Teacher s Guide for APPLESEEDS October 2012: CATS Rule

Transcription

1 Teacher s Guide for APPLESEEDS October 2012: CATS Rule Teacher s Guide prepared by: Sandra K. Athans, National Board Certified Teacher, literacy author & consultant, and freelance children s writer living in Upstate New York. This Guide provides practical classroom activities teachers may wish to use to supplement the reading passages appearing in this issue. Vocabulary words are highlighted (italicized words are defined in the article) and small group and independent activities/projects that address a range of learning styles are suggested. Many of these are suitable for group work or homework. Discussion questions and activities align with the Common Core National Standards (Reading for Literature and Informational Text; Writing Standards; Speaking and Listening Standards). Objectives: To supplement the reading and discussion of this magazine, students will: 1. Investigate the special relationship that exists between humans and cats. 2. Explore the unique characteristics and capabilities of cats and understand how they help serve a variety of purposes today. 3. Synthesize new information on their knowledge of cats. Pre-reading Activity: Introduce essential questions: (1) What types of relationships exist between humans and cats?; (2) Why are cats able to serve a variety of helpful purposes?; and (3) Why does our interest in cats continue and evolve over time? While introducing these guiding questions, you might also wish to create some Idea Webs (to capture and organize ideas) about cats using headings such as Breeds of Cats, Cat Anatomy and Physical Characteristics, Caring for Cats, Working with Cats, Cats Used for Helping, or others. Students can record ideas in the webs as they read through the articles. Hello, Kitty! by Kathiann M. Kowalski (pages 2 3): Think you know cats? It s time to take a closer look. Enjoy these descriptions that cover everything from head to tail. Vocabulary: absorb, barbs, nerves, reflective cells, retractable claws, scent Discussion Questions: List and identify all parts of the cat as described in the article. Explain how each part is useful to the cat and well designed to serve a specific function. Share your knowledge of and experiences with cats. Activities: Using details from the article, create your own poster of a cat and label each part. Make a vocabulary matching game where classmates or other friends try to match definitions to the correct cat parts. Write a rap highlighting the functions of the different parts of a cat. The PURR-FECT Cat for You by Kate Bradley-Ferrall (pages 4-6): There are over 70 different cat breeds around the world. Determine which is the right one for you! Vocabulary: Abyssinian, American Shorthair, breed, Calico, Domestic Shorthair (DSH), Japanese Bobtail, Maine Coon, Munchkin, Persian, Ragdoll, Siamese, Solid, Sphynx, Tabby, Tortoiseshell, Tuxedo 1

2 Discussion Questions: Explain in your own words the definition of the word breed. Discuss the characteristics of each of the different breeds. With a classmate or other friend, share your experiences with cats that demonstrate the different characteristics of the breed discussed in the article. Activities: Create and illustrate a classroom how-to book or slideshow presentation featuring the different cat breeds. Perform a role-playing skit, demonstrating the personalities of the different cat breeds. Rewrite each of the headings above the breed description with your own questions that captures the gist of each breed. This Side Up! by Ella Kennen (page 7): Cats generally land on their feet because of their super-limber body and science. Here s how it works! Vocabulary: collarbone, flexible, limber Discussion Questions: Discuss some of the special features of a cat that allow them to typically land on their feet. Explain why the author of the article warns: Don t try this at home? Share your experiences watching a cat spin, fall, land, twist, turn, and/or demonstrate any of the other flexible moves described in the article. Activities: Rewrite the article into a poem, describing a cat s step-by-step movements in sequence. Write and illustrate a comic strip about a superhero cat who always lands on his feet, while saving the day! Write a fun article describing how a cat pounces on a toy using a playful layout design such as the one used in This Side Up! The Artist s Eye by Sarah Tibbetts (page 8): The Cat in the Hat a well-loved book about one of the most beloved cats of all time! Vocabulary: antics, Braille, translated Discussion Questions: Identify evidence in the article that supports the author s claim that the Cat featured in Dr. Seuss books is one of the most famous and beloved cats of all time. Discuss the original reason that Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat and explain whether or not he met his objective. Share your experiences reading The Cat in the Hat or others in this series written by Dr. Seuss. Activities: Using information from the article and your school or local library, perform a dramatic role playing interview featuring Ted Geisel and/or The Cat in the Hat. Perform a reader s theater skit using The Cat in the Hat book. Create your own cat character that embarks on mischievous adventures. Bullet the Wonder Cat by Laura McLain Madsen, D.V.M. (pages 9-11): Bullet is a 19-year old Burmese, specially trained to help patients at Primary Children s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Read about his work day. Vocabulary: motivation, therapy, veterinarian Discussion Questions: Discuss the ways in which Bullet demonstrates his gentleness with patients at the hospital. Describe how Dana prepares Bullet for his hospital visits. Share your experiences when a pet or an animal has helped you feel better. Activities: With parent or teacher supervision, research information about Pet Partners/Delta Society, the organization that registers and tests therapy animals like Bullet and list five 2

