Guided and Independent Reading Kit Sample material from the ...

Biodiversity
Dragon Alert 7
Level: Average (V)
LITERACY FOCUSES
Reading: Visualizing
Text Patterns: Identifying
Characteristics of Descriptive
Text Pattern
Writing: Planning for Concise
Writing
Listening: Creative Listening
SCIENCE FOCUS
Characteristics of vertebrates
VOCABULARY
These words may require
some prereading introduction:
food chain
native (adjective)
stumpy
consume
pygmy
park ranger
MATERIALS
• chart paper (Before activity)
• slips of paper with one
heading from the article
written on each (After
activity)
• Guided Reading Selection 8:
The Truth About Bugs
(Listening Focus)
Before
During
• Ask students to make a quick sketch of what they think a dragon looks
like. Have them share their sketches and talk about any features the
dragons share. Then invite students to brainstorm words and phrases
that describe dragons. Record their ideas on chart paper, and have
students help you organize the ideas into a two-column chart, with the
column headings How Dragons Look and What Dragons Do. When the
chart is complete, tell students that they are going to read about a real
dragon, called a Komodo dragon.
• Review with students the characteristics of descriptive text pattern (the
topic is clearly identified; the attributes of the topic are presented in
sections; each section answers questions such as “What is it” and “What
does it look like”; details describe something important about the topic
using sensory language). Tell students the article about Komodo
dragons is an example of descriptive text pattern, and they will be
looking for the characteristics of this text pattern as they read.
Page 1
• Distribute the selection and have students look at the photos on the
first page. Ask:
- Do you think dragon is a good name for this reptile Why or why not
• Encourage students to visualize as they read the page. Remind them to
watch for numbers they can use to help them visualize.
• When students have finished reading, ask:
- Who used numbers to help create a picture What links to familiar
things did you make in order to visualize 3 metres and 135 kilograms
- What else did you visualize while reading
- What comparison does the author make that can help you visualize
(Komodo dragons look like lizards)
• Say:
- Let’s think about the characteristics of descriptive text pattern. Has
the topic been clearly identified
- What questions does the first page answer
Page 2
• Remind students that in descriptive text pattern, authors often use
sensory language to describe something important about the topic.
Then say:
- Sensory language can also help us visualize. As you read this page,
watch for sensory language that helps you create pictures in your
mind.
14 Nelson Literacy 6a
NEL