1. How to Use the Theme Slideshow
The Theme Slideshow is a useful and engaging tool to introduce your class to the unit. The slideshow touches on the Big Idea questions for the unit. It can be used to prepare students for the unit by building background and academic language on topics that they will read about.
Before you begin a new unit, show the Theme Slideshow to the class. Direct students to listen carefully to the audio as they look at each slide. (Note: if you click while the audio is playing, the audio will stop. Simply click the audio icon in the upper left corner to start the audio again.) Pause the slideshow as needed to allow students to comment or ask questions about what they are seeing. Provide sentence starters containing the academic words listed to engage students in conversations about the visuals and audio. Explain to students that they will learn more about these topics as they read the stories in the unit.
As you begin each week of the unit, you may wish to show the Theme Slideshow again as a means of reviewing the weeks you have completed, and of preparing for the week to come. This is a great opportunity to add new learning and research findings to the Big Question Boards. The Theme Slideshow can also be used at the end of the unit to sum up learning and as a prompt for writing about the unit.
For additional video clips related to the theme, go to Select the California Treasures site, then in the Teacher area click the “Student Activities” button and select the Big Question Multimedia link.
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How do we learn about nature?
In this unit we will learn about Earth’s natural resources and environment. We will learn about how animals survive in extreme locations, such as deserts. We will also find out what people can do preserve and protect Earth’s environment. Later in the unit we will read about different types of weather, including hurricanes and blizzards. As you read the selections in this unit, think about what you know about our planet. How can we protect our world?

2. Think about life in the desert
Think about life in the desert. What is it like for plants and animals to live there?

3. harsh
temperatures
In Dig Wait Listen, you will learn about the life cycle of a spadefoot toad. You will find out how the spadefoot toads survives in the harsh desert conditions, where temperatures reach above a hundred degrees. You will read about how the spadefoot toad changes and grows in its desert habitat.

4. What do animals need to survive?

5. seek
In Splish! Splash! Animal Baths, you will find out how different animals, such as elephants, horses, and fish, stay clean. You will learn that a chimpanzee will seek out another chimpanzee to get help removing bugs and leaves from its fur. You will also find out how shrimp act like animal dentists.

6. How do people cause problems for Earth? What can people do to help?

7. purpose
practical
In this selection, you will learn about the purpose of recycling plastic and metal. You will find out about the practical products, such as rugs or backpacks, that can be created from recycled materials.

8. What happens when a powerful storm strikes
What happens when a powerful storm strikes? How can people stay safe during a big storm?

9. severe
In Super Storms, you will learn about different kinds of severe weather, from hurricanes to blizzards. You will read about some of the worst storms to hit our country. You will find out what people can do to prepare for a big storm.

10. Describe what you can see in the sky
Describe what you can see in the sky. How might people from long ago have explained the natural world?

11. dazzling
capable
Pushing Up the Sky is a story about how the dazzling stars appeared in the night sky. You will read a Native American folktale in which a group of capable people work together to push up the sky and make their world a better place.

12. What do you know about the natural world
What do you know about the natural world? Describe some examples of natural resources in your community and what people do to preserve those resources.