Grades 3–5 Reading Language Arts Informational Writing Rubric

Saving the Harvest

1The sun sank below the western horizon painting the sky with splashes of red, orange, and purple. As Henry put his sickle inside the barn, he looked back at the golden fields waiting to be harvested. Henry’s back ached and his tired limbs felt like lead weights. He pictured the hours, days, and weeks of work that lay ahead of him. They were just like the hours and days that he had already worked. He wondered how he and his father would harvest all the grain themselves.

2 When Henry entered the house, he was greeted by the smell of fresh bread floating from the kitchen. Ma stood at the stove finishing supper. She noticed the look on Henry’s face.

3 “Another rough day?” Ma asked as she kissed Henry on the forehead.

4 Henry plopped down on the wooden chair at the kitchen table. “There is just so much to do.”

5 Just then, Pa walked in, hung his hat and jacket on the coat tree, and joined Henry at the table. Ma dished up three plates and took her seat with them.

6 Henry barely found the energy to eat. To keep himself awake, he flipped through an advertising brochure sitting on the table. Henry’s eyes grew larger as he read.

7 “Pa! Look at this!” Henry said, turning the brochure in Pa’s direction. “Cyrus McCormick! That’s the inventor I read about in the paper last week. He’s coming here tomorrow. He has new farming equipment to show.”

8 “Ah, yes, son,” Pa said, taking a closer look at the ad. “Mr. Harmon, Mr. Wilson, and I were just talking about this yesterday morning. They know quite a bit more than I about Mr. McCormick’s mechanical reaper. I think we should go hear from Mr. McCormick himself.”

9 In bed, Henry stared at the ceiling. He knew he should be resting for another day of hard work. But he couldn’t sleep. He was too filled with hope.