Write It • See It • Master It
March is a great time to bring "animals" into the classroom! Students have a natural curiosity for the wild, and I have developed a series of animal lessons specifically designed to turn that engagement into serious test-prep success.
Whether your students are working through Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (C.E.R.) or responding to creative prompts, these lessons are built to assist with rigorous writing in a way students actually enjoy.
The Anatomy of a "Ms. Koven" Lesson
I believe in setting students up for success before they ever hit the main text. Here is the workflow I’ve designed to help them master the content:
Immersive Vocabulary First: We start by "diving in" to key terms like Keystone Species, Resilience, and Alpha Pair. By placing the vocabulary study before the scientific text, students gain the confidence they need to understand complex reading.
Scientific Reading & Comprehension: Once the foundation is laid, students read the text and complete Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). These serve as a great pulse-check for the student and a quick grading tool for you.
"Sneaky" Test Prep (C.E.R.): After the MCQs, we move into short-answer questions broken down by Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. This guides them through the exact structure required for standardized testing.
Teacher Support: To make your life easier, I’ve included a rubric for student self-checks and exemplary responses for your own grading.
From Writing to Presenting: The "Ocean Odyssey"
Once the writing is mastered, it’s time to let their creativity shine! I provide multiple presentation options so every student can find their voice:
Podcast Exploration: Using my "Ocean Odyssey" instructions, students can act as podcast hosts, sharing survival skills and "Interesting Facts" through engaging narration.
Creative Choice: Students can also choose to create a poster, write a song, or draft a formal essay. Detailed directions for each are included in the lesson.
The "Brain Break"
Every lesson in the series ends with a Coloring Page. It’s the perfect way for students to decompress after the deep intellectual work of scientific argumentation.
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Ready to bring the Gray Wolf into your classroom? The full Wolf lesson—complete with the vocabulary study, scientific text, C.E.R. prompts, and presentation rubrics—is available now! And there are many more to choose from!
