lesson 16 teacher’s guide india’s amazing geography

Number of Words: 1,950

L E S S O N 1 6 T E A C H E R ’ S G U I D E

India’s Amazing Geographyby Pat Williams

Fountas-Pinnell Level YInformational TextSelection SummaryIndia is defi ned by its geography, which features some of the world’s most diverse landforms. Because it’s located at the crossroads between East and West, India has long been a key trading partner. Its people have a long and proud history. The various cultures within India have also been shaped by the country’s geography.

Copyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Permission is hereby granted to individual teachers using the corresponding (discipline) Leveled Readers to photocopy student worksheets from this publication in classroom quantities for instructional use and not for resale. Requests for information on other matters regarding duplication of this work should be addressed to Houghton Miffl in Harcourt Publishing Company, Attn: Contracts, Copyrights, and Licensing, 9400 SouthPark Center Loop, Orlando, Florida 32819. Printed in the U.S.A. 978-0-547-30846-3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0940 15 14 13 12 11 10 09

If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge, Houghton Miffl in Harcourt Publishing Company retains title to the materials and they may not be resold. Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited.

Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication, or any portion of it, into electronic format.

Characteristics of the Text Genre • Informational text

Text Structure • Third-person narrative organized in 10 short chapters• Eight of the chapters tell about a different part of India. The fi rst chapter introduces

importance of geography. The last chapter tells of dangers to habitats.• Details help the reader to compare and contrast geographic features.

Content • Size and geographic diversity of India• Diversity of wildlife in various habitats• Ancient Indus Valley Civilization

Themes and Ideas • India has a rich culture and history.• Contrast between modern urban and rural agricultural lifestyles• India’s vast natural resources are at risk and must be preserved.

Language and Literary Features

• Descriptive language • Fact-packed yet engaging text

Sentence Complexity • Long, descriptive complex sentences • Multiple items in series• Dashes and italics• Pronunciation assistance for place names and terms

Vocabulary • Many diffi cult place names pronounced phonetically in parenthesesWords • Many multisyllable words, some of them challenging: sanctuary, Asiatic, geological

Illustrations • Realistic color photographs support the text.Book and Print Features • Sixteen pages of moderately challenging text followed by a glossary; a map, and

photographs on some pages © 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

6_308463_AL_LRTG_L16_IndiaGeo.indd 1 1/9/10 4:45:58 PM

Expand Your Vocabulary

altitude sickness – condition that affects people at high altitudes; caused by insuffi cient oxygen in the blood and characterized by dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath, p. 7

deforestation – the cutting down and removal of most of the trees in a forested area, p. 17

ecotourism – tourism to places that have unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern, p. 13

endangered – threatened with extinction, p. 13

Sanskrit – the language of ancient India, and one of the oldest languages of the Indo-European family, p. 6

India’s Amazing Geography by Pat Willlams

Build BackgroundHelp students use their knowledge of India and different land forms to visualize the selection. Build interest by asking questions such as the following: If you visited a huge country like India, which area would you most like to visit: the desert, mountains, plains, or plateaus? Why? Read the title and author and talk about the cover illustration. Note the unusual chapter heads. Tell students that this selection is informational text. Ask them what kinds of information they might expect to fi nd in an informational text on India’s geography.

Introduce the TextGuide students through the text, noting important ideas, and helping with unfamiliar language and vocabulary so they can read the text successfully. Here are some suggestions:

: Tell students to scan the Table of Contents. Suggested language: The chapter heads tell us that India has many types of landforms. Look at the title of the fi rst chapter, “Geography Defi nes India.” Ask: What do you think this means? Have students note that the book includes a glossary of terms for use during or after reading.

Page 3: Point out the map. Read the caption. What basic things can you learn about the geography of India from looking at the map? Explain that the text on page 3 says India is an exotic land. Ask: What makes something exotic?

Page 5: Read the chapter head; look at the photograph and read the caption. Why might this place have been nicknamed “The Golden City”?

