Created by Teaching Simply 2018

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 Suggestions for Use
As an alternative to a KWL chart, have students fill out the TRUE or FALSE
introduction page. Refer back to the page periodically throughout the unit and
have them verify their answers. After reading each passage, you might say, “So
are there any answers you can verify or correct from the TRUE or FALSE exercise
we completed at the beginning of this unit?” This can be done as a whole class,
with partners, or independently for each student to use throughout the unit. It is
a great way for the students to practice critical thinking skills and determine the
answers to the questions. It also sets a purpose for reading which is to find the
answers to these questions and see if they are correct!

Start the unit by introducing the ten vocabulary words. Read through the words
and definitions and discuss, give examples, and help them understand the
definitions. I have included ten puzzles with the words and definitions that can
be used as a center. There are two worksheets that can go along with the center.
One is a fill in the blank using context clues and the other asks the students to
write a sentence with each of the words and illustrate their favorite.

Show the posters and discuss the facts on the posters as a whole group. Hang
them for reference.

There are five informational text passages with follow up questions. Students
have to find information directly in the text to answer the questions and highlight
answers.

For writing, there is a bubble map for students to write descriptive words and
phrases about Arctic foxes with a writing page for them to write a paragraph
using the information from the bubble map. There are also two creative writing
prompts.
An Arctic Fox lapbook is a great culminating activity. Fold the two ends of the
folder toward the middle of the folder until they meet. Crease the folds.
Students color the cover page, cut around it on the solid line, and glue it to the
front of the folder. Carefully cut open the folder cutting through the picture to
make the flaps open.

For the left and right flaps, there are four foldable sections. Add some color to
the words and borders, then cut them out. Fold them on the center line and have
students write and/or draw what they learned about how the Arctic fox looks,
what it eats, where it lives, and what it does in winter on the inside of the
foldable. After writing/drawing, glue them onto each of the lapbook flaps in the
same order they appear on the page. On the page that says Arctic Fox’s Fur,
they should write on the lines about how the fox’s fur is helpful and how it
changes with the seasons. Then they should draw and color a picture of the fox
in each season. The winter fox should have all white fur and the summer fox
should have brown, gray, and yellow fur. The last page has two columns that
should be colored, written on, cut out and glued onto the back of the folder.
Interesting facts may include the Arctic fox wraps its tail around itself when it
sleeps, it goes into its den in severe weather, its favorite food is lemmings, etc.
Then they should write about why they would or would not want to be an Arctic
fox. This project is easily differentiated by allowing students to draw pictures
only, draw pictures and write a word or sentence, or for the advanced students,
draw a picture and write a paragraph.

Here are some great video supplements to go with this unit:

Young Fox Hunting in the Snow 3:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EiV-ERKRRs
How to Survive as a Tiny Arctic Fox 3:26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqgIIhIM3OE
 Name__________________

True or False?
Directions: Write TRUE or FALSE next to each statement.

1. __________ Arctic foxes live where it is warm.

2. __________ Arctic foxes hibernate.

3. __________ Arctic fox babies are called kits.

4. __________ Arctic foxes eat leftover food from other animals’ meals.

5. ___________ An Arctic fox’s feet get cold on the ice and snow.

6. ___________ Arctic foxes build dens.

7. ___________ Arctic foxes have white fur all year long.

8. ___________ Arctic foxes are blind when they are born.

9. ___________ Arctic foxes can live to be up to 15 years old in the wild.

10. ___________ Arctic foxes are the only mammal native to Iceland.

11. ___________ Arctic foxes love to eat lemmings.

12. ___________ Arctic foxes are members of the canine family.

13. ___________ Both parents take care of the babies when they are born.
 Vocabulary
Name__________________

hibernate – to go into a deep sleep all winter

Arctic – a very cold area in the northern part of the Earth

carrion – the leftover meat from an animal that has

already been mostly eaten by another animal

lemmings – little animals that look like mice or rats

native – being originally from a place

camouflage – to hide oneself in the environment by

blending in with the surroundings

canine – animals that are related to the dog family

kits – baby foxes

captivity – being held in a cage or enclosure; not in the

wild

blizzard – a very dangerous snowstorm

 Vocabulary
Name__________________
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the
vocabulary list.

