Lesson Plan - 5 Big Questions About Yellowstone

Watch a Video: America’s National Treasures
Discuss the variety of national parks shown in the video. Ask: Why do you think people wanted to protect these places?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• hydrothermal
• caldera

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about what makes Yellowstone National Park special. 

1. What are two types of hydrothermal features found in Yellowstone?
One hydrothermal feature in the park is hot springs, pools of boiling water. Another is geysers, spots where heated water bubbles to the surface and blasts into the air.
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2. How can big crowds affect Yellowstone’s wildlife?
Big crowds can lead to traffic jams and more people trying to take selfies with animals, which can stress out the wildlife.
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3. How does the article’s question-and-answer format help readers?
The question-and-answer format makes the main topic of each section clear, and the author focuses on questions that kids are likely to have about the park, which helps make the article interesting.
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FEATURED SKILL: Primary Source
Use the skill builder “Ticket to Yellowstone” to have students analyze an advertisement from the park’s history. 
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