Polar Bears - ELA Lesson Plans #17

 This week is all about a close read of polar bear texts.  Last week's penguin unit was no mistake.  It built a schema for the kids on climate, polar regions and climate change.  This week we will delve into two main texts reading them over and over as we focus on asking and answering questions, finding new vocabulary, discovering author's point, compare and contrast and responding to text dependent questions in length with adequate support. While my normal shared reading texts last 20-30 minutes, this week will last 45-60 minutes taking up our writing block.  Students will respond to a question each day with a short answer with the exception of the fourth day.  On the fourth day they will respond in length.  Below level students will be expected to answer the question "Why is ice important to polar bears?"  On level students will be expected to answer the "Why is there a serious possibility that polar bears could become extinct?" with a three part response including: topic sentence, three supporting pieces of evidence and closing sentence.  Above level students will answer the same question with a four part response.  They will include the information from the on level response and add in a response that rebuts any climate change hoaxes.  For independent reading time, students will work on influential African American reading stations in anticipation for next week's lessons.

 This book is put out for students who need to extend their learning.

 On Thursday students will answer the question "Why is there a serious possibility that polar bears could become extinct?"  If time allowed, I would use Friday to conference with them.

2 Minute Bat Craft

 Need a quick bat craft or Venn diagram for the classroom? I came up with this one to compare and contrast bat books.

1.  Cut 2 circles out per student.  I used my circle cutter.  It was a very wise $10 investment.  I can cut out a class set in under 5 minutes.
2.  Students cut one of the circles in half and glue on as wings.
3.  Have students add a face.

It's really that quick and simple!

2 Minute Pumpkin Craft

Do you need a quick fall craft for the classroom? How about a cute Venn diagram that you can hang up after your students fill it out?  I wanted to compare an informational and fiction pumpkin book with one another and this is what I came up with.

Steps:
1.  Cut three circles per student out or have them cut it out.  I love my circle cutter.  I bought it a while back for volunteer work that I was doing and it was a great $10 investment. I can cut a class set in under 5 minutes.
2.  Have students glue the circles together as seen in the picture.
3.  Students should cut out leaves and a stem and glue onto the pumpkin.