Homes: reading informational text; Under One Roof 3

Under One Roof

1. All over the world, homes are filled with families. Any group of people who live together and love each other is a family. Every family is different. Sometimes families are small, made up of just a few people. Sometimes families can be large with lots of kids and adults living all together in one place.
2. In many places, it is common for an extended family to live together. This is a family structure made up of many parts. When an extended family shares a home, it means that grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins could all live together under one roof.
3. The way that you live with your extended family might depend on your culture. For example, in India, it is common for families to live in very practical and generous ways. The extended family has at least one common space, like the kitchen, where everyone shares the work of caring for the family. However, each family usually has their own room too. This allows them to share chores and enjoy together time, while still having some privacy.
4. Living as an extended family is less common in the United States, but is getting more popular. When Barack Obama became president, he moved into the White House with his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia. Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, lived with them too. Mrs. Robinson moved in with the first family to help take care of her grandchildren.
5. Sometimes, grandparents will move in to help out. Other times, a family member might move in because they need someone to help them. And sometimes, extended families live together just because it’s fun to have so many people around.
6. Whatever the reason, helping and loving each other is what being in a family is all about. No matter how big or small, the people in your home are your family.

Practice question