Teacher-Led Reading Instruction | Small Group
Owls
1
Summary & Standards Summary: From the tiny elf owl to the great gray owl, all owls share a common trait—they are excellent hunters, thanks to their special features. Author: Gail Gibbons
Themes/Ideas: identifying characteristics of owls; learning about owl habitats GRL: N
Genre: Informational Text Text Type: Picture Book Word Count: 250+
ISBN 0-439-80391-8
9 780439 803915
Genre/Text Type Informational Text/Picture Book Remind children that informational text has facts about a topic. This picture book has illustrations to inform the reader. Informational Text Features Labels Labels identify the names of types of owls. Diagram A diagram with labels shows the parts of an owl. Captions Captions give additional information. Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary characteristics (p. 8): traits or identifying features communicate (p. 20): to share information Domain-Specific Vocabulary habitats (p. 29): areas where animals naturally live talons (p. 16): the sharp claws of a bird of prey Challenging Features Text Children may be challenged by the placement of labels and captions. Suggest that they pause after reading each label and identify what it names. Content Children may encounter unfamiliar concepts. Point out that children can use illustrations and context to help them understand these concepts. Supporting Features Text The main text, located at the bottom of each page, summarizes and clarifies information in the pictures and diagrams. Vocabulary Many challenging words are defined in context in the main text or shown in diagrams with callouts.
A First Look Show children the front and back covers and read aloud the title and the author’s name. Elicit a description of the owl. Ask: What clues in the illustration let you know what time of day it is? What do you think you will learn from reading this book? Read and Analyze Informational Text Cite Textual Evidence If you have time constraints and want to concentrate on only a portion of the text, use the asterisked prompts to focus discussion. Interpret Information Point out that, in addition to the text, this book has pictures, labels, captions, and diagrams that relate information. Remind children that the details in the images help them learn about owls. (pp. 6–7) How does this illustration contribute to the information about different kinds of owls? (p. 8) What information does the author add to the main text by including this diagram? (p. 13) How do the pictures of a dish antenna and an owl support and deepen the information about owls’ ears that is given in the text? (p. 18) How do the three illustrations fit together to add information about owl pellets? (p. 26) Why do you think the author included three illustrations on this page? What additional information do you learn about owls from these illustrations?
16 Scholar Zone Summer: Reading & Writing
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