Before After Reading Activities Before Reading Building Academic Vocabulary and Background Knowledge Before reading a book it is important to tap into what your child or students already know about the topic This will help them develop their vocabulary increase their reading comprehension and make connections across the curriculum be about in the book’s chapters you might learn about it from this book Why or why not 1 Look at the cover of the book What will this book 2 What do you already know about the topic 3 Let’s study the Table of Contents What will you learn about 4 What would you like to learn about this topic Do you think 5 Use a reading journal to write about your knowledge of this 6 Read the book 7 8 After reading the book complete the activities below In your reading journal record what you learned about the topic and your response to the book topic Record what you already know about the topic and what you hope to learn about the topic Content Area Vocabulary Read the list What do these words mean bacteria habitat humus minerals nutrients organic particles topsoil After Reading Comprehension and Extension Activity After reading the book work on the following questions with your child or students in order to check their level of reading comprehension and content mastery 1 How does soil help plants Summarize 2 Why do you think few plants grow in the desert Infer 3 On which layer of soil does grass grow Asking Questions 4 Name a location near your home that would likely have soil rich in humus Text to Self Connection 5 Where do plants get nutrients Asking Questions Extension Activity This book talks about how soil is mostly made of rock particles Examine a scoop of soil with a magnifying glass You can see the rock particles What else do you see If possible look at the same soil sample with a microscope
Soil All Around Have you ever thought about soil Soil hides under grass roads and even the ocean It covers almost all of Earth We might not notice soil but it’s important So what is soil Sunlight water and soil are all necessary parts of the Earth’s natural environment 4
Dirt or Soil Most people think dirt and soil are the Most people think dirt and soil are the same Scientists say when soil gets moved same Scientists say when soil gets moved same Scientists say when soil gets moved same Scientists say when soil gets moved and unwanted it becomes dirt Dirt is what you fi nd stuck to your shoes Soil is what you fi nd stuck to your shoes Soil is where plants grow 5
