Comprehension Strategy: Text Appetizer

Discipline: Science and Social Studies

Unit/Topic:

Earthquakes

Common Core Standards:

6.E.2: Understand the structure of the earth and how interactions of constructive and destructive forces have resulted in changes in the surface of the earth over time.

Comprehension Strategy Chosen:Text Appetizer

Circle one:      Before
Purpose (how does this strategy match the content you are trying to cover?): Learning about earthquakes in a Science classroom usually involves some reading in order for students to understand certain facts and characteristics of earthquakes. These scientific articles are usually dry reads and students oftentimes have difficulty finding meaning within the text. By using a text appetizer, I can relate the topic of earthquakes to my students lives and make it relevant to them; then, as the read the article about earthquakes they will be able to think about how it would affect their own lives. The text appetizer also provides guiding questions that build upon the levels of understanding that students will need to answer as they read.

Description of comprehension strategy: Before reading the two articles on earthquakes and faults, I will read the text appetizer (which is supposed to get students thinking about earthquakes and how they would react if they experienced one) with the students and let them know about the articles they will be reading. I will also go over the questions with the students so they know what they need to be looking for as they read. After reading the article and answering the questions, they will all share what they found with the class.

Reflection (to be completed after lesson is presented and before you upload to blog):It was difficult to tell how my classmates viewed this comprehension strategy and whether or not it had the desired affect on them because none of them had any questions or comments. On one hand, I’d like to think that I explained it really well and they completely understood it since none of them had questions but on the other hand I’m not sure if they think it is something that they will want to use in their classrooms. To be honest, it was a short and sweet comprehension strategy that I still think is a good introduction to a topic and allows the students to make connections to the readings.

 

Actual Documents Used:

Text Appetizer: Earthquake Science

Suppose you are walking home from school one spring day and you decide to stop at your neighborhood park to sit and enjoy the sunshine. As you sit on your bench you start to hear a low rumble that becomes increasingly louder. You feel the earth start to violently shake and you fall to the ground. You see the monkey bars and the swing set shaking and moving until they collapse into the dirt. When the earth finally stills you realize that you’ve experienced your first earthquake! What causes earthquakes like the one you just witnessed? What effects do earthquakes have on the earth?

The two short articles that you are about to read explain how and why earthquakes occur and how scientists began to learn more about earthquakes and their impact on the earth. You will learn about the San Andreas Fault, the Great San Francisco earthquake, and the many types of faults that have shaped earth’s geographical landscapes. As you read, be thinking about what it would be like to experience an earthquake and be prepared to answer the questions below.

Link to pdf (I only used articles 1 and 3): http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2006/21/

Right There on the Page:

1. What is LIDAR?

Think and Search:

2. Explain what causes strain in the earth’s crust.

On Your Own:

3. In what ways do you think earthquakes impact earth’s geographical landscapes? Can you think of any specific geographical landscapes that have probably formed as a result from an earthquake?