Amazing Polar Bears

Two weeks ago we studied all about Polar Bears and also continued our practice with informational text features.  Each student completed an Amazing Polar Bear Book.  On each page students did a close reading about polar bears and identified which informational text feature was found on that page.  Then students were instructed to write their own text dependent question related to the content of each page.  Last they answered their question using the text as a resource and highlighted the proof.  Wow!  Our second graders are sure digging deep into reading!

Along the way we had a lot of fun with this unit of study.  We learned first hand how blubber helps polar bears stay warm in icy temperatures by taking our own polar bear plunge!

Now because text features may not get everyone super pumped, I upped my game and brought slingshot arrows for the students to use when they stepped up to our informational text feature board.  Fun and learning, a success in my book!

Of course we added a beautiful art project to solidify our learning.  First we used chalk to create the northern lights.  Next, students painted a snowy ground and a few trees.  For the polar bear we watched an amazing artist on you tube teach us how to make a polar bear step by step.  The kids did beautifully!  I'm definitely thinking these masterpieces will make a debut in the upcoming winter art gallery.

And last of all, students wrote an informational paragraph all about these amazing bears.  They completed this writing 100% on their own so I could use them as an assessment piece.  Way to go super second graders!  I am so proud of your dedication to learning!

Nonfiction Text Features and Polar Bears

All week we have been learning about informational text features as well as polar bears as we worked our way through a 13 page book.  Each page highlighted a different text feature such as caption, cutaway, fact box, illustration, map, glossary, table of contents, and so on.  We learned so many new and very important vocabulary words to add to our reading tool boxes.  This unit was very meaty and I am proud of our second graders hard work!  After becoming polar bear experts the kiddos wrote fantastic paragraphs about these amazing animals.  

Then the kiddos painted and drew some beautiful art to go with it.  

you tube- how to draw a polar bear.  LOVE!

To top it off we made "polar bear paws" to feel for ourselves how polar bears stay warm in the freezing arctic waters.  I wrapped students' hands in Crisco (fat) and dunked them in ice water.  This experiment totally worked and was such a concrete way to learn how the polar bears thick fat is so important for the icy conditions of the arctic.  

We have learned so much with this fun unit!