Guided Reading Level K - Secret Life of Hamsters (with Lesson Plan)

This Guided Reading Book - The Secret Life of Hamsters (Level K) with lesson plan includes:

Guided Reading Color Label (front cover x1)

• This is a quick way to match the book’s demands to what students can generally handle..

• The overall goal is to use the level/color to pick books for several smaller groups. To qualify for a certain level, a student is expected to read a book from that level with about 90–94% accuracy.

• If a student is consistently accurate and understands, move up a level. If the student is struggling at that level, drop down and add more support.

• Each student will improve at completely different rates, but it is generally one of the best ways to check progress across the class.

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Pre-Reading Question (x1)

• Teacher asks the prompt aloud, can be while showing the cover or first page.

• Students share what they already know, or make educated guesses from the cover. Prompt them to use the target vocabulary.

• Write some of their responses on the board to look back at during the reading.

Vocabulary Words (x5)

• Introduce the five words, best doing it one at a time. Start by saying it, while students repeat and then see if anyone knows what it means before reading further. Read through the meaning and try to briefly connect each word to a picture or gesture so it’s meaningful.

• Ask students to flip through the book pages and point to where they see each of the vocabulary words.

• While reading the book pause upon coming across one of the vocab words or read the sentence twice to make sure students understand the word has appeared.

• Optional: Ask students to raise hands whenever they see/hear one of the new words.

Guided Reading Pages (x10)

• Check the book snapshot (below) for:

  • primary topic - do you need to prep extra reading or intro materials on this?

  • what is taught best - decide on 1-2 bullets to focus on, use the prompt or words provided here for best results.

  • learning goals - what you are checking for students to be able to do after the session, elicit answers using prompts or words provided.

  • key vocabulary (see section above).

  • questions overview - so you know what is coming up and if you need to prep extra materials to assist understanding.

• Run the lesson

  • You may have already looked at a few of the pages together, but you can show them some of the pictures again first to set meaning.

  • Depending on how much time you have and how familiar your students are with guided reading class, you may want to read the book aloud first with the group first.

  • Students whisper or partner read, while you listen in. If time, do it as a group, one student reading a page each.

  • Use the guided page’s prompts to coach: “Check the picture / does it make sense?” “Point under the words / try the first sound” “Reread the sentence smoothly”.

  • Try to focus more on one student per session (rotating every time), so you can work out if they are ready to move up or need to move down a level.

Comprehension Questions (back cover x3)

• This is your way to check that students didn’t just say the words, but actually understood the text.

• First, let students answer by pointing to the page/picture and saying a short sentence.

• After any answer, follow with: “Show me where you found that in the text.”

• In bigger groups, have partners answer first (10–20 seconds), then call on 2–3 students to share.

• Differentiation tips:

  • Emerging speakers/struggling readers: oral + pointing

  • On-level: oral in a full sentence

  • Higher: one written sentence or draw + label

Book Snapshot

• Title: The Secret Life of Hamsters

• Genre: Nonfiction (informational)

• Subject: Life Science

• Primary Topic: Hamster traits, habits, and needs

• Estimated Guided Reading Level (A–Z): K

What This Book Teaches Best

• Explains what hamsters are and what animal group they belong to (small mammals; rodents).

• Describes how hamsters move and store food using cheek pouches.

• Teaches how hamsters stay safe in the wild by digging underground burrows to sleep and hide.

• Explains eating habits and body needs (herbivores; teeth that keep growing and must be worn down).

• Describes nighttime behavior and care routines (nocturnal; exercise, grooming, sand-bathing, resting after activity).

Learning Goals

• Identify what group of animals hamsters belong to using details from the text.

• Describe how cheek pouches help hamsters carry items back to their home.

• Explain how burrows help hamsters stay safe and what they are used for.

• Describe what hamsters eat and what “herbivores” means in the book.

• Explain why hamsters need to chew on hard things, according to the text.

• Describe one way hamsters stay clean and one way they rest after a busy night.

Key Vocabulary From the Text

• rodents — animals in the same group as mice and squirrels.

• pouches — stretchy pockets that can hold things.

• burrows — underground tunnels where an animal can sleep and hide.

• herbivores — animals that mostly eat plants.

• nocturnal — awake at night and asleep during the day.

Discussion Prompts

• Pre-reading question: How do you think a hamster stays safe and gets what it needs when it is awake at night?

• Comprehension questions: According to the text, what group of animals do hamsters belong to?
  How do cheek pouches help a hamster carry things back home?
  Why does the text say hamsters need to chew on hard things?

Printing Tips

1. Best Printing Method (Recommended)

“Booklet” Printing (Best if Available)

If your printer or PDF viewer supports Booklet Printing, use this.

Settings to use:

• Print mode: Booklet

• Paper size: Letter or A4 (either works)

• Orientation: Landscape

• Print on both sides: Yes

• Flip on: Short edge

• Scaling: Fit to printable area

• Booklet subset:

  • First test: Front sides only

  • Then: Back sides only

This will automatically:

• Pair pages correctly

• Put the cover on the outside

• Align everything for folding

After printing, fold in half and staple along the spine.

2. If “Booklet” Printing Is NOT Available

You can still print this correctly with manual duplex printing.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the PDF.

2. Choose Print.

3. Set:

   • Orientation: Landscape

   • Pages per sheet: 1

   • Print on both sides: Yes

   • Flip on: Short edge

4. Print all pages.

Because each PDF page already contains two facing book pages, the result will still fold cleanly into a book.

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