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A Lesson on Penguins Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on Penguins Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Andrew Rogers
Lesson Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Nonfiction, Penguins, ELA, English Language Arts, Language Arts, Birds, Avians, Animals, Reading, Writing
Lesson Description: The goal of this lesson plan to present the students with a passage on penguins and a) have them learn some new vocabulary using context clues to determine their meaning, and b) use the text to answer questions that require them to look at the details and apply their knowledge. By asking questions about penguins that aren't directly answered by the text, this lesson plan will have students scrutinizing the details about penguins and how they can be applied to new information and topics. When presented with a long response to compare and contrast penguins with other birds, that question will re-emphasize the information the student learned from the text.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7: Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

Penguins

The penguin is a bird, but it does not fly. Penguins are not like other birds.They are unique birds, and although they do have feathers, even their feathers are unusual. Other birds have rows of feathers that grow in a specific pattern. A penguin’s feathers grow all over, like hair on a mammal. You will not see penguins in the air, and you will not see them in trees. You will see them in the water, in fact you will see them below the surface of the water if you have an underwater video camera.

The penguin is an ocean bird, living in and near the ocean. The penguin spends much time in the ocean, so much of its life is unknown. People only get to know penguins well when they are on land, and the penguin can be at sea for months at a time.

While the penguin is not a great flier as the eagle is, the penguin can out-swim most birds and probably out-swims some other aquatic animals. The penguin has thick strong wings and flippers instead of feet that it uses to push through the water. When the penguin is on land, it walks along slowly, and this limited mobility may be one reason the penguin spends more time in the water. The penguin’s food source is in the water, the fish it catches. They have solid bones, while other birds have bones that are not solid.
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: "The penguin can out-swim most birds and probably out-swims some other aquatic animals." | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q1 In this sentence, what does "aquatic" mean?
A. An animal that can live on land or water
B. An animal that flies
C. An animal that lives mostly on land
D. An animal that lives mostly in the water *
Which of the following sentences uses "aquatic" correctly?
A. Since sharks are an aquatic animal, they mostly eat fish. *
B. Tammy becomes aquatic when she jumps in the pool.
C. I know my dog is an aquatic animal because it drinks water.
D. Sara says her milk is aquatic because it has water in it.
Word/Phrase: "You will see them below the surface of the water if you have an underwater video camera." | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 What does "underwater" mean?
A. Something that is found right above water
B. Something that is found in water *
C. Something that is made out of water
D. Something that can only survive when in water
Which sentence DOES NOT use "underwater" correctly?
A. My mom was wet all over her body because she went diving underwater in the pool.
B. I can go underwater if I step in a puddle. *
C. Tyrone has an water-resistant phone, so it's okay if the phone accidentally goes underwater.
D. Some birds eat fish by diving into the ocean and scooping up the fish while underwater.
Word/Phrase: "Other birds have rows of feathers that grow in a specific pattern." | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 In this sentence, what does "specific" mean?
A. Clearly defined *
B. Special or unordinary
C. Colorful
D. Tastes like dirt
Which sentence uses "specific" correctly?
A. Hilda doesn't like to eat vegetables because they're specific.
B. The fireworks on the Fourth of July are very specific and pretty.
C. The teacher gave Jeremy clear, specific instructions on how to build a house. *
D. Amy's socks were so smelly and specific that she started coughing.
Word/Phrase: "The penguin has thick strong wings and flippers instead of feet." | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 What are "flippers" in this sentence?
A. Wings that are attached to the legs
B. A hole in the legs that squirt ink
C. Wide, flat limbs that are used for swimming *
D. Long, curved limbs that are used to walk on the sea floor
Which sentence correctly uses "flippers"?
A. A penguin can shoot ink out its flippers, which helps it move.
B. Penguins use their flippers like springs to bounce across the ocean floor.
C. When attacked, penguins use their flippers to kick predator away.
D. A penguin moves its flippers back and forth to go forward in the water. *
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Penguins Q1
As it was stated in the passage, penguins can't fly. Why do you think they can't fly?
Sent on: Jun 30, 2019 by: Andrew Rogers		 0
Message Penguin Q2
Why are penguins considered to be unusual, compared to other birds?
Sent on: Jun 30, 2019 by: Andrew Rogers		 0
Message Penguins Q3
Penguins are considered unusual because they don't act like normal birds. Can you think of any other birds that don't act like normal birds? What makes them unusual?
Sent on: Jul 1, 2019 by: Andrew Rogers		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: Compare and contrast penguins and flying birds. Then talk about how these differences may explain why penguins eat fish and swim in the ocean, while other birds fly in the sky and eat things other than fish. Write at least 75 words.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2,
 
     

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