Activity Summary
Students will discuss preliminary concepts of the unit, including cave safety. A coloring handout illustrates a cave entrance.

Educational Goals
Students will be able to:

• State the first safety rules of cave exploration.
• Discuss what they think a cave is.
• Explain why it is so easy to get lost in caves.
• Explain that cave entrances may be small and inconspicuous, even if the cave is very large.

Materials Provided

• Click to download Handout 1: Reading Follow-up Coloring Page (gif image)
  (Coloring page shows an image of Jenny and Carlos climbing into a cave to get out of the rain.)

Materials Required

• Crayons

Procedure

1. Distribute Handout 1: Reading Follow-up Coloring Page.
2. While students are coloring, talk about Discussion Questions.
3. Incorporate New Words into writing and vocabulary lessons.
4. Assign writing topics to advanced students.

Discussion Questions

1. The first rule of caves is "Never go into a cave without a guide."Why is this rule important?

2. The second rule of caves is "Never explore a cave without learning cave safety rules and methods." Why is this important?

3. What is a cave?
   (Brainstorm ideas in preparation for Lesson 1.2.)

4. Have you ever been in a cave? Would you like to visit a cave? Would you be scared?

5. Some places have lots of caves. Other places have none, or few caves. Do we live in an area with caves? Do you know why?
   (Depends on the rock formations in your area. See Lesson 1.3.)

6. Why would it be hard to find your way in a cave?
   (If you don't have a map of the cave, you could get lost in its complicated structure, even if you had a flashlight. Darkness makes it even harder.)

7. How big are cave entrances?
   (Some caves have tiny entrances, others have large entrances. Cave entrances may be hidden by large stones, tree trunks, plants.)
   Show where the cave entrance is on your picture.

8. Have you ever seen a bat? What time of day was it?
   (Bats fly at night and rest during the day. Even in cities they can be seen overhead. The best time to look for them is at dusk, just after sunset.)

9. In real life, do bats talk?
   (No, but they do make squeaky noises.)
   Why do you think that writers make animals talk?
   (It makes it easier for writers to tell the story.)

New Words for Lesson 1.1

Grade Level	Volcabulary
All grades	bat, cave, echo, entrance, tunnel
Kindergarten	black, feel, floor, hat, hill, lost, top, wet
Grade 1	breath, camp, crawl, dark, feet, drip, over, night, rain, stream
Grade 2	bump, darkness, fur, fly, lightning, field, squeak, storm
Grade 3	adventure, entrance, silence, thunder, dimmer, blind

Writing Assignment
Write one paragraph (three to five sentences) on one of the following topics:

• Name three reasons why you think caves are exciting places.
• List three reasons you would visit a cave.

All USGS teaching packets are based on National Education Standards.