Blackline master
Pairs race
Match the ant to its nest Use the book Ant Nests to help you match each type of ant to the correct information about it. Draw lines to link the pairs.
Red ants
Lesson Plans
Activity card
What you need: a die, two counters, scissors. Cut out the cards below and place them over the matching squares on the game board.
✂
go up to the top of the nest to get in. cut up plants to put in their nest.
Black and orange ants Black ants
dig down to make a nest.
red ant
black ant
yellow ant
make their nest with silk.
Yellow ants
dig to make a big nest.
Green ants
put plants and sand on top of their nest.
Can the student find information in the text? Can the student use information he/she has learned to match text appropriately?
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd.
green ant
red ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
red and black ant red & black ant’s nest
black & orange ant’s nest
Level D (6)
Ant Nests reports on the nests that different types of ants make. Running words: 115 Text type: Report
Vocabulary
black ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
black and orange ant’s nest
How to play: Start at the star. Take turns throwing the die and moving your counter the number of squares shown on the die. Pick up the card that you land on. Continue moving around the board until all the cards have been picked up. The person with the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner.
black ant’s nest
yellow ant
Where Is My Nest? is a narrative about an ant who has lost his nest. Running words: 140 Text type: Narrative
High-frequency words
Key vocabulary
a all and are big can did for get go have he his I in is like look/ed make me must my not of on put said saw the their them this to too was we went where with up
ant/s ant’s black cut dig green just lost nest/s orange plants red sand silk top yellow
Phonics
• I dentifying the /n/ sound in initial, middle, and end positions • Identifying the /st/ blend as in nest
red and black ant’s nest
Text features Ant Nests Where Is My Nest?
• Photographic summary chart • Dialogue; repetitive pattern
Reading strategies
• Cross-checking – checking that a word looks right • Cross-checking – checking one cue against another
green ant
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
green ant’s nest
Assessment
black and orange ant
★
red ant
Red and black ants
red and black ant
Emergent reading stage
black and orange ant
red ant’s nest
black ant
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. This work is protected by copyright law, and under international copyright conventions, applicable in the jurisdictions in which it is published. The trademark “Flying Start to Literacy” and Star device is a registered trademark of EC Licensing Pty Ltd in the US. In addition to certain rights under applicable copyright law to copy parts of this work, the purchaser may make copies of those sections of this work displaying the footnote: “© 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd”, provided that: (a) the number of copies made does not exceed the number reasonably required by the purchaser for its teaching purposes; (b) those copies are only made by means of photocopying and are not further copied or stored or transmitted by any means; (c) those copies are not sold, hired, lent or offered for sale, hire or loan; and (d) every copy made clearly shows the footnote copyright notice. All other rights reserved.
Developed by Eleanor Curtain Publishing
okapi
educational publishing
Text: Kerrie Shanahan and Lyn Reggett Consultant: Susan Hill Designed by Derek Schneider Printed in China through Colorcraft Ltd, Hong Kong Distributed in the USA by Okapi Educational Publishing Inc. Phone: 866-652-7436 Fax: 800-481-5499 Email: info@myokapi.com www.myokapi.com www.flying-start-to-literacy.com
green ant’s nest
Phonics 1(2) (A) (v) Demonstrate phonological awareness by blending spoken phonemes to form one-syllable words, including initial and/or final consonant blends. 1(2) (B) (i) Demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge by decoding words in isolation and in context by applying common letter sound correspondences. Reading 1(6) (I) Monitor comprehension and make adjustments such as re-reading, using background knowledge, checking for visual cues, and asking questions when understanding breaks down. 1(7) (C) Use text evidence to support an appropriate response. 1(10) (C) Discuss with adult assistance the author’s use of print and graphic features to achieve specific purposes.
Writing 1(12) (A) Dictate or compose literary texts, including personal narratives and poetry. Speaking and Listening 1(1) (D) Work collaboratively with others by following agreed-upon rules for discussion, including listening to others, speaking when recognized, and making appropriate contributions.
