Before starting this lesson, review the unit Teacher Guide for an overview of the Animal Adventures Anchor Layer.

Set Up Your Classroom

Set up your classroom by creating a class "See-Think-Wonder" chart (the student version is linked above). We recommend using chart paper or a space on your board that won't be erased since you will revisit it throughout the unit. You may choose to only do a class chart, as opposed to a class chart in addition to each individual student completing a chart.

Prepare Worksheets

The Bracken Cave printouts are designed to be cut in half, as shown on the sheet itself. Each printed page will contain a copy for two students.

You will need a new copy of the Bracken Cave printout for the anchor phenomenon lesson, and after each of the first two lessons of the unit (three copies total for each student).

You will need the Bat Rest Stop worksheet after the third lesson in this unit. Each page is designed to be cut in half. Each printed page will contain a copy for two students.

Prepare a Place to Keep the Worksheets safe

Students will revisit their Bracken Cave worksheets as the unit progresses. If you are in a classroom, this is a great opportunity to make a bulletin board to display student work. This will make your student's thinking visible, and it will keep their sheets organized and ready to revisit as the unit progresses.

At the beginning of the unit, once students have completed the anchor phenomenon lesson, simply display their Bracken Cave worksheets on a bulletin board. At the end of the first lesson, they will complete a second version of the worksheet by applying what they learned in that lesson. Depending on the amount of space you have available, you can put each student's new worksheet next to or on top of the prior version. Repeat this for the second lesson, and each student will have a record of how their thinking evolved over the course of the unit.