Photo of a group of pandas hanging out and one climbing a tree
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Mini Read,

Panda Kindergarten

What is cuter than a baby panda? A lot of baby pandas!

By Janice Behrens
From the March/April 2023 Issue
Lexile: 430L
Guided Reading Level: M
DRA Level: 20-24
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Topic: Social Studies, 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
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (9) Organisms and environments. The student knows that living organisms have basic needs that must be met for them to survive within their environment. The student is expected to: (A) identify the basic needs of plants and animals; (C) compare the ways living organisms depend on each other and on their environments such as through food chains. (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs

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LIU JIN/AFP via Getty Images 

The cubs get checkups.

It sounds too cute to be true. But it is a real place. Panda kindergarten is part of the Wolong Nature Reserve for pandas. People made this place to help pandas. Why do pandas need help?

Wild pandas live in bamboo forests in China. But over time, people cut down many of them to build roads and buildings. Pandas had fewer places to live. They became endangered. There were not many of them left.

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The cubs have a bamboo snack. 

Helping Pandas

Visual China Group via Getty Images

The cubs play.

Wolong is a safe place for panda moms to raise their cubs. People help care for the cubs. The cubs even go to panda kindergarten. They learn how to live in a forest. Then they can live in the wild. 

Now there are more pandas! The forests around Wolong are protected. No one is allowed to cut them down. Yay for pandas!

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

More About the Article

Science Focus

Endangered animals

Vocabulary

endangered, cubs, protected

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

1. BEFORE READING

Text Preview Bookmarks (5-10 minutes)

  • Our skills page has both fiction and nonfiction options for kids to cut out to help them preview the text. They can use the nonfiction bookmark for this story.

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 nonfiction text features, such as a the globe, as you go. Ask, what does it show?

3. AFTER READING

 Play The Vocabulary Slideshow (5 Minutes)
  • Now that your students have read the article, they have context for understanding the new words that appeared in it. Play the vocabulary slideshow after reading to reinforce these new words. Students can hear the definitions of the words read aloud and see photos illustrating each word. They can also practice saying the words out loud.

3. AFTER READING: FOCUS ON ELA SKILLS

Assessment: Quiz (10 minutes)

  • Pass out the quiz for a quick comprehension check.
  • We offer both multiple-choice and written- answer formats for the quiz.

ELA Focus: Crossword Puzzle (15 minutes)

  • Students can deepen their understanding of vocabulary words in the article with a fun crossword puzzle!

Online: Whole Issue Scavenger Hunt (15 minutes)

  • On our website, go to the Resources section of this article. Scroll down to Activities. The scavenger hunt is there.
  • This is a self-contained group of slides that guide students on a scavenger hunt through the whole issue. It helps them make text-to-text connections.
  • It can be done independently by students at home or during class time.

Text-to-Speech