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Words and Definitions Related to Monarch Migration
Build understanding of key concepts by exploring these vocabulary words in the context of monarch migration.

Breeding Range (noun): geographic region or area where monarchs reproduce; habitat where milkweed plants are available for monarch eggs and growing monarch caterpillars

Citizen Scientist Report (noun): an account of the observer's monarch sighting(s); description of a monarch sighting from a real world observer who is not a trained scientist; comments from an observer about monarch sighting(s)

Cluster (noun): group of monarch butterflies gathered together

Population (noun): a geographically separate group of monarchs

Directional Flight (noun): monarchs purposefully flying in a specific
direction; flying toward a specific destination rather than fluttering about
in a variety of directions

Eastern Population (noun): monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains and overwinter primarily in Mexico (perhaps 95% of North America's monarchs).

Migration Rate (noun): percentage of monarchs migrating at a certain time in a certain region

Monarch Roost (noun): place where monarchs gather to rest; settle on tree branches; gathering place of resting monarchs

Sighting (noun): seeing a monarch or monarchs in your town, city, state, or
province; seeing monarchs in your locale

Timed Observation (noun): a specified period of time an observer was watching for monarchs; measured as monarchs per minute or per hour

Western Population (noun): monarchs that breed west of the Rocky Mountains and overwinter primarily along the California coast (perhaps 5% of North America's monarchs).

Suggested Activities

1. Word Collections
Invite students to collect words from Journey North texts, and the context-rich sentence(s) in which the words were found. Have students find definitions using dictionaries and other reference materials. Choose from the following ideas to organize their growing collection of
monarch-related words:

Reference Book: Invite students to create vocabulary pages for a three-ring binder. Assign each student 1-2 key words from the
booklet/slideshow. Have them create a dictionary-style page for their words. Encourage them to include definitions, synonyms, context-rich sentences, and drawings on the page. Collate student-created word pages into a class reference book.

Word Wall: Display collected words and definitions on a bulletin board.

Word File: Record words, definitions, and context-rich sentences on index cards. Place them in a recipe box that organizes the words alphabetically.

Building Vocabulary with Journey North
Vocabulary is essential to comprehension. Students need to apply strategies before, during, and after reading to understand texts. Journey North provides a wealth of informational texts to help students learn about words in meaningful contexts. For additional instructional activities, check out this link: