Book Summary
Could many traffic problems have ended long ago if the electric car had gained more popularity? In the 1830s, Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first electric carriage. Through the years, many improvements and inventions by others led to the popularity of electric cars in the beginning of the twentieth century. Is it possible for the electric car to be a thing of the past and the car of the future? Photographs and diagrams support the text.

About the Lesson

Targeted Reading Strategy

• Summarize

Objectives

• Use the reading strategy of summarizing to understand text
• Identify details to compare and contrast in nonfiction text
• Identify parts of complex sentence
• Identify and use hyphenated compound adjectives

Materials

• Book -- Electric Cars: History and Future (copy for each student)
• Chalkboard or dry erase board
• Compare and contrast, commas, compound adjectives worksheets
• Discussion cards

     Indicates an opportunity for students to mark in the book. (All activities may be completed with paper and pencil if books are reused.)

Vocabulary

• Content words: alternative, atoms, breakthrough, chemical reaction, dangerous, efficient, eliminated, emissions, environment, exhaust, flamboyant, generation, hybrid, methods, mobility, nuisance, production, prosperous, prototypes, pungent, volume