How are animals adapted for survival in the cold?

You will read 3 articles:• “Animals Get Ready”• “Arctic Life”• “In Cold Weather,

Animals Have Ways of Staying Warm”

You will write:

An informative essay:How are animals adapted for survival in the cold?

PART 1: ReadRead to learn how animals’

adaptations help them to survive in the cold. You will learn about this topic from three different articles.

Continued on next page.

Animals Get Ready (continued)

Continued on next page.

In Cold Weather, Animals Have Ways of Staying Warm (continued)

PART 2:Write an informative essay.

Directions:

The next few pages will guide you on how to write your essay. You will use the steps

of the writing process:

1) Plan2) Draft3) Edit/Revise4) Publish

Assignment:The articles talked about animals that lived in cold places. Write an informative essay explaining how these animals are adapted for survival in the cold. Use information from the articles in your essay.

PLAN (see the next page for main idea hints)

Main idea 1:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

• Detail/Evidence:

• Detail/Evidence:

Main idea of the whole essay:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Main idea 2:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

• Detail/Evidence:

• Detail/Evidence:

Reword the main idea of the whole essay:

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

These will become

paragraph 2 and 3

(the BODY of your essay).

This will become

paragraph 1 of your

essay (the INTRODUC

TION).

This will become

paragraph 4 (the

conclusionof your essay).

Main Idea Hints

SEA CREATURE ADAPTATIONS

These were the main ideas that we used in the sea

creature adaptations essay.

The main idea of the whole essay (we used the main idea of the whole in paragraph 1 and paragraph 4)

Sea creatures have many amazing adaptations that help them survive.

The main idea that we used inparagraph 2 was:

Sea creatures have many adaptations to help them find food.

The main idea that we used in paragraph 3 was:

Sea creatures have many adaptations for protection.

WINTER ADAPTATIONS

Below are some main ideas that you may like to use in the

winter adaptations essay.

Think about the main ideas we chose for our sea creature essay.

Ideas for the main idea of the whole (use in paragraphs 1 and 4):

Animals have many amazing adaptations that help them survive in the cold. OR

Animals have different ways tosurvive in winter.

Ideas for main ideas that you could use in paragraph 2 or 3:

Hibernation helps some animals survive the cold. OR

Some animals have bodies that are made to survive in the cold. OR

Torpor is how some animals survive the cold weather. OR

Migration is how many animals survive during winter.

Paragraph 1: Write the introduction by stating the main idea of the whole essay. Add an interesting fact or a question to grab the reader’s attention.

Paragraph 2: Write a main idea sentence. Add at least two details/evidence that support your main idea sentence. Some good transition words to begin your second paragraph with are: First of all OR To begin withOR To start off Optional (challenge): Add a closing sentence.

Paragraph 3: Write a main idea sentence. Add at least two details/evidence that support your main idea sentence. Some good transition words to begin your third paragraph with are: In addition OR Another adaptation OR To continueOptional (challenge): Add a closing sentence.

Paragraph 4 : Write the conclusion of your essay by rewriting the main idea of the whole essay (reword it slightly). Some good transition words to begin your conclusion paragraph with are: In conclusion OR To sum it up Optional (challenge): Add an additional sentence to your conclusion paragraph.

DRAFT: Use your planning frame to help you write your draft.

Below are some tips to guide you.

EDIT & REVISE

NOTE: Connecting words are sometimes called TRANSITIONwords or LINKING words.

Peer EDIT & REVISE(Optional) Ask a friend or parent to read your draft. When they are finished, discuss the essay together. Use their suggestions to make your essay better.

PUBLISH Write your final draft. You may type it on the computer or write it neatly on lined paper.

SUBMIT YOUR FINAL DRAFT TO SEE SAW.

OPTIONAL: Turn your essay into a picture book.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have completed all the steps of the writing process.