Researchers Do These Things Anchor Chart
RI.4.5, RI.4.7, W.4.7, W.4.8
Teacher Directions: Write the following on chart paper to create this anchor chart.
What do researchers do?
- Ask questions about a topic to focus their research
- Determine the structure of a text to be able to locate information to answer research questions quickly
- Interpret information presented in different ways (for example charts, graphs, diagrams) to better understand the text
- Investigate different aspects of a topic to build knowledge or answer research questions
- Choose and use reliable sources by identifying the publisher, author, bias, accuracy, and timeliness of the source.
- Take notes and categorize information
- Analyze data and facts, and draw a conclusion
- Think about how new ideas or learning connect to what they already know
- Talk with others to clarify their thinking and deepen their learning about a topic
- Present what they have learned in their research through speaking or writing about the topic
- Cite their sources:
— Author name last, first. Title of book.
City of pub. Date of pub. Pages
Animal Defenses Research Notebook:
Listening Closely Note Catcher (Pages 2-3)
(Example, for Teacher Reference)
W.4.8, SL.4.2
Source: Venom, pages 4–5
Directions: Listen as Venom is read aloud. Use the table below to record your notes.
Research Question: “How do animals’ bodies and behaviors help them survive?”
What do you OBSERVE/HEAR?- Some animals can hurt or kill with a bite, stab, sting, or spit.
- Some animals can hurt or kill if you bite them.
- They are found all over the world, in water and on land.
- Poisonous animals make you sick if you eat them or touch them.
- The poison is how they defend themselves from predators.
- Sometimes the poison tastes bad and makes the predator spit them out.
- If a dog bites a toxic toad, it will spit the toad out.
- Some toxic animals are venomous.
- Venomous animals inject their poison with their teeth, spines, or stingers.
- Snakes, spiders, jellyfish, and bees are venomous.
- Some animals use venom to catch prey.
- Some animals use venom to protect themselves.
- Some animals use venom to defend their families or community.
- Poisonous or venomous animals can be dangerous to humans if their toxins are strong.
What QUESTIONS do you have?
- How do humans react to these animals’ venom?
- How do the animals use their venom?
- Is there a way to tell if an animal is venomous by looking at it?
Explain what this text was about by paraphrasing the information heard. Be sure to include specific details from your notes in your response.
This section of Venom was about how some animals are toxic. Some animals are poisonous and can make you sick if you eat them or touch them. This is how they protect themselves from predators. For example, if a dog bites a toxic toad, it would spit it out and the toad would not get eaten. Some animals are venomous and inject their poison by biting or stinging their enemy, like snakes or spiders. Animals use venom to catch their prey and to protect themselves or their community.
Animal Defenses Research Notebook:
Animal Behavior: Animal Defenses
Chapter 1 Gist Chart (Page 5)
(Answers, for Teacher Reference)
RI.4.2, RI.4.10, W.4.7
Source: Animal Behavior: Animal Defenses, pages 7–12
Introduction pages 7–9 / It is about how gazelles protect themselves from cheetahs and how animals are born “knowing” how to defend themselves.
“Self Defense” page 9 / Animals use primary defenses, defenses they have ready all the time, and secondary defenses, their backup defenses, to protect themselves.
“Lying Low” page 10 / Some animals hide if they see a predator to avoid being noticed.
“A Life in Hiding” pages 11–12 / Some animals have adapted over time to look like their surroundings in order to hide from predators.
/ | Language Arts Curriculum / 1