One Cool Cat Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Students will examine how a snow leopard’s body helps it survive in the snowy mountains.

 

Science Focus:

snow leopards, animal adaptations

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

habitat, adaptation, camouflage, pounce

 

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; W.2.2 write informative texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level: 

560L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on snow leopards.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Amazing Adaptations.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one adaptation you learned about?

 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured terms arehabitat, adaptation, camouflage, and pounce.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. Ask students where they think snow leopards live. Why might this be a hard place to live?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how the snow leopard’s body keeps it safe and warm in its home.” 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. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

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

  • 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 ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words habitat, adaptation, camouflage, and pounce.

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

  • Norbert is back with mixed-up ideas in A Letter From Norbert Know-It-All! Students can analyze Norbert’s letter and identify the errors. Then have them use the skill sheet to correct Norbert and demonstrate their comprehension. If you email their letters to norbert@scholastic.com, Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Solve a Word Puzzle (15 min.)

  • The Snow Leopard Crossword skill sheet is a fun way to practice vocabulary from the issue! Children use words from the word bank to solve the clues.

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

  • Monkey in the Snow, January 2022. Use this issue to examine how snow monkeys stay warm in the cold.
  • World’s Coolest Bears,  January 2021. This issue identifies and describes 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: 500L