A guide for using our resources

Children will discover the features of a pond habitat.

Vocabulary: habitat, peaceful, tracks

Science Focus: habitats

  1. Watch a Video:

    A Pond Is a Habitat

     

  2. Read the Issue:

    Tiptoe to the Pond

  3. Play a Game:

    Pond Search and Find

    Skill: Vocabulary

     

  4. Complete Skill Sheets 

    Reading Checkpoint

    Skill: key details

     

    Word Work

    Skill: vocabulary

     

    Color by Vowel Sound

    Skill: phonemic awareness

     

  5. Lesson Boosters 

  • Paired Text Suggestion: Habitat Spy by Cynthia Kieber-King

     

  • Background Builder: What do you know about ponds?

  • Consonant Blend Hunt: tr-

  • Hands-on Activity: Hide and Peek Pond

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 key details; RI.1.4 determine meaning of words; RI.1.5 text features; RI.1.10 read and discuss fi rst-grade texts; RF.1.2.A vowels; RF.1.2B consonant blends

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Paired Text Suggestion: Habitat Spy by Cynthia Kieber-King

  • This rhyming book allows students to visit 13 diff erent habitats, play “I Spy!,” and discover new animals and plants within

Background Builder: What do you know about ponds?

  • Before reading the issue, write the word pond on the middle of a large sheet of paper. Ask students what they think about when they hear the word. What might they see at a pond? What animals and plants live there? Write students’ answers.
  • As you read, point out any similarities to the students’ ideas and the information in the article. Add new facts onto the sheet.

Consonant Blend Hunt: tr-

  • Assign small groups to reread parts of the article. Have students work together to find and circle every tr- blend.
  • Add an extra challenge by asking students to find other blends, such as: fr-, cr-, br-, st-.

Hands-on Activity: Hide and Peek Pond

Skills: fine motor, writing

Materials: Hide and Peek Pond skills sheet, coloring tools, pencil

  • Students will create a guessing game for their classmates to play!
  • Rewatch the video for this issue and revisit the article. As a class, review what animals live around a pond. Tell students to pick one pond animal and think about what it looks like and acts like.
  • Give students the Hide and Peek Pond skills sheet. Have students draw their chosen animal in the box all the way on the right. Then fold on the dotted line so that the animal is hidden under the page.
  • Ask students to write down clues about their hidden animal on the skills sheet. Guide students by asking: What color is your animal? Does it have fur or feathers? Can it swim?
  • For their last clue, have students draw their animal’s tracks by guessing or referencing the issue. Students can also draw their animal’s habitat. Add pond features such as plants
  • Finally, have students pair up to guess each other’s animals or ask volunteers to take turns sharing their Hide and Peek Pond with the whole group!