2 Animals and Habitats: Supplemental Guide | Introduction
Lesson Implementation
It is important to note that the interactive activities in the Tr a ns ition
Supplemental Guide count on the teacher as the “ideal reader” to lead
discussions, model proper language use, and facilitate interactions
among student partners.
It is highly recommended that teachers preview the read-aloud, Flip
Book images, and comprehension questions to determine when to
pause during the read-aloud and ask guiding questions. To check for
understanding—especially before a diffi cult point is to be presented—you
might say, “While we are reading this part of the read-aloud, I want you to
think about...,” or you could ask supplementary questions, such as Who/
What/When/Where/Why literal questions.Student Grouping
Teachers are encouraged to assign partner pairs prior to beginning
a domain, and partners should remain together for the duration of
the domain. If possible, English Language Learners should be paired
with native English speakers, and students who have limited English
oral language skills should be paired with students who have strong
English language skills. Keep in mind that in some instances, a bilingual
partner or a group of three would benefit beginning/entering ELLs, and
an older student or adult volunteer may be a better arrangement for
some students with disabilities. Partnering in this way promotes a social
environment where all students engage in collaborative talk and learn
from one another.
In addition, there are various opportunities where students of the same
home-language work together, fostering their first-language use and
existing knowledge to construct deeper meanings about new information.Graphic Organizers and Domain-Wide Activities
Several different organizers and domain-wide activities are included to
aid students in their learning of the content in the Animals and Habitats
domain.- Where Are We?—Help students visually see where certain habitats
presented in this domain are located by using a world map, Image
Cards representing a specific habitat, and yarn to connect the Image
Card to where the habitat is located in the world. [Note: Several