Look Over There! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will analyze how three animals learn new skills.

 

Science Focus:

animal behavior

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence, writing, compare and contrast

 

Page 4 Skill:

compare two diagrams

 

Vocabulary:

pair, pounce

 

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.2.9 compare and contrast; RI.2.10 read informational texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

K

 

Lexile level:

490L

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Provide students with some background on animals.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Animal Teams." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one way animals can work together?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Can students guess what other skills animals learn?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the ways animals learn. Can kids learn in the same ways?” 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 words are pair and pounce.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

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

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

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 pair and pounce.

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

  • Introduce our beloved character, Norbert Know-It-All! Norbert doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. Print out his letter and put it in an envelope addressed to your class.
  • Then read the letter aloud. Norbert says he’s an “expert” on animals, but students will disagree! They can write their own letter proving him wrong and send it to [email protected]. Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Compare and Contrast (15 min.)

  • The Compare How Animals Learn skill sheet will have students organize what they have learned about animals from the issue and identify similarities and differences.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on animal behaviors:

  • “Orangutan School,” April 2019. Discover how people teach endangered orangutans to be wild.
  • "Flamingo Teamwork,” March 2018. In this issue, students will identify how flamingos work together.

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 540L
  • Lower Lexile level: 360L