Komodo Dragons Genre: Expository Nonfiction Author’s Purpose - Inform Reading Skill: Context Clues Compiled by Terry Sams, Piedmont By: Thane Maynard

Summary Even though Komodo dragons don't fly or breathe fire, they do look like little dragons.  These reptiles - the largest lizards in the world - live in the Komodo Island area of Indonesia.  The adult dragons can grow to be more than 10 feet long and can weigh a much as 250 pounds.  They are strong enough to kill a water buffalo, which can weigh more than 1,000 pounds!

Genre: Expository Nonfiction Expository Nonfiction is fiction that gives factual information about the real world. It explains the nature of something, or tells what something is like. It uses methods of expository nonfiction such as definition, comparison and contrast, example, and classification.

Comprehension Skill – Context Clues When you see unfamiliar words, use context clues, or words around the unfamiliar word, to figure out its meaning. The context may give a definition or an explanation. Example: Animals that eat other animals are called predators Sometimes a synonym is used as a context clue. Example: Komodo dragons are carnivores, or meat-eaters.

Practice Context Clues TE 231a Go to page 222 and reread the first paragraph. Unfamiliar Word Context Clue Type of Clue scales rough, bumpy, look like armor description predators animals that eat other animals definition forked y-shaped

Comprehension Review – Main Idea and Details The topic is the thing the author is writing about. The most important thing about this topic is called the main idea. Some main ideas can be found in the first sentence or paragraph. Sometimes the author does not state the main idea, and you have to infer, or figure out for yourself this main idea.

Research Skill - Encyclopedia An encyclopedia gives general information about many different subjects. Encyclopedias are organized in a set of volumes, or books, usually in ABC order. An entry is an encyclopedia article. They are listed in ABC order also. An entry word is the word or phrase that begins each entry and tells its subject. A key word identifies the information you are trying to find.

Weekly Fluency Check - Read with Attention to Punctuation Students should read with attention to punctuation, for example, using punctuation to help you read nonfiction. Both passages begin with questions which are answered in the body of the paragraph that follows. Encourage students to read with attention to how punctuation improves reading ease. Go to pages 220, beginning at the top of the page.

Where do Komodo dragons live, and what is the climate like? Review Questions Where do Komodo dragons live, and what is the climate like? Describe a Komodo dragon. Why do they stick out their tongue?

Why is the tongue “forked”? Describe how baby Komodo dragons are born. Review Questions Why is the tongue “forked”? Describe how baby Komodo dragons are born. Why do Komodo dragons swish their tails back and forth?

Main Idea On a clean sheet of paper, list the main ideas from this story about Komodo dragons.

Writing Assignment Write a paragraph telling what you have learned about Komodo dragons. Use any new words you have learned. Compare the lizards with other reptiles.

More Good Stuff Vocabulary Matching Internet Workshop Komodo Dragons and their Island Spelling Hang Man Vocabulary Matching Internet Workshop Context Clues Practice Reading Test Spelling Test

Say It! armor fierce harshest roam lizards prey reptiles

More Words to Know cold-blooded monitor predator

armor covering worn to protect the body in fighting

fierce savage; wild

harshest roughest to the touch, taste, eye, or ear; most difficult

lizards reptiles somewhat like snakes but with four legs and thicker bodies ; cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs

prey an animal hunted or seized for food

reptiles one group of cold-blooded animals with backbones and lungs

roam wander

cold-blooded having blood that is about the same temperature as the air or water around the animal

monitor any of a family of large carnivorous lizards

predator an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

The man put on the armor.

The man put on the armor.

The owl is an example of a predator.

The owl is an example of a predator.

The komodo dragon is considered a monitor.

The komodo dragon is considered a monitor.

The dog is a fierce animal.

The dog is a fierce animal.

The desert is the harshest place to survive.

The desert is the harshest place to survive

Is the Komodo Dragon a cold-blooded animal?

Is the Komodo Dragon a cold-blooded animal?

I saw lizards in my friends house.

I saw lizards in my friend’s house.

The dog ate its prey.

The dog ate its prey.

Those lizards roam around the island.

Those lizards roam around the island.

Are snakes reptiles or amphibians?

Are snakes reptiles or amphibians?

Spelling Words – Vowels with r pour fourteen court fourth course storm morning forest Florida form

Spelling Words – Vowels with r serve herself certain nerve perfect serve herself certain nerve perfect

This Week’s Word Wall Words Click and type your own words for this week:

Let’s review our words. Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just a moment. We will clap as we spell the word.

storm

morning

forest

Florida

form

pour

herself

fourteen

nerve

perfect

dirty

court

fourth

course

skirt

serve

certain

first

girlfriend

thirsty

GREAT JOB!