Article
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Short Read,

Could This Dragon Save Your Life?

This bite-sized nonfiction text explores the Komodo dragon and the healing powers that this fierce creature’s blood may hold.

By Maggie Pierce
From the December 2017 / January 2018 Issue

Learning Objective: to support a claim with text evidence

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    The article explores how the blood of the Komodo dragon could be used to help save human lives.
  • Structure
    The text is informational and uses cause-and-effect structures.
  • Language Conventionality and Clarity
    Vocabulary: many challenging academic and domain-specific vocabulary (e.g. carcasses, paralyzed, venom) Figurative language: rhetorical questions
  • Knowledge Demands
    Prior knowledge of antibiotics (what they are) will aid comprehension.
Lexile: 1080L
Featured Skill: Argument Writing, Text Evidence,
Topics: Animals, Science,
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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Dig Deeper with These Texts
Video: the Komodo Dragon

As a class, watch this Smithsonian video about what makes the Komodo dragon so powerful.

Komodo Dragon Fact Sheet

Have students explore the online Reptile Discovery Center at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation & Biology Institute to learn more about the Komodo dragon.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

Step 1: Preparing to Read

Project the Words and Definitions handout and preview the vocabulary. 

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 4: Writing

Text-to-Speech