What is it?

By: Thane Maynard Adapted by: Monica Coliadis Komodo Dragons Genre: Expository Nonfiction Author’s Purpose - Inform Reading Skill: Context Clues Compiled by Terry Sams, PiedmontTerry Sams

Summary Even though Komodo dragons don't fly or breathe fire, they do look like little dragons. These reptiles - the largest lizards in the world - live in the Komodo Island area of Indonesia. The adult dragons can grow to be more than 10 feet long and can weigh a much as 250 pounds. They are strong enough to kill a water buffalo, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds! Even though Komodo dragons don't fly or breathe fire, they do look like little dragons. These reptiles - the largest lizards in the world - live in the Komodo Island area of Indonesia. The adult dragons can grow to be more than 10 feet long and can weigh a much as 250 pounds. They are strong enough to kill a water buffalo, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds!

Genre: Expository Nonfiction  Expository Nonfiction  Expository Nonfiction 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…  use context clues to figure out the meaning of new words (words I do not know). (Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard 4.1) (Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard 4.1)

Comprehension Skill – Context Clues Context Clues Context 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 CLUES The context clue may give a definition or an explanation of the unfamiliar word.The context clue may give a definition or an explanation of the unfamiliar word. Example: Animals that eat other animals are called predators. Example: Animals that eat other animals are called predators.

EXPLANATION/DEFINITION  Scientists who study old artifacts are called archaeologists. Archaeologists use artifacts to learn about the past.  Archaeologists = scientists who study old artifacts

EXPLANATION /DEFINITION Reptiles have an outer covering of thin, hard plates called scales.  Scales = outer covering of thin, hard plates

TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES  Sometimes synonyms (words with the same or similar meanings) are used as context clues.  Example: Komodo dragons are carnivores, or meat eaters.

SYNONYMS  Ohio’s early people moved from place to place in search of food. They traveled in bands, or groups of 25 to 50 people.  Bands = groups

SYNONYM  These plates make their skins, or hides, very strong and tough.  Hide = 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 - Encyclopedia  An encyclopedia gives general information about many different subjects.  Encyclopedias are organized in a set of volumes, or books, usually in ABC order.  An entry is an encyclopedia article. They are listed in ABC order also.  An entry word is the word or phrase that begins each entry and tells its subject.  A key word identifies the information you are trying to find.

Weekly Fluency Check - Read with Attention to Punctuation  Students should read with attention to punctuation, for example, using punctuation to help you read nonfiction. Both passages begin with questions which are answered in the body of the paragraph that follows. Encourage students to read with attention to how punctuation improves reading ease. to help you read nonfiction. Both passages begin with questions which are answered in the body of the paragraph that follows. Encourage students to read with attention to how punctuation improves reading ease.  Go to pages 220, beginning at the top of the page.

Review Questions 1.Where do Komodo dragons live, and what is the climate like? 2.Describe a Komodo dragon. 3.Why do they stick out their tongue?

Review Questions 1.Why is the tongue “forked”? 2.Describe how baby Komodo dragons are born. 3.Why do Komodo dragons swish their tails back and forth?

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

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

More Good Stuff  Komodo Dragons and their Island Komodo Dragons and their Island Komodo Dragons and their Island  Spelling Hang Man Spelling Hang Man Spelling Hang Man  Vocabulary Matching Vocabulary Matching Vocabulary Matching  Internet Workshop Internet Workshop Internet Workshop  Context Clues Practice Context Clues Practice Context Clues Practice  Reading Test Reading Test Reading Test  Spelling Test Spelling Test Spelling Test

Say It!  armor  fierce  harshest  roam  lizards  prey  reptiles

More Words to Know cold-blooded monitor predator

armor  Komodo dragons are covered with rough scales. These scales are bumpy and look like armor. The bumps help protect the lizards as they move around.  covering worn to protect the body in fighting

fierce  Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animals. Animals that eat other animals are called predators. Komodo dragons are fierce hunters.  savage; wild

harshest  Komodo dragons come from the Komodo Island area of Indonesia, near the northwest shore of Australia. It is one of the harshest and hottest places in the world. Sometimes it gets over 100 degrees, and even over 110 !  roughest to the touch, taste, eye, or ear; most difficult

lizards  Although both snakes and lizards are reptiles, cold- blooded animals with backbones and lungs, lizards have legs and movable eyelids.  reptiles somewhat like snakes but with four legs and thicker bodies ; cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs

prey  These claws help the dragons dig holes and to grasp their prey. Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animals.  an animal hunted or seized for food for food

reptiles  That is because, like all lizards, they are reptiles. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals.  one group of cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs

roam  For the dragons to survive, they need protected areas where they are free to roam and hunt, as they have for millions of years.  wander

cold-blooded  In the morning when they first wake up, they lie in the sun to warm up. They do that on cooler days too. That is because, like all lizards, they are reptiles. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. They need outside heat to warm up.  having blood that is about the same temperature as the air or water around the animal

monitor  Komodo lizards are a type of lizard called a monitor.  any of a family of large carnivorous lizards

predator  Komodo dragons hunt and eat other animals. Animals that eat other animals are called predators.  an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

The man put on the armor.

The owl is an example of a predator.

The komodo dragon is considered a monitor.

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?

I saw lizards in my friends house.

I saw lizards in my friend’s house.

The dog ate its prey.

Those lizards roam around the island.

Are snakes reptiles or amphibians?

Spelling Words – Vowels with r  storm  morning  forest  Florida  form  pour  fourteen  court  fourth  course

Spelling Words – Vowels with r  serve  herself  certain  nerve  perfect  serve  herself  certain  nerve  perfect

This 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 JOB!