Audience: 2nd - 3rd grade
Purpose: To introduce the students to the arctic and the animals that live in that environment.
Purpose: To introduce the students to the arctic and the animals that live in that environment.
Anchor Text:
The Mitten by Jan Brett (ISBN 9780399252969)
32 pages, Lexile: 800L
This classic children’s book has been read to children since 1989. The main character in the story, Nicki, drops his white mitten in the snow. One by one, woodland animals find the mitten. As the story of the animals in the mitten develops, Nicki continues his journey in the woods without knowing what is going on. In this story, Brett brings the animals to life in a dramatic picture book with her distinctive style. Text is at above grade reading level.
The Mitten by Jan Brett (ISBN 9780399252969)
32 pages, Lexile: 800L
This classic children’s book has been read to children since 1989. The main character in the story, Nicki, drops his white mitten in the snow. One by one, woodland animals find the mitten. As the story of the animals in the mitten develops, Nicki continues his journey in the woods without knowing what is going on. In this story, Brett brings the animals to life in a dramatic picture book with her distinctive style. Text is at above grade reading level.
Supporting Text #1:
Amazing Arctic Explorer: Matthew Henson by Mary Dodson Wade (ISBN 9780766059740)
24 pages
In this non-fiction text about explorer Matthew Henson, one of the first people to reach the North Pole who was African America. Being an African American, his story is not well known and often forgotten. Students will be interested in Henson’s journey he took with Robert Peary. This book has many pictures to tell the story. This book would be best used as a teacher read aloud followed by a discussion. Text is at grade reading level.
Amazing Arctic Explorer: Matthew Henson by Mary Dodson Wade (ISBN 9780766059740)
24 pages
In this non-fiction text about explorer Matthew Henson, one of the first people to reach the North Pole who was African America. Being an African American, his story is not well known and often forgotten. Students will be interested in Henson’s journey he took with Robert Peary. This book has many pictures to tell the story. This book would be best used as a teacher read aloud followed by a discussion. Text is at grade reading level.
Supporting Text #2:
Eye Wonder: Arctic and Antarctic by DK Publishing (ISBN 9780756619800)
48 pages
This informative text is an excellent resource for background information on the Arctic. Students will gain a lot and enjoy paging through it. This text not only shows and describe wildlife in the region, but, also clothing, artifacts, and equipment used by polar explorers. This text would be best used as a exploratory text allowing the students to browse through it. The teacher can point out a few key pictures and descriptions. Text is above reading level, however, all students will benefit from this text through the pictures.
Eye Wonder: Arctic and Antarctic by DK Publishing (ISBN 9780756619800)
48 pages
This informative text is an excellent resource for background information on the Arctic. Students will gain a lot and enjoy paging through it. This text not only shows and describe wildlife in the region, but, also clothing, artifacts, and equipment used by polar explorers. This text would be best used as a exploratory text allowing the students to browse through it. The teacher can point out a few key pictures and descriptions. Text is above reading level, however, all students will benefit from this text through the pictures.
Supporting Text #3:
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater (ISBN 9780316058438)
139 pages, Lexile: 910
In this classic text, a house painter Mr. Popper paints people’s homes for part of a year. He takes the other part of the year off to read and learn about the north and south poles. One of Mr. Popper’s heroes is an explorer and they correspond with each other; Mr. Popper received a penguin from him. The penguin started to get sick because he was lonely. Another penguin comes to live with them which cures the sickness. The penguins create a family and the cost is too much for the Popper family. Mr. Popper then develops a creative way to earn money. The students will enjoy this chapter book as a teacher read aloud. Text is above reading level.
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater (ISBN 9780316058438)
139 pages, Lexile: 910
In this classic text, a house painter Mr. Popper paints people’s homes for part of a year. He takes the other part of the year off to read and learn about the north and south poles. One of Mr. Popper’s heroes is an explorer and they correspond with each other; Mr. Popper received a penguin from him. The penguin started to get sick because he was lonely. Another penguin comes to live with them which cures the sickness. The penguins create a family and the cost is too much for the Popper family. Mr. Popper then develops a creative way to earn money. The students will enjoy this chapter book as a teacher read aloud. Text is above reading level.
