Thomas Tries What Lived in Australian Why the Turtle

T. Rex Trek Chocolate…Yum! Camping In Active Volcanoes

Something New That Shell? Sea Lions Does Not Fly
Level 23
Book h

Information report
hard, hot
572
23
Level

Word/s Introduced
Word Count
Text Type
High-Frequency
 We have designed these lesson plans so that you can have the plan in front of you as you
teach, along with a copy of the book. Suggestions for teaching have been divided into
questions and discussion that you may have with students before, during, and after they read.
This is not an arbitrary division. You may prefer to explore the meaning and the language in
more detail before students read. Your decisions will depend on the gap between students’
current knowledge and the content, vocabulary, and language of the book they are about to
read. The more information students have up front, the easier it will be for them to read the
text. However, this does not mean that you should read the text to them first.

We have addressed four areas we think are important in developing good readers. As well as
comprehension and decoding, we have addressed the issue of students being able to analyse
and use texts they read. The symbols below guide you to the type of question or discussion.

This symbol relates to decoding

(code breaker)

This symbol relates to use

(text user)

This symbol relates to comprehension

(meaning maker)

This symbol relates to critical analysis

(text critic or analyser)
BEFORE READING

Read the title on the front cover and talk about the connection with the photograph.

Ask what the active volcano is doing, and what is coming out of the crater.

Ask students what they know about volcanoes and write the information in the K
column of a KWL chart. Discuss what new information they want to learn about
volcanoes, and write the responses in the W column.

Read the table of contents and make predictions about whether their questions will be
answered in this book. Revise the use of the glossary and index with students.

Introduce the Comparison Chart BLM.

2
 T. Rex Trek
DURING READING

Chocolate…Yum!
Ask students to read the introduction and then name the three types of volcanoes.

Pages 4–5 Discuss the labelled diagram of an active volcano with students. Ask
students to read and find out how and when a volcano occurs.
Pages 6–13 Read, and then be prepared to discuss what comes out of a volcano.
Pages 14–15 Find out about two types of volcanoes.

Something New
Pages 16–17 How does hard lava build up to form a mountain?

Thomas Tries
Continue through the book setting students purposes to read, encouraging them to
read for key facts.

What Lived in
That Shell?
Camping In
AFTER READING

Australian
Sea Lions
Have students reread the book independently focusing on new information.

Bring the group together and ask if the questions asked before they read the book were
now answered. Have them tell the group new information they have learned. Write the
facts in the L column of the KWL chart.
Why the Turtle
Does Not Fly

Ask students to complete the Comparison Chart BLM.

Active Volcanoes

3
CODE BREAKER

Developing Specific Skills

Homophones – weak/week, blew/blue, heard/herd

Words with a short vowel sound before a single last consonant usually double the
consonant before adding y – run/runny

If a word ends in sh add es – pushes

Some words ending in o add es for plural and some s – volcano/volcanoes

TEXT USER

Compare text of two different types of volcanic eruptions.

Provide opportunities for extending knowledge by exploration of concepts and ideas.

Develop understanding of technical vocabulary.

4
 T. Rex Trek
MEANING MAKER
Create an interactive display by making a large mural of a cross-section of an active

Chocolate…Yum!
volcano. Write the labels on card for students and make cardboard arrows. Have
students attach the arrow and word cards to the appropriate parts of the
cross-section.

Ask students to compare three of the volcanoes in the book.

Have students research for more information about the volcanoes referred to, and add

Something New
other active volcanoes to their database.

Thomas Tries
Set up and record liquid/solid experiments.

Ask students to pretend they are in the location of a volcano when it begins to erupt,
and write about the experience.

What Lived in
That Shell?
Camping In
TEXT CRITIC

Australian
Sea Lions
Have students consider what new information they may acquire by going beyond the
book. Discuss where the extended information could be found and which key words
and phrases would help further their research.

Ask students to discuss the point of view of people who live in the vicinity of an
Why the Turtle
Does Not Fly

active volcano.
Active Volcanoes

5
23h Active Volcanoes Name ____________________

1. Some words become plural by adding es and some by

adding s. Write the plural for the following words.

banjo _______________ tomato _______________

video _______________ photo _______________
volcano _______________ domino _______________
cuckoo _______________ echo _______________
cello _______________ cargo _______________
hero _______________ tornado _______________
dynamo _______________ torso _______________

2. If a word ends in s, sh, ch, or x, add es to make it plural. If a

word ends in f or fe, change f to v and add es.
Copy these words and make them plural.

stitch _______________ knife _______________

box _______________ thrush _______________
wolf _______________ wife _______________
watch _______________ lunch _______________

3. Write a sentence using three of these words.

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

Permission is given to teachers to reproduce this page for classroom use.

23h Active Volcanoes Name ____________________

Comparison Chart
Compare volcanoes that have had weak eruptions with the
volcano that had a strong eruption.

Weak Eruptions Strong Eruption

1. 1.

2.

Permission is given to teachers to reproduce this page for classroom use.

23h Active Volcanoes Name ____________________

1. Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

extinct like paste

erupt erupting or have erupted in historical times
dormant not having erupted in recorded history
active a destructive wave of highly compressed air
spreading outwards from an explosion
pasty forcefully eject lava, rocks, ash, or gas
blast temporarily inactive

2. Write two sentences, with each one using two of the words.
a. ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

3. Draw a picture about

one of the sentences.

Permission is given to teachers to reproduce this page for classroom use.