Two Cats’ Habitats Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will compare and contrast lions and their grassland habitat with tigers and their jungle habitat.

 

Science Focus:

habitats

 

CCSS:

SL.1.2 Discuss a video; L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases; RI.1.1 Key details; W.1.1 Writing; RI.1.3 Compare/contrast; RI.1.4 Vocabulary; RI.1.10 Read and discuss first-grade texts, SL.1.3 Ask and answer questions

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  • Before watching Two BIG Cats, ask kids to name some differences between lions and tigers. Kids will likely mention stripes and manes!
  • After watching, invite kids to share another difference they learned. (SKILL: SL.1.2 Discuss a video)
  • Play the vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are habitats, cubs, camouflages and lush. (SKILL: L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases)
  • Read the issue together.
  • Then project and discuss the reading checkpoint skill sheet. Later, children can fill in their own copies. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

With our Who Lives in That Habitat game, children place different animals in their correct habitat, including forest, seashore, and pond scenes. (SKILL: Identifying habitats)

  • With this skill sheet, kids pick what kind of cat they want to be, describe their habitat, and then ask a partner to guess the cat! (SKILLS: W.1.1 Writing, RI.1.3 Compare/ contrast)
  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to reinforce key vocabulary words from the issue. (SKILL: RI.1.4 Vocabulary)
Examples of colored text on paper

Objective: Children will play a 20-questions style game to identify habitats and animals that live there.

Materials: chart paper, markers

  • In advance, create a chart for each habitat you want to teach: include the name of the habitat, words and phrases that describe it, and several animals that live there. See examples at right.
  • To play, have children take turns choosing a secret animal from one of the charts. Other players then ask questions to first guess the habitat and then the animal. The catch? Questions can have only yes-or-no answers and cannot name the habitat or animal until kids are ready to make their guess!
  • For example, if a child were to choose an octopus, the game might go something like this:

Is the habitat wet? (yes)

Is it green? (no)

Is it underwater? (yes)

Guess: Is it the ocean? (yes)

Does the animal have fins? (no)

Does it have legs? (yes)

Guess: Is it an octopus? (Yes, it is!)

(SKILL: SL.1.3 Ask and answer questions)