Non-fiction: African Animals African Animals Much of the continent of Africa is a savanna. A savanna is an open grassland with few trees. Africa's savanna is home to many different types of animals. The savanna is a habitat. A habitat is a place where an animal lives. Here are some animals that live in the African savanna. World Almanac for Kids Lions are big cats. Lion Lions are big cats with gold-colored fur. Lions are carnivores (KARneh-vawrz). Carnivores are meat eaters. Lions live together in a group called a pride. Elephant Elephants are animals with trunks and tusks. Elephants are herbivores (ER-beh-vawrz). Herbivores are plant eaters. Elephants live together in a group called a herd. Giraffe Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. They are plant eaters. Their height helps them reach leaves on tall trees. Giraffes live in a herd of about 10 animals. Article: Copyright 2005 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 1
Non-fiction: African Animals U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Warthog Warthogs are a type of wild hog. Warthogs are omnivores (AHM-nehvawrz). Omnivores eat both plants and meat. Female and baby warthogs live in a small group called a sounder. Males live alone. Hippopotamus Hippopotamuses are animals that live partly on land and partly in water. They are herbivores that eat mainly grasses. Hippos live in a herd of up to 15 members. Article: Copyright 2005 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 2
Questions: African Animals Name: Date: Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information in the passage. 1. Describe the African savanna. 2. How are elephants and giraffes similar? 3. According to the article, what is a warthog? Describe one key characteristic of a warthog. 4. What is this passage mostly about? 1
Questions: African Animals Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. At mealtimes, giraffes eat leaves from tall trees because they have long necks and can reach high places. What? giraffes 5. (do) What? 6. When? 7. Why? 2
Questions: African Animals 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many animals live in groups or herds for protection, they can still be attacked by lions and other meat-eating animals. A but B because C so Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab i tat): an animal s home in nature. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word habitat. a. The girl found the rabbit s hole, which is his habitat in the forest. b. By taking care of the environment, animals habitats can be saved. c. Some habitats such as the rainforest are protected so that people cannot do further damage. d. At the zoo, students learned that the natural habitat of the lion is the African savanna. e. Students learned that alligators like to live in a warm and wet habitat. 10. Which image does NOT show an animal in its habitat? 3
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals Teacher Guide and Answer Key Passage Reading Level: Lexile 520 Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: The passage is focused on animals that live on the continent of Africa. Africa s savanna is home to many different types of animals: lions, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, and hippopotamus. To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show the passage on a whiteboard or give each student a copy of the passage so they can follow along]. Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage. Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary]. 1. Describe the African savanna. [Important Detail] Suggested answer: A savanna is an open grassland with few trees. Africa s savanna is home to many different types of animals. A savanna is a habitat. [paragraphs 1, 2] 2. How are elephants and giraffes similar? [Important Detail] Suggested answer: Both elephants and giraffes are herbivores. An herbivore is an animal that eats only plants. In addition, both elephants and giraffes live in groups. Elephants live in a group called a herd, while giraffes live in a herd as well of about 10 animals. [paragraphs 4, 5] 3. According to the article, what is a warthog? Describe one key characteristic of a warthog. [Important Detail] Suggested answer: A warthog is a type of wild hog. One key characteristic of a warthog is that they are omnivores, which means they eat plants and meat. Warthogs females and babies live in a small group called a sounder, while the male warthogs live alone. [paragraph 6] 1
4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea] Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals Suggested answer: The article is focused on animals that live in the African savanna. A savanna is habitat that is an open grassland with very few trees. Lions, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, and hippopotamus are all animals that live in the African savanna. Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. At mealtimes, giraffes eat leaves from tall trees because they have long necks and can reach high places. What? giraffes 5. (do) What? eat leaves from tall trees 6. When? at mealtimes 7. Why? because they have long necks and can reach high places 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Many animals live in groups or herds for protection, they can still be attacked by lions and other meat-eating animals. A but B because C so To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below. Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab i tat): an animal s home in nature. Step 1: Introduce the word a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (hab i tat) b. Teacher says: This word is habitat. What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: Habitat. ] 2
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition a. Teacher says: Habitat means an animal s home in nature. b. Teacher says: The word habitat is used when talking about an animal s home in nature. In this passage, the author discusses the animals that make the savanna their habitat. c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: Habitat. ] Step 3: Practice the word Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students. Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: habitat (hab i tat): an animal s home in nature. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word habitat. a. The girl found the rabbit s hole, which is his habitat in the forest. b. By taking care of the environment, animals habitats can be saved. c. Some habitats such as the rainforest are protected so that people cannot do further damage. d. At the zoo, students learned that the natural habitat of the lion is the African savanna. e. Students learned that alligators like to live in a warm and wet habitat. Step 4: Check for student understanding To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice. 3
10. Which image does NOT show an animal in its habitat? Teacher Guide and Answer Key: African Animals Suggested Additional Vocabulary: savanna, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore 4