What is it?What is it?

By: Thane MaynardBy: Thane MaynardAdapted by: Monica ColiadisAdapted by: Monica Coliadis

Komodo DragonsGenre: Expository Nonfiction

Author’s Purpose - Inform

Reading Skill: Context Clues

Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont

SummarySummary Even though Komodo dragons don't fly or Even though Komodo dragons don't fly or

breathe fire, they do look like little dragons.  breathe fire, they do look like little dragons.  These reptiles - the largest lizards in the These reptiles - the largest lizards in the world - live in the Komodo Island area of world - live in the Komodo Island area of Indonesia.  The adult dragons can grow to Indonesia.  The adult dragons can grow to be more than 10 feet long and can weigh a be more than 10 feet long and can weigh a much as 250 pounds.  They are strong much as 250 pounds.  They are strong enough to kill a water buffalo, which can enough to kill a water buffalo, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds! weigh more than 1,000 pounds!

Genre: Expository Nonfiction

Expository Expository NonfictionNonfiction gives factual information about the real world. (Informational text)

It explains the nature of something, or tells what something is like.

It uses methods of expository nonfiction such as definition, comparison and contrast, example, and classification.

I CAN…I CAN…

use context clues to figure out the use context clues to figure out the meaning of new words (words I do not meaning of new words (words I do not know).know).

(Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard 4.1)(Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard 4.1)

Comprehension Skill – Comprehension Skill – Context CluesContext Clues

•When you see unfamiliar words, use context clues, or words around the unfamiliar word, to figure out its meaning.

•The context clue(s) usually appear before or after the unfamiliar word(s).

•The context clues can be words, sentences or even a paragraph.

TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUESTYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES

•The context clue may give a The context clue may give a definitiondefinition or an or an explanationexplanation of the unfamiliar word.of the unfamiliar word.

• Example:Example: Animals that eat Animals that eat

other animals are called other animals are called predators.predators.

EXPLANATION/DEFINITIONEXPLANATION/DEFINITION

Scientists who study old artifacts Scientists who study old artifacts are are called called archaeologistsarchaeologists. Archaeologists . Archaeologists use artifacts to learn about the past.use artifacts to learn about the past.

ArchaeologistsArchaeologists = scientists who study = scientists who study old artifactsold artifacts

EXPLANATION /DEFINITIONEXPLANATION /DEFINITION

Reptiles have an Reptiles have an outer covering of thinouter covering of thin, , hard plates hard plates called called scalesscales..

Scales = outer covering of thin, hard Scales = outer covering of thin, hard platesplates

TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUESTYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES

Sometimes Sometimes synonymssynonyms (words with the (words with the same or similar meanings) are used as same or similar meanings) are used as context clues.context clues.

Example: Komodo dragons are Example: Komodo dragons are carnivorescarnivores, or , or meat eaters.meat eaters.

SYNONYMSSYNONYMS

Ohio’s early people moved from place to Ohio’s early people moved from place to place in search of food. They traveled in place in search of food. They traveled in bandsbands, or , or groupsgroups of 25 to 50 people. of 25 to 50 people.

BandsBands = groups = groups

SYNONYMSYNONYM

These plates make their These plates make their skinsskins, or , or hideshides, , very strong and tough.very strong and tough.

Hide = skinHide = skin

Comprehension Review – Main Idea and Details

The topic is the thing the author is writing about. The most important thing about this topic is called the main idea.

Some main ideas can be found in the first sentence or paragraph.

Sometimes the author does not state the main idea, and you have to infer,

or figure out for yourself this main idea.

Research Skill - EncyclopediaResearch Skill - Encyclopedia An An encyclopediaencyclopedia gives general information gives general information

about many different subjects. about many different subjects. EncyclopediasEncyclopedias are organized in a set of are organized in a set of

volumesvolumes, or books, usually in ABC order., or books, usually in ABC order. An An entryentry is an encyclopedia article. They are is an encyclopedia article. They are

listed in ABC order also.listed in ABC order also. An An entry wordentry word is the word or phrase that begins is the word or phrase that begins

each entry and tells its subject.each entry and tells its subject. A A key wordkey word identifies the information you are identifies the information you are

trying to find.trying to find.

Weekly Fluency Check -Weekly Fluency Check -Read with Attention to Read with Attention to

PunctuationPunctuation Students should read with attention to punctuation, Students should read with attention to punctuation,

for example, using punctuation for example, using punctuation to help you read nonfiction. Both passages begin to help you read nonfiction. Both passages begin

with questions which are answered in the body of with questions which are answered in the body of the paragraph that follows. Encourage students to the paragraph that follows. Encourage students to read with attention to how punctuation improves read with attention to how punctuation improves reading ease. reading ease.

Go to pages 220, beginning at the top of the page. Go to pages 220, beginning at the top of the page.

Review QuestionsReview Questions

1.1. Where do Komodo dragons Where do Komodo dragons live, and what is the climate live, and what is the climate like?like?

2.2. Describe a Komodo dragon.Describe a Komodo dragon.

3.3. Why do they stick out their Why do they stick out their tongue?tongue?

Review QuestionsReview Questions

1.1. Why is the tongue “forked”?Why is the tongue “forked”?

2.2. Describe how baby Komodo Describe how baby Komodo dragons are born.dragons are born.

3.3. Why do Komodo dragons Why do Komodo dragons swish their tails back and swish their tails back and forth?forth?

Main IdeaMain Idea

On a clean sheet of paper, On a clean sheet of paper, list the main ideas from this list the main ideas from this story about Komodo story about Komodo dragons.dragons.