Page 6: Point out the word Sanskrit in the third paragraph. Remind students to use the glossary to fi nd the defi nition of this and other highlighted terms.

Page 11: Read the caption: It’s no surprise that the Indo-Gangetic Plain is often called the breadbasket of India. Ask: What might it mean for a region of a country to be called its breadbasket?

Now turn back to the beginning of the selection and read about how India’s amazing geography has shaped its culture, its people, and its place in the world.

2 Lesson 16: India’s Amazing GeographyGrade 6© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company


ReadHave students read silently while you listen to individual students read aloud. Support their understanding of the text as needed.

Remind students to use the Summarize Strategy by briefl y telling the important part of the text in their own words.

Discuss and Revisit the TextPersonal ResponseInvite students to share their personal responses to the selection. Suggested language: If you could pack your bags and spend a month in India, what part of the country would you visit fi rst? Why?

Ways of ThinkingAs you discuss the text, help students understand these points:

Thinking Within the Text Thinking Beyond the Text Thinking About the Text

• India is a vast country with many types of landforms.

• India has a prime location for trade because it is at the crossroads between the East and West.

• India’s varied geography supports its growing human population, but its diverse plant and animal kingdoms are at risk.

• Like all countries, India must strike a balance between its present use of natural resources and ensuring that future generations will have the resources they need to survive.

• A country’s geography affects how and where its people live and work.

• Many things are still being discovered about ancient civilizations.

• Text describes a country and culture that is different than that experienced by native born students.

• The language is academic and includes phonetic pronunciations of many Indian place names.

• The author includes a lot of details about India to give a well-rounded description of India’s diverse land forms.

© 2006. Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency, Heinemann, Portsmouth, N.H.

Choices for Further Support• Fluency Invite students to choose a passage from the text to act out for a readers’

theater. Suggest that they read the text as if they were narrating a documentary production. Remind them to pay attention to punctuation, and to stress certain words to sound as if the narrator were actually speaking.

• Comprehension Based on your observations of the students’ reading and discussion, revisit parts of the text to clarify or extend comprehension. Remind students to go back to the text to support their ideas.

• Phonics/Word Work Remind students that English words come from many different sources. The word majestic, for example, is an adjective that comes from the Middle English word maiesty, which means “great.”



Writing about ReadingCritical ThinkingHave students complete the Critical Thinking questions on BLM 16.9.

RespondingHave students complete the activities at the back of the book, using their Reader’s Notebook. Use the instruction below as needed to reinforce or extend understanding of the comprehension skill.

Target Comprehension SkillCompare and Contrast

Target Comprehension Skill Remind students that as they read, they can

examine how two or more details or ideas are alike and different. Model how to add details to the Graphic Organizer, using a “Think Aloud” like the one below:

Think Aloud

The Himalayas and the Thar are both major landforms in India. This is one way to compare them. In contrast, the Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, while the Thar is the most populated desert in the world. In this way, they are different. List these details on the chart.

Practice the SkillHave students share an example of another selection in which they compared or contrasted how two or more details or ideas were alike and how they were different.

Writing Prompt: Thinking Beyond the TextHave students write a response to the prompt on page 6. Remind them that when they think beyond the text, they use their personal knowledge to reach new understandings.

Assessment Prompts• On page 12, why is the fi rst paragraph important to the book?

• What is the meaning of the word ecotourism on page 13?

• What geographic feature causes India to be physically separated from China and most of the rest of Asia?



Critical ThinkingRead and answer the questions.

1. Think within the text What is the Taj Mahal?

2. Think within the text What was the location of India’s most ancient

civilization?

3. Think beyond the text In the selection, the author points out that the

majority of people in India still live in rural areas. How is life different

for people living in rural and urban areas?

4. Think about the text Why would India be a popular destination for

ecotourism?

Making Connections If you could visit India, which part of India’s landscape would you most like to see? Explain your answer.

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.

India’s Amazing Geography

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Lesson 16B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 1 6 . 9

Grade 6, Unit 4: Treasures of the Ancient World

Name Date

11

It is a world-famous monument in India that an emperor had built

for his wife in the 1600s.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain was the location of India’s most ancient

civilization.

