Introduction to the Issue, Focus Words

1. READER'S THEATER

Characters: Flora, Flavio, Flynn, Flo, Uncle Willy

A family of Lesser Flamingos is flying to their breeding ground at Lake Natron in Tanzania.

Flynn: Hey Dad! Are we there yet? My wings are tired from all this flapping.

Flo: And I’m hungry. As in, I could eat an entire lake of blue-green algae all by myself.

Flynn: Yeah, right.

Flo: I could!

Flynn: Yeah, right.

Flo: I could!

Flavio: Kids, just settle down! We’ll be at Lake Natron before you know it.

Flo: Why can’t we just stop now? (points) Look, there’s a really cool lake right there we could call home!

Flynn: Yeah! She’s right. If we start heading down now, we could make a real impact with an awesome splash landing!

Flora: Flynn and Flo aren’t serious, are they, Flavio? Could our very own offspring not understand what fantastically fussy creatures we flamingos are?

Flavio: I—

Flora: Have we failed in our fundamental job of teaching them how to avoid the threat of extinction?! Have we not instilled in them the importance of preservation—

Flavio: Hold on! Hold on! Kids, you’re worrying your mother and me.

Flynn and Flo: (grumbling) For something new and different.

Flavio: So, Flynn and Flo, why do you think we’re moving to Lake Natron?

Flynn: Because we can?

Flo: Because you and Mom like it there. It’s where you met. And where we were born.

Flavio: Well, all of those things are true. But there’s so much more to the story.

Flora: We couldn’t just plunk down in any old habitat and be happy and healthy.

Flavio: The conditions at Lake Natron are optimal for birds like us to breed.

Flora: (with a dramatic sigh) Lovely freshwater springs that flow into the salt lake so we can drink and wash up!

Flavio: Perfect mud for making perfect nests!

Flora: Private nesting sites that every new flamingo mama needs! Imagine trying to relax when there are intruders nearby!

Flavio: Honey, I think the kids are old enough now to hear about what happened at Lake Magadi.

Flora: Oh dear! Such a sad story. But I think you’re right. I’ll call my brother. (yells) William! William T. Flamingo! Come flap with us.

Uncle Willy: At your service, Sis. What’s going on? Hi, Flavio! Hi, kids!

Flora: Flavio and I think it’s time for your niece and nephew to hear about what happened in 1962.

Uncle Willy: Oh, dark days. Terrible times. You really think you kids are up for this story?

Flynn: We’re not babies!

Flo: Yeah, we’ve been nailing our splash landings for, like, ever!

Uncle Willy: Okay. Well, it was a long time ago, 1962 to be exact. There were rains, huge rains, and our traditional nesting sites on Lake Natron flooded. Your aunt and I had no choice—

Flynn: Aunt Winifred?

Flo: Don’t interrupt!

Uncle Willy: Yes, your Aunt Winifred. She and I moved to Lake Magadi and built a lovely nest in the nesting site and your aunt laid a precious egg. Before long, our baby hatched—

Flynn: Was that our—?

Flo: Shhh…

Uncle Willy: But then more rains came and the nesting grounds flooded with very salty water. There was a soda ash factory nearby and it limited the flow of fresh water into the lake. So our beautiful boy— (overcome with emotion)

Flavio: Thick bracelets of salt formed around his ankles. The same thing happened to many, many chicks.

Flynn: But how could they—?

Flo: Shhh…

Uncle Willy: One day, Aunt Winifred and I came back from feeding and he was gone.

Flo: Gone?

Flora: Drowned.

Flavio: That was a time of great sorrow for us and many other flamingo families. It’s a source of deep sadness to this day.

Flynn: (sadly) He was our cousin. Our cousin we never met.

Uncle Willy: Yes. Yes, he was. Winston.

Flora: So, except for that one fateful year, Lake Natron is where our family has always and will always go to breed.

Flavio: Where life is safe and peaceful, free from destruction.

Flynn: Hey! Is that it, that beautiful lake down there? (pointing)

Flo: Come on everyone! Let’s show them how awesome a perfect splash landing can be!

Flynn: Going down!

 

2. QUESTIONS: CLOSED AND OPEN

You’ve probably noticed that there are lots of ways to ask questions.

Closed questions typically have one right answer. They’re factual and simple. Questions that can be answered “yes” or “no” are examples of closed questions; so are questions that can be answered with very few words.

Open questions have more than one right answer. They typically require thought and reflection. They might ask for an opinion or suggest that you evaluate information. You can’t answer an open question with only one or two words. They demand longer answers. Got the concept?

• With a partner, please read and answer the following questions about the Reader’s Theater. Select “C”  if it is a closed question. Select “O” if it is an open question.

What’s the name of Flynn’s sister?

Why do you think Flora asked Uncle Willy to tell the kids about what happened at Lake Magadi?

What year did nesting sites at Lake Magadi flood?

Why does Flora say, “We couldn’t just plunk down in any old habitat”?

Is Lake Natron in Tanzania?

 

3. FIND THE FOCUS WORDS

Search for this unit's nine focus words within the text of the reader's theater. When you find one, read its sentence aloud with a partner. Discuss the context of the word and come up with a tentative definition. Then roll over (or tap) the words to see a definition provided. Were you able to determine the definition from context? Why or why not? After you read the definition, discuss the "Turn and Talk" question marked with the dialog symbol.

​habitat (noun)the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organismWhy do you think animals prefer certain habitats?condition (noun)the state of something, especially having to do with appearance or qualityWhat kinds of conditions are best for flamingos to breed?source (noun)1. someone or something that provides what is wanted or needed2. the place of origin of a stream or riverWhat is your favorite source for information? Explain.destruction (noun)the process of ruining something beyond repairCan you think of a time when you saw destruction in your city or town? What happened?extinction (noun)the state or process of a species, family, or larger group ceasing to existWhat are some reasons why a species might face extinction?optimal (adjective)best or most favorableWhat do you think the optimal time of year is for playing outside?threat (noun)something that is likely to cause danger or harmWhat types of environmental threats might endanger animals?impact (noun)1. the act or force of one thing hitting another2 the effect or influence of one thing on anotherHeavy rains had an impact on the flamingos in the Reader's Theater. What other animals could rain have an impact on?preservation (noun)the act of maintaining something in its original or existing stateWhen might preservation be a good use of government money? Explain.habitatconditionsourcedestructionextinctionoptimalthreatimpactpreservation