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Ant Nests
Key concepts • A nts make nests. • Different types of ants make different nests.
Before reading
During reading
Getting ready to read
Ask each student to read the text independently. Monitor the students as they read and support them where appropriate. If necessary, ask the students to stop reading and remind them to use the reading strategies you are focused on. For example, check that the students are cross-checking one cue against another when they have made an error. Encourage this behavior. For example: The word could be “home”. This would make sense. But look at the first letter. What does that tell you about the word?
Encourage students to activate their prior knowledge. Say: We are going to learn about ant nests. What do you know about ant nests? Discuss the students’ ideas. Use a KWL chart to list these ideas. Ask: What do we want to know about ant nests? Add the students’ questions to the chart.
Vocabulary building Talk about the color of ants. Say: What colors can ants be? List the students’ ideas on the board. Support the students by drawing simple pictures of an ant in the suggested colors. If students do not suggest all the colors mentioned in the book, add these to your list. Say: Ants can also be black and orange/green/yellow/etc.
Introducing the book Give each student a copy of the book Ant Nests. Direct them to the front cover. Say: This book is called Ant Nests. It is about different types of ants and the nests they make. Talk the students through the book. Ask: What color is this ant? What can you say about this ant’s nest? How might black ants make their nests? Respond using the structure of the sentences in the text. For example, say: Yes, black ants dig to make a big nest.
After reading Talking about the book Ask the students to talk about the book. Promote discussion by choosing questions that are appropriate for your students. Ask them to support their answers by referring to the photographs and the text in the book. Do all ants have nests? What does the black ants’ nest look like? What do green ants make their nest with? (Literal) Why do ants have nests? (Inferential) What new information have you learned about ants by reading this book? (Synthesizing) Has the author included all ant types in this book? Explain. Is the information in this book factual? What makes you think so? (Critical)
Reviewing reading strategies Give positive feedback on the problem-solving strategies the students used as they read the book. For example: You were always thinking about what made sense when you checked to see if the words you read had the right letters. That’s what good readers do.
Where Is My Nest?
Returning to the book
Key concepts • Ants make nests. • Different types of ants make different nests.
Provide multiple opportunities for the students to read and interact with the book again – with teacher support, with a partner, and independently. Choose activities that are appropriate for your students.
Returning to the book Provide multiple opportunities for the students to read and interact with the book again – with teacher support, with a partner, and independently. Choose activities that are appropriate for your students.
Developing fluency
Developing fluency
Ask the students to read the text in pairs. One student should read the text while the other student displays the pictures on each page. Students should then change roles. Give positive feedback for fluent reading. For example: Your voice was clear and I could hear each individual word.
Ask the students to act out the book as they read it. Encourage them to read with expression. Ask: How would Ant feel when he says that? What might his voice sound like? Can you make your voice sound like Ant might sound when you read that?
Word work Phonemic awareness and phonics Write the word “nest” on the board. Ask: What sound can you hear at the start of this word? What letter makes the /n/ sound? Write the word “in” on the board. Does this word have the /n/ sound? Where do you hear this sound in this word? Write the word “ant” on the board. Can you hear the /n/ sound in this word? Where do you hear this sound? Ask the students to work in pairs and find words from the text that contain the /n/ sound. Record the students’ responses on a “Words with the /n/ sound” chart, using the headings At the beginning, In the middle, and At the end. Ask what other words could be added to this chart.
Exploring words Talk about verbs in the text (dig, cut, put, make). Action words are used in the story. What words in the book tell us what the ants do? Make a list of these words. Ask the students to talk about words that describe the things people can do. Add the students’ responses to the list.
Writing Modeled writing Complete the KWL chart with the students. Ask them what they have learned after reading Ant Nests. Invite the students to help you as you record their responses. For example: I need to write “different”. Who can tell me some sounds they hear in “different”?