In urban areas, the people enjoy modern conveniences of the

city. In the rural areas, people live an ancient, agricultural lifestyle

where they live as farmers.

The land has many different climates, and visitors can explore

rainforests and see endangered animals.

Possible responses shown.

16.09_6_246260RNLEAN_Crtl Thk.in11 11 6/22/09 2:29:26 PM

English Language DevelopmentReading Support Make sure the text matches the students’ reading level. Language and content should be accessible with regular teaching support.

Vocabulary The text includes many undefi ned terms that might be unfamiliar. Explain the meaning of such words as proximity (p. 4), oil and natural gas reserves (p. 6), geological time (p. 6), and lush (p. 8).

Oral Language DevelopmentCheck student comprehension, using a dialogue that best matches your students’ English profi ciency level. Speaker 1 is the teacher, Speaker 2 is the student.

Beginning/Early Intermediate Intermediate Early Advanced/ Advanced

Speaker 1: What is the selection about?

Speaker 2: India’s diverse geography

Speaker 1: What are the major mountains in India?

Speaker 2: the Himalayas

Speaker 1: What is the name of the large desert?

Speaker 2: the Thar

Speaker 1: What is the highest peak in the Himalayas?

Speaker 2: The highest peak is Mount Everest.

Speaker 1: Why is the Ganges River so important to India?

Speaker 2: It’s the longest river, and its delta is one of the most fertile regions of the country.

Speaker 1: Why is it important for scientists to protect animal and plant habitats in the Western Ghats Mountains?

Speaker 2: At least 325 of the world’s most endangered species live in these mountains.


6_308463_AL_LRTG_L16_IndiaGeo.indd 56_308463_AL_LRTG_L16_IndiaGeo.indd 5 7/24/09 9:57:28 AM7/24/09 9:57:28 AM

Name Date

India’s Amazing GeographyThinking Beyond the Text

Think about the questions below. Then write your answer in two or three paragraphs.

Remember that when you think beyond the text, you use your personal knowledge to reach new understandings.

Look back at the first chapter titled “Geography Defines India.” Imagine that you are traveling in India. Write a letter to a friend who has never visited India. Begin your letter with the sentence “Geography defines India.” Support your statement with your own descriptions of some of the important geographical features discussed in the text. Be sure to say how the geographic features helped you understand India.



Critical ThinkingRead and answer the questions.

1. Think within the text What is the Taj Mahal?

2. Think within the text What was the location of India’s most ancient

civilization?

3. Think beyond the text In the selection, the author points out that the

majority of people in India still live in rural areas. How is life different

for people living in rural and urban areas?

4. Think about the text Why would India be a popular destination for

ecotourism?

Making Connections If you could visit India, which part of India’s landscape would you most like to see? Explain your answer.

Write your answer in your Reader’s Notebook.


Critical Thinking

Lesson 16B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 1 6 . 9

Name Date



1414

253

Student Date Lesson 16

B L A C K L I N E M A S T E R 1 6 . 1 3


Running Record Form

India’s Amazing Geography LEVEL Y

Behavior Code Error

Read word correctly ✓cat 0

Repeated word, sentence, or phrase

®cat

0

Omission —cat 1

Behavior Code Error

Substitution cutcat 1

Self-corrects cut sccat 0

Insertion the

ˆcat 1

Word told Tcat 1

page Selection Text Errors Self-Corrections

17 Today, in many ways, there are two different Indias. One is the

bustling, urban lifestyle of modern India. The other is the

ancient, agricultural lifestyle that takes place on India’s

ancestral lands. You may be surprised to learn that only 30

percent of India’s population lives in cities. The other 70

percent still live in rural villages, as people in India have done

for centuries. Over two-thirds of the working population still

farm the land. As a result, agriculture remains the largest

industry in India today.

Comments: Accuracy Rate (# words read

correctly/86 × 100)

%

Total Self- Corrections



lesson 16 teacher’s guide india’s amazing geography

Documents