Lesson video

Hi there, my name is Mr. Charlesworth, and in today's reading lesson, we're using the text, "Crazy About Cats." I'm really looking forward to exploring this non-fiction text with you.

Let's get started.

The lesson outcome is, I can engage with the information of a non-fiction text.

The keywords are, my turn, your turn.

Characteristic.

Similarity.

Difference.

Curiosity.

Let's try those once more.

Characteristic.

Similarity.

Difference.

And curiosity.

Well done.

A characteristic is a trait or quality that distinguishes something or someone.

A similarity is when two or more things share similar traits.

A difference is where two or more things have features that set them apart from one another.

And curiosity is the strong desire to know, explore, and learn about the world around you.

Don't worry if you are unsure about any of these keywords, we'll be exploring them throughout the lesson.

This lesson is all about engaging with the text.

We're going to start by comparing featured creatures, which looks at specific cats in finer detail.

Before then, moving on to looking at how non-fiction text can help develop curiosity.

Well done for noticing it's one of our keywords.

We'll be looking at how the text makes us curious about the wider world.

Let's begin by exploring how Owen Davey focuses in on specific creatures in comparing featured creatures.

Here's a quick recap about what we've learned so far.

We know that many cats hunt alone.

They use a range of strategies to catch their prey.

Cats often use a technique called stalking, which involves being very still and very quiet.

Species of cats have many characteristics that are unique to them.

These characteristics support them in movement, hunting, or to alert other cats to their presence.

I hope you're looking forward to discovering more about the text through our lesson today.

In "Crazy About Cats", Owen Davey alternates between describing cats in broad detail to focusing on specific species.

He uses a subheading "featured creatures" to alert readers to this.

It does sound really good, doesn't it? Let's try it together, my turn, your turn.

Featured creatures.

It's a nice play on words.

I'd now like you to read pages 24 and 25, which are titled "Little and large." I have a sneaky feeling you'll be looking at two very different sized cats.

Read the text with your partner and pause the video now whilst you do so.

Great reading.

I'd now like you to discuss the following question.

What do you notice about the captions on these pages? What information do they provide the reader? I wonder if you can spot any similarities or differences between them? Pause the video now whilst you discuss with your partner.

Well done.

There are a few captions on each page, but the similarity shows they're life-size scale.

So an answer could have been, the captions on both pages illustrate the life-size scale of the two cats.

This can help readers imagine their full size.

You can see this on page 25 located here, and it shows the tiger's face in comparison to its real-life counterpart.

It helps the reader picture the rest of the tiger beyond the page.

Here's our first check for understanding.

Referring to page 24, which of the following characteristics are correct? Is it A, the rusty-spotted cat is about half the size of a house cat.

B, the rusty-spotted cat is about double the size of a house cat.

C, the rusty-spotted cat has slow reflexes, meaning it has to prey on slow moving creatures.

Or D, the rusty-spotted cat has fast reflexes, meaning it can catch birds in flight.

Have a think, there may be more than one.

Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done, were you correct? It's A and D.

The rusty-spotted cat is about half the size, not double the size of a house cat, and it has fast reflexes, which means it's able to leap and catch birds in its mouth.

What an amazing feat, don't you think? We're now going to explore page 25 in a little more detail.

On this page, readers can find out lots about tigers.

We can find out about its physical characteristics, including its size, shape, colour, and distinguishing features, such as its markings.

Well done, they used a camouflage.

We can find out about its diet and feeding habits.

In this case, its feeding on gaurs.

We can identify that using the caption and the visual aid.

We also find out about its habitat.

Tigers live in a range of habitats.

In the Amur region in Russia, and also in Bangladesh.

These are both marked on the map illustrated here.

Finally, the page tells us more about how tigers have adapted to survive in different habitats.

The Amur tigers have thick fur and a layer of fat to keep them warm, whereas those who live in hotter regions often take refreshing dips in water to keep cool.

You can see how we've gone from broad details about the species to finer details, focusing on the featured creatures.

Here's a check for understanding based on what we've just read.