Before reading
During reading
Getting ready to read
Ask each student to read the text independently. Monitor the students as they read and support them where appropriate. If necessary, ask the students to stop reading and remind them to use the reading strategies you are focused on. For example, check that the students are cross-checking a visual cue against other cues. Encourage this behavior. For example: Are you sure about that word? How can you check? Why don’t you check that the word looks right?
Encourage students to activate their prior knowledge. Say: We are going to read a book about ants and their nests. Ask the students to share what they know about ant nests.
Vocabulary building Support the students by talking about the vocabulary in the book. Ask the students to think about words that might be in a book about an ant that is lost. Record the students’ ideas in a list of “ant words”.
Introducing the book Give each student a copy of the book Where Is My Nest? Say: This book is called Where Is My Nest? It is a story about an ant that is lost and what happens to him when he goes looking for his nest. Talk the students through the book. Ask: What might Ant be saying here? What sort of nest has Ant seen? Is this nest right for Ant? Why? Respond using the structure of the sentences in the text. For example, say: Yes, Ant saw a nest.
After reading Talking about the book Ask the students to talk about the book. Promote discussion by choosing questions that are appropriate for your students. Ask them to support their answers by referring to the illustrations and the text in the book. What sorts of nests did Ant see? How did Ant know when he had found the right nest? (Literal) Do ants live alone? Do all ants have nests? Are all ants’ nests the same? Explain. (Inferential) Why did Ant need to find the right nest for him? (Synthesizing) Could the main character have been a different animal? How might this have changed the story? (Critical)
ELL Support: Ant Nests/Where Is My Nest?
Sharing and presenting
Use the teacher notes Developing oral vocabulary for English Language Learners on the back of the Vocabulary Starters Mini Beasts, Colors, Doing Things, and At School to support ELL students.
Ask students to present the KWL chart to another group of students.
Phonemic awareness and phonics Make the words “nest”, “just”, and “lost” with magnetic letters. Ask: What do these words have in common? What sound do the letters “s” and “t” make together? Ask students to pull down the letters “st” together. Ask what other words the students know that contain the /st/ blend. Make these words.
Exploring words Use the text to reinforce the students’ automatic recognition of high-frequency words. For example, turn to page 2. Ask: Can you show me the word “was”? How did you know that it said “was”? What letters are in the word? Invite the students to identify words that they know.
Writing Modeled writing Ask students to talk about Ant’s feelings at the beginning and the end of the book. Use their responses to model how we write about our ideas. For example: “At the start of the story, Ant was upset because he was lost.” Invite students to contribute where they can. For example: I need to write “lost”. Write “lo” and ask: What two letters do I need to finish this word?
Independent writing
Reviewing reading strategies
Ask the students to write about the places Ant went when he was lost.
Give positive feedback on the problem-solving strategies the students used as they read the book. I noticed that you were checking what you read.
Sharing and presenting
Independent writing Ask the students to choose one of the ants in the book, and to write about this type of ant and what its nest is like. Encourage the students to use the book as support.
Word work
Ask the students to act out the book for the class.
Synthesizing: Talk about the pair After students have read both Ant Nests and Where Is My Nest?, ask: What have you learned about ants by reading these books? What do all ants have in common? In what ways can groups of ants be different? Ask the students to work
in small groups and to fill in a T-chart with the headings Color of ant and Type of nest. Encourage the students to use words and pictures to fill in their charts.
Blackline master
Pairs race
Match the ant to its nest Use the book Ant Nests to help you match each type of ant to the correct information about it. Draw lines to link the pairs.
Red ants
Lesson Plans
Activity card
What you need: a die, two counters, scissors. Cut out the cards below and place them over the matching squares on the game board.
✂
go up to the top of the nest to get in. cut up plants to put in their nest.
Black and orange ants Black ants
dig down to make a nest.
red ant
black ant
yellow ant
make their nest with silk.
