Zoo Reporter Lesson Plan
LESSON PLAN: Junior Zoo Reporters
Grade: K-2 • Duration: 25-30 Min • Topic: Observation & Description
🎯 Objective
Students will be able to make a simple observation about an animal using descriptive words (size, color, body parts) and the sentence frame: "The cool thing about this [animal] is [observation]."
📦 Materials Needed
- Slides: "Reporter Slides" (with embedded "Me at the zoo" video)
- Anchor Chart: "Observation Anchor Chart" (displayed on board/wall)
- Handout: "Zoo Reporter Cards" (one set per pair, cut out)
- Optional: Real or toy microphone for the teacher/students to model reporting
Instructional Steps
1
Warm-up: Favorite Animals
5 Minutes
Show Slide 2. Ask students to sit in a circle or turn to a neighbor.
"Think of your favorite animal. What is ONE thing it has? For example: A bunny has long ears."
Call on 3-4 students to share quickly.
2
Video: The First Zoo Reporter
5 Minutes
Show Slide 3 (Video). Tell students they will watch a very old video of a man at the zoo. He is being a "reporter."
- Play the video (19 seconds).
- Ask: "What animal is he looking at?" (Elephants)
- Ask: "What body part did he say was really long?" (Trunks)
Use Slide 4 to review the answers visually.
3
The "Cool Thing" Formula
5 Minutes
Show Slide 5 and refer to the Observation Anchor Chart.
Explain that reporters use clear words to describe things so people who aren't there can imagine them.
Teach the sentence frame:
"The cool thing about this [animal] is [observation]."
Model with the elephant example: "The cool thing about this elephant is its long trunk."
Practice together using Slide 6 (Giraffe).
4
Partner Activity: Zoo Reporters
10-15 Minutes
Show Slide 7.
- Give each pair of students a set of Zoo Reporter Cards (and optionally Press Passes).
- Partner A holds a picture card.
- Partner B asks: "What do you see?"
- Partner A acts like a reporter using the sentence frame: "The cool thing about this [Lion] is [its big mane]."
- Swap roles.
Circulate and listen for the sentence frame and descriptive vocabulary.
5
Closure: Breaking News
5 Minutes
Show Slide 8. Invite 2-3 students to stand at the front (give them a fake microphone if available) and share their "report" with the class.
