8 teacher’s guide lessons about lightning - … · lesson 8 teacher’s guide lessons about...

Number of Words: 850

L E S S O N 8 T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E

Lessons About Lightningby Lawrence Chandler

Fountas-Pinnell Level NInformational TextSelection SummaryLightning fl ashes when electricity builds up in storm clouds. It can fl ash inside a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. Lightning is powerful and can cause damage, but by following safety rules, people can feel safe.

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Characteristics of the Text Genre • Informational text

Text Structure • Cause and effect text structure• Some chronological sequencing• Four sections with headings, each explaining different aspect of lightning

Content • Description and dangers of lightning• Explanation of what causes thunder and lightning• Safety rules about lightning

Themes and Ideas • Lightning can be powerful and destructive.• Safety precautions are necessary during thunderstorms.

Language and Literary Features

• Detailed descriptions• Writer talks directly to reader: Have you ever heard thunder during a thunderstorm?

Sentence Complexity • Some longer compound and complex sentences: For that reason, when lightning strikes, you hear thunder after you see the lightning.

Vocabulary • Words related to lightning storms: lightning, electricity, thunder, strikes, shock, thunderstorm

Words • Words with complex spelling patterns: lightning, buildings, dangerous, doorknob, knocks• Some words with more than three syllables: electricity, electrical

Illustrations • Photographs support and extend text.Book and Print Features • Thirteen pages of text, photos on every page

• Bulleted list of safety rules© 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

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Expand Your Vocabulary

electricity – a form of energy found in nature, p. 5

lightning – the fl ashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity, p. 2

shock – the effect of a strong charge of electricity passing through the body of a person or animal, p. 5

strikes – v. hits, as by lightning, p. 3

Lessons About Lightning by Lawrence Chandler

Build BackgroundHelp children use their knowledge of thunderstorms to visualize this book. Build interest by asking questions such as the following: Have you ever been in a thunderstorm? What was it like? Read the title and author and talk about the cover photograph. Point out that the book is informational text, so the words and photos will give facts and information about the topic of lightning.

Introduce the TextGuide children through the text, noting important ideas and helping with unfamiliar language and vocabulary so they can read the text successfully. Here are some suggestions:

: Explain that this book gives a lot of information about thunderstorms. Suggested language: In a thunderstorm, the wind can blow and heavy rain can fall. A sudden light may fl ash in the sky. Turn to page 2. Let’s read the last sentence in the fi rst paragraph: That bright, sudden light is called lightning. Have you ever seen a fl ash of lightning? What did it look like in the sky?

Page 3: Point out the caption on this page. This book has captions that go with each photograph. This caption says: You see lightning strike before you hear the thunder. Captions can provide information to help explain the picture and the text.

Page 5: Draw attention to the photograph. Sometimes you can get a shock if you rub your feet on a carpet and then touch a doorknob. You might see a spark or feel a tingle. The shock is a tiny bit of electricity. Have you ever felt that kind of shock of electricity? What did it feel like?

Page 7: Point out the heading for this section. This book is divided into sections. You can read the heading on the top of the fi rst page of each section to learn what the section is about.

Pages 12 and 13: Remind children that lightning can be dangerous, but there are ways to stay safe. These pages are full of rules to help you keep safe during a thunderstorm. Each black dot shows the start of a new rule.

Now let’s turn back to the beginning of the book and read to fi nd out about lightning.

2 Lesson 8: Lessons About LightningGrade 2© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

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ReadHave children read Lessons About Lightning silently while you listen to individual children read. Support their problem solving and fl uency as needed.

Remind children to use the Visualize Strategy to picture what is happening as they read.

Discuss and Revisit the TextPersonal ResponseInvite children to share their personal responses to the book.Suggested language: What new information did you learn about lightning?

Ways of ThinkingAs you discuss the text, help children understand these points:

Thinking Within the Text Thinking Beyond the Text Thinking About the Text

• Thunderstorms produce lightning when electricity builds up in clouds.

• You can see a fl ash of lightning before you hear the sound (thunder) it makes.

• Lightning can start fi res and damage things it hits, but it is possible to stay safe in thunderstorms.

• Lightning is a powerful jolt of electricity.

• Lightning is dangerous, but with precautions, people can feel safe and enjoy the excitement and beauty of the storm.

• Section headings tell what is in each section.

• The author uses description, cause and effect, and some sequencing to organize the book.

• Safety rules are provided in a bulleted list.

• The author’s purpose in writing this book is to give readers information about lightning.

© 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

Choices for Further Support• Fluency Invite children to choose a passage from the text to read aloud. Remind them

to pay attention to phrasing to refl ect the meaning of the text.

