The Surfboard Thief Lesson Plan

Download this lesson

Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

 

Students will discover how one otter is causing problems at a beach, and how scientists tried to solve the problem.

 

Science Focus:

ocean animals

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, diagraphs

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

released, aggressive, pup

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.7 diagrams; RF.2.3 phonics; W.2.2 write informative texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations

 

Lexile level:

520L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on ocean animals.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “All About Sea Otters.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing you learned about sea otters?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. What do students think the otter is doing with the surfers’ boards?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how Otter 841 is causing problems.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think skill sheet. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are released, aggressive, and pup.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

Sea Otters by Laura Marsh  (20 min.)

Continue to learn about otters with this nonfiction text. While stealing surfboards won’t be mentioned, students can collect other facts as they build background knowledge on these fuzzy floaters!

  • In the “What Did the Sea Otter Say?” game, students must listen to the sea otter’s key word before they practice identifying and decoding it! As they find words, a mystery image will be revealed.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words released, aggressive, and pup.

Editor’s Pick: Writing (15 min.)

  • Use the Make a Sign skill sheet for a fun way to have students gather and organize information found in the article. Students pretend scientists have asked them to make a sign letting people know about the otter causing problems at the beach and fill out a WANTED! poster with all the necessary details.

ELA Focus: Diagraphs (15 min.)

  • Students can practice decoding words with digraphs while revealing a fun image with the Color by Digraphs skill sheet.

Bonus: Observations (15 min.)

  • Have students watch a sea otter live cam from one of the suggested aquariums or your own local aquarium. Then they can write about and draw what a sea otter was doing with the Observe Sea Otters! skill sheet.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on ocean animals:

  • “World’s Nicest Shark?,” May/June 2021. This issue follows scientists as they investigate the bonnethead shark.
  • “Which One Is Trickier?,” May/June 2022. Students can use this issue to compare octopuses and jellyfish to decide which animal they think is trickier.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 630L
  • Lower Lexile level: 480L