1. Unit 3: Discoveries Weekly Theme: Ecosystems in Balance Selection 3: Title: Saving the Sand Dunes Author: Time for Kids

2. Genre: Nonfiction Article– an article that gives information about real people, places, or things Comprehension Strategy: Analyze Text Structure Comprehension Skill: Cause and Effect

3. Phonics: decode words with /ûr/ Spelling Focus: words with /ûr/ turns, first, herds, learn, purr, third, earn, nurse, perch, girls, firm, word, world, serve, worth Review Words: bare, bear, stairs Challenge Words: perfect, Thursday

4. Key Vocabulary: preserve – an area set aside for the protection of plants and animals; protect from harm restore – bring something back to its original condition suffered – was damaged or harmed rainfall – amount of rain that falls on an area in a period of time

5. Vocabulary Skills: Multiple-Meaning Words ** Words that different meanings for the same word To figure out the meaning that fits in a sentence, look up the word in a dictionary and choose the meaning that makes sense in context.

6. Word Work: Grammar Skills: Past-Tense Verbs A past-tense verb tells what has already happened. Add -ed to form the past tense of most verbs. Drop the e and add –ed to verbs that end in e. Examples: paint → painteddance → danced jump → jumped like → liked