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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: Kathleen Langhan
Lesson Length: 3 hours
Keywords/Tags: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/homeworkhelp/science/ http://www.squidoo.com/penguin-facts-for-kids
Lesson Description: During this lesson students will learn reading skills, vocabulary, critical thinking, and reading comprehension. The students will read the short passage individually. Then the teacher will reread the passage out loud and discuss it. Students will then use classroom iPads to use a a research tool to find more facts about penguins. Students will be able to answer and ask questions regarding vocabulary and reading questions that the teacher will present.Students then individually will complete the following questions and will complete a discussion board with fellow peers.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • 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.4.1b: Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2d: Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c: Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a: Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.6: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife, conservation, and endangered when discussing animal preservation).
 
     
     
 
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: unique | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 What word best defines the meaning of the word "unique" from this sentence in the story: "Penguins are not like other birds.They are unique birds, and although they do have feathers, even their feathers are unusual."
A. similar
B. probably
C. different *
D. same
Which one of the below sentences uses the word "unique" correctly?
A. It is unique for the team to have the same uniform.
B. The animals are unique because they have a lot in common.
C. The cakes looked unique because they were decorated alike.
D. The students had a unique way of painting different pictures. *
Word/Phrase: Aquatic animals | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q2 The author in the story says "the penguin can out-swim most birds and probably out-swims some other aquatic animals." What does "aquatic animals" mean?
A. An animal that lives only on land
B. An animal that only lays eggs
C. An animal that is awake at night
D. An animal that lives most of their life in the water *
Which one of the sentence below uses the meaning of "aquatic animals" correctly?
A. Aquatic animals are animals that only live in cold climates.
B. Owls are aquatic animals because they hunt for food at night.
C. Sea lions are aquatic animals because they live mostly in the ocean. *
D. Aquatic animals live mainly on land.
Word/Phrase: mobility | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 The author in the story says "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. "What does the word "mobility" mean?
A. Movement *
B. Feathers
C. Breathing
D. Stay
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "mobility" correctly?
A. The grasshopper used his mobility to breath.
B. The bird had no mobility because he could fly.
C. The lion used his mobility to sleep in one place.
D. The child used her mobility to run in the race. *
Word/Phrase: Mammal | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The author in the story says "A penguin’s feathers grow all over, like hair on a mammal." What does the word "mammal" mean?
A. Any warm-blooded animal having the skin more or less covered with hair *
B. Any cold- blood animal having the skin more or less covered with hair
C. Any animal that has feathers
D. Any animal that eats only fish and swims in water
Which one of the sentences below uses the word " mammal" correctly?
A. Animals that only eat fish are all mammals.
B. Mammals are only born on land.
C. The lion is a mammal because they have fur. *
D. A frog is a mammal because they are cold blooded.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.6,
 
     
     
 
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 Why are penguins birds and not mammals?
Peguiens do not fly like most birds, and have hair like most mammals. So why are peguiens birds and not mammals?
Sent on: Oct 5, 2013 by: Kathleen Langhan		 0
Message What do penguins do underwater?
The author of the story talks about " penguin spends much time in the ocean." What do penguins do underwater? The author in the story also says, "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." What do you think you would see a penguin doing under water if you could see them using an underwater video camera? Use the internet to research more information if you need to.
Sent on: Oct 5, 2013 by: Kathleen Langhan		 0
Message Penguin's Swimming Skills
The author says "the penguin can out-swim most birds and probably out-swims some other aquatic animals." In your opinion, what other aquatic animals do you think peguiens can out-swim? Why? 
Sent on: Oct 5, 2013 by: Kathleen Langhan		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2d, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1c,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: What is the main idea for the story "Penguiens?" What are some examples from the story that support the main idea? In your conclusions, what do you think was the most interesting facts you learned from this story? Use examples from the story to support your answers. 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4,
 
     

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