A guide for using our resources

Children will discover how tigers and bears interact in the grasslands.

Vocabulary: grasslands, defenses, crouches

Science Focus: habitats, animal behavior

CCSS and Similar State Standards: RI.1.1 ask and answer questions; RI.1.4 determine meaning of words; RI.1.10 read informational texts; RF.1.2 vowels; W.1.8 gather information; SL.1.1 participate in collaborative conversations

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• A little tiger attempts to prove that he can creep up and terrify animals just like the big tigers. Students will enjoy his eff orts and may act along as he approaches each new animal. By the end, the little tiger does manage to get a scare—with his own reflection!

• Make a two-column chart where students can see. Title one column Adjectives and the other Verbs. 
• Discuss what the terms mean. Tell students that adjectives are descriptive words, and verbs are action words. Look at the first box in the issue. Which words are adjectives? Which are verbs? Add the words to the chart.
• Have students continue searching for words on their own, raising their hand to share what they have found. Write down words in the chart as they are shared.
• Adjectives in the article: dry, hungry, big, sharp, tall, low. 
• Verbs in the article: catch, looking, hide, sneaks, turns, growls, stands, crouches, slinks.

Skills: gross-motor

Materials: (optional) construction paper, crayons, scissors, glue, blank writing paper, pencils

• Students will work with partners to act out animal behavior in the grasslands!
• Have pairs of students act out being tigers and bears meeting in the grasslands. They can take turns being each animal. What will the tiger do? How will the bear respond? After practicing their scene, volunteer pairs can perform in front of the class.
• Ways to extend the activity:
•  Provide art materials for students to create their grassland scene and costumes of the animals they will play.
• Give students writing materials to write a reflection after working with their partner. Which animal did they enjoy playing? How was that animal feeling? How did it behave?