1. Teacher Guide
This lesson is designed to teach kids to ask a critical thinking question that you can’t just put into a search box to solve. To do that, we encourage them with smaller questions that search can help them answer. Make sure that you read the notes for each slide: they not only give you teaching tips but also provide answers and hints so you can help the kids if they are having trouble.
Remember, you can always send feedback to the Bing in the Classroom team at You can learn more about the program at bing.com/classroom and follow the daily lessons on our Partners In Learning site.
Want to extend today’s lesson? Consider using Skype in the Classroom to arrange for your class to chat with another class in today’s location. And if you are using Windows 8, you can also use the Bing apps to learn more about this location and topic; the Travel and News apps in particular make great teaching tools.
This lesson is designed to teach the Common Core State Standard: Reading: Foundational Skills.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.2 Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

2. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?
© Michael Durham/Tandem Stock
Having this up as kids come in is a great settle down activity. You can start class by asking them for thoughts about the picture or about ideas on how they could solve the question of the day.

3. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?
Any number of the distinctive animals living in the Galapagos Islands could be an ambassador for the famous ecosystem. The Galapagos sea lion certainly has the cute factor going for it. This pup has the typical light brown pelt of a juvenile. As it gets older, the coat will darken. And if this is a male, he may reach more than 500 pounds when fully grown. He’ll still be a fascinating creature, but at that size, “cute” may not be the first word that comes to mind.
Depending on time, you can either have students read this silently to themselves, have one of them read out loud, or read it out loud yourself.

4. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?1
Map Search
Where are the Galapagos Islands? Which countries are they closest to?
What continent are they closest to? What ocean are they located in?
Possible search queries: (“Galapagos Islands”)
Using Bing Map Search, search for “Galapagos Islands”. Using the zoom tool, zoom out to see the closest country. Ask students to name each letter in the country “Ecuador” and “Peru”. Ask them to sound out the name of the country. Write down the names of the countries on a whiteboard or other large, visible surface.
Zoom out further to see the closest continent. Ask students to name each letter in the continent “South America”. Scroll up to show where South America and Ecuador are located in relation to North America and the United States. Add the continent name to the word list.
Ask students to name each letter in the “Pacific Ocean”. Add this to the word list.

5. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?2
Web Search
The Galapagos Islands straddle the equator. What does that mean?
Possible Queries: (“Define: equator”, “Galapagos Islands”)
First ask students to spell out and sound out the word “equator”. Then use Bing to search for “Define: equator”. You can choose to read the entire definition, or pause before certain words and ask the students to help spell and sound out portions of the definition. Add “equator” to the word list.
A search for “Galapagos Islands” on Bing will return a Wikipedia result that gives a great picture of the Galapagos islands and shows how they are centered on the Equator.

6. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?3
Web Search
What is a mammal? Which mammal species can be found on the Galapagos Islands?
Possible search queries: (“Define: mammal for kids”, “Galapagos Island mammals”)
First ask students to spell out and sound out the word “mammal”. Then use Bing to search for “Define: mammal for kids”. The Merriam-Webster and Britannica links have great age appropriate definitions. You can choose to read the entire definition, or pause before certain words and ask the students to help spell and sound out portions of the definition. Choose key words and phrases from the definition to add to the word list.
Using Bing, conduct a web or image search for “Galapagos Island Mammals” and help the students identify the animal names. Add these to the list under the word “Mammals”.

7. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?4
Web Search
What is a reptile? Which reptile species can be found on the Galapagos Islands?
Possible search queries: (“Define: reptile for kids”, “Galapagos Island reptiles”)
First ask students to spell out and sound out the word “reptile”. Then use Bing to search for “Define: reptile for kids”. The Merriam-Webster and Britannica links have great age appropriate definitions. You can choose to read the entire definition, or pause before certain words and ask the students to help spell and sound out portions of the definition. Choose key words and phrases from the definition to add to the word list.
Using Bing, conduct a web or image search for “Galapagos Island reptiles” and help the students identify the animal names. Add these to the list under the word “Reptiles”.

8. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?5
Web Search
What is a bird? Which bird species can be found on the Galapagos Islands?
Possible search queries: (“Define: bird for kids”, “Galapagos Island birds”)
First ask students to spell out and sound out the word “bird”. Then use Bing to search for “Define: bird for kids”. The Merriam-Webster and Britannica links have great age appropriate definitions. You can choose to read the entire definition, or pause before certain words and ask the students to help spell and sound out portions of the definition. Choose key words and phrases from the definition to add to the word list.
Using Bing, conduct a web or image search for “Galapagos Island Birds” and help the students identify the animal names. Add these to the list under the word “Birds”.

9. Where are the Galapagos Islands and what types of animals can you find there?
This slide is a chance to summarize the information from the previous slides to build your final answer to the question.
Ask students to refer to the list of words and phrases. Have the students work together to answer the question out loud using as many of the words and phrases as possible.