Journey Through South Africa: Guided Reading Level S with Lesson Plan

This A Journey Through South Africa (level s) guided reading book 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: A Journey Through South Africa

• Genre: Nonfiction

• Subject: Social Studies (Geography/Culture/History)

• Primary Topic: South Africa’s geography, wildlife, history, and cultural life

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

What This Book Teaches Best

• Country overview and civics detail: South Africa’s location at Africa’s southernmost tip and its unusual system of three capital cities (Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein).

• Landforms and unique plant life: Table Mountain as a major landmark and part of a national park with many plant species found nowhere else.

• Habitats, wildlife, and conservation: Coastal habitats (including African penguins) and inland grasslands/savannas connected to the “Big Five” and protection of animals and environments.

• Modern cities and historical change: Johannesburg’s growth after gold discovery and South Africa’s journey from apartheid toward equality and democracy through Nelson Mandela’s leadership.

• Culture and identity through arts and community life: Traditions, music, and dance (Zulu and Xhosa) plus artistic expression like Ndebele painting and beadwork with special meanings.

Learning Goals

• Students will identify South Africa’s three capital cities and explain each city’s role as described in the text.

• Students will describe two natural features or habitats in South Africa (for example, Table Mountain or the coastline) using details from the text.

• Students will explain how the text describes South Africa’s coastline and name the oceans it includes.

• Students will describe the inland grasslands and savannas and identify animals included in the text’s “Big Five.”

• Students will explain what apartheid was and describe how the text says South Africa moved toward equality and democracy.

• Students will describe at least two examples of South African culture or identity from the text (music/dance, art/beadwork, sports, or national symbols).

Key Vocabulary From the Text

• southernmost — farthest to the south.

• administrative — related to running a government or system.

• savannas — wide grassy areas with some trees.

• apartheid — unfair system that separated people by race.

• resilience — strength to recover and keep going.

Discussion Prompts

• Pre-reading question: What do you think you will learn about South Africa’s people, places, and animals?

• Comprehension questions: What are the three capital cities of South Africa named in the text?

• Comprehension questions: Which two oceans does the text say border South Africa’s coastline?

• Comprehension questions: What is the name of the system that separated people by race in South Africa?

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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