photo of a baby cheetah
PHILIP MUGRIDGE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Words & Pictures,

One Cat, Five Facts

You’re going to read an article about a cheetah. Here are five facts to know first.

From the September 2020 Issue
Guided Reading Levels: J
DRA Level: 16-18
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RI.2.1 Key details, RI.2.4 Vocabulary, RI.2.5 Nonfiction text features, RI.2.9 Compare two texts on a similar topic, RI.2.10 Read grade 2-appropriate informational text, SL.2 Participate in conversations about grade 2 texts
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs
  • Social Studies
    (6) Geography. The student understands the locations and characteristics of places and regions in the community, state, and nation. The student is expected to: (A) identify major landforms and bodies of water, including each of the continents and each of the oceans, on maps and globes

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1) Not many cheetahs are left.

1) There are not many cheetahs in the world.

JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN R

Wild cheetahs live in Africa. They are endangered. That means there are not many of them left in the world.

Wild cheetahs live in Africa. There are not many of them left in the world.

2) Zoos are helping cheetahs

2) Zoos are helping cheetahs

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO

Some cheetahs live in zoos. The zoos care for the cheetahs.

Some cheetahs live in zoos. People take care of them.

3) Cheetah cubs need each other

3) Cheetah cubs need each other

F1ONLINE DIGITALE BILDAGENTUR GMBH/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

A mother cheetah can have six cubs. The cheetah babies play, cuddle, and teach each other how to be cheetahs.

A mother cheetah can have six cubs. The babies play. They cuddle. They teach each other.

4) It's hard for cubs that are alone

4) It’s hard for cheetah cubs to be alone.

PHILIP MUGRIDGE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Cheetah cubs are shy and nervous. That is a problem when they don’t have brothers or sisters.

Cheetah cubs are shy and nervous. That is a problem when they don’t have brothers or sisters.

5) Dogs are great friends to cheetahs.

5) Dogs are great friends.

MARK DUMONT/THE CINCINNATI ZOO

Dogs can help cubs learn how to play. They can give the cubs love. That helps the cheetahs live and grow. Dogs and cheetahs are friends at some zoos in our country.

Dogs can help cheetahs learn how to play. They give cheetahs love. Dogs and cheetahs are friends at some zoos.

Activities (4)
Skills Activities
Activities (4) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities

About the Article

Science Focus

Endangered animals; Animal families

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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GET READY FOR TEXT-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONS!

  • Storyworks 2 is full of amazing text-to-text connections to help kids gain context for what they’re reading.
  • This article will give kids background knowledge that will help them better understand the longer nonfiction article “How to Save a Cheetah’s Life” on page 6.
  • But it also stands on its own! The chunked text and big, bright photos give kids a high-interest, less-demanding reading experience. 

1. BEFORE READING


Focus on Geography (3 minutes)
  • The first fact in this article is about geography. Cheetahs in the wild live in Africa. Look at the globe together. Point out that Africa is a continent.
  • Now ask students if they can find the United States. That’s where we live! The United States is a country on the continent of North America.

2.  READ THE ARTICLE (10 MINUTES)

  • This article works well with the whole class. You can call on different students to read each box aloud. The numbers make the text easy to navigate.
  • As you read, stop to analyze the photos. What do kids notice about the women in photo 2? (One has a stethoscope.) What might that mean? (She is a veterinarian for the cheetah.)

3.  AFTER READING (3 MINUTES)

Notice Nosey! (3 minutes)

  • Point out our doggy character, Nosey, on page 5. Ask someone to read her voice bubble.
  • Explain that Nosey pops up throughout Storyworks 2. Not only does she have a long nose to sniff out facts, but she’s also just nosy. She’s curious and wants to know about everything.

ELA Focus: Key Details (20 minutes)

  • It’s time to help Nosey fill out her fact file! Print Nosey’s Fact File from the Resources section of our website.
  • The fact boxes are scaffolded to help kids know what to write. Kids can share their facts with a partner, the other students at their table, or the class

ELA Focus: Comprehension (5-10 minutes)

  • Assess students’ comprehension of the article with this quiz.

ELA Focus: Writing Facts About Me (20 minutes)

  • Kids can write Nosey about themselves. If they send their work to [email protected], they will get a letter back!

Enrich the Learning: Paired Text

Text-to-Speech