Animal Skeletons Level J
Text Type: Nonfiction • Word Count: 400

Book Summary
Are you teaching children about animal skeletons or the human body? If so, you need to read Animal Skeletons. This book looks at the similarities and differences between many types of animal skeletons. The author explains why various animals have the kinds of skeletons they do. The book uses repetitive patterns to help children feel a sense of confidence as they are reading.

Reader Supports

• Repetitive patterns
  
• Picture clues
  
• Repetition of high utility words
  
• Familiar topic
  
• Simple sentence structure
  

Reader Challenges
Although there is quite a bit or repetition in this book, it has more words than some books that readers at this level have read. There may be a sense of nervousness associated with the number of words on the page. There also may be new vocabulary introduced throughout the book. Finally, new punctuation is introduced: question mark, apostrophe and colon.

Lesson Objectives

Reading Strategies
Children should use a variety of strategies to decode words and bring meaning to print. The targeted strategy for this lesson is: Using context clues.
Throughout this book, the author and illustrator give children opportunities to interact and use the pictures to help gain an understanding of why animals have skeletons and what they look like. By looking at the pictures and listening to what they are reading, children should be able to ask themselves, "Does this make sense? Do the pictures and the words look and sound like they go together?" If the answer is no, then the child should go back and reread for better understanding.

By making connections between what they are reading and what they already know, and through discussion, children will show their level of comprehension of the subject matter in the book.

Word and Print Skills
Phonological Awareness
Syllabication
In this book, single syllable, two syllable, and three syllable words are used. Use the text to explain the term syllable to children. As children listen to the book, tell them to listen and see if they can hear more than three word "parts" in any of the words. Clap a few of the words out to identify the number of syllables in each.

Hint — Often it helps children count by "clapping" with one finger at a time in an open hand for each syllable. Their fingers do the counting as they read the word. For example, using the word inside, one finger claps on the other hand for in. A second finger claps on the hand and counts out side. Children look at the number of fingers they have up, and that is the number of syllables in the word.

Phonics
Initial consonant s vs. an s blend
Throughout this book, there are many words that begin with the letter s. Due to the fact that there are so many, the s is seen followed by many other letters. This can change the sound of the letter itself. Have children look through the book and focus just on the words that begin with the letter s. Have them say them aloud and listen to how the s sounds. Ask: Does it sound different when followed by a vowel as opposed to a consonant? Which words can you specifically hear the /s/ sound and which words does it seem the /s/ is blended with another letter? What have you learned about the letter s?

Word Work
High Utility Words
light, many, know, kind

Suffixes
–ing, ed, and -er
Explain that any time children see the letters -ing,- ed, and -er added to a word it is an example of a suffix. Ask them to look for all the words in the book ending in one of these suffixes and to count them (6). Then ask them to come up with a list of other words that have suffixes on them.

Comprehension
You will likely address a number of comprehension skills as children work to understand the text. The targeted comprehension strategy for this lesson is: Compare and contrast.
Animal Skeletons is a great book to compare and contrast. Because there are many different types of animals discussed in the book, children will be able to look at the pictures and tell you or write down the similarities and/or differences of the various species of animals.

Visual Learning
As you read through the book, have children answer the questions posed by the author. As children are reading, they should point to each picture as they are telling what animal it is. You could also have children point out the bones on the animal that helped them figure out what it was. You could ask: Are those bones in the skeleton unique to this animal? (By asking this question, you are introducing a new vocabulary word.) If you wish, you can have children color in or circle their favorite animal when you have finished reading.

Targeted Vocabulary Words
High Utility Words
light, many, know, kind

Content words
animal, skeleton, bones, different, support, shape, safe, hollow, feathers, flippers, slithers, skulls
These content words are associated with animal anatomy. These are words that children will encounter in the reading. You may want to review and discuss what the words are and how they fit in with the reading. You may wish to have children add words to the classroom word wall or dictionary.