Cute or Creepy? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will describe the characteristics of a slow loris and determine their own opinion about this nocturnal creature.

 

Science Focus:

animal adaptations

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, opinion writing, nonfiction text features

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

nocturnal, communicate, venom

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5, text features; W.2.1 writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Lexile level:

490L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on creepy animals.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "The Truth About Creepy Creatures." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • Which creepy creature is your favorite?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. What are students’ first thoughts-is a slow loris cute or creepy?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about whether the slow loris is cute or creepy.” 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 nocturnal, communicate, and venom.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

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

Slow Loris by Alexis Deacon (20 min.)

Think you know everything about the slow loris? This fictional tale would be a great read following this issue. Readers may be surprised by what a zoo-bound slow loris does at night, while the rest of the zoo is sleeping!

  • 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 ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words nocturnal, communicate, and venom.

Editor’s Pick: Opinion Writing (15 min.)

  • Students express whether they think slow lorises are cute or creepy with the Write Your Opinion! skill sheet.

ELA Focus: Nonfiction Text Features (15 min.)

  • Students will analzye the various features of their article with the Text-Feature Hunt skill sheet.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on creepy animals:

  • “Things That Go BUMP and AWOOO in the Night,” October 2022. Students will identify the sounds that difference nocturnal animals make.
  • “Ghost in the Night,” October 2017. Students will learn the characteristics of animals with spooky names and form opinions on whether they are scary or not.

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 560L
  • Lower Lexile level: 420L