Non-fiction: Dinosaur World Dinosaur World The Land Before People Dinosaurs once ruled Earth. Dinosaurs roamed Earth millions of years ago. Some dinosaurs were as small as chickens. Others were larger than houses. Dinosaur Food John Eastcott & Yva Momatiuk/Photo Researchers, Inc. Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the biggest meat-eating dinosaurs. It had tiny arms, with two small, sharp-clawed fingers on each arm. Scientists often group dinosaurs by the food they ate. Most dinosaurs ate plants. Those dinosaurs are called herbivores. They had flat teeth. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 1
Non-fiction: Dinosaur World Kim Taylor/Warren Photographic/Photo Researchers, Inc. Apatosaurus was a large planteating dinosaur. It used to be called Brontosaurus. It had a very long neck. Its tail was even longer. Some dinosaurs ate meat. Those dinosaurs are called carnivores. Carnivores had sharp teeth. Digging for Fossils Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis Scientists dig for dinosaur fossils. 2 Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Dinosaur World Dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago. No people were alive during that time. Then how do we know so much about dinosaurs? People have found dinosaur fossils in the ground. Fossils are remains of plants and animals that lived long ago. Zuma/Newscom A scientist examines a fossil in a lab. Hundreds of different types of dinosaurs have been found. Experts say that there are many more yet to be discovered. Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 3
Questions: Dinosaur World Name: Date: Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information in the passage. 1. When did dinosaurs die out? 2. What kind of teeth did dinosaurs that were herbivores have? 3. What kind of dinosaur would be most dangerous to a human if they were still alive today? Why? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. 4. What is the main idea of the passage? Be sure to provide at least two details from the passage that support the main idea. 1
Questions: Dinosaur World Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. Scientists are able to discover a lot when they study dinosaurs by looking closely at fossils. Who? scientists 5. (are) What? 6. When? 7. How? 2
Questions: Dinosaur World 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Herbivores eat plants, carnivores eat meat. A but B because C so Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: discover (dis cov er): to find or become aware of something. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word discover. a. Some people say that Columbus discovered America, but others disagree. b. Archaeologists dig in different places to try to discover new fossils. c. When the boy was digging in his sandbox, he was surprised to discover that there was a coin under the sand. d. It is not easy to discover new things. e. The doctor discovered the cause of the woman s headaches. 10. Which person below seems more likely to discover something new? 3
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Dinosaur World Teacher Guide and Answer Key Passage Reading Level: Lexile 470 Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: The passage discusses dinosaurs and how they are often grouped by the food they ate. It explains how people know about dinosaurs through fossils. To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show the passage on a whiteboard or give students a copy of the passage so that they can follow along]. Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage. Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary]. 1. When did dinosaurs die out? [Important Detail] Suggested answer: Dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago. [paragraph 4] 2. What kind of teeth did dinosaurs that were herbivores have? [Important Detail] Suggested answer: Dinosaurs that were herbivores had flat teeth. [paragraph 2] 3. What kind of dinosaur would be most dangerous to a human if they were still alive today? Why? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. [Inferential] Suggested answer: Carnivores like the Tyrannosaurus rex would be the most dangerous to a human if they were around today, because they were meat-eating dinosaurs. [paragraph 3] 4. What is the main idea of the passage? Be sure to provide at least two details from the passage that support the main idea. [Main Idea] Suggested answer: The passage focuses on dinosaurs and how they are often grouped by the food they ate. It also explains how people know about dinosaurs through fossils. The passage says that the Tyrannosaurus rex was one of the 1
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Dinosaur World biggest carnivorous dinosaurs. It also mentions that herbivores like the Apatosaurus ate plants. Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. Scientists are able to discover a lot when they study dinosaurs by looking closely at fossils. Who? scientists 5. (are) What? are able to discover a lot 6. When? when they study dinosaurs 7. How? by looking closely at fossils 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Herbivores eat plants, carnivores eat meat. A but B because C so To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below. Vocabulary Word: discover (dis cov er): to find or become aware of something. Step 1: Introduce the word a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (dis cov er) b. Teacher says: This word is discover. What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: discover. ] Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition a. Teacher says: Discover is to find or become aware of something. 2
Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Dinosaur World b. Teacher says: Many dinosaur fossils have been found, but the passage states that there are many more that will be found or discovered. c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: discover. ] Step 3: Practice the word Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students. Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: discover (dis cov er): to find or become aware of something. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word discover. a. Some people say that Columbus discovered America, but others disagree. b. Archaeologists dig in different places to try to discover new fossils. c. When the boy was digging in his sandbox, he was surprised to discover that there was a coin under the sand. d. It is not easy to discover new things. e. The doctor discovered the cause of the woman s headaches. Step 4: Check for student understanding To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice. 10. Which person below seems more likely to discover something new? Suggested Additional Vocabulary: sharp, fossil, remains 3