LESSON 6 TEACHER S GUIDE The Gentle Lions of the Sea by Alice Collins Fountas-Pinnell Level T Informational Text Selection Summary Sea lions are one of the most talented and intelligent creatures on earth. They exist in the wild and in captivity, and are often trained to perform in aquarium shows. Although sea lions are protected from being hunted, humans must continue to protect them along with all unique sea creatures. Number of Words: 1,112 Characteristics of the Text Genre Informational text Text Structure Third person narrative Content Sea lions; pinniped species Themes and Ideas Language and Literary Features Sentence Complexity Vocabulary Words Illustrations Book and Print Features Aquarium life Endangered species Sea lions are intelligent creatures. Endangered creatures must be protected. Descriptive language Mostly shorter sentences Scientifi c and marine terms: pinnipeds, mammal, fl ippers, molting, aquarium, squid Multisyllable words: veterinarians, aquarium, Caribbean Color illustrations support the text Twelve pages of text Photographs on every page 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H. Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Permission is hereby granted to individual teachers using the corresponding (discipline) Leveled Readers to photocopy student worksheets from this publication in classroom quantities for instructional use and not for resale. Requests for information on other matters regarding duplication of this work should be addressed to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Attn: Contracts, Copyrights, and Licensing, 9400 SouthPark Center Loop, Orlando, Florida 32819. Printed in the U.S.A. 978-0-547-30884-5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0940 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company retains title to the materials and they may not be resold. Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited. Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication, or any portion of it, into electronic format.
The Gentle Lions of the Sea by Alice Collins Build Background Help students use their knowledge of marine species or aquariums to visualize the selection. Build interest by asking a question such as: Have you ever seen a sea lion in a movie or a book, in an aquarium or in the wild? Read the title and author and talk about the cover photograph. Tell students that this book is an informational text, so it will provide facts and details about sea lions. Introduce the Text Guide students through the text, noting important ideas and helping with unfamiliar language and vocabulary so they can read the text successfully. Here are some suggestions: Pages 3 4: Have students look at the photographs. Suggested language: This book is about sea lions, also called marine mammals. Read the last sentence on page 3: This creature is none other than the sea lion: one of the most talented and intelligent creatures on the earth. Ask: What kind of information do you think the author will provide to support this statement? Pages 4: Read the fi rst sentence on page 4. It says that sea lions are pinnipeds, which means fi n-footed. Ask: What might sea lions and other pinnipeds such as fur seals and walruses have in common? Page 11 13: Have students look at the photographs. Explain that Guthrie and Ballou live in the aquarium and have been trained to perform in shows. The text says that the sea lions are obedient in their calling as performers, even when hunger or tiredness makes the show an ordeal. Ask: What does this tell you about these sea lions personalities? Page 14: On page 14 the text says: many pinniped species were overhunted with fatal results. Explain what fatal means. Ask: How can humans prevent this from happening again? Now go back to the beginning to read about sea lions and what life in the aquarium is like for Guthrie and Ballou. Target Vocabulary analyzing examining something closely p. 9 basking resting in a warm, comfortable place, p. 5 calling a task or profession that suits some one especially well, p. 11 fatal something that causes death, p. 14 intensive requires someone to be thorough and to concentrate, p. 9 juvenile young, p. 14 marine things that relate to the ocean, p. 3 ordeal a difficult or painful experience, p. 11 stunned to be so shocked or confused that you can t do anything, p. 5 treating taking care of something or trying to make it better, p. 6 2 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
Read Have students read silently while you listen to individual students read aloud. Support their understanding of the text as needed. Remind students to use the Question Strategy and to ask questions about the selection before they read, as they read, and after they read. Discuss and Revisit the Text Personal Response Invite students to share their personal responses to the story. Suggested language: What did you find most interesting about sea lions lives in captivity? Ways of Thinking As you discuss the text, help students understand these points: Thinking Within the Text Thinking Beyond the Text Thinking About the Text Sea lions are pinnipeds, which means fin-footed. Sea lions are trained to perform in aquarium shows. Aquariums can help sea lions by treating any medical problems they have, helping them to survive. Living in captivity can improve the sea lion population s quality of life. Laws such as the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 help protect species from becoming endangered. Both humans and animals benefit from peaceful coexistence. 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H. Colorful photographs depict the details described in the text. Details and facts provide specific scientific information about sea lions. Choices for Further Support Fluency Invite students to choral read a passage from the text and demonstrate phrased, fl uent reading. Remind them to pay attention to punctuation, and to stress certain words to emphasize specifi c facts and details. Comprehension Based on your observations of the students reading and discussion, revisit parts of the text to clarify or extend comprehension. Remind students to go back to the text to support their ideas. Phonics/Word Work Provide practice as needed with words and word parts, using examples from the text. Remind students that adjective suffi xes describe what something is like in terms of number or volume. The suffi x ive on the word intense, intensive (p. 9), means doing something in a strengthened or increased way. Other examples include aggressive (aggression), invasive (invade), and defensive (defense). 3 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