Supporting Text #4:
Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks (ISBN 9780761456858)
32 pages, Lexile: AD170
This story is about Alex the polar bear and Zina the penguin. They are best of friends, yet complete opposites. This text would be great to not only use as a teacher read aloud featuring arctic animals, but use it to introduce the concept of compare and contrast which can lead into a written assignment with a Venn diagram. In the story, Alex and Zina share some similarities, but also differences as they live in different places. Text is at grade level, but would be best used in a adult directed setting.
Polar Opposites by Erik Brooks (ISBN 9780761456858)
32 pages, Lexile: AD170
This story is about Alex the polar bear and Zina the penguin. They are best of friends, yet complete opposites. This text would be great to not only use as a teacher read aloud featuring arctic animals, but use it to introduce the concept of compare and contrast which can lead into a written assignment with a Venn diagram. In the story, Alex and Zina share some similarities, but also differences as they live in different places. Text is at grade level, but would be best used in a adult directed setting.
Supporting Text #5:
Learn Arctic Animals Sounds & Habits
Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXsI0K5qX8s)
This video is available using the standard YouTube website or app in additional to the YouTube Kids app.
This video introduces varies arctic animals. Students will be engaged as this video was created as if you are playing a video game. The video starts off describing animals that live in the arctic and describes them. They make statements such as, "Let's build an animal." While it is describing the parts of the animals, the video builds it similar to playing a video game. Next, students will listen to the sounds animals make and learn what they eat. Throughout this twelve-minute video, students will learn about facts about animals and the arctic. For example, they will learn about the different land and sea arctic animals and that polar bears are great hunters and powerful swimmers. Students can view this video as a class or since it is available on the app, it can be used independently. Text is below grade level.
Learn Arctic Animals Sounds & Habits
Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXsI0K5qX8s)
This video is available using the standard YouTube website or app in additional to the YouTube Kids app.
This video introduces varies arctic animals. Students will be engaged as this video was created as if you are playing a video game. The video starts off describing animals that live in the arctic and describes them. They make statements such as, "Let's build an animal." While it is describing the parts of the animals, the video builds it similar to playing a video game. Next, students will listen to the sounds animals make and learn what they eat. Throughout this twelve-minute video, students will learn about facts about animals and the arctic. For example, they will learn about the different land and sea arctic animals and that polar bears are great hunters and powerful swimmers. Students can view this video as a class or since it is available on the app, it can be used independently. Text is below grade level.
Supporting Text #6:
Virtual Field Trip - Welcome to Antarctica!
Website (http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/)
Take a visit to Antarctica without leaving the classroom! This virtual tour created by the Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica (CARA) starts where almost all Antarctic expeditions begins, New Zealand. From there you’ll fly to McMurdo Station on the coast of Antarctica and then to the bottom of the Earth, the South Pole. Each stop has photos and facts. There is a lot of information on this site, so it would be best to travel on the field trip as a class for the teacher to point out the more relevant information. Students will enjoy the pictures, so time for independent or partner exploration would be beneficial as well. Students who are above level readers will also be able to read additional facts during this time. The website has text at all level of complexities.
Virtual Field Trip - Welcome to Antarctica!
Website (http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/vtour/)
Take a visit to Antarctica without leaving the classroom! This virtual tour created by the Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica (CARA) starts where almost all Antarctic expeditions begins, New Zealand. From there you’ll fly to McMurdo Station on the coast of Antarctica and then to the bottom of the Earth, the South Pole. Each stop has photos and facts. There is a lot of information on this site, so it would be best to travel on the field trip as a class for the teacher to point out the more relevant information. Students will enjoy the pictures, so time for independent or partner exploration would be beneficial as well. Students who are above level readers will also be able to read additional facts during this time. The website has text at all level of complexities.