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 * Pre-Trip Lesson Plan**

**Purpose:** To gain a better understanding of Alaska's features by reading "Alaska's Three Bears" by Shelly GillPaws IV.

E2a - Produce a report of information. E3b- Participate in group meetings. E4a - Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language in written and oral work.
 * Standard**s:

Alaskan Animal Anticipation Set- Each student will receive a copy of this set. Along with a partner, students will read the statements and mark their response to each statement. **Mini Lesson: Whole Group Discussion - How do we use a KWL chart? ** In a KWL chart, teachers activate prior knowledge by asking students what they already know about a particular topic; then students collaborate within small groups to set goals that specify what they want to learn. Students apply higher-order thinking strategies which help them construct meaning from what they read and help them monitor their progress toward their goals.
 * Opening:**
 * Alaska Anticipation Set ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Place an "x" mark in the column with the response you most agree with: ||  ||
 * || AGREE || DISAGREE || UNSURE ||
 * 1.) In Alaska, it is cold all the time ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 2.) Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 3.) All Alaskans live in Igloos ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 4.) Temperatures in Alaska often drop below zero ||  ||   ||
 * || **ALASKA** ||  ||
 * **What do you KNOW?** || **What do you WANT to know?** || **What have you LEARNED?** ||

Read aloud "Alaska's Three Bears" by Shelly GillPaws IV While the book is primarily meant for elementary school kids, this book is also a great way of introducing students to the ecology of Alaska, while telling the story of a black bear, grizzly bear, and a polar bear and their search for homes in the Alaskan wilderness. The clever story, along with the three "bear" facts at the bottom of each page, provide a great view of the land and the wildlife. This is a nice way to see how fact and fiction can be used together. Each group will share out their findings and complete the "L" column of their KWL charts. Next, as a class, we will go over the anticipation set that students filled out at the beginning of class. Students will be given the oportunity to revise any original misconceptions they had about Alaska.
 * Closing:**

