1. How to Use the Theme Slideshow
The Theme Slideshow is a useful and engaging tool to introduce your class to the unit. The slideshow touches on the Big Idea questions for the unit. It can be used to prepare students for the unit by building background and academic language on topics that they will read about.
Before you begin a new unit, show the Theme Slideshow to the class. Direct students to listen carefully to the audio as they look at each slide. (Note: if you click while the audio is playing, the audio will stop. Simply click the audio icon in the upper left corner to start the audio again.) Pause the slideshow as needed to allow students to comment or ask questions about what they are seeing. Provide sentence starters containing the academic words listed to engage students in conversations about the visuals and audio. Explain to students that they will learn more about these topics as they read the stories in the unit.
As you begin each week of the unit, you may wish to show the Theme Slideshow again as a means of reviewing the weeks you have completed, and of preparing for the week to come. This is a great opportunity to add new learning and research findings to the Big Question Boards. The Theme Slideshow can also be used at the end of the unit to sum up learning and as a prompt for writing about the unit.
For additional video clips related to the theme, go to Select the California Treasures site, then in the Teacher area click the “Student Activities” button and select the Big Question Multimedia link.
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How is working together better than working alone?
In this unit we will learn about teamwork. You will read about how people work together to complete big jobs, keep people safe, and save animals from danger. Think about a time when you have worked with a group of people. How did working together help everyone get the job done?

2. Why is it helpful to work together to finish a project?

3. arduous
accomplish
In this story, you will read about Head, Body, and Legs, who set out on an arduous journey. The trio must cooperate with one another in order to reach the delicious mangoes. You will find out what Head, Body, and Legs do to accomplish their goal.

4. Describe ways people and animals can work together as a team.

5. advice
secure
In Officer Buckle and Gloria, you will read about a policeman and his very talented police dog. Even though Officer Buckle gives lots of advice about how to stay safe, people do not always follow it. Everything changes when Gloria makes Officer Buckle’s speeches a lot more interesting. You will find out how Officer Buckle and Gloria help make one school more secure.

6. Describe some jobs that require groups of adults to work together.

7. urgent comfort recuperate
In A Trip to the Emergency Room, you will find out how hospital workers cooperate to give patients urgent care. You will read about how nurses and doctors comfort patients and help them feel better. You will also learn about what patients need to recuperate quickly.

8. How do different people in your town work together to accomplish a goal?

9. compassion
survive
In A Harbor Seal Pup Grows Up, you will read about a baby seal who is abandoned by her mother. Luckily, a group of caring scientists show their compassion and help the seal pup get strong and healthy. You will also find out how the scientists teach the baby seal to survive in the ocean.

10. When have you seen people work together in a surprising or unusual way?

11. display
exquisite
In Mice and Beans, a grandmother named Rosa María prepares a wonderful birthday party for her granddaughter. She plans to display an exquisite piñata for the children to use during the party. It takes help from some unlikely helpers for the party to be a success.

12. What do you know about teamwork
What do you know about teamwork? Describe some examples of teamwork that you have seen at home or at school.