3 interesting facts you learned to share with classmates and other friends. Create an advertisement for a therapy cat and list the type of must-have attributes and skills a therapy cat like Bullet would need. Design a special hairbrush and other grooming or play devices that children could use with Bullet during a therapy visit. On the Job by Lynne Hasselman (pages 12-15): Meet these modern-day career cats who are making a difference! Vocabulary: branch manager, donor, guest relations, humble, transfusion, vaccinations Discussion Questions: Describe the different jobs each of the cats in the article has. Explain in your own words how each of these cats makes a difference. Share your experiences meeting working cats. Activities: Write a rap or song about the cats in the article and perform your rap in front of classmates or other friends. Create a set of Working Cat trading cards featuring informational details and an illustration of each of the working cats. Write some help wanted advertisements for each of the jobs featured in the article. NIGHT STALKER and BEWARE THE CAT! by Becky Loescher (pages 16-17): Enjoy these playful poems about an adventurous stalker and catnip catcher. Vocabulary: mocking, poised, trouncing, wary Discussion Questions: Explain what is happening in each of the poems. Describe some of the techniques the poet uses to make the poems playful and engaging. Share your interests and experiences writing poetry about cats or other pets. Activities: Write and illustrate your own poem about a cat using some of the techniques from Night Stalker or Beware the Cat! Compare and contrast the two poems using a Venn or other diagram. Illustrate each of the poems based on visual images the poet creates. From the APPLE CORPS: My Adventures at the Cat Shelter by Annie Bradley-Ferrall (pages 18-19): Enjoy the story Annie shares while she volunteered at a cat shelter in Washington, DC. Vocabulary: aisles, condos, counselor, socializing Discussion Questions: Discuss some of the responsibilities Annie has while volunteering at WARL. What evidence in the article suggests that Annie enjoys her work? Share your experiences volunteering or working with cats. Activities: Write a funny short story about Annie and Jack Sparrow. Using information from the article, write a volunteer guidebook describing some of the responsibilities a volunteer at WARL would likely have. Design a special cat condo for a favorite cat and include those items mentioned in the article and others you feel would make comfortable quarters for cats awaiting adoption. Three Cats and A Rat Retold by Ellen L. Ramsey (pages 20-22): Enjoy this retelling of a humorous cat and mouse tale. Vocabulary: defeat, dodged, dreadful, groomed, proclaiming, thrust 3

4 Discussion Questions: Using your own words, summarize key events in the story. Using evidence from the story, discuss what the following sentence means: Sometimes, watching and waiting catches the rat. Identify the theme of this story. Activities: Using ideas and events in the tale, create a comic strip version of a sequel to the tale. Draw additional illustrations to feature in the retelling. Make a list of the many colorful adjectives and verbs used in the tale and create a word game or crossword puzzle to share with classmates or other friends. Sit, Kitty, Sit! How to Teach Your Cat a Trick by Bethany Meissner (pages 23-25): Teaching cats how to do tricks takes conditioning, positive reinforcement, and shaping. Vocabulary: conditioning, praise, routinely, shaping, stimulus Discussion Questions: Describe how conditioning, positive reinforcement, and shaping contribute to training a cat to perform tricks. Discuss the meaning of the sentence: Soon he ll be jumping through hoops for you! Share your experiences training a cat to do tricks. Activities: Write a how-to manual summarizing the techniques described in the article. Consider another trick you might teach a cat and, using the same approach described in the article, create a plan for teaching it to a cat. Create three to five illustrations to feature with the article. What Did You Say? by Marcia Amidon Lusted (pages 26-28): Although you might not be able to communicate with your cat through conversation, there are other ways to tell what s on his mind. Vocabulary: anxious, body language, confident, conversational, dignified Discussion Questions: Explain in your own words how cats communicate through body language, sound, and smell. Describe how you can become better at communicating with your cat. Share your thoughts and experiences communicating with your cat or other pets. Activities: With parent or adult supervision, take photographs of your cat (or draw pictures of a cat) and identify what s/he is likely communicating based on information in the article. Using your school or local library, research more information about the behavior of cats and other pets and note five facts to share with classmates and other friends. The Farmer and Me by Pamela Harrison (pages 29 31):Wildcats roamed the countryside thousands of years before there were pet cats. Real the fictitious adventures of one of these wildcats! Vocabulary: domesticated, midden, Neolithic Period, settlements, wildcat, wood-thatched Discussion Questions: Summarize key events from the story in your own words. Describe who is telling this story and explain why the author likely wrote the story using this point of view. Share your thoughts and experiences with cats who exhibit characteristics similar to the wildcat in the story. Activities: Write and illustrate a story about the wildcat s kittens in a story sequel. Write a journal entry from the point of view of one of the farmer s children who runs after the wildcat. Using your school or local library, research other information about wildcats during the Neolithic Period and share five facts with classmates and other friends. 4

5 Closing Activity: Students can return to the pre-reading activity and conclude their thoughts on the essential question: (1) What types of relationships exist between humans and cats?; (2) Why are cats able to serve a variety of helpful purposes; and (3) Why does our interest in cats continue and evolve over time? You might also wish to review all of the Idea Webs and draw some conclusions about cats based on the information contained in the webs. Lastly, you might review the lesson objectives and encourage student discussion on the topics contained there. 5