Picture this scene:

Question

You’re walking along the street when you see a knocked-over trash can with its contents spilled all over the sidewalk. The lid of the trash can is about 10 feet up in the branches of a tree across the street. You notice that the trash bags inside have been torn to shreds, and something has tried to eat what was in the trash can. You smell a fishy odor and notice several fish bones. You also see an apple that, strangely, looks like it wasn’t touched. You notice some pieces of short, gray fur next to the trash can, as well as what looks like some brown feathers.

You figure it must have been an animal that messed up the trash can’s contents . . . but what animal? A mystery!

Make a claim about what type of animal tipped over the trash can. A claim is a debatable statement that needs to be supported with evidence.
Quote 2–3 pieces of evidence that made you think this.
In 2–3 sentences, explain how your evidence proves your claim. This is called reasoning. 5 grade words

Answer 1

Claim: A raccoon knocked over the trash can.

Evidence:

1. There were pieces of short, gray fur found next to the trash can.
2. The trash bags inside had been torn to shreds, suggesting a strong animal was looking for food.
3. The apple was left untouched, indicating that the animal may have a particular diet.

Reasoning: Raccoons are known for their strong paws and dexterous fingers, which help them tear open trash bags. The gray fur points to a raccoon, as they often leave fur behind when rummaging through garbage. Additionally, raccoons are curious eaters, so it's not surprising that they would leave an apple behind if they were mainly interested in the fish bones, which also suggests they were searching for a meal.