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Mini Read,

This Animal Smells Like Popcorn

And it’s not because it went to the movies. 

By Janice Behrens
From the March / April 2021 Issue
Guided Reading Level: K
Lexile Level: 480L
DRA Level: 16-18
Vocabulary: Rainforest, scent
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RI.2.1 Key details RI.2.4 Vocabulary RI.2.5 Nonfiction text features RI.2.10 Read grade 2- appropriate informational text SL.2 Participate in conversations about grade 2 texts

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The binturong lives in Asia.

It would be hard to find a wild binturong (BIN-too-rong). It is shy. It moves slowly. It lives high in rainforest trees.

But if a binturong were nearby, you would smell it. This animal smells just like hot, buttered popcorn!

Why Popcorn?

Scientists wondered why. After all, these animals never snack on popcorn or go to the movies! They eat mostly fruit. And their fur does not have a popcorn smell.

Long Zhiyong/Getty Images

 

The Popcorn Secret

Then scientists found out their popcorn secret. The yummy scent comes from the binturong’s pee! It gets pee on its furry feet and tail.

Then it goes walking! It leaves the smell along tree branches. That says to other animals, “Hey, I’m here. This is my place.”

But if you were there, it might just make you feel hungry!

Slideshows (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities

About the Article

Science Focus

Animal adaptations

Social Studies Focus

Using a globe

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

1. BEFORE READING

Preview Vocabulary (3-5 minutes)

  • Play the online vocabulary slideshow. This article’s featured words are rainforest and scent.

Preview the Nonfiction Text Features/Visuals (5-10 minutes) 

  • Take a look at the nonfiction text features. First, focus on the big photo. Ask kids to share what they notice about the animal. (It is brown; it is furry; it has sharp claws; it is in a tree.) 
  • Can they find the caption on the globe inset on page 3? What does the caption say? (The binturong lives in Asia.)
  • Point out our doggie character, Nosey, on page 3. Ask someone to read her voice bubble. 
  • Explain that Nosey pops up throughout Storyworks 2. Not only does she have a long nose to sniff out facts, but she’s also nosy! She’s curious and wants to know about everything.

2. READ THE ARTICLE (10 minutes)

  • You can read this short article aloud together as a class, in small groups, or individually. 
  • Point out the context clues that help define the bold words rainforest and scent. 

3. AFTER READING

ELA Focus: Quiz (10 minutes)

ELA Focus: Key Details (20 minutes)

  • It’s time to help Nosey fill out her Fact File! Print out Nosey’s Fact File from the Resources section of our website. Kids can find facts from the article.
  • Each fact box is scaffolded to help kids know what to write.
  • Kids can share their facts with a partner, the other students at their tables, or the class.

4. MAKE TEXT-TO-TEXT CONNECTIONS

Enrich the Learning: Paired Text Opportunities (time amount varies) 

Making text-to-text connections builds knowledge and comprehension. We layer Storyworks 2 with many ways for your students to make connections. 

Pairable Text “Question & Answer: Interview With a Tub of Popcorn”. 

  • These stories both relate to popcorn!

Text-to-Speech