1. I saw ice and snow all around me and knew I was in the __________________.

2. The fox was eating __________________ that was left after the polar bear’s
meal.

3. The snow was deep and the wind was blowing very hard during
the _________________________.

4. The groundhog went inside its den to _______________________ for

the winter.

5. The lions were held in the zoo in ________________________ so they would

not be hurt out in the wild.

6. Animals that are related to dogs are in the _____________________ family.

7. Baby foxes are called _____________________.

8. Arctic foxes hunt little animals that look like mice and are called
________________________.

9. Arctic foxes are _____________________ to Iceland because it is where they

were first found.

10. An Arctic fox’s fur changes colors during the seasons so it can
___________________________ itself and not be seen.
 to sleep all
hibernate winter

a very cold area

Arctic at the north part
of the Earth

the meat left

carrion after another
animal eats

small animals
lemmings that are like
mice and rats
 to blend in
camouflage with the
environment

to be from a
native place

related to the
canine dog family

a word for
kits baby foxes
 to be kept in a
captivity cage and not
in the wild

a very big
blizzard snowstorm
 Vocabulary
Name__________________
Directions: Write a sentence for each vocabulary word.

1.___________________________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________________________

4.__________________________________________________________________

5.__________________________________________________________________

6.__________________________________________________________________

7.__________________________________________________________________

8.__________________________________________________________________

9.__________________________________________________________________

10._________________________________________________________________

Choose your favorite

sentence and illustrate
it in the box.
The Arctic is a very cold area
located in the northern part of
the Earth. For most of the year,
it is snow and ice covered.
In the winter, In the summer,
Arctic foxes Arctic foxes
have a white have a dark
coat of fur. coat of fur.
Lemmings are They also eat
a favorite small animals,
food of Arctic eggs and
foxes. carrion.
The Arctic fox has a round
body, short legs, small,
pointed ears, and a short
muzzle.
Arctic foxes wrap their tails
around their bodies when they
sleep and go into their dens to
keep warm.
 Name__________________

Arctic Fox
There is a fox that lives in the coldest places on
Earth. It is called the Arctic Fox and it is the only
native mammal in Iceland. Thick fur on its body and on
the bottom of its paws keep it warm in the freezing
temperatures. In the winter, it has a white coat of fur
that helps camouflage it in the snow. In the spring, it
sheds its white coat and grows a brown, gray, and
yellow coat of fur for the summer. The colors help
camouflage it against the rocks and trees after the
snow melts.
What is the weather like where the Highlight in blue three words that
Arctic fox lives? describe the Arctic fox’s habitat.

a) hot and dry Highlight in green the two places the

b) cold and snowy Arctic fox has fur.
c) rainy and foggy
Highlight in orange the color of the
In the ________________, the Arctic fox Arctic fox’s fur in winter.
has a white coat of fur.
Highlight in red the colors of the Arctic
In the ________________, the Arctic fox fox’s fur in summer.
has a brown, gray, and yellow coat of fur.
Highlight in purple the word that means
These color changes help it to “to blend in with your surroundings”.
___________________________ itself in its
environment.
 Name__________________

Arctic Fox Characteristics

Arctic foxes are the smallest members of the canine
family. They are covered in thick fur that changes
colors during the different seasons. They are about
three feet long, eleven inches tall, and have bushy tails
that are about twelve inches long. Their bodies are
round and their legs are short. Small, pointed ears help
them to hear very well. The females are smaller than
the males and weigh between three and seven pounds.
The males weigh between seven and twenty-one
pounds.
Arctic foxes are in the ______ family. Highlight in blue the height of the Arctic
fox.
a) reptile
b) feline Highlight in green the length of the Arctic
c) canine fox.

They have _________________ bodies. Highlight in orange the word that

Their ears are small and _______________.
The __________________ are larger than
the __________________.
Their fur changes colors with the
____________________.
describes the Arctic fox’s tail.
Highlight in red the length of the Arctic
fox’s tail.
Highlight in purple the way that the shape
of their ears helps them.
 Name__________________

Life Cycle of the Arctic Fox

When baby foxes, called kits, are born, they are tiny
and blind. The parents take care of them for about four
weeks when they are ready to go out on their own. The
mother fox stays with the babies while the dad goes out
and hunts for food for his family. At ten months of age,
they are adults. They can live for three to six years in
the wild. In captivity, they can live up to fifteen years.
Their lifespan is cut short in the wild because of the
harsh winter conditions and the animals that hunt them
and eat them.
Baby foxes are called Highlight in blue two words that
describe baby foxes when they are born.
a) kits.
b) foxlets. Highlight in green how long Arctic foxes
c) calves. can live if they are not in the wild.

