Do Foxes Wear Scarves? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Students will analyze three animals’ body parts and identify how they help the animals survive in winter.

 

Science Focus:

animal adaptations

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, main idea and details

 

Page 4 Skill:

make and read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

adaptation

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify main topic; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.3 writing; L.2.2 punctuation

 

Lexile level:

530L

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Provide students with some background on animal adaptations in the winter.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Cool Winter Animals.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What are some winter animals you learned about?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Can students tell how foxes keep their faces and bodies warm?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how each animal’s body helps it survive in the winter.” 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 word is adaptation.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

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

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (20 min.)

This book treats readers to the secret kingdom under the snow where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm. Readers will build background knowledge on the animals featured in this issue, and also peek at voles, bullfrogs, and black bears!

  • As students identify the correct punctuation needed for a sentence in the “Run, Reindeer, Run” game, they help the reindeer run through the snowy forest!

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 term adaptation.

Editor’s Pick: Writing (15 min.)

  • Students can imagine replacing a tool in their life with a cool adaptation like the animals in this issue! They will write and illustrate their idea with the If I Had an Adaptation . . . skill sheet!

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

  • The Main Idea and Details skill sheet provides organization for students to review each portion of the issue and recall key concepts.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on animal adaptations in the winter:

  • “One Cool Cat,” January 2023. Students will examine how a snow leopard’s body helps it survive in the snowy mountains.
  • “World’s Coolest Bears,” January 2021. This issue identifies five distinctive characteristics of polar bears.

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: 460L