World's Coolest Bears Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify five distinctive characteristics of polar bears.

 

Science Focus:

polar bears

 

ELA Skills:

key details, writing, vocabulary, text features, text evidence, use visuals

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

plunge, dens, cubs

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.7, RI.2.8, RI.2.10, L.2.1, W.2.8, SL.2.3

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile Level:

510L

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Provide students with some background on polar bears.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Roly-poly Polar Bears." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following questions:

  • Do polar bears have two layers of fur or just one? (two)
  • What helps polar bears blend into the white ice and snow? (their white fur)
  • What are polar bear babies called? (cubs)

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are plunge, dens, and cubs.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Ask students what they see on the ground. Snow! Do they think it’s cold where polar bears live? How do they think polar bears keep warm?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on on page 3: “Think about the different ways polar bears stay warm.” 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. 

  • 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 earn 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 printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words plunge, den, and cub.

Editor’s Pick: Reading a Diagram (15 min.)

  • The Polar Bear Diagram skill sheet is a quick and easy lesson on form and function, adaptations, and using visuals, all in one!

ELA Focus: Fun With Text Evidence (15 min.)

  • Norbert Know-It-All is at it again! This time, he’s written a letter to students explaining all the insider “facts” he knows about polar bears. And of course, he’s all mixed up!
  • After reading the issue, kids will be the real experts—and they’ll want to write him back and prove him wrong! Email class letters to [email protected]. Norbert will write back!

Assessment: Reading Checkpoint 

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

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

  • Predator on the Ice, January 2018. This issue teaches the adaptations of arctic wolves in a clever, narrative way: It tells the story of one wolf as it follows an arctic hare. The issue is written to be paired with . . .
  • Prey on the Ice, January 2018. This issue tells the story from the arctic hare’s point of view, as it uses its own adaptations to get away from the wolf (this time)!

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

  • Higher-Lexile level: 550L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 450L