Expected time frame: 2-3 lessons
These learning activities are designed to help students read science information texts to access key ideas about the classification of organisms according to what they eat and what a food chain is. They provide multiple opportunities for students to interact with the texts to familiarise them with these ideas, as well as key vocabulary and the use of classification and description in structuring science information texts. Teachers could choose from these activities to suit different learner needs.
Ensuring learners know the content and language learning outcomes
Giving learners many opportunities to first notice then use new language
1. Classifying organisms
Identifying main ideas in paragraphs
Ask students to read the text How Organisms Get Their Food (Word 49KB) . They write the heading that is the best main idea of each paragraph at the top of the correct paragraph. Note that there is one extra heading. Students could then compare and discuss their answers with a partner. Ask students to paste the text with the paragraph headings into their science books.
Labelling a diagram
Ask students to read the brief description What is a Food Chain (Word 33KB), paste the diagram into their science books and label it.
Dictogloss
Use with the Dictogloss Summary (Word 34KB) text to help the students understand how organisms get their food. This activity involves listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. See dictogloss for instructions on how to use this strategy and why it is useful.
Include opportunities for monitoring and self-evaluation
2. Metacognitive monitoring
Ask students to complete this self-checking activity:
When you have finished, ask yourself:
Elicit as much information as you can from the students about the use of verbs in the dictogloss or cloze text. Build on this information using notes on The Language of Scientific Description (Word 33KB) as a display to the class.
Published on: 09 Jan 2018
