During Reading

Lesson Plans for BIG MACHINES level L

During Reading

Student Reading
Reading should be divided into two or three sessions to allow for completion of the worksheet. Hand out worksheet 1 and explain that children should fill it out section by section as they read. Have children read pages 4–7. Ask:

What is work? What are some of the things that machines are used for?
What is an excavator? Why does it have such a long arm? What is the advantage of having no tires?
What do you think a flatbed truck looks like? Have someone draw a picture on the blackboard. What are the advantages of having a long flat place on a truck?
If it takes a person with a shovel five days to move a pile of dirt, how long does it take a bulldozer?

Have children read pages 9–10. Ask: What kinds of machines are used for building roads?

Think Aloud
Sometimes we can use a different kind of memory cue to help us remember new information, like a silly poem or a jingle. Write the following on the board and repeat with a bouncy, rhythm several times. For fun have children repeat faster and faster.
Scrapers scrape
Loaders load
Dump trucks dump
Graders grade
Pavers pave
Rollers roll
And then we have a road

Have children read pages 11–12. Ask: What machines are used to take resources out of the earth? Why is the oil rig in the water? Have children read pages 13–14. Ask: Why is the oil tanker long and flat? Which do you think is larger, an ocean liner, or a tugboat? Why? Have children read pages 15–16. Ask: What do you see in the picture on page 15? Do you think a C-5 transport plane could carry an elephant? What does a helicopter look like? Why does the big rig need so many tires?

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