Article
Xavier Rossi/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Short Read,

You Won’t Believe What This Rat Can Do!

This short nonfiction text explores how and why giant rats are being trained to sniff out landmines.

By Sarah McCarry
From the May 2017 Issue

Learning Objective: to support a claim with text evidence

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    The article discusses how and why a special species of rat is being trained to sniff out landmines in Cambodia and other countries.
  • Structure
    The text is informational and uses cause-and-effect structures.
  • Language Conventionality and Clarity
    Vocabulary: Some challenging domain-specific vocabulary (e.g., undetonated, render) Figurative language: simile, personification
  • Knowledge Demands
    The text refers to Cambodia and regions.
Lexile: 1060L
Featured Skill: Argument Writing, Text Evidence,
Other Key Skills: central ideas and details, text evidence
Topic: Animals,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.4, R.6, W.1, W.4, W.5, L.4, L.6
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.4, RI.6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.1, W.6.4, W.6.5, L.6.4, L.6.6
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.4, RI.7.6, RI.7.8, W.7.1, W.7.4, W.7.5, L.7.4, L.7.6
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4, RI.8.6, RI.8.8, W.8.1, W.8.4, W.8.5, L.8.4, L.8.6
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 6
    6.1, 6.2b,e; 6.10a,c; 6.17c; 6.19
  • Grade 7
    7.1, 7.2b,e; 7.10a,b,c; 7.17c; 7.19
  • Grade 8
    8.1, 8.2b,e; 8.10a,c; 8.17c; 8.19

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Answer Key (1)
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Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
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Answer Key (1)
Dig Deeper With These Texts!
Map

Project this map, which depicts landmine contamination around the world, on your whiteboard.

Video

As a class, watch this BBC video, which shows Apopo’s HeroRats in action.

Infographic

Have students explore this page of Apopo’s website, which shows the progress the organization has made with HeroRats in various countries.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

1. PREPARING TO READ

Project the Vocabulary Words and Definitions handout and preview the vocabulary. 

 2. READING AND DISCUSSING

Read the article as a class. Alternatively, you can play the audio version while students follow along in their printed issues.

3.  DOING THE ACTIVITY

Have students work in small groups to complete the activity at the end of the article. They will write a claim, find a piece of text evidence, and explain why that evidence supports their claim.

4. WRITING

Text-to-Speech