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Non Fiction Science Mentor Text and a Freebie!

It’s time for a Science Sunday Mentor Text linky! I don’t actually teach science, but with Common Core, I’ve really made an extra effort to incorporate more non fiction text into my daily teaching, so today I’m sharing a book that I love because of it’s non fiction text features and all the activities that can result from just one book.  I put more of a non fiction reading response spin on it, but this book could also be used to teach animal habitats for a more specific science topic. This book is actually part of a set of books you can buy called Looking at Nature by Bobbie Kalman.  
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{Sidenote… is it just me or is like every other book in your classroom library about animals?? Fiction, non-fiction, etc…so many seem to be about animals, which I am totally fine with…just kinda cracks me up when I’m looking for a book to use with my little friends and I start to realize that I have a whole lot of choices in ‘the books that are about animals’ department!}
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Here’s something you shouldn’t be too shocked by seeing how many of my posts seem to be revolving around the Target Dollar Spot lately, but yep, that’s right, these books were only $1 at Target!!! I mean, I love great finds, but I big time LOVE great finds that are books! Although I am quick to buy anything in the Dollar Spot at Target, these books I looked through before buying because I wanted them to be useful to my classroom and they thankfully are great. Non fiction text features are present throughout the entire book and the pictures are real photographs which students love and it makes everything that much more “real” to them.  There are even questions included within the text that can help get meaningful discussions about the text going for you and your students. 

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These two books I have pictured both include facts about animals and compare & contrast animals within the text. There are other books by the same author in this set which I think would also be great for my classroom. 
A few activities you could do with these stories:
1. A nonfiction text features activity where students are pointing out the different text features they find in the story. You could also use these books to model non fiction text features.
2. Identify important facts about various animals from the story (check out my freebie below for this one!)
3. Compare & contrast some of the animals included in the story.
4. Use these books as a starting off point for a research project on animals.
5. Do a before/during/after reading chart about animals.

Common Core Alignment:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.2 With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2 Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
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Well since there are so many books out there about animals, this freebie is generic enough that you can easily use it with any book that provides facts about animals! Your little friends will just choose an animal from your story, write the name of the animal, draw a picture of it and then write one fact about the animal. You can download your free copy here!
Thanks to Collaboration Cuties for hosting! Heading over now to go check out some of the other science text ideas. I wonder how many will be animal books… 🙂
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We’ve been having a giveaway all weekend long so if you haven’t joined in on the fun yet, head over to this post to enter for your chance to win! It ends tonight so hurry on over!
Oh and also head over to Table Talk with C & C– they are having their 100 followers giveaway and there are lots of goodies being offered (including my Beginning with Blends Pack)!
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Have a great day!
Aylin
Picture of Aylin Claahsen

Aylin Claahsen

Providing resources and support to engage all readers.

4 Responses

  1. Thanks so much for the freebie! I found these wonderful "gems" at Target this spring and bought a couple of each. They are really well done for being just $1. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

    Smiles,
    Sarah @ Hoots N' Hollers

  2. $1!!! You must be joking! That is wonderful. My first thought is that I wish every mom new those were there. How convenient when you are in the store and your child just has to buy something or he or she will just die…here's what they need! Perfect! Great find.
    ~Brandee
    Creating Lifelong Learners

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Hi, I'm Aylin!

I’m so happy you’re here! I’m a certified reading specialist who loves talking all things literacy. I have a huge passion for providing resources and support to engage all readers!

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