Word Knowledge

Why Did the Dinosaurs Disappear?

Open Court Anthology

Grade 2

Word Knowledge

roam to wander

rare unusual extraordinary

soot ash dirt dust

erupt explode blow up

1. roam rare soot erupt

2. protection imagination infection reflection

3. uncover uncertain unkind unwise

4. disappear dislike disbelief disagree

5. dinosaur for more swirl

Word Knowledge

2. Dinosaurs were so huge that they could not burrow into the ground for warmth and protection.

3. A dinosaur might have eaten plants or animals.

1. Scientists use fossils to uncover clues about dinosaurs.

1. roam rare soot erupt

2. protection imagination infection reflection

3. uncover uncertain unkind unwise

4. disappear dislike disbelief disagree

5. dinosaur for more swirl

Word Knowledge

erupterupt

roamroam

sootsoot

rarerare

Dinosaurs were so huge that they could not burrow into the ground for warmth and protection.

Build Background

In “Dinosaur Fossils” you learned that scientists learn about the creatures and the climate of the Earth of long ago from

fossils.

What do you know about why dinosaurs disappeared?

Have you read any other books about the extinction of

dinosaurs?

Build BackgroundGenre: Expository Text

For many years, dinosaurs roamed the earth. Then, they died out.

What happened?Why did they disappear?

Did egg-raiding species of animals do them in?

Did a huge meteorite crash into the Earth?

Build Background

Did egg-raiding species of animals do them in?

Did a huge meteorite crash into the Earth?

This story explores several scientific theories that explain why dinosaurs

became extinct.

Build Background

Do you know what a theory is?

A theory is an idea explaining something. It is an opinion, or idea, based on facts,

but not proven.

Expository Text• Expository text gives information. It tells people

something.

• It uses facts about real events or people.

• It presents information in a clear way.

• It gives events in the order in which they happen.

• It may be organized by topics.

Open Court Vocabulary for

“Why Did the Dinosaurs Disappear?”Genre: Expository Text

climate

The climate during the Ice Age was very cold.

( the normal weather conditions of a place )

protection

A turtle’s shell gives it protection.

( the keeping of someone or something from harm )

moisture

We can see the moisture of dew on the grass early in

the morning.

( water or other liquid in the air or on a surface )

erupt

Earthquakes made volcanoes erupt all over the world.

( to break out suddenly with force )

crater

The meteorite made a huge crater when it hit the

Earth.

( large hole )

Meteorites fall to the Earth pulled by Earth’s gravity.

( rocks from outer space)

discovery

A new discovery gave scientists a new idea why the Earth became

so cold.

( something that is seen or found out for the first time )

starved

The dinosaurs may have starved to death.

( had nothing to eat )

moisture( water or other liquid in the air or on a

surface )

climate( the normal weather conditions of a place )

erupt( to break out suddenly with force )

( rocks from outer space)

starved( had nothing to eat )

( rocks from outer space)

protection( the keeping of someone or something from harm

)

crater( large hole )

“Why Did the Dinosaurs Disappear?”

Scientists have lots of theories (ideas), but we will never know for sure. You will have to decide which theory you agree with the most.

Why did the Dinosaurs Disappear?

More vocabulary

Roam

• To wonder without a direction

• To travel without a purpose

disappear

• To vanish from sight

poisoned

• A harmful substance for a body

burrow

• A hole or tunnel in the ground

meteorite

• a huge stone or piece of metal that has reached the earth from outer space

crater

• the hole or pit in the ground

Comprehension StrategiesGood Readers…

Monitor and Clarify

STOP and reread to determine the meaning of words and more difficult

ideas or passages.

“Wait a minute! I didn’t understand that. Let me stop and reread for clarity.”

“I am confused by that. I need to clarify.

SummarizeKeep track of what you have read and

focus on important details

“At the beginning of the story…” “Then…”

Make PredictionsGuess what will happen next based on

what you have read or heard.

“I predict that ___ will happen…”

“I think ______ will happen…”

Clues

Page ___-

Page ___-

Page ___-

Problems

Page ___-

Page ___-

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Wonderings

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