Image of flying squirrel flying
Shutterstock.com (Background); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Cute Squirrel); KENSHO GOTO (Flying Squirrel)
Picture This,

Squirrel in the Sky

From the September 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will get information about flying squirrels through text and images.

Lexiles: 310L
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RF.1.3 Decoding RI.1.1 Key details RI.1.3 Connecting information RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and images RI.1.7 Use visuals SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud
TEKS Standards
  • Science
    (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) identify the external structures of different animals and compare how those structures help different animals live, move, and meet basic needs for survival.

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Look up! Is that a bat? Is that a bird? No! It is a kind of squirrel called a flying squirrel.

Do you see the flying squirrel's...

  • front leg?
  • furry belly?
  • extra skin?
  • flat tail?


This flying squirrel landed in a tree. So cute!

Flying squirrels do not have wings. But they have extra skin. They stretch their legs and jump from a tree branch. They glide in the air like a paper plane. Whee!

video (2)
video (2)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (2)
video (2)
Activities (3) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Article

English Language Arts Focus

Nonfiction Text Features: Photographs & Labels

Science Focus

Animal characteristics

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group
  • Small group

Pairings and Text Connections

Before-Reading Resources

  • Vocabulary Slideshow (5 minutes) flying squirrel, glide, label
  • Video: Nuts About Squirrels (5 minutes) Build background knowledge on squirrels.

Suggested Reading Focus

Getting information from text and images/labels (20 minutes)

  • Have students take a close look at the photo of the flying squirrel. Ask children to share what they notice about it. Explain that we get information from pictures.
  • Put your finger on a label, and have children do the same. Tell them that labels point to a part of a picture and tell us more about it. Have children follow the arrows with their fingers. Then read the labels together.
  • Read the mini article and bottom bar aloud for information about flying squirrels.
  • Finally, discuss what children learned from both the picture and the words in the article. What can they recall? What was most interesting?

After-Reading Skills Practice

Skills: Labeling; capitalization (15 minutes)

Text-to-Speech