” he
mumbled. “Ethan’s just helping me out until I
get into the swing of things.”
Frowning at her son, Mrs. Landry had her
doubts. She could see that Jake was wearing
himself out.
Later that week, when Jake’s teacher, Miss
Sims, called, Mrs. Landry knew she would need
to step in and have a talk with Jake. Jake was
not making good choices on his own. He needed
some help.

14

15


“Mrs. Landry, Jake always seems so tired in
class,” said Miss Sims. “I’m concerned because it
is only the beginning of the year.”
“I understand. Jake has really overextended
himself,” said Mrs. Landry. Mrs. Landry had seen
this coming. She assured Miss Sims that she and

Mr. Landry would have a talk with Jake.

16

The next morning, Jake overslept and missed
the school bus.
“Jake, you know there’s no excuse for missing
the school bus,” said Mrs. Landry as Jake quickly
ate some breakfast.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to oversleep. It
won’t happen again,” promised Jake.
Sighing, she softly agreed. “No, it won’t
sweetheart. Your father and I are going to have
to sit down and talk with you about all of your
activities.”
“But, Mom . . . ” Jake’s voice trailed off as he
yawned.
“Honey, look at how tired you are,” said
Mrs. Landry. Jake covered his mouth, fighting
back another yawn. “I got a call from Miss Sims
yesterday, Jake,” she said. Jake’s eyes widened
and he raised his eyebrows. “She is concerned
about your being so tired, and so am I.”
“Maybe signing up for all of those activities
wasn’t such a great idea,” said Jake.
“I’m glad you said that, Jake. We need to
sit down and talk about this with your father
tonight. Come on, I’ll give you a ride to school,”
said his mother.

17


When he met his parents for their talk, Jake
hoped he would not have to quit all of his
activities.
“Mom and Dad,” said Jake, “I know I signed
up for too many activities, and I know I’m always
tired, but do I have to quit everything? The clubs
are really fun!”
“We’re not saying you have to quit
everything, Jake, but school is important. What
do you think you could do?” said Mr. Landry.
“Well,” started Jake, “I guess I could have
picked activities that didn’t meet on the same
days. Maybe I could do a couple that meet on
different days.”
“That sounds good, and don’t forget about
your chores,” reminded Mrs. Landry.
“Maybe I could play checkers on Mondays,
and I could bowl with Ethan on Wednesdays—
that way we could come home and start chores
together,” said Jake.
His parents smiled. “We knew you could figure
this out,” said his dad.

18

Jake had to admit that it did not seem unfair
that he was only doing two activities because he

was playing two games he loved. He also had
time for his homework and chores, and Ethan
was thankful for the help. Jake tried to stay
focused on his chores too. He wanted to repay
Ethan for all the times Ethan had helped him
out. Sometimes Jake would take over a day of
Ethan’s chores so that Ethan could use the time
to do what he liked best—and that was bowl!

19


20

The Game of Bowling

Reader Response

Bowling is one of the world’s most popular
sports, with millions of people enjoying the game
each year. It is also one of the oldest sports, with
roots going back over five thousand years.
Today, the most common version of bowling
is tenpin bowling, which is played using a hard
plastic or rubber ball and ten pins. It is usually
played indoors on lanes made of wood.
Each bowling game is made up of ten frames.
During each frame you try to knock down all of
the pins. If you are good enough to knock down
all the pins in one shot in all of the frames, it

is called “bowling a perfect game.” Bowling a
perfect game is very rare.

1. Write two statements of fact and two statements
of opinion that you read about bowling.
2. Was there a part in the book that you did not
understand? What strategy did you use to help
with your understanding?
3. Using a chart similar to the one below, write the
meaning of each word and an antonym for it.
Word

Meaning

Antonym

immense
dependable
distracted

4. In the book, we learn that Jake Landry has trouble
keeping track of his responsibilities. How do you
organize your time?