1. “Did Animals Sense Tsunami Was Coming?” Before giant waves slammed into Sri Lanka and India coastlines 10 days ago, wild and domestic animals seemed to know what was about to happen and fled to safety. According to eyewitness accounts, the following events happened: Elephants screamed and ran for higher ground, dogs refused to go outdoors, flamingos abandoned their low-lying breeding areas, and zoo animals rushed into their shelters and could not be enticed to come back out. The belief that wild and domestic animals possess a sixth sense—and know in advance when the earth is going to shake—has been around for centuries. Wildlife experts believe animals’ more acute hearing and other senses might enable them to hear or feel the Earth’s vibration, tipping them off to approaching disaster long before humans realize what’s going on. The massive tsunami was triggered by a magnitude nine temblor off the coast of northern Sumatra island on December 26. The giant waves rolled through the Indian Ocean, killing more than 150,000 people in a dozen countries. Relatively few animals have been reported dead, however, reviving speculation that animals somehow sense impending disaster.

2. READ-ALOUD EXERCISE Highlight a sentence that impacts you the most. Circle five words that you are unfamiliar with.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING PROMPT ON THE BACK OF YOUR PAGE Have you ever felt like you’ve had a sixth sense about something? Briefly explain the situation if you have.

4. “ Possum Crossing” Genre & its Attributes: Attribute Examples “The Laborious Ant” Genre & its Attributes Attribute Examples Open your books to pg. 630 Create Graphic Organizer

5. READ THE SHORT STORIES “Possum Crossing” “The Laborious Ant”

6. DISCUSSION What type of genre is “Possum Crossing”? What are some of its attributes? Find a few examples of these and write them on your graphic organizers.

7. DISCUSSION What type of genre is “The Laborious Ant”? What are some of its attributes? Find a few examples of these attributes and write them on your graphic organizers.

8. ON THE BACK OF YOUR GRAPHIC ORGANIZER… Set up your page as directed: Questions (1-5) Pg. 632 Proof Questions (6-10) Proof 1.Answer____ (Letter) “text from the story” 6. Answer___ “Text from story” 2.Answer ____ 7. Answer____ 3.Answer____ 8.Answer____ 4.Answer____ 9.Answer____ 5.Answer____ 10.Answer____