Writing about Reading Have students complete the questions on BLM 6.8. Responding Have students complete the activities at the back of the book, using their Reader s Notebook. Use the instruction below as needed to reinforce or extend understanding of the comprehension skill. Target Comprehension Skill Cause and Effect Remind students that they can use cause and effect to tell how events are related and how one event causes another. Model how to add details to the Graphic Organizer using a Think Aloud like the one below: Think Aloud Guthrie and Ballou perform tricks for audiences every day. This is the effect. The cause of this effect is that sea lions are very intelligent. Another cause is that trainers feed the sea lions fish as they are taught different tricks. Practice the Skill Have students share an example of another cause that results in sea lions performing tricks for audiences. Writing Prompt: Thinking Beyond the Text Have students write a response to the prompt on page 6. Remind them that when they think beyond the text, they use their personal knowledge to reach new understandings. Assessment Prompts The information on page 8 is mainly about. Which sentences on page 12 support the idea that sea lions can learn to do things that humans do? How does the author feel about protecting sea lions? How can you tell? 4 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
English Language Development Reading Support Pair advanced and intermediate readers to read the story softly, or have students listen to the audio or online recordings. Remind them that the author thinks that sea lions are one of the most talented and intelligent creatures on earth. Cognates The story includes many cognates. Point out these English words and their Spanish equivalents: marine (marino/a) (p. 3), aquarium (acuario) (p. 6), and appetite (apetito) (p. 8). Oral Language Development Check student comprehension, using a dialogue that best matches your students English proficiency level. Speaker 1 is the teacher, Speaker 2 is the student. Beginning/Early Intermediate Intermediate Early Advanced/ Advanced Speaker 1: What is this story mostly about? Speaker 2: sea lions Speaker 1: Where do Guthrie and Ballou live? Speaker 2: in an aquarium Speaker 1: How do trainers keep sea lions teeth clean? Speaker 2: They brush their teeth. Speaker 1: How do trainers teach Guthrie and Ballou to perform tricks? Speaker 2: The trainers feed them fish as they practice tricks. Speaker 1: What do veterinarians do for sea lions in the aquarium? Speaker 2: The veterinarians give the sea lions medication and analyze their health. Speaker 1: In what way do aquariums help the sea lion population? Speaker 2: Trainers and animal experts at the aquarium can help sea lions survive by giving them special medical treatment, and by protecting them. Name Date Lesson 6 BLACKLINE MASTER 6.8 Read and answer the questions. Possible responses shown. The Gentle Lions of the Sea 1. Think within the text Why do sea lions live longer in captivity? They have a guaranteed source of food, and medical attention when needed. 2. Think within the text What do trainers use to motivate the sea lions to learn? They use food. Sea lions also develop affection for their trainers and want to please them. 3. Think beyond the text What effect do you think the sea lion shows in aquariums have on people s attitudes toward sea lions? The shows help people understand sea lions better and appreciate them more. This could lead people to want to protect sea lions from extinction. 4. Think about the text What is the author s opinion of sea lions? How do you know? The author loves sea lions. You can tell from the positive tone of the writing, the many examples of their achievements, and the statement that they should be protected from extinction. Making Connections Have you ever trained a pet to do tricks or to behave in a certain way? Write a short manual about how to train an animal based on real experiences or on what you have read or imagined. Write your answer in your Reader s Notebook.. All rights reserved. 10, Unit 2: Wild Encounters 5 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
Name Date The Gentle Lions of the Sea Thinking Beyond the Text Think about the questions below. Then write your answer in two paragraphs. Remember that when you think beyond the text, you use your personal knowledge to reach new understandings. On page 11, the author says that Guthrie and Ballou have a great friendship with the trainers, and that they have a calling to perform. Do you think that the aquarium is a healthy and happy place for sea lions to live? Why or why not? Do you think Guthrie and Ballou would be better off in the wild? Why or why not? Use details from the text to explain your answer. 6 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
Name Date Lesson 6 BLACKLINE MASTER 6.8 Read and answer the questions. The Gentle Lions of the Sea 1. Think within the text Why do sea lions live longer in captivity? 2. Think within the text What do trainers use to motivate the sea lions to learn? 3. Think beyond the text What effect do you think the sea lion shows in aquariums have on people s attitudes toward sea lions? 4. Think about the text What is the author s opinion of sea lions? How do you know? Making Connections Have you ever trained a pet to do tricks or to behave in a certain way? Write a short manual about how to train an animal based on real experiences or on what you have read or imagined. Write your answer in your Reader s Notebook. 7 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea
Student Date The Gentle Lions of the Sea LEVEL T Lesson 6 BLACKLINE MASTER 6.12 The Gentle Lions of the Sea Running Record Form page Selection Text Errors Self-Corrections 6 The average lifespan of a sea lion in the wild is about twenty years. However, when they are kept in captivity in an aquarium, they can live into their thirties. With trainers and animal experts who monitor their eating habits and medical needs, sea lions have a better chance of survival. Trained professionals can detect and treat many problems a sea lion might have. In this way, aquariums can be very important in helping the sea lion population. 7 Guthrie and Ballou are two sea lions that live in an aquarium. They are both males. Guthrie is twenty-three years old, and his color is very dark. Comments: Accuracy Rate (# words read correctly/105 100) % Total Self- Corrections Behavior Code Error Read word correctly cat 0 Repeated word, sentence, or phrase Omission cat 0 cat 1 Behavior Code Error Substitution cut cat 1 Self-corrects cut sc cat 0 Insertion the 1 Word told T 1 cat 1414286 8 Lesson 6: The Gentle Lions of the Sea