Writing AssignmentWriting Assignment

Write a paragraph telling Write a paragraph telling what you have learned about what you have learned about Komodo dragons. Use any Komodo dragons. Use any new words you have learned. new words you have learned. Compare the lizards with Compare the lizards with other reptiles. other reptiles.

More Good StuffMore Good Stuff Komodo Dragons and their Island Komodo Dragons and their Island Spelling Hang ManSpelling Hang Man Vocabulary MatchingVocabulary Matching Internet WorkshopInternet Workshop Context Clues PracticeContext Clues Practice Reading TestReading Test Spelling TestSpelling Test

Say It!armorarmor fiercefierceharshestharshestroamroam

lizardslizardspreypreyreptilesreptiles

More Words to KnowMore Words to Know

cold-blooded

monitor

predator

armorarmor KomodoKomodo dragons are dragons are coveredcovered

with with roughrough scalesscales. These scales . These scales are bumpy and look like are bumpy and look like armorarmor. . The bumps help The bumps help protectprotect the the lizards as they move around.lizards as they move around.

covering worn to covering worn to protect the body in protect the body in fighting fighting

fiercefierce Komodo dragons Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animalshunt and eat other animals. .

Animals that eat other animals are called Animals that eat other animals are called predatorspredators. . Komodo dragons are Komodo dragons are fiercefierce hunters. hunters.

savage; wild savage; wild

harshestharshest Komodo dragons come from the Komodo Island area Komodo dragons come from the Komodo Island area

of Indonesia, near the northwest shore of Australia. of Indonesia, near the northwest shore of Australia. It is one of the It is one of the harshestharshest and and hottest places in the hottest places in the world. world. Sometimes it gets over Sometimes it gets over 100 degrees100 degrees, and , and even even over 110over 110 ! !

roughest to the touch, taste, eye, or ear; most difficultroughest to the touch, taste, eye, or ear; most difficult

lizardslizards Although both Although both snakessnakes and and

lizardslizards are are reptiles, cold-reptiles, cold-blooded animals with blooded animals with backbones and lungsbackbones and lungs, lizards , lizards have legs and movable have legs and movable eyelids.eyelids.

reptiles somewhat like snakes reptiles somewhat like snakes but with four legs and thicker but with four legs and thicker bodies ; cold-blooded animals bodies ; cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungswith backbones and lungs

preyprey These claws help the dragons dig holes and These claws help the dragons dig holes and

to grasp their to grasp their preyprey. Komodo dragons . Komodo dragons hunt hunt and eat other animals.and eat other animals.

an animal hunted or seizedan animal hunted or seized for food for food

reptilesreptiles That is because, like all lizards, they That is because, like all lizards, they

are are reptilesreptiles. Reptiles are . Reptiles are cold-blooded cold-blooded animals.animals.

one group of cold-blooded animals with one group of cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungsbackbones and lungs

roamroam For the dragons to survive, they need protected areas For the dragons to survive, they need protected areas

where they are where they are freefree to to roamroam and and hunthunt, as they have for , as they have for millions of years.millions of years.

wanderwander

cold-bloodedcold-blooded In the morning when they first wake up, they lie in In the morning when they first wake up, they lie in

the sun to warm up. They do that on cooler days the sun to warm up. They do that on cooler days too. That is because, like all lizards, they are too. That is because, like all lizards, they are reptiles. Reptiles are reptiles. Reptiles are cold-bloodedcold-blooded animals. animals. They need outside heat to warm up.They need outside heat to warm up.

having blood that is about the same temperature having blood that is about the same temperature as the air or water around the animal as the air or water around the animal

monitormonitor Komodo lizards are a type of lizard called a Komodo lizards are a type of lizard called a monitor.monitor.

any of a family of large carnivorous lizardsany of a family of large carnivorous lizards

predatorpredator Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animals. Animals Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animals. Animals

that eat other animals are called that eat other animals are called predatorspredators..

an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

The man put on the armor.

The man put on the armor.

The owl is an example of a predator.

The owl is an example of a predator.

The komodo dragon is considered a monitor.

The komodo dragon is considered a monitor.

The dog is a fierce animal.

The dog is a fierce animal.

The desert is the harshest place to survive.

The desert is the harshest place to survive

Is the Komodo Dragon a cold-blooded animal?

Is the Komodo Dragon a cold-blooded animal?

I saw lizards in my friends house.

I saw lizards in my friend’s house.

The dog ate its prey.

The dog ate its prey.

Those lizards roam around the island.

Those lizards roam around the island.

Are snakes reptiles or amphibians?

Are snakes reptiles or amphibians?

Spelling Words – Vowels Spelling Words – Vowels with rwith r

ststorormmmmororningning ffororestestFlFlororidaida fforormm

ppourour ffourourteenteenccourourtt fofoururththccouroursese

Spelling Words – Vowels Spelling Words – Vowels with rwith r

sserervevehhererselfselfccerertaintainnnererveveppererfectfect

sserervevehhererselfselfccerertaintainnnererveveppererfectfect

This Week’s Word Wall WordsThis Week’s Word Wall Words

Click and type your own words for this week:

Let’s review our words. Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just a moment. We will clap as we spell the word.

storm

morning

forest

Florida

form

pour

herself

fourteen

nerve

perfect

dirty

court

fourth

course

skirt

serve

certain

first

girlfriend

thirsty

GREAT GREAT JOB!JOB!