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BEFORE READING
Tech Files ONLINE
Have students use a student-friendly search engine to learn more about Yosemite National Park. Have them enter the name of the park as the keywords for their search.
ELL
Build Background Use ELL Poster 5 to build background and vocabulary for the lesson concept of physical features of the West.
ELL Poster 5
ELL Poster 5
Lesson Vocabulary
WORDS TO KNOW
Tested Word glacier a great mass of
ice that moves very slowly down a mountain or along a valley, or spreading very slowly over a land area
Tested Word impressive able to impress the
mind, feelings, conscience
Tested Word naturalist a person who
studies living things
Tested Word preserve to keep from harm or
change; protect
Tested Word slopes land that goes up or
down at an angle
Tested Word species a set of related living
things that share certain characteristics and that can interbreed
Tested Word wilderness a wild region with
few or no people living in it
MORE WORDS TO KNOW
altitudes heights above Earth's
surface
formations things that are formed
reservoir a place where water is collected and stored for use
Tested Word = Tested Word
Practice Book
Practice Book p. 44
with | without Answers
Build Background
ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
BEGIN A KWL CHART about interesting natural sights in the West.
  • Give students a few minutes to write what they know about natural sights
    found in the western United States. Have them think about what they know
    from books, travel brochures, postcards, TV programs, movies, or personal
    experiences. Record what students know in the first column of a KWL
    chart.
  • Give students two minutes to write two questions they would like to answer
    as they read Letters Home from Yosemite. Write their questions in the
    second column of the KWL chart. Add a question of your own.
  • Have students add any answers to their questions and any new information
    to the last column of the chart as they read.
Graphic Organizer 4
BACKGROUND BUILDING AUDIO This week's audio explores the work of a park
ranger. After students listen, discuss the importance of preserving natural
areas.
Audio CD Background Building Audio
Introduce Vocabulary
ASK QUESTIONS
Display the lesson vocabulary words, and invite students to share what they
already know about the meanings of these words. Have students look up
the meanings of any unknown words in their glossary. Then ask the following
questions to help students better understand the words' meanings.
Activate Prior Knowledge
  • Is a glacier hot or cold? Is it large or small? Does it move quickly or
    slowly?
  • How do you feel when you see an impressive sight in nature?
  • In what kind of things does a naturalist study?
  • If you want to preserve a forest, are you helping it or hurting it? Explain.
  • What are the names of some animal species?
  • How are slopes different from mountain peaks?
  • What sorts of things would you find in a wilderness?
After discussing word meanings, students can write sentences that include
lesson vocabulary words. You may wish to continue the activity using More
Words to Know.
At the end of the week, students can work in pairs to ask and answer other
questions involving lesson vocabulary.