A guide for using our resources

Children will identify characteristics of cave-dwelling animals.

Science Focus: organisms and environments

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.1.8, RF.1.2.A, W.1.2, L.1.1

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Phonics Hunt: short i

  • Work together to find and circle every short i in the issue. How many can you find?

Shared Writing: A Letter From Norbert Know-it-All

  • Put Norbert’s letter in an envelope, address it to the class, and read their mail. Kids will see that Norbert does NOT know it all!
  • Write a shared letter telling Norbert why he is wrong. Send photos or text emails to norbert@scholastic .com. Norbert will write back!

Hands-On Activity: Make Your Own Bat

Skill: key details, writing

Materials: "Bat Facts Sentence Strips" skill sheets, toilet paper tube, black and white paint, paintbrushes, black construction paper, glue, white pencil or crayon

  • Have kids paint a toilet paper tube black. While the paint dries, cut wings from black construction paper. Give each child a sentence strip and have them write a fact they learned about bats.
  • When the tube is dry, stand it up and fold the top edges in so they meet in the middle. (It should make a U shape). The two points on the side will look like ears! Then glue the wings to the back of the tube.
  • Kids can use paint or a white pencil to add a face to the front. Finally, they can glue their bat fact to the back!