Intensive Speaking

Grade Level​​:​ 4th grade

SOL Standard(s):
4.5a) plant and animal adaptations
ELP Standard 4: ​The Language of Science
WIDA level:​​ 2 - Beginning
Purpose/Objectives:
Language:​ Talk about the animal’s adaptations and how the adaptations help the animal
using phrases or sentences.
Content:​ Look at the animal pictures and describe each animal’s physical adaptation(s)
and how the physical adaptations help the animal.
Students will look at the picture of an animal and describe the adaptations it has in short
sentences or phrases (e.g. The husky’s adaptation is long fur to keep warm.).
Directions in the Student-Friendly Language.​​ (5 Points)
Test-giver will say:
Look at the animal pictures. These are all animals we’ve learned about in class.
We will talk about each animal. I will tell you the animal’s name and you will tell me
what the animal’s adaptation is and how it helps the animal survive and live. We will do
the first one together.

Assessment items
Example:

Test-giver will say:

This is a husky. What is its physical adaptation? It has heavy and thick fur.
How does it help the husky? Its fur helps the husky by keeping it warm in winter. Now
let’s look at the remaining pictures of animals and you will tell me what about their
physical adaptations.

Item 1
Test-giver will say:
This is a chameleon. What is its physical adaptation? How does it help the chameleon?

Item 2

Test-giver will say:

This is an owl. What is its physical adaptation? How does it help the owl?

Item 3

Test-giver will say:

This is a cat. What is its physical adaptation? How does it help the cat?

Item 4
Test-giver will say:
This is a camel. What is its physical adaptation? How does it help the camel?

Item 5

Test-giver will say:

This is a shark. What is its physical adaptation? How does it help the shark?

Scoring
Students will be given points based on their ability to identify one of the given animal’s
physical adaptations and explain how it helps the animal survive. Multiple answers will
be accepted as long as they relate to the animal and include a logical and specific
explanation of the adaptation (e.g. Saying the husky’s fur is nice would not be considered
a correct answer). Each item will be worth 2 points each for a total of 10 possible points.
For each item, 1 point will be provided for identifying an adaptation while an additional 1
point will be given for explaining how the adaptation benefits the animal. Phrases and
short sentences will be accepted as long as they contain the required elements.