Referring to page 25, can you match the information about the tiger to the correct heading? The headings on the left-hand side are length, mass, habitat and diet.

Pause video now whilst you match them up.

Great work, I wonder if you're correct.

The length of the tiger is approximately three metres.

Their mass, 300 kilogrammes.

Their habitat is the Amur region in Russia and Bangladesh amongst several other places.

And their diet is gaurs.

These are described on the page as the largest cattle animals in the world.

Tigers must be very strong to be able to prey on them, don't you think? We're now going to look at how we can compare the different cats by exploring information about specific species of cat in "Crazy About Cats." You can identify similarities and differences between creatures.

Well noticed, there're two of our keywords.

Similarities are things that are alike or the same in two or more things.

Differences are things that are not the same.

So similarities are the same, differences not the same.

By comparing, we can find out how things are alike, which helps us see any patterns and connections.

When we contrast, we notice differences, and this helps us see unique details or aspects that make each thing special.

I wonder if you've noticed any patterns and connections between the caps already from reading? Or perhaps you've noticed a unique detail or aspect about them? Perhaps an adaptation or where their habitat is? We'll be looking at similarities and differences in our task shortly.

Here's our next check for understanding.

Can you match the following keywords to their definitions? There's similarity and difference.

Have a read of the the definitions and match them up.

Pause the video now whilst you do so.

Well done, I wonder if you got them both correct.

A similarity is when two or more things share characteristics that are closely related.

And a difference is when two or more things have characteristics that set them apart from one another.

Well remembered.

In our first task, I'd like you to refer to pages 24 and 25, and answer the following questions.

The first is to name a similarity between the rusty-spotted cat and the tiger.

The next, you've guessed it, is to name a difference between the rusty-spotted cat and the tiger.

You can use the sentence stems, one similarity I noticed was.

And one difference I noticed was.

Discuss the questions with your partner.

Pause the video now whilst you complete the task.

Great discussion.

Let's have a look at two possible examples.

For the similarity, you might have said that both cats are excellent hunters.

The rusty-spotted cat has fast reflexes, meaning it can capture birds in flight.

The tiger can take down animals several times its own weight.

For the difference, you might have said the mass of each cat is very different.

Female rusty-spotted cats can weigh as little as one kilogramme, whereas some of the male tigers can weigh over 300 kilogrammes.

That's a huge difference.

I wonder if you drew out similar differences and similarities with your partner? We're now going to explore how non-fiction text can help develop and peak curiosity.

Well remembered, it's our keyword.

Curiosity is all about developing an awareness of the wider world and making readers question and think about the text in more detail.

There are many reasons why readers read non-fiction text.

Before we explore curiosity, I'd like you to discuss the following question.

Why might you read "Crazy About Cats?" What makes the text exciting or enticing or curious to you? Pause the video now whilst you discuss with your partner.

Great work, you might have drawn out some of these responses.

You might read "Crazy About Cats" to discover more about the species.

To understand cat's behaviour, perhaps if you have one yourself.

And to develop curiosity about specific characteristics or traits.

These are just some examples, there are many more.

When readers read non-fiction, there can be a wide audience.

The next question I'd like you to discuss is who do you think the intended audience is of "Crazy About Cats?" Who does Owen Davey want to read his book? How has he presented it? Pause the video now whilst you discuss the question with your partner.

Well done, let's have a look at some possible answers.

You might have said that the intended audience of "Crazy About Cats" are animal enthusiasts, people enthusiastic about animals.

You might have also mentioned that it might appeal to pet owners.

And finally, it might appeal to readers studying zoology, that's the study of animals.

We're now going to look at how the text can inspire curiosity in readers.

Non-fiction text can be a powerful text type for developing curiosity by engaging readers' interests and encouraging a deeper exploration of topics.

They can prompt this by including intriguing titles.

Owen Davey's written lots of text about animals.

They always have clever titles or play on words, just like "Crazy About Cats." Owen Davey also explores this in the titles on each of the pages too.

Non-fiction text also pose thought-provoking questions.

