Look, Ask and Learn About Butterflies by Dr. Helen Pashley and Lori Adams

Day1.Features of a nonfiction book

If students are not already familiar with the features of a non-fiction book you may have to introduce them as follows:

  1. Start by giving each pair of students a copy of the Butterflies book. Have them look at the cover, back, and then start to explore the book more closely. Say “Let us look at the layout of a typical nonfiction book. A non – fiction book may have some or all of the features listed below.”
  • Headings – are in a bigger font (size) than the text. They are usually different from the style of font used in the text, and may be a different color, so they stand out and are easy to read on the page. In this book observations based on the photographs are color-coded in blue and scientific questions in green.
  • Highlighted words – some words are in bold or italics. These vocabulary words may be important to know for the topic. They are usually found in the glossary too.
  • Glossary - defines (or explains) what unfamiliar words mean. Sometimes a glossary will show you how to pronounce the word.
  • Index – a list in alphabetical order of subjects, places, people or things that are found in the book. A page number beside the word makes it easy to find what you are looking for.
  • Labels – are writing on a picture, diagram or photo. Labels tell you what you are looking at. Often a line is drawn from the label to the part that you should notice.
  • Photograph – a picture taken by a camera. It shows you exactly what something looks like.
  • Scale – this is like a ruler. It gives you an idea of how big the object is.
  • Close up – this is bigger than you would see with your eye. It shows you more details.
  1. Then have students compare the layout of this book with a fiction book that they are familiar with. Summarize and record the similarities and differences on a T Chart.
  1. Students may then practice their knowledge of the book’s layout by completing the scavenger hunt below: RI5

Name ______Date ______

Nonfiction book scavenger hunt

Use the book “Look, Ask and Learn About Butterflies.”

Write down the page number where you find:

  1. The Index A- L _____
  1. A Close up of a butterfly wing _____
  1. The Label “meconium” _____
  1. The Heading “In these photographs, the butterflies are feeding on fruit, not flowers.” _____
  1. The Highlighted word “life cycle” in bold font _____
  1. The Glossary – continued _____
  1. A photograph with a Scale _____

Now answer these questions:

  1. Use the Glossaryto find the meaning of the word habitat.

______

  1. Which pages in the index show you where to find

information about metamorphosis?

______

  1. Use the index to find out if butterfly senses are like ours.

Organize your information in the chart.

Butterflies / Humans
Seeing
Smelling/tasting
Other

Scavenger Hunt Answer Key:

1. page 30

2. page 18

3. page 16

4. page 20

5. page 22

6. page 29

7. page 4

8. Habitat – the place where an animal lives

9. pages 22, and 23

Day 2. Pre – teaching academic vocabulary

  1. The scientific vocabulary is fairly challenging in this book, and so the book should be used as Read – Aloud text in conjunction with raising and studying the live animals in the classroom. The meanings of key academic words may also need to be pre- taught by putting on a chart or the board and discussing their meanings. You could also choose to address them as you re -read the book:

  • adapted
  • bacteria
  • culture medium
  • defense
  • develop
  • digest
  • hatch
/
  • larvae
  • mimic
  • observation
  • poisonous
  • protection
  • protein
/
  • question
  • shed – as in removed
  • silk
  • species
  • sucker
  • unique

Now students are familiar with the structure of a non- fictionbook, it is time to learn how to access the content by studying the text carefully.This will probably take 2-3 days.

You may wish to start this section with a prompt (such as a KWL) about the topic.

  1. Look at the photograph on the cover.When have you seen butterflies? Why do you think people are fascinated by butterflies?

Day 3. Reading the book

  1. Choose whether you will read through the whole book, and then go back and re - read page by page, or read and study one section at a time. This may be done in conjunction with science lessons such asraising caterpillars or studying butterflies.
  1. If you are doing a re-reading of the text page by page, you may wish to partner a good reader with one who is listening. You (or a teaching assistant if available) may also be able to pull a smaller group (when others are working as partners) and answer the questions with them for extra support. There are examples of questions that meet the CCSS for ELA below. It is suggested that the class tackles a few each day, or questions are allocated to pairs or groups of students to answer.

Page 4

  1. The photograph on this page shows a caterpillar. How big is itin real life? What phraseson this page help you picture how big they are? RI1
  2. Explain how the scale on the photograph also helps you figure out how big the caterpillar is. RI7

Page 5

  1. What is the main topic of the passage? What text features also help you answer this question? RI2
  2. What is the meaning of the bolded word predators?RI4

Page 7

  1. Describe why Monarch caterpillars only eat poisonous milkweed leaves. RI3

Page 8

  1. What are the legs of a caterpillar like? RI5
  2. How did the small pictures on this page help you answer question 1? RI7

Page 9

  1. How are butterfly and caterpillar waste different? What phrases support your answer? RI1

Page 10

  1. What does the word defense mean?RI4
  2. How can hairs defend a caterpillar? RI2

Page 12-13

  1. Describe how a caterpillar changes into a chrysalis. RI3

Page 14

  1. Do you think that the changes going on inside the pupa are incredible? Why/why not?RI6

Page 18

  1. How do the photographs on this page help you understand the text? RI5

Page 19

  1. How can you quickly find other pages where information about butterfly antennae is found? What is this feature of a book called? RI5

Page 20

  1. Why do you think the butterfly’s proboscis, or tongue, is described as “like a drinking straw”? RI4

Pages 22- 23

  1. Write down one fact that you found interesting.
  2. What is a question you would like to ask the authors about this fact?RI1

Page 32

  1. On the Acknowledgements page Helen Pashley wrote “For my brother, Andrew, fellow caterpillar hunter.” What can you infer about the author from this?

After reading the book

  1. This book is rather different from other books you may have read about butterflies. Why do you think the authors chose to write it this way?Did you like it? Why/why not? RI6