Yellow ants
dig to make a big nest.
Green ants
put plants and sand on top of their nest.
Can the student find information in the text? Can the student use information he/she has learned to match text appropriately?
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd.
green ant
red ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
red and black ant red & black ant’s nest
black & orange ant’s nest
Level D (6)
Ant Nests reports on the nests that different types of ants make. Running words: 115 Text type: Report
Vocabulary
black ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
black and orange ant’s nest
How to play: Start at the star. Take turns throwing the die and moving your counter the number of squares shown on the die. Pick up the card that you land on. Continue moving around the board until all the cards have been picked up. The person with the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner.
black ant’s nest
yellow ant
Where Is My Nest? is a narrative about an ant who has lost his nest. Running words: 140 Text type: Narrative
High-frequency words
Key vocabulary
a all and are big can did for get go have he his I in is like look/ed make me must my not of on put said saw the their them this to too was we went where with up
ant/s ant’s black cut dig green just lost nest/s orange plants red sand silk top yellow
Phonics
• I dentifying the /n/ sound in initial, middle, and end positions • Identifying the /st/ blend as in nest
red and black ant’s nest
Text features Ant Nests Where Is My Nest?
• Photographic summary chart • Dialogue; repetitive pattern
Reading strategies
• Cross-checking – checking that a word looks right • Cross-checking – checking one cue against another
green ant
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
green ant’s nest
Assessment
black and orange ant
★
red ant
Red and black ants
red and black ant
Emergent reading stage
black and orange ant
red ant’s nest
black ant
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. This work is protected by copyright law, and under international copyright conventions, applicable in the jurisdictions in which it is published. The trademark “Flying Start to Literacy” and Star device is a registered trademark of EC Licensing Pty Ltd in the US. In addition to certain rights under applicable copyright law to copy parts of this work, the purchaser may make copies of those sections of this work displaying the footnote: “© 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd”, provided that: (a) the number of copies made does not exceed the number reasonably required by the purchaser for its teaching purposes; (b) those copies are only made by means of photocopying and are not further copied or stored or transmitted by any means; (c) those copies are not sold, hired, lent or offered for sale, hire or loan; and (d) every copy made clearly shows the footnote copyright notice. All other rights reserved.
Developed by Eleanor Curtain Publishing
okapi
educational publishing
Text: Kerrie Shanahan and Lyn Reggett Consultant: Susan Hill Designed by Derek Schneider Printed in China through Colorcraft Ltd, Hong Kong Distributed in the USA by Okapi Educational Publishing Inc. Phone: 866-652-7436 Fax: 800-481-5499 Email: info@myokapi.com www.myokapi.com www.flying-start-to-literacy.com
green ant’s nest
Phonics 1(2) (A) (v) Demonstrate phonological awareness by blending spoken phonemes to form one-syllable words, including initial and/or final consonant blends. 1(2) (B) (i) Demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge by decoding words in isolation and in context by applying common letter sound correspondences. Reading 1(6) (I) Monitor comprehension and make adjustments such as re-reading, using background knowledge, checking for visual cues, and asking questions when understanding breaks down. 1(7) (C) Use text evidence to support an appropriate response. 1(10) (C) Discuss with adult assistance the author’s use of print and graphic features to achieve specific purposes.
Writing 1(12) (A) Dictate or compose literary texts, including personal narratives and poetry. Speaking and Listening 1(1) (D) Work collaboratively with others by following agreed-upon rules for discussion, including listening to others, speaking when recognized, and making appropriate contributions.
Blackline master
Pairs race
Match the ant to its nest Use the book Ant Nests to help you match each type of ant to the correct information about it. Draw lines to link the pairs.
Red ants
Lesson Plans
Activity card
What you need: a die, two counters, scissors. Cut out the cards below and place them over the matching squares on the game board.
