Understanding the Animal Kingdom

Explain what the animal kingdom is and the types of living things you might find in the animal kingdom.

What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 4–7

Standards

RI.3.3RI.3.7

Explain what characteristics all simple animals and worms share and how they vary.

What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 8–11
Boxes and Bullets Graphic Organizer

Standards

RI.3.3RI.3.7

Explain what characteristics all mollusks and arthropods share and how they vary.

What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 12–15
Boxes and Bullets Graphic Organizer

Standards

RI.3.3RI.3.7RI.3.8

Language

Accurately use pronouns and ensure pronoun-antecedent agreement.

“Octopus - Animal of the Day”
Editing Checklist 1 (G3, U4)
Narration Organizer (G3, U4, L4)

Standards

L.3.1.aL.3.1.f

Overview

Gather and organize information to explain how different arthropods can be alike in some ways and different in others.

Informational Writing Rubric (G3)
Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Editing Checklist 1 (G3, U4)
Single Paragraph Outline
Compare and Contrast Matrix 1 (G3, U4, L5)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Arthropod Sample Response (G3, U4, L5)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Mollusk Sample Response (G3, U4, L5)

Day 1 - Researching

Gather and organize facts about two different arthropods in order to explain how they are similar and how they are different in their features, habitats, and adaptations.

Compare and Contrast Matrix 1 (G3, U4, L5)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Arthropod Sample Response (G3, U4, L5)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Mollusk Sample Response (G3, U4, L5)

Standards

RI.3.9W.3.2W.3.7W.3.8

Day 2 - Drafting

Plan and draft an informational paragraph that compares two arthropods by explaining how they are similar and how they are different in their features, habitats, and adaptations, using facts gathered from research.

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Single Paragraph Outline
Compare and Contrast Matrix 1 (G3, U4, L5)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Mollusk Sample Response (G3, U4, L5)

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.aW.3.2.bW.3.4W.3.5

Revise an informational paragraph by replacing general or unclear words with specific facts and details that clearly compare two arthropods.

Informational Writing Rubric (G3)
Editing Checklist 1 (G3, U4)

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.bW.3.5

Explain what characteristics all fish and amphibians share and how they vary.

What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 16–21
Boxes and Bullets Graphic Organizer
Venn Diagram Graphic Organizer

Standards

L.3.1.aL.3.1.fRI.3.3RI.3.7RI.3.8

Explain what characteristics all reptiles, birds, and mammals share and how they vary.

What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 22–27
Editing Checklist 1 (G3, U4)
Boxes and Bullets Graphic Organizer

Standards

L.3.1.aL.3.1.fRI.3.3RI.3.7RI.3.8

Overview

Gather and organize information to explain how different reptiles can be alike in some ways and different in others.

Informational Writing Rubric (G3)
Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Editing Checklist 2 (G3, U4)
Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline Sample Response (G3, U4, L8)
Compare and Contrast Matrix 2 (G3, U4, L8)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Reptile Sample Response (G3, U4, L8)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Mammal Sample Response (G3, U4, L8)

Day 2 - Drafting

Plan and draft an informational paragraph that compares two reptiles by explaining how they are similar and how they are different in their features, habitats, and adaptations, using facts gathered from research.

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline Sample Response (G3, U4, L8)
Compare and Contrast Matrix 2 (G3, U4, L8)
Compare and Contrast Matrix - Mammal Sample Response (G3, U4, L8)

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.aW.3.2.bW.3.2.cW.3.2.dW.3.4W.3.5

Revise an informational paragraph by replacing general or unclear words with specific, relevant facts, and definitions.

Informational Writing Rubric (G3)
Editing Checklist 2 (G3, U4)
Compare and Contrast Matrix 2 (G3, U4, L8)

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.bW.3.5

Discussion

Analyze and debate unit Essential Questions using details and understandings from the text.

Standards

SL.3.1SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.c

Describe the different stages of a life cycle and why the continuation of a life cycle is important for the survival of a species.

What is a Life Cycle? — pp. 4–5, 8–13

Standards

RI.3.3RI.3.7

Explain how amphibian and reptile life cycles are different.

What is a Life Cycle? — pp. 14–15, 16–17
Editing Checklist 2 (G3, U4)
Life Cycle Diagram 1 (G3, U4, L11)

Standards

L.3.1.aL.3.1.fRI.3.3RI.3.7RI.3.8

Explain the stages of a ladybug beetle and/or a frog life cycle.

What is a Life Cycle? pp. 13–14
Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline - Butterfly Sample Response (G3, U4, L12)
Life Cycle Diagram 2 (G3, U4, L12)

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.aW.3.2.bW.3.8

Explain how fish, bird, and mammal life cycles are different.

What is a Life Cycle? — pp. 18–19, 20–21, 22–25
Editing Checklist 2 (G3, U4)
Life Cycle Diagram 2 (G3, U4, L12)

Standards

L.3.1.aL.3.1.fRI.3.3RI.3.7

Language

Form and appropriately use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs.

Editing Checklist 2 (G3, U4)
Animal Facts Matrix (G3, U4, L14)

Standards

L.3.1.g

Overview

Compare and contrast the life cycle of two organisms by using information from the text to support an idea.

What is a Life Cycle?
Informational Writing Rubric (G3)
Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Single Paragraph Outline
Life Cycle Two Column Notes (G3, U4, L15)
Life Cycle Two Column Notes Sample Response (G3, U4, L15)
Life Cycle Diagram 2 (G3, U4, L12) — Optional

Day 1 - Researching

Research one organism, gathering key details about each stage of its life cycle using an organized note-taking structure.

What is a Life Cycle?
Life Cycle Two Column Notes (G3, U4, L15)
Life Cycle Two Column Notes Sample Response (G3, U4, L15)
Life Cycle Diagram 2 (G3, U4, L12) — Optional

Standards

W.3.7

Day 2 - Drafting

Explain the stages of an organism's life cycle.

Day 3 - Revision & Editing

Single Point Informational Writing Rubric (G3, U4)
Life Cycle Two Column Notes (G3, U4, L15) — Completed

Standards

W.3.2W.3.2.aW.3.2.bW.3.2.cW.3.2.dW.3.4

Revise an informational paragraph about an organism's life cycle based on peer feedback, choosing the most appropriate revision strategies to make writing clearer.