The babies stay with the parents until Highlight in orange the word that means
they are four _________________old. “kept in a cage or safe place.”

They are considered adults when they
are ten ________________ old.
In the wild, they usually live only
___________ to ____________ years.
Highlight in red what the mom does
when the kits are too little to go out
on their own.
Highlight in purple what the dad does
when the kits are too little to go out
on their own.
 Name__________________

Arctic Fox Diet

The Arctic fox’s favorite food is lemmings.
Lemmings are small animals in the rodent family that
are like rats and mice. Arctic foxes will also eat fish,
birds, eggs, berries, and small insects when there isn’t
enough food. They have been known to eat carrion
which is the remains of dead animals left by another
hunting animal such as a polar bear. They eat much
more in the spring when there is plenty of food so that
they will have a nice store of food for the winter when
food isn’t found as easily.
Arctic foxes eat _____ in the spring than Highlight in blue the foods the Arctic fox
in the winter. eats.

a) the same amount Highlight in green the word that means

b) less
c) more
A favorite food of Arctic foxes is
_____________________.
___________________ is the remains of
dead animals.
Lemmings are members of the
_____________________ family.
“deep sleeping through the winter.”
Highlight in orange the three animals in
the passage that are in the rodent family.
Highlight in red what the Arctic fox
does to get ready for winter.
Highlight in purple the word that means
“the leftover part”.
 Name__________________

Arctic Fox Winter Habits

Arctic foxes do not hibernate. They eat and store
food in the spring so they won’t need to eat as much in
the winter. When they hear lemmings under the snow,
they jump high in the air and dive headfirst into the
snow and start digging until they reach the food. Their
thick fur coat protects them from the cold. Also, they
wrap their tails around their bodies and put their snouts
under their tails to keep warm when they sleep. When
there is really bad weather like a blizzard, they will go
into their dens for extra protection.
To catch lemmings, Arctic foxes Highlight in blue the food the Arctic fox
catches under the snow.
a) dive headfirst into the snow.
b) jump up and down on the snow. Highlight in green the two things Arctic
c) run in a circle on the snow. foxes do when hunting in the snow.

Their thick _________ _________ helps
keep them warm.
When it sleeps, an Arctic fox wraps its
_______________ around its body.
If it is really cold, they might go inside
their _________________.
Highlight in orange what the Arctic fox
does to keep its snout warm while
sleeping.
Highlight in red the word that means
“very big snowstorm”.
Highlight in purple the word that means
“to keep someone or something safe”.
 Arctic Foxes
Bubble Map
Directions: Write words or phrases that tell about Arctic foxes.

Arctic
Foxes

Name_____________________
 Descriptive Writing
Name__________________
Write a descriptive paragraph about the Arctic fox. Use adjectives
to tell about its features.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
 Creative Writing
Name__________________
Pretend you are an Arctic fox. Using the information you have
learned, write about a typical day in your life.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
 Creative Writing
Name__________________
As I was walking through the frozen land of the Arctic, I spotted
an Arctic fox. Suddenly he said, “Hello, my friend! What are you
doing here?” Then I…

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
Left inside flap of the lapbook folder. Fold on the middle lines.

How it
Looks

Where it
Lives
Right inside flap of the lapbook folder. Fold on the middle lines.

What it
Eats

What it
Does in
Winter
 Arctic Fox’s Fur
The fur of the Arctic fox is helpful in many ways. Here are a few:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

The fur of the Arctic fox changes with the seasons. Here is how
and why:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Winter Fur Summer Fur

 Interesting I think it would be
fun to be an Arctic
Facts fox because…
I Learned
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________

___________________________ I don’t think it

___________________________ would be fun to
be an Arctic fox
___________________________ because…
___________________________

___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________
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