Guiding Comprehension

Character • Critical

What clues in the story help us know what the two ants are like? How would you describe the ants?

Clues: The two ants do not go back home with the other ants. They want to have all the crystals and be able to eat them every day. They are greedy.

Realism and Fantasy • Critical

Text to Text What other animal fantasy does Two Bad Ants remind you of?

Responses will vary but should name an animal fantasy with similar characteristics.

Visualize • Inferential

Which details helped you picture what happened to the ants in the morning?

Possible response: A giant silver scoop plunged into the crystals, shoveled up the ants and crystals, and lifted them high into the air.

STRATEGY SELF-CHECK

Visualize

Have students identify the important plot events that they have read so far in the story. Remind them to use the visualizing strategy as they read to create a picture in their minds. Point out that they should use all of their senses as they use the strategy. Visualizing helps readers comprehend and enjoy the text.

Read the first paragraph on p. 367 aloud to students. Pause after each statement and have students describe the picture they see in their mind. As appropriate, students should describe what they see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.

SELF-CHECK

Students can ask these questions to assess their ability to use the skill and strategy.

Did I identify important events from the story?
Did words and illustrations help me visualize story events?
How does visualizing help me understand and enjoy a story?

then…
revisit the
skill lesson on pp. 354–355. Reteach as necessary.

If… students have difficulty recognizing important events in the plot sequence,

Plot

Check Predictions Provide the following prompt: Was your prediction accurate? Revise your old prediction or make a new prediction about the rest of the selection.

If you want to teach this selection in two sessions, stop here.

"Two Bad Ants"
by Chris Van Allsburg

Student Edition
Unit 6, pp. 358–375

An animal fantasy is a story with animal characters that behave like humans. What is unusual about these two ants?

The scout came back to the ant hole carrying a huge, white crystal. The queen ant tasted the sugar. It was sweet and delicious. The discovery of the crystal made her joyful. The scout said that to please her, he would take other ants with him to get more.
The ants prepared for the long journey, and the scout led them through a forest of grass. Then they came to a large mountain of bricks. The line of ants climbed up the wall to a large, rectangular opening and entered a strange place. They crossed a huge shiny land and came to the curved wall of a sugar bowl. Each ant climbed in, picked up a crystal, and headed back out. They would give their crystals to the queen. Their goal was to make her happy. When she was happy, the entire kingdom was happy. Two ants decided to stay behind. They liked the land of the crystals. They ate and ate the sweet-tasting stuff until they could eat no more.
They fell asleep and so were unaware that a huge scoop was digging into the bowl. They ended up on the scoop with some crystals and fell into an ocean of hot, brown water. The scoop stirred and stirred. Finally it stopped, and the ocean was lifted up. Some of the brown water poured into a huge mouth. They had to get out of the water! They climbed the walls of the cup and ran to hide in a slice of bread.
Oh, no! The bread was lifted and dropped into a slot. They saw a red glow, and the slot became very hot. Then they were popped up and into the air. They landed near a fast-running stream of water. They went over to get a drink and cool their feet. But they fell in, and the stream swirled them into a dark hole. Half-eaten food was everywhere. Then a grinding noise began, and the food began to spin and break up. The food bits disappeared as water washed the bits down into pipes below. Finally the spinning stopped.
Tired and sore, the two ants climbed the walls and once again saw light. They saw something else too. A long line of ants was heading toward the sugar bowl. The two ants went to the back of the line and pretended to have been there all along. Each grabbed a crystal and marched with the others back to the ant nest.
The two bad ants were happy to be safe at home again. They had had enough adventure!



	Close
	Access Content Help students understand the events of the story. Make sure they understand that it is being told from an ant's perspective. PRACTICE LESSON VOCABULARY Have students provide oral responses to each question. *Is a crystal* shiny or dull?** (A crystal is shiny.) *What kind of journey* did the ants make? (The ants’ journey was long and dangerous.) What was the goal of the ants’ journey?** (The ants’ goal was to bring more crystals to the queen.) BUILD CONCEPT VOCABULARY Review previous concept words with students. Ask if students have come across any words today in their reading or elsewhere that they would like to add to the Concept Web.

"Two Bad Ants" by Chris Van Allsburg

"Two Bad Ants"
by Chris Van Allsburg