Photograph of a sea star in clear water Photograph of the Selection 1 title page, “A Natural Balance”
Selection 1 Overview
  • Build Background

  • Language & Grammar

    Describe Animals and Things

    Use Adjectives That Describe

  • Prepare to Read

    Learn Key Vocabulary

    Learn a Reading Strategy

    Visualize

  • Read and Write

    Focus on Genre

    Environmental Report

    Apply the Reading Strategy

    Visualize

    Critical Thinking

    Reading Fluency

    Read with Intonation

    Vocabulary Review

    Write About the Guiding Question

  • Connect Across the Curriculum

    Literary Analysis

    Use Text Features: Diagrams

    Analyze Imagery in Poetry

    Vocabulary Study

    Use Context Clues: Multiple-Meaning Words

    Listening/Speaking

    Give a Presentation on Endangered Species

    Language and Grammar

    Describe Animals and Things

    Writing and Grammar

    Write About an Animal

Build Background
See How Humans Affect the Environment

How do humans affect the environment? Our actions can make the world better or worse. We may not know that some of the things we do harm plants and animals.

Connect

Habitat Drawing Brainstorm what wild animals need to survive. Then draw a habitat, such as the mountains, desert, or forest. What if people built a town on that land? Discuss with a partner how it would affect the animals.