Lesson plan for Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Vocabulary preview
There are many Spanish vocabulary words. The definition for the words are given on each page and then repeated throughout the story. Many other animals are referred to in the story besides the Puerto Rican Parrot. The names of many different peoples who have inhabited the island are mentioned in the story. Also there are many vocabulary words pertaining to the conservation efforts for the Puerto Rican Parrots. This is a lot of specialized information to understand while reading the story.
I would do the following to pre-teach the story. I would make four categories for the vocabulary. The categories would be Spanish words, animals, peoples and conservation words. I would make one big poster to display for the whole class to refer to while reading the book. I would include pictures of animals and other pictures to help any other vocabulary words. I would convert the information on the poster to handout form and give to the children. I would give the children time to read over the information in the handouts. Then I would explain all the information on the poster. I would put the book on the document camera to ensure all the students could see the award winning pictures. I would ask for any volunteers to read a page, otherwise I read the book myself and not make students read aloud. I would allow time for discussion after every few pages. I would make a words search for the vocabulary words for homework. Another day I would have the students read the book in pairs. The test would consist of a vocabulary match and two extended response questions.
Please see below for sample hand outs and test.
Spanish words
Boriquen-the name the Tainos people gave to the island now called Puerto Rico
Iguaca-the name the Tainos people gave to the Puerto Rican Parrot
Boricuas- what the people of Boriquen called themselves
Yo soy Bricua-I am Puerto Rican
Luquillo Mountains-by 1937 these mountains in the east were the only place where the parrots lived
El Yunque-this is a tropical rain forest in the Luquillo Mountains, it is the only place where the parrots now live
Animals
Red-tailed hawks-these chased the parrots from the treetops
Black rats-brought from settlers ships and ate the parrots’ eggs
Honeybees-swarmed the parrots’ nests
Pearly-Eyed Thrashers-birds that moved into the rain forest and tired to steal the Parrot’s nesting holes
Hispaniolan parrots-parrots who live on the nearby island of Hispaniola, they help raise the captive Puerto Rican parrots, they are like cousins of Puerto Rican parrots
People
5000 BCE-about the year settlers first came the island from the south
Tainos- the people who arrived on Puerto Rico around 800 CE
Spanish-settled island soon after 1493 when Christopher Columbus claimed the island for Spain
Africans-brought in 1513 as slaves
US citizens-this is what Puerto Ricans became in 1917
Conservation words
Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program-created in 1968, its goal was to save and protect the parrots
Aviary-a safe place for parrots to live and raise chicks
Luquillo Aviary-opened in El Yunque in 1973
Incubators-machines that keep eggs warm
Nesting Boxes-built by scientists to mimic the nesting holes the parrots make
Rio Abajo Forest-place of the second aviary built after Luquillo Aviary was damaged
Parrots Over Puerto Rico quiz Name__________________
1. Incubators __
2. Tainos __
3. El Yunque
4. Pearly-Eyed Thrashers __
5. Iguaca __
6. Boriquen __
7. Aviary __
A. a safe place for parrots to live and raise chicks
B. birds that moved into the rain forest and tired to steal the Parrot’s nesting holes
C. the name the Tainos people gave to the Puerto Rican Parrot
D. the people who arrived on Puerto Rico around 800 CE
E. machines that keep eggs warm
F. the name the Tainos people gave to the island now called Puerto Rico
G. this is a tropical rain forest in the Luquillo Mountains, it is the only place where the parrots now live
Extended response questions
1. Name one way people have harmed the Puerto Rican Parrots. Why did they do this?
2. Name something the conservation project is doing to help the parrots. How is this working?