Animal Babies by Donna Platt INTRODUCE THE BOOK Activate Prior Knowledge/Build Background Read the title, and ask children what kind of animal babies they have seen Ask: What you like about animal babies? Tell children that this book is about animal babies Preview/Use Text Features Preview the reader by talking about the photographs together and naming the labeled items Preteach Vocabulary Review the highfrequency words that appear in this book: eat, her, this, and too Introduce these key words from the book: baby (p 2) and mothers (p 2) Discuss these words and add them to a Word Wall READ THE BOOK Choose among these options for reading to support children at all English proficiency levels Read Aloud Read the book aloud as children follow along Pause to verify comprehension and to explain unfamiliar concepts Monitored Reading Have children read silently a few pages at a time Use the following questions to support comprehension: • Page What animal mothers do? (They take care of their babies.) • Pages 3–7 What are the different names for baby animals? (The baby animals are a calf, ducklings, a kitten, chicks, and a kit.) • Page What kinds of animals are shown in the photograph? (The photograph shows a horse and its foal, a goat and its kid, and a duck and its ducklings You may wish to teach children the names for a baby horse and goat.) ELL Reader 1.1.4 Nonfiction RESPOND Answers to the Reader’s Inside Back Cover: Talk About It Children should describe some of the baby animals depicted in the book They eat with them, swim with them, clean them, feed them, and watch them (Main Idea) Write About It Children may draw and write about one of the baby animals shown in the book, such as a calf or a kit Or, they may choose another kind of baby animal, such as a piglet Support writers at various English proficiency levels Beginning Have children copy the name of the animal from the book Intermediate Invite children to use this model in their writing: A puppy is a baby dog Advanced Have children write a sentence to explain why this baby animal is their favorite Extend Language A baby pig is a piglet A baby bear is a cub A baby goat is a kid A baby deer is a fawn Answers to page 8: Children should draw an animal baby with its mother Possible response: A mother bird feeds her chicks Family Link Read aloud the Family Link activity on page before sending copies of the Study Guide home with children Later, have children share what they learned from their families about animal mothers and babies © Scott Foresman Reread Have children reread the book with a partner, in small groups, or independently Have them complete the Study Guide on page ELL Readers Teaching Guide Unit 1, Week Animal Babies Study Guide Name Animal Babies • Read Animal Babies again • Draw a picture that shows what the story is about • Write a sentence that goes with your picture Family Link © Scott Foresman Ask family members to compare how human mothers and animal mothers care for their babies Animal Babies Unit 1, Week ELL Readers Teaching Guide ... Scott Foresman Ask family members to compare how human mothers and animal mothers care for their babies Animal Babies Unit 1, Week ELL Readers Teaching Guide ...Study Guide Name Animal Babies • Read Animal Babies again • Draw a picture that shows what the story is about • Write a sentence