The following Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions are best suited for elementary or middle school students using this video in an English language arts or science lesson. Be sure to modify the questions to meet your students' instructional needs.
What is Frame, Focus and Follow-up?
Frame (ELA) When text is difficult to understand, it may mean there is a lack of familiarity with the vocabulary used. Sometimes we don’t have any background knowledge about the topic. One strategy to use in cases like this is to try to organize the information by identifying the main idea. How do we determine what the main idea is?
Focus (ELA) Listen to the segment. In your mind, organize the ideas presented. Think about what the main idea of the segment is.
Follow Up (ELA) What is the main idea of the segment? How did you organize the ideas presented as you listened? What process did you use? Did organizing the ideas help you arrive at the main idea? Explain.
Frame (SCI) How might scientists know about historic climate changes before people started keeping written records of weather?
Focus (SCI) Watch and note how scientists are using plants to learn about trends and climate changes in history.
Follow Up (SCI) Discuss how scientists are learning from plants. What do we have to gain from this type of study of plants? What purposes does it serve?