Download 10Cocoa Text Structure Formatted

Cocoa Text Structure
Paragraphs
Directions for teachers
1. Decide how many centers you would
like. I like to have 4 copies, so that
up to 8 students can be working on
the activity at once.
2. Print as many copies of the texts and graphic organizers as
you would like.
3. In a clear sheet protector, put the text on one side and the
graphic organizer on the other. Put the completed graphic
organizer between the two sheets so that it is not visible.
4. Put the directions in a sheet protector.
5. Attach everything with a ring clip.
6. Explain the center to students.
From “Koehler’s Medicinal Plants”, 1887
Description
Chocolate comes from a fruit on a tree! But
not just any tree. The cacao (ca-COW) tree grows
in tropical areas. Cacao trees are evergreen trees
with shiny leaves. They are not the tallest trees in
the forest. In fact, they grow best when there are
taller trees above them. Cacao trees have a
reddish fruit that is shaped like a football.
Public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons
Sequence
Cacao beans go through many steps before
they even enter the chocolate factory. First,
workers cut the fruit from the cacao tree. Then
they scoop out the beans inside. The beans are
fermented and dried. Finally, the beans are put
into burlap bags. Large ships take them across the
ocean to the chocolate factory.
Public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons
Problem/Solution
It’s not easy to harvest cacao pods. The large
fruits ripen at different speeds. A machine can’t
tell which pod is ripe and which is not. Only a
person can! To solve this problem, workers
harvest each pod individually.
Compare/Contrast
The cacao tree is different from apple trees.
The flowers don’t grow on the highest branches.
Instead, they grow on the low branches, and even
on the trunk! The cacao tree can have flowers
and ripe pods at the same time. On an apple tree,
all of the flowers bloom in spring, and then ripen
into fruit in the fall. Apple trees never have ripe
fruit and flowers at the same time. But apple
trees and cacao trees both have an important
similarity—they depend on insects for pollination.
Public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons
Cause/Effect
Not every flower on the cacao tree will turn
into a cacao pod. The flowers need to be
pollinated by a tiny bug called a midge. Midges
like to live near the forest floor, with lots of dead
leaves around. When cacao farmers try to clean
up the forest floor, the midges don’t have a good
place to live. The trees will not produce as many
pods.
Cocoa Text Structure
Paragraphs
1. Choose a paragraph to read
with your partner.
2. With your partner, find the
text structure clue words for
the paragraph.
3. Read the paragraph.
4. Using a wet erase marker, work
with your partner to fill in the
graphic organizer.
5. Check your work with the
answer key (between the
paragraph and the graphic
organizer).
6. Erase your work.