5.2.4 Endangered Animals SUMMARY Though animal extinction is a part of nature, human actions can cause animals to become extinct faster than they naturally would The author explains how this happens and what people have done to prevent giant pandas, manatees, and other endangered animals from suffering this fate LESSON VOCABULARY conservation enthusiastic investigation contribute environment INTRODUCE THE BOOK INTRODUCE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR Discuss with students the title and the author of Endangered Animals Invite them to ask questions about the title What does it mean to be endangered? What animals are endangered? Point out that the cover image may offer clues on how the author will answer some of these questions BUILD BACKGROUND Ask students to think about the roles that animals play in their everyday lives Discuss what would happen if these animals disappeared forever How would people’s food, clothing, and other aspects of daily life change? PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES Ask students to flip through the book, glancing only at the photos Then have them preview it again, taking time to study the images and accompanying captions slowly and carefully Discuss how this second read-through changes their understanding of the book’s subject 44 FACT AND OPINION ASK QUESTIONS READ THE BOOK SET PURPOSE Have students set a purpose for reading Endangered Animals This purpose should be guided by their own interest and questions about animals in danger of extinction STRATEGY SUPPORT: ASK QUESTIONS Good questions often start with a question word, such as who, what, when, where, why, and how They also ask about an important detail of the story and can be answered in the reading Based on these criteria, ask students to record questions they have while reading about endangered animals Afterward, have volunteers share their questions as well as the answers they found in the book COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS PAGE What are endangered species? (animals that are in danger of becoming extinct) PAGE What U.S law protects endangered species? (the Endangered Species Act) PAGES 8–11 What is the main reason why the giant panda, spotted owl, and Karner blue butterfly are all endangered or threatened? (widespread loss of their natural habitats) PAGE 16 Is the author stating a fact or opinion when she writes that “Peregrine falcons became endangered because of a chemical in the environment”? (She is stating a fact because it can be proven true through scientific evidence and observation.) Endangered Animals 16911_LRD_TG_044-045 44 12/28/05 1:08:52 PM REVISIT THE BOOK READER RESPONSE It is the writer’s opinion that the insect is beautiful Where it once lived is fact Possible response: Which animals suffer most from poaching? What are governments doing to stop poaching? Is there anything I can do? Contribute can change to contribution Sample sentence: He made a strong contribution to the project Possible response: The map shows a huge shrinkage of panda habitat over time EXTEND UNDERSTANDING Tell students to look at the map on page and discuss what they can learn from it Point out how the map’s key tells them this information and then provide other examples of how map features such as symbols, scales, and compass roses convey data Maps should indicate the location of other habitats mentioned in the book Have students compare English terminology such as conservation, environment, and investigation with related words in their home language RESPONSE OPTIONS WRITING Invite students to create endangered and threatened animal trading cards based on what they have learned from the book and from other reference materials On blank index cards they should write facts about each animal, including details about its name, habitat, food, reasons for being endangered or threatened, and other information that students find interesting SCIENCE CONNECTION Students can learn more about endangered animals by using reference sources and Web sites of zoos Suggest that they focus on how species become endangered and what people are doing to help save them Skill Work TEACH/REVIEW VOCABULARY Invite students to make up sentences, each of which includes and helps define a vocabulary word from the glossary TARGET SKILL AND STRATEGY FACT AND OPINION Explain that a statement of fact can be proven true or false by reading, observing, or asking an expert A statement of opinion is a judgment or belief that cannot be proven true or false but can be supported or explained Help students make distinctions between the two types by creating a two-column chart on the board, with one column titled Statement of Fact and the other titled Statement of Opinion Read aloud statements from the book Challenge students to identify what types of statements they are Write each statement in the appropriate column ASK QUESTIONS It is important to ask good questions about text information Asking questions before, during, and after reading helps students activate prior knowledge, clarify confusion, engage with text, and remember important ideas By asking the right questions, students can determine whether or not an author is making statements of fact or opinion ADDITIONAL SKILL INSTRUCTION GENERALIZE Tell students that a generalization is a broad statement that applies to many examples Students can determine what generalizations the author makes by thinking about a number of specific animals in the book and deciding what they have in common Students can then use their own knowledge, as well as facts in the book, to decide whether a generalization is valid Provide examples of generalizations from the book, such as “Overfishing threatens many species of fish” on page 14 and then invite students to find their own Endangered Animals 16911_LRD_TG_044-045 45 45 12/28/05 1:08:54 PM Endangered Animals Name Fact and Opinion • A statement of fact can be proven true or false by reading, observing, or asking an expert • A statement of opinion is a judgment or belief It cannot be proven true or false but can be supported or explained Directions Read the following passage Decide which sentences are facts and which sentences are opinions Then complete the chart below A law called the Endangered Species Act protects endangered and threatened species It is one of the most important laws in America Under the Endangered Species Act, endangered species of animals are listed by the government Then plans are made to keep the species from becoming extinct The government must try to protect the animal habitats from being destroyed and may breed young animals in captivity for release in the wild Hunting and fishing for endangered animals might be limited by the government Some people’s jobs or businesses are affected by these rules But saving endangered species is worth the sacrifice Without protection, many animals will disappear from the Earth forever Statements of Opinion © Pearson Education Statements of Fact 46 16911_LRD_TG_046-047 46 12/28/05 1:09:28 PM Endangered Animals Name Vocabulary Directions Write the word from the box that best completes each sentence Check the Words You Know conservation environment contribute investigation Our class will enthusiastic cupcakes to the school bake sale The police are conducting an of the robbery A hot, dry desert is the perfect for a camel I love animals, so I am about my job at the pet store The of habitats will help save endangered animals Directions Circle the word that has the same meaning as the vocabulary word contribute neglect harm help conservation waste guarding destruction enthusiastic excited disinterested uncaring environment people object setting examination test routine 10 investigation Directions Write a sentence of your own for each vocabulary word 11 © Pearson Education 12 13 14 15 47 16911_LRD_TG_046-047 47 12/28/05 1:09:30 PM ... threatens many species of fish” on page 14 and then invite students to find their own Endangered Animals 16911_LRD _TG_ 044 -0 45 45 45 12/ 28/ 05 1:08 : 54 PM Endangered Animals Name Fact and Opinion • A statement... Write a sentence of your own for each vocabulary word 11 © Pearson Education 12 13 14 15 47 16911_LRD _TG_ 046 - 047 47 12/ 28/ 05 1:09:30 PM ... Statements of Opinion © Pearson Education Statements of Fact 46 16911_LRD _TG_ 046 - 047 46 12/ 28/ 05 1:09 :28 PM Endangered Animals Name Vocabulary Directions Write the word from the box that best completes