• Comprehension Based on your observations of the children’s reading and discussion, revisit parts of the text to clarify or extend comprehension. Remind children 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. Tell children that many words in the book are compound words. Remind them that the meaning of these compound words is usually clear from looking at the two smaller words in the compound word. Have children make a list of compound words in the book, such as thunderstorm (page 2), airplane (page 4), and doorknob (page 5.)



Writing about ReadingCritical ThinkingHave children complete the Critical Thinking questions on BLM 8.9.

RespondingHave children complete the activities at the back of the book. Use the instruction below as needed to reinforce or extend understanding of the comprehension skill.

Target Comprehension SkillMain Ideas and Details

Target Comprehension Skill Remind children that they should think about the

important ideas and details in a book. Model the skill, using a “Think Aloud” like the one below:

Think Aloud

I can tell one important idea about lightning by thinking about some of the details in the book. Lightning can split tree trunks. It can start forest fi res. It can strike people and hurt or even kill them. These details help me see that lightning can be dangerous.

Practice the SkillHave children use details from the book to show that lighting can also be exciting to watch.

Writing Prompt: Thinking About the TextHave children write a response to the prompt on page 6. Remind them that when they think about the text, they think about the language the author has used, the genre of the text, the author’s purpose, and how the text is organized.

Assessment Prompts• What is the author’s purpose for writing this book?

• Which words on page 11 help the reader understand the meaning of the word beware?



Read directions to children.

Think About ItRead and answer the questions.

1. Why do many tall buildings have a lightning rod?

2. Why do some people enjoy watching storms?

3. If you are on the playground for recess when a

thunderstorm hits, what should you do?

Making Connections How do people find out when a thunderstorm is on the way? How would you help your family prepare for a storm?

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.

Name Date

Grade 2, Unit 2: Nature Watch

Lessons About LightningThink About It

Lesson 8B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 8 . 9

Think About It

English Language DevelopmentReading Support Check regularly on children’s oral reading to determine accuracy, fl uency, and comprehension.

Cultural Support Help children understand what the space shuttle (page 4) is.

Oral Language DevelopmentCheck children’s comprehension, using a dialogue that best matches their English profi ciency level. Speaker 1 is the teacher, Speaker 2 is the child.

Beginning/Early Intermediate Intermediate Early Advanced/ Advanced

Speaker 1: What sound does lightning make?

Speaker 2: thunder

Speaker 1: What can you put on buildings to keep them safe from lightning?

Speaker 2: lightning rods

Speaker 1: Does lightning travel slowly or fast?

Speaker 2: fast

Speaker 1: What is lightning?

Speaker 2: It is a fl ash of electricity in the sky.

Speaker 1: Where is lightning made?

Speaker 2: Lightning is made inside clouds.

Speaker 1: If you are swimming and a thunderstorm hits, what should you do?

Speaker 2: Get out of the water.

Speaker 1: Why is lightning dangerous?

Speaker 2: Lightning is powerful and hot.

Speaker 1: What should you do if you can’t go inside during a thunderstorm?

Speaker 2: Don’t stand under a tree and try not to be the tallest object around.



Name Date

Lessons About LightningThinking About the Text

Answer the following questions in two paragraphs:

Do you think the author gave this book a good title? Why or why not? What might be another good title for this book? What are two important lessons you learned about lightning from reading this book? Tell why the lessons are important to you.



Think About ItRead and answer the questions.

1. Why do many tall buildings have a lightning rod?

2. Why do some people enjoy watching storms?

3. If you are on the playground for recess when a thun-

derstorm hits, what should you do?

Making Connections How do people find out when a thunderstorm is on the way? How would you help your family prepare for a storm?

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.

Name Date

Lessons About LightningThink About It

Lesson 8B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 8 . 9



1413619

Student Date Lesson 8

B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 8 . 1 3

Lessons About LightningRunning Record Form

Lessons About Lightning • LEVEL N

Behavior Code Error

Read word correctly ✓cat 0

Repeated word, sentence, or phrase

®cat

0

Omission —cat 1

Behavior Code Error

Substitution cutcat 1

Self-corrects cut sccat 0

Insertion the

cat 1

Word told Tcat 1

page Selection Text Errors Self-Corrections

2

3

During a thunderstorm, there may be

pounding wind and rain. You may also see a flash

of light in the sky. That bright, sudden light is

called lightning.

Some people love to watch lightning. Other

people think it is scary—and it can be. Lightning

can cause a lot of damage, so everyone should be

careful during a thunderstorm.

Have you ever heard thunder during a

thunderstorm? Thunder is the sound that

lightning makes. The speed of thunder is not

equal to the speed of lightning. Sound travels

more slowly than lightning.

Comments: Accuracy Rate (# words read

correctly/91 × 100)

%

Total Self- Corrections



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