Splash! Chomp! Yum. Lesson PLan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will compare how three animals prepare for the winter.

 

Science Focus:

animal adaptations

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, text evidence, main idea and details, nonfiction text features

 

Page 4 Skill:

make and read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

hibernate, migrate, gathers, den

 

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.2.10 read informational texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level: 

480L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on animals in wintertime.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "The Coolest Winter Animal Adaptations.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing animals do to survive during the winter?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have students share predictions for what the bear may do next.
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how the animals are alike and how they are different.” 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 hibernate, migrate, gathers and den.

 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

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

  • Students will discover more facts about hibernating animals while they explore a winter scene with the “Find the Hibernators” game.

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 hibernate, migrate, gathers and den.

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

  • Confident but confused Norbert is back! Have students read his newest letter in the Norbert Know-It-All skill sheet and respond with information learned from the article. Send class letters to norbert@ scholastic.com. Norbert will respond!

ELA Focus: Main Idea and Details (15 min.)

  • Students will use this skill sheet to identify the main idea and summarize information found within each section of the issue.

After reading “Splash! Chomp! Yum.” use one of our Anytime skill sheets to extend your lesson!

  • After reading, pass out our Nonfiction Text Features Anytime Skill sheet. Students can use this to hunt for captions, subheadings, and more within their issue. Then have students choose one text feature to analyze and describe what information they learned.

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

  • “Monkey in the Snow,” January 2022. This issue follows a group of snow monkeys that found an interesting way to stay warm in the cold.
  • “A Winter’s Trip,” November/December 2018. Discover the different ways a reindeer’s body keeps it safe.

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 600L
  • Lower Lexile level: 370L