Look Out, Mouse! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify the adaptations of two nocturnal animals.

 

Science Focus:

animal adaptations, nocturnal animals

 

ELA Skills:

key details, writing, vocabulary, compare/contrast

 

Page 4 Skill:

key details

 

Vocabulary:

nocturnal, adaptations, silent

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.3, RI.2.10, L.2.1, SL.2.3

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Provide students with some background on nocturnal animals.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Creatures of the Night." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following questions:

  • How does being nocturnal help animals that live in hot places? (They can sleep through the hot day and come out at night when it’s cooler.)
  • How does being nocturnal help some animals stay safe? (They can sneak around in the dark when their enemies are asleep.)
  • What are some nocturnal animals you learned about? (Answers include: big eyes, strong sense of smell, good hearing.)

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are nocturnal, adaptations, and silent.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Do students think the owl will catch the mouse? Or will the mouse get away from the owl?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on on page 2: “Think about how the parts of each animal’s body help it survive.” 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 win a point.

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

Exit Ticket: Show What You Learned (5 min.)

  • Use our new Show What You Learned printable as a quick exit ticket! It asks students to revisit the As You Read prompt after they are done reading. If you are teaching remotely, this page is a great way to check students’ comprehension.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

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

Editor’s Pick: Form and Function (15 min.)

  • The Surviving the Night printable is a great way to review the animal adaptations students learned about in the issue. Through writing and drawing, students tell how each body part helps each animal survive.

ELA Focus: Compare and Contrast (15 min.)

  • The Venn diagram printable helps students compare and contrast the two animals. The cut-and-paste format allows students to cut out the animals’ features and decide whether they belong to the owl, the mouse, or both.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on community workers:

  • Ghost in the Night, October 2017. This issue teaches students about nocturnal animals with creepy names.
  • A Light in the Night, October 2019. This issue is about bioluminescent animals—they glow in the dark!

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

  • Higher-Lexile level: 490L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 410L