Page 2 - Kind News Teacher Guide, March/April 2021

COMMON CORE, NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS), AND CASEL-ALIGNED ACTIVITIES

Third grade: NGSS 3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in
characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding
mates, and reproducing. CASEL Core Competency: Social Awareness.
To go with Critter Clues: After reading the clues and guessing the animal, discuss with students what a characteristic is.
Ask them which clue describes a physical characteristic that helps mourning doves survive. Then ask students to brainstorm
other animals who have physical characteristics that help them survive. Make a list and discuss
how individual animals who have these characteristics may be more likely to survive than those
who don't. To extend the activity, students could research stories of animals who experienced
permanent injuries, such as Ben Ben the cat (featured in a previous issue of Kind News) and how
they adapted to survive the challenge. Learn more about Ben Ben at benbencatcat.ca.
Animal characteristic examples:
• Frogs whose bodies blend into their surroundings (camouflage)
• Dogs’ sense of smell

Fourth grade: NGSS 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals
have internal and external structures that function to support survival,
growth, behavior, and reproduction. CASEL Core Competencies:
Responsible Decision-making, Self-Awareness.
To go with “Reptile Rapture”: After reading the article, ask students what Jeremiah had
to learn to make sure that Spike was healthy and happy in his home. What did Spike need
that Jeremiah provided him? Ask students to re-read the reptile checklist from Jessica
Watters at San Diego Herpetological Society. Discuss what cold-blooded means. Why are warm
climates ideal for cold-blooded reptiles like Spike? What do reptiles have on their bodies that helps
them retain moisture? Then ask students to think about their pet or another pet they have met. Based on what the pet’s
body is like, what do students think the pet needs are? What do they or the pet’s owner do to meet those needs?

Fifth grade: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B. Develop the topic with facts,
definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and
examples related to the topic. CASEL Core Competencies: Responsible
Decision-making, Self-Awareness.
To go with “Reptile Rapture”: After reading the article once through, ask students
to point out what makes the article interesting to read, paying particular attention
to the descriptive details and varying sentence structure. Discuss how the author
uses techniques to hold the reader’s interest, such as alliteration. Ask students to
think about a time they had to learn to take care of a pet or another person, such as
a sibling, and write a short piece that describes how they came to take on this
responsibility and what they had to learn, using the article as a model. To extend the
activity, students could swap stories with a writing partner and share about how their
partner learned responsibility and what writing techniques they used.

Sixth grade: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through
particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
CASEL Core Competencies: Social Awareness, Self-Management.
To go with all magazine content: After reading the entire magazine, ask students what a
theme is. How can they determine the theme of an article or group of articles? Ask them
to skim back through the magazine and think about what its theme might be, highlighting
or underlining words or phrases that support their opinion. Come back together and discuss
as a class. What different themes were found? Ask students to make arguments to support
what theme they chose. To extend the activity, ask students to partner with a classmate
who chose a different theme than their own, make an argument for their chosen theme,
and decide whose argument is strongest and why. Where’s Raja?
RAJA IS HIDING ON PAGE 4!