✂
go up to the top of the nest to get in. cut up plants to put in their nest.
Black and orange ants Black ants
dig down to make a nest.
red ant
black ant
yellow ant
make their nest with silk.
Yellow ants
dig to make a big nest.
Green ants
put plants and sand on top of their nest.
Can the student find information in the text? Can the student use information he/she has learned to match text appropriately?
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd.
green ant
red ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
red and black ant red & black ant’s nest
black & orange ant’s nest
Level D (6)
Ant Nests reports on the nests that different types of ants make. Running words: 115 Text type: Report
Vocabulary
black ant’s nest
yellow ant’s nest
black and orange ant’s nest
How to play: Start at the star. Take turns throwing the die and moving your counter the number of squares shown on the die. Pick up the card that you land on. Continue moving around the board until all the cards have been picked up. The person with the most pairs at the end of the game is the winner.
black ant’s nest
yellow ant
Where Is My Nest? is a narrative about an ant who has lost his nest. Running words: 140 Text type: Narrative
High-frequency words
Key vocabulary
a all and are big can did for get go have he his I in is like look/ed make me must my not of on put said saw the their them this to too was we went where with up
ant/s ant’s black cut dig green just lost nest/s orange plants red sand silk top yellow
Phonics
• I dentifying the /n/ sound in initial, middle, and end positions • Identifying the /st/ blend as in nest
red and black ant’s nest
Text features Ant Nests Where Is My Nest?
• Photographic summary chart • Dialogue; repetitive pattern
Reading strategies
• Cross-checking – checking that a word looks right • Cross-checking – checking one cue against another
green ant
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
green ant’s nest
Assessment
black and orange ant
★
red ant
Red and black ants
red and black ant
Emergent reading stage
black and orange ant
red ant’s nest
black ant
Flying Start to Literacy Lesson Plans Ant Nests / Where Is My Nest? © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. © 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd. This work is protected by copyright law, and under international copyright conventions, applicable in the jurisdictions in which it is published. The trademark “Flying Start to Literacy” and Star device is a registered trademark of EC Licensing Pty Ltd in the US. In addition to certain rights under applicable copyright law to copy parts of this work, the purchaser may make copies of those sections of this work displaying the footnote: “© 2009–2019 EC Licensing Pty Ltd”, provided that: (a) the number of copies made does not exceed the number reasonably required by the purchaser for its teaching purposes; (b) those copies are only made by means of photocopying and are not further copied or stored or transmitted by any means; (c) those copies are not sold, hired, lent or offered for sale, hire or loan; and (d) every copy made clearly shows the footnote copyright notice. All other rights reserved.
Developed by Eleanor Curtain Publishing
okapi
educational publishing
Text: Kerrie Shanahan and Lyn Reggett Consultant: Susan Hill Designed by Derek Schneider Printed in China through Colorcraft Ltd, Hong Kong Distributed in the USA by Okapi Educational Publishing Inc. Phone: 866-652-7436 Fax: 800-481-5499 Email: info@myokapi.com www.myokapi.com www.flying-start-to-literacy.com
green ant’s nest
Phonics 1(2) (A) (v) Demonstrate phonological awareness by blending spoken phonemes to form one-syllable words, including initial and/or final consonant blends. 1(2) (B) (i) Demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge by decoding words in isolation and in context by applying common letter sound correspondences. Reading 1(6) (I) Monitor comprehension and make adjustments such as re-reading, using background knowledge, checking for visual cues, and asking questions when understanding breaks down. 1(7) (C) Use text evidence to support an appropriate response. 1(10) (C) Discuss with adult assistance the author’s use of print and graphic features to achieve specific purposes.
Writing 1(12) (A) Dictate or compose literary texts, including personal narratives and poetry. Speaking and Listening 1(1) (D) Work collaboratively with others by following agreed-upon rules for discussion, including listening to others, speaking when recognized, and making appropriate contributions.