Paired Texts > Toad-ally Taking Over

by Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke 2021

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Birdfoot's Grampa
Birdfoot's Grampa
Joseph Bruchac

In Joseph Bruchac's poem "Birdfoot's Grampa," a speaker describes driving down a road that is crowded with toads.

Pair “Birdfoot’s Grandpa” with “Toad-ally Taking Over” and have students compare the different perspectives on toads. How does the speaker’s grandpa view the toads in “Birdfoot’s Grandpa”? How does the author view the toads in “Toad-ally Taking Over”? Why do you think the speaker’s grandpa and the author have different perspectives?

4th Grade Poem
What Good is the Big Bad Wolf?
What Good is the Big Bad Wolf?
Linda Zajac

In the informational text "What Good is the Big Bad Wolf?" Linda Zajac describes the important impact that wolves have on other species in their habitat.

Pair “What Good is the Big Bad Wolf?” with “Toad-ally Taking Over” and have students think about the impact animals have on their environment. How do the wolves impact the environment in Banff National Park? How do cane toads impact the environment in Australia? What happens to the environment when you add or take away different species?

5th Grade Informational Text 860L
Grizzly Encounters with Bears
Grizzly Encounters with Bears
Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke

In "Grizzly Encounters With Bears," Jacqueline Pratt-Tuke describes problems that occur when bears and humans have contact.

Pair “Grizzly Encounters with Bears” with “Toad-ally Taking Over” and have students compare the creative ways that scientists are trying to solve problems. How are scientists trying to help people and grizzly bears coexist in “Grizzly Encounters with Bears”? How are scientists trying to solve the problems caused by the cane toad in Toad-ally Taking Over”? How do scientists use creative solutions to help solve problems in both texts?

5th Grade Informational Text 1060L
Lucky Devils
Lucky Devils
Amanda K. Jaros

In "Lucky Devils," Amanda K. Jaros explains how scientists are working to save Tasmanian Devils from extinction due to disease.

Pair “Toad-ally Taking Over” with “Lucky Devils” to have students think about how human actions can impact the environment. According to “Toad-ally Taking Over,” why was the cane toad introduced in Australia? What problems has it caused since? According to “Lucky Devils,” why was the Tasmanian Devil introduced on Marie Island? What problems has it caused since? How are the reasons for each animals’ introduction to a new environment similar and different? Do you think what happened with the cane toad in northern Australia could happen in Tasmania? Why or why not?

5th Grade Informational Text 1070L
The Cobra Effect
The Cobra Effect
Jesse Sullivan

In "The Cobra Effect," Jesse Sullivan describes the term for when the solution to a problem ends up making the problem worse.

Pair “Toad-ally Taking Over” with “The Cobra Effect” to have students think about another example of the cobra effect. What problem were scientists trying to solve in “Toad-ally Taking Over”? How did the scientists’ solution backfire? How is this an example of the cobra effect as it is explained in “The Cobra Effect”?

4th Grade Informational Text 940L
Mussels Attack! (A Central Acre Park Adventure)
Mussels Attack! (A Central Acre Park Adventure)
Jestine Ware

In "Mussels Attack!," Trix, a miniature horse, discovers an invasive species living on her farm.

Pair “Toad-ally Taking Over” with “Mussels Attack!” and ask students to discuss the invasive species in both texts. How did cane toads become an invasive species in Australia according to “Toad-ally Taking Over”? How did zebra mussels become an invasive species in North America according to “Mussels Attack!”? What do these two texts teach readers about invasive species and why they are harmful?

3rd Grade Fantasy 690L