Can two totally different animals work together?
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oxpeckers
Animals can help each other, just like people. Zebras and birds called oxpeckers are great at this.
Bugs land on zebras. The oxpeckers eat the bugs. Zebras get the bugs cleaned off them. Birds get food. The animals help each other!
Oxpeckers help zebras in another way too. They let zebras know if they see a predator like a lion. They call out a warning. It sounds like “Kriss, kriss!”
The zebras run away to safety. These animals make a great team!
About the Story
Science focus for
nonfiction connection
Animal adaptations
The Bird and the Zebra and Go, Animal Team!
Implementation
Pairings and Text Connections
“Bear Cub Rescue,” p. 6
“The Bird and the Zebra,” p. 14
“Go, Animal Team!” p. 20
“Pine School Pals: The Cleanup Clash,” p. 21
Before-Reading Resources
(5 minutes) Students can cut out the fiction bookmark and use it to preview the fiction text. They can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the nonfiction text.
(5 minutes) Familiarize students with vocabulary they will see.
Suggested Reading Focus
Comprehension, fiction and nonfiction (30 minutes)
After-Reading: Skills Practice
(15 minutes for each activity)
After-Reading Text Comparisons
