Ferocious felines
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/lionkings.html
A lesson plan for grades 3–5 English Language Arts and Science
In this Xpeditions lesson, students study the biota—or flora and fauna—of the Kalahari Desert, and the importance of the lion’s role as predator within this ecosystem. This lesson engages students in small group collaboration, research using online resources, and class presentations.
Students will:
- discuss their general impression of desert environments;
- conduct a vocabulary search to define terminology related to this lesson;
- read and answer questions about the Kalahari Xeric Savanna;
- distinguish and describe animal roles in a food chain;
- conduct research for presentations on the role of the lion in African ecosystems;
- work in groups to develop skits (for in-class presentation) depicting aspects of animal life in the Kalahari Desert;
- read and discuss the current problem of big cat ownership; and
- read about the historic Tsavo man-eating lions.
Xpeditions provides links to online resources, detailed instructions for the lesson, and suggestions for assessment and extension activities.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- listening.
- discussion.
- book talks.
- book clubs.
- seminars.
- viewing.
- role play.
- studying author's craft.
- Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
Grade 4
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
- knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
- writing process elements.
- writing as a tool for learning.
- seminars.
- book clubs.
- discussions.
- examining the author's craft.
- Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
- Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
- wide reading.
- word study.
- word reference materials.
- content area study.
- writing process elements.
- writing as a tool.
- debate.
- discussions.
- seminars.
- examining the author's craft.
- Objective 1.03: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
Science (2005)
Grade 4
- Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
- Other animals.
- Plants.
- Weather.
- Climate.
- Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
- Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations to build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.
- Objective 1.01: Describe and compare several common ecosystems (communities of organisms and their interaction with the environment).
- Objective 1.02: Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:
- Producers.
- Consumers.
- Decomposers.
- Objective 1.04: Discuss and determine the role of light, temperature, and soil composition in an ecosystem's capacity to support life.
- Objective 1.05: Determine the interaction of organisms within an ecosystem.
