Lesson Plan - The Comeback Creatures

Watch a Video

Play “What You Need to Know About Endangered Species,” then discuss: What are some of the reasons animals and plants become endangered?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• protected
• endangered
• symbol

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them consider whether it’s important to protect endangered species.

1. How does the Endangered Species Act help plants and animals? Support your response with evidence from the article.
The article explains that the Endangered Species Act protects plants and animals by making it “against the law to kill, capture, or harm any species that is on an endangered list.”
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

2. Compare and contrast the threats that American alligators and eastern Steller sea lions faced. 
Both of these species were harmed by humans. American alligators were hunted for their skins, which were used to make shoes, bags, and other products. Steller sea lions were killed by fishermen to keep the hungry sea lions from eating the fish in an area. 
^{(RI.3.8 Comparison)}

3. What does the word symbol mean? What example of a symbol does the article describe?
The Words to Know box explains that a symbol is “a thing that stands for something else.” The article says that the American eagle stands for America. It is also a symbol for the success of the Endangered Species Act.
^{(RI.3.4 Determine Meaning)}

FEATURED SKILL: Research

Use the skill builder “Get the Details!” to have students practice identifying the main idea and key supporting details in the article.

^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}