They get the reader to consider lots of possible ideas and thoughts.

They share surprising or lesser-known facts to engage and interest the reader.

They provide real-life examples, helping the reader make connections to the wider world.

They use visual aids such as photographs or illustrations.

And finally, they encourage personal reflection.

That can be by connecting to readers personally, providing personal anecdotes or perhaps linking explanations to people's real-life experiences.

Here's our next check for understanding.

How can a non-fiction text encourage curiosity within readers? Is it through A? It can provide real life examples of what is being read.

B, it can pose thought-provoking questions.

C, it can share common facts readers are likely to know.

Or D, it can include intriguing titles.

There may be more than one.

Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Great work, did you notice all three? It's A, B, and D.

To encourage curiosity, non-fiction text can provide real-life examples, they can pose thought-provoking questions and include intriguing titles.

Non-fiction text usually provide the reader with lesser-known facts, not commonly known ones.

If readers know the facts already, they're less likely to engage.

When reading non-fiction, readers can read information that piques their curiosity.

That means it inspires curiosity.

We can ask questions of the text and illustrations to develop this further.

We're going to practise this now.

I'd like you to read pages 30 and 31 with your partner.

It's titled "Kitten Caboodle." Let's say that together.

Kitten Caboodle.

Well done.

I wonder if you can work out what the word "caboodle" means from reading the text.

Pause the video now whilst you read it together.

Well done.

I'd now like you to consider the following questions.

Was there anything that surprised you? Was there anything that you did not understand? And was there anything that you want to find out more about? Have a discussion with your talk partner.

Pause the video now whilst you do so.

Well done.

Here are a few questions that I was curious about when reading.

I wonder why some of the cubs look different to their parents? Why do lion cubs rosettes fade over time? I was surprised at how mother cats carry their young to protect them.

And I'd like to find out more about how cubs mature into adults.

How do they learn all the skills they need to survive? These are just some of the questions that you can ask about the two pages we've just read.

I wonder what yours were.

Here's our final check for understanding.

True or false? Non-fiction text can pique their reader's curiosity.

Well remembered, to pique something is to engage or inspire.

Is this statement true or false? Pause the video now whilst you decide.

Well done, it's true.

Now, I'd like you to justify your answer.

Is it because A, a non-fiction text can stimulate curiosity and encourage readers to explore the subject matter further? Or B, the primary purpose of a non-fiction text is to inform and educate the reader.

Have a think back to the original statement, which justification best fits? Pause the video now whilst you decide side.

Well done, were you correct? It's A.

A non-fiction text can stimulate curiosity and engage readers to explore the subject matter further.

While non-fiction text do inform and educate, they can also inspire curiosity too.

In our final task, I'd like you to choose a double page spread from "Crazy About Cats" to read and explore with your partner.

I'd like you to write down four to five questions that you were curious about.

Was there anything that surprised you? Was there anything that you did not understand? And was there anything you'd like to find out more about? You might like to use the sentence stems, I was surprised at.

I was curious about.

I wonder why.

And, I'd like to find out.

Have a discussion with your partner, then write down four to five questions that you'd like to find out more about from reading the page.

Pause the video now whilst you complete the task.

Fantastic work, I wonder which page you focused on? Here are a few reflection questions for us to consider.

Did the questions make you curious about a particular species or characteristic of cats? Did it make you want to find out more? You could perhaps research the answers to your questions by exploring additional text, either in the school or local library, or from a trusted website.

I hope this lesson's piqued your curiosity too.

In today's lesson, we've been engaging with the text "Crazy About Cats." From reading, we've learned that "Crazy About Cats" provides information about different species of cats, which can be compared and contrasted.

Noticing similarities and differences between creatures and their characteristics can allow patterns and connections to be identified.

Non-fiction can be a powerful text type for developing curiosity by engaging readers' interests and encouraging a deeper exploration of topics.

Finally, readers can ask questions of the text and illustrations to engage more fully with the information they've read.

I've really enjoyed learning with you today.

Fantastic work.

I'm looking forward to working with you again soon.