Lesson Plan - Drones to the Rescue

Watch a Video: Drone Zone
After watching, ask: What are some ways today’s drones are being used?

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

• aerial
• terrain

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify different ways drones help to save lives.

1. Based on the article, what do all drones have in common?
Although drones come in many sizes, the article explains that all drones are aircraft with no crew or passengers on board.
^{R.5 Comparison}

2. Why does Olivier Defawe of VillageReach call drones a “game changer”?
Defawe calls drones a “game changer” because they have completely changed the way health centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can get lifesaving supplies. Delivering medicine by car or bike can take up to 12 hours, but drones can make deliveries in just 20 minutes.
^{R.1 Text Evidence}

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Meet SnotBot”? 
The purpose of the sidebar is to inform readers about a drone that collects whale mucus, which gives scientists important information about the whale’s health.
^{R.7 Text Features}

FEATURED SKILL: Read Closely
Use the Skill Builder “Read Closely” to have students complete tasks as they read the article three times for different purposes. 
^{R.1 Close Reading}