Pnrsamp4

: Farmers in rice fields used "Kakashis". These were smelly scarecrows made of old rags, fish bones, and rotting meat. The terrible smell, combined with the movement in the wind, kept hungry birds far away.

Next time you see a scarecrow nodding in the breeze, remember that he isn't just a decoration. He is a part of a story that began in the ancient fields of Egypt and traveled all around the world! Key Elements of Informative Writing pnrsamp4

: Start with an interesting fact or a scene-setting description to grab the reader's attention. : Farmers in rice fields used "Kakashis"

If you are writing your own informative story, remember these important steps from the 4th Grade Informative Writing Unit : Next time you see a scarecrow nodding in

: They carved wooden statues of Priapus, a god they believed would frighten away intruders.

Long ago, the first scarecrows weren't even made of straw. In ancient Egypt, farmers faced a big problem: large flocks of quails would descend on their wheat fields along the Nile River. To protect their food, the Egyptians hung large nets from wooden stakes. They would hide nearby and then jump out to scare the birds into the nets so they could catch them for dinner. These net contraptions are considered some of the earliest versions of the scarecrow.