Can You Bike On Snow? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Students will discover a new adaptive winter sport and compare it to two familiar winter sports.

 

Social Studies Focus:

adaptive sports, new winter sports

 

Science Focus:

technology

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, nonfiction text features

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

gravity, balanced, adaptive

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 ask and answer questions; RI.2.4 determine meaning of words; RI.2.5 text features’ RF.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 opinion writing; W.2.8 recall information

 

Lexile level: 

540L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on winter sports.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “What Do You Know About Snow?" After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is the coolest thing you learned about snow?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Has anyone heard of this new sport? How does the ski bike on the cover photograph look like a ski? How does it look like a bike?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about whether you would like to try a ski bike.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

 

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. 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 balance, gravity, and adapted.

 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

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

Max and Maria by Alexandra Boiger (20 min.)

Two best friends who also happen to be aspiring Olympians face lots of obstacles on their way to victory. This book also serves as a great reminder to have a growth mindset!

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

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

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words balance, gravity, and adapted.      

Editor’s Pick: Opinion Writing 15 min.)

  • Students will use reasons to support what they think about riding a ski bike with the Write Your Opinion! skill sheet.

ELA Focus: Non-Fiction Text Features (15 min.)

  • Using the Text Feature skill sheet lallows students to examine various parts of a nonfiction article.

Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on winter sports:

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 630L
  • Lower Lexile level: 430L