Connecting Learning Through Nonfiction Text

This week I wanted to give some of the students I work with a special surprise. I found out from their regular classroom teacher that they had been studying and comparing dogs to guinea pigs. I thought it would be a great learning experience for them to actually see, and touch a real live guinea pig.
The students were able to share their new learning's about guinea pigs, and I was able to share all the things I have learned over the years about guinea pigs.
This was great for the students because they are working on nonfiction writing as well.
I see it is a very powerful thing when students can connect their reading and new learning's to a real live event. Student asked wonderful detailed questions, and even shared some experiences with their pets.