Instructional Sequence
Unit Name:
Working Together
Lesson:
1
Number of days:
5-7 days
Text(s):
The Life and Times of An Ant
Written Communication
Objectives: Think of the various ways The Life and Times of the Ant describes how ants work together to create a community. Compare and
contrast an ant colony to a human community. In your first paragraph, tell how the two communities are alike. In the second paragraph, tell how
the two communities are different. Remember to use evidence from the text to support your work.
Writing Standards:
W 4.2
Task
Purpose
Create a Venn Diagram for an ant colony and a
human community
(Human Community Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tcix328XmU
‘My Community – Kids Discussion’)
(Ant Colony Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHR55UanM_o
‘Magic School Bus Gets Ants in the Pants’)
Conjunction lesson –
(some resources ‘School House Rock – Conjunction
Junction’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPoBE-E8VOc ;
Conjunction List - http://www.smartwords.org/linking-words/conjunctions.html)
Write, edit, publish
Audience
To organize ideas
Whole Class
To review the different
conjunctions used with
comparing and contrasting to
help guide students’ writing.
(and, but, however)
Whole Class
Teacher
Oral Communication
Objectives:
Speaking and Listening Standards:
Comprehension and Collaborative - activities/structures:
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas – activities/structures:
Academic Language: compare, contrast, Venn Diagram,
Reading
Objectives: Students will analyze and describe text structure. Students will interpret information presented in charts, graphs, diagrams and timelines.
Reading Standards:
RI 4.1, RI 4.3, RI 4.7,
Text Dependent Questions
Question
Choose a section from “The Life and Times of the Ant”; describe the
headings, text features, and text structure. Explain how they help you
understand and remember the information in the selection.
Reread the section “Friends in Low Places”. Explain how ants work together
to help each other.
In the second paragraph of “Friends in Low Places”, what details help
describe how ants are different from other insects?
After rereading the section, “Ant Talk”, why does successful teamwork
require effective communication by ants?
Answer
Students’ answers will vary.
They work together to help build nests, gather food and
protect themselves from enemies.
See Teacher’s Edition, pages 443
In order to survive, ants need to communicate effectively to
warn each other, announce they have found food, hear cries
for help through their legs and exchange food mouth to
Based on the table on page 451, what conclusion can you make about the
relationship between temperature and ant speed?
What is the purpose of the timeline text feature on pages 452-453? Why is
this information relevant?
The author uses two types of illustrations in the section, “A Life of Work” on
pages 448-449. Describe them and explain why you think the author chose
to do this.
mouth. (Ensure students’ answers include the verbs that are
important to survival)
Answers may vary but should include details from the
sidebar on TE 451.
Ants have survived for millions of years in spite of the
changing environment. Ants have learned how to work
together to survive. Various cultures have used this
information to enhance their communities.
The author use a realistic set of drawings and a cartoon-like
set of drawings. The cartoon-like drawings can help students
understand each job in a more basic way.
Scaffolds
English Learners
Special Needs/Other Differentiation