Article
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Mini Read,

Pup Gets a Ride

By Meg Richardson
From the December 2024 / January 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will learn about capybara moms and babies.

Lexile® measure: 390L
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Vocabulary: rodents, pups, habitat, webbed
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • Science Focus
    Animal Adaptations
  • Common Core Standards
    RI.2.1 Key details RI.2.2 Main idea RI.2.4 Vocabulary RI.2.5 Nonfiction text features RI.2.8 Text evidence RI.2.10 Read grade-2-appropriate informational text SL.2 Participate in conversations about grade-2 texts
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (B) record and compare how the structures and behaviors of animals help them find and take in food, water, and air; (C) record and compare how being part of a group helps animals obtain food, defend themselves, and cope with changes

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This capybara mom and baby are hungry. It’s time to look for plants in the water to eat!

What Are Capybaras? 

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They are related to beavers. They live in the rainforests of Central and South America. Baby capybaras are called pups. 

Finding Food

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webbed feet

Capybaras often swim to find food. They are great swimmers. They have to be! There are many rivers and lakes in their habitat, or home. They even have webbed feet, like frogs. 

This pup rides on its mom’s back as she swims. That keeps the pup safe from dangerous animals.  

Soon the mom finds plants to eat. Yum!

video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Slideshows (1)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Small group; whole group; independent reading

Before-Reading Resources

  • Text Preview Bookmarks
    (10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.
  • Play the Vocabulary Slideshow
    (5 minutes) Help students become familiar with vocabulary words they will see in the article.
  • Capybara Video
    (2 minutes) Show students a quick video of a capybara swimming.

Suggested Reading Focus

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

  • Take a close look at the picture and the title. Ask students, “What do you think this article will be about?”

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes for each activity)

  • Quiz: Comprehension check
  • Nosey’s Fact File: Students can fill out sheets with facts about capybaras. Then you can send pictures of their fact files to [email protected]. She will write back!

Text-to-Speech