Save the Sea Cows! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify the problems manatees have faced and the steps people have taken to help them.

 

Science Focus:

animal rescue

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence, problem/solution

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

endangered, legal, illegal, polluting, seagrass

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2. write informative texts; W.2.8 recall information; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level:

510L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on manatees.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Saving Gentle Giants.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is your favorite thing about manatees?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. What is your favorite thing about manatees?What kind of problem do kids think the manatees had?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2:  “Think about the problem for manatees and how people solved it.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured terms are endangered, legal, illegal, polluting, and seagrass.

Assessment (15 min.)

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Students will practice identifying correct punctuation with this fun and beautiful “Ocean Punctuation” game.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words endangered, legal, illegal, polluting, and seagrass.

Editor’s Pick: Informative Writing/Text Evidence (15 min.)

  • The A Letter From Norbert Know-It-All skill sheet provides a fun way to teach text evidence. Read Norbert’s letter to kids. They will see that he is certainly NOT an expert! Students can use what they learned in the issue to teach him about manatees. Send Norbert a response to [email protected]. Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Problem/Solution (15 min.)

  • The What’s the Solution? skill sheet encourages students to think about each problem the manatees faced in the issue and how they were resolved.

 Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on animal rescue:

  • Separated at Birth!,” April 2022. In this issue, students learn how veterinarians saved a sick red panda cub named Raya.
  • “How to Rescue Baby Eagles,” February 2020. This issue recounts how people— and animals!—came together to rescue eaglets that fell from their nest.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 610L
  • Lower Lexile level: 450L