PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES
Read the introduction on p. 377 aloud and look through the selection at the photographs together. Have students share their ideas about what they think the article will be about. After they preview, ask:
- Why do you think the author used the expert's words instead of his own?
(It's more interesting in the
expert's words.)
- What additional information do the captions give? (They describe what the scientists are doing.)
Link to Science
Students can use the key words humpback whales, whale songs, whale speech, and Joe Mobley to find out more about the songs of humpback whales and even hear a sample.
EXPOSITORY NONFICTION
Use the sidebar on p. 376 to guide discussion.
- Expository nonfiction gives
information or explains
something. Often there are
photographs, illustrations, or graphic organizers included in the article.
- Sometimes the author may include words from an expert. The quotes give us facts about the topic and are often more interesting to read than a simple statement of fact by the author.
- Scan p. 378. Note examples of quotes. Discuss the facts they give us and how we can use that information to understand the article.
AudioText
Article Titles
Some titles, such as those of short poems, articles, newspaper
features, and chapter titles are enclosed in quotation marks. So,
the title of the article, "He Listens to Whales" is written in quotation
marks.
Responses will vary; check that questions relate to the article. Tell students to look for details in the article which could help them answer their questions.
Access Content Look at the photographs and read the subheads and captions with students. Point out words like chatter, calls, clicks, creaks, roars, and whines, which are all sounds that whales make to communicate, or talk, with one another. Discuss what this information tells us about the topic of the article with students.
LessonTOC
PrintResources
“He Listens to Whales.” See pp. 354f–354g for the small group lesson plan.
