illustration a large hairy beast walking in a dark forest
ART BY GARY HANNA
Nonfiction,

The Search for Bigfoot

For years, people have told stories of a giant, hairy creature hiding in forests. Could these stories be true?

By Lauren Tarshis, with reporting by Mackenzie Carro and Tricia Culligan
From the October/November 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will study text features to gain a richer understanding of an article about Bigfoot and the evidence for and against his existence. 

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose & Levels of Meaning
    The article informs students about stories and videos that have made some people believe in a mysterious creature called Bigfoot. On another level, it aims to provoke readers to think critically about what is true and how we use and evaluate evidence to decide what to believe.
  • Structure
    The article opens with an anecdote from 1962, then goes back in time. From this point, the structure is mainly a chronological narrative with some informational passages. Most of the events in the article take place in the western United States.
  • Language
    The article contains challenging vocabulary words, such as lurking, roamed, fascination, evidence, and hoax, as well as descriptive language and rhetorical questions. Vocabulary words are defined on the page.
  • Knowledge Demands
    No prior knowledge is required. Some familiarity with Bigfoot might be helpful to students. The Komodo dragon, kraken, and giant squid are mentioned and explained in the article.
Lexiles: Starter, 400-500L, 500L-600L
Guided Reading Level: Q
DRA Level: 40
Featured Skill: Text Features,
Other Key Skills: vocabulary, text evidence, cause and effect, key detail, synthesizing, inference, author’s craft, compare and contrast, supporting details, analyzing, supporting an opinion, opinion writing
Standards
  • Common Core
    RI.1, RI.2, RI.3, RI.4, RI.5, RI.6, RI.7, W.1, SL.1, L.1
  • TEKS Grade 3
    1a, 1c, 3a, 3b, 6a, 6c, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 7b, 7c, 7f, 9d, 10a, 10c, 12c
Content-Area Connections
  • Science
    animal species
  • Social and Emotional Learning
    responsible decision-making (reasoned judgment, critical-thinking skills)

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  • Starter Level
  • Easier Level
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Test Your Knowledge of Mysterious Creatures!

You’re about to read “The Search for Bigfoot.” In the story, the author writes about Bigfoot and mentions other mysterious creatures from around the world. What do you know about these creatures? Take the quiz to find out. (Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. By the time you’re done, you’ll be an expert.)

You’re about to read “The Search for Bigfoot.” In the story, the author writes about Bigfoot and mentions other mysterious creatures from around the world. What do you know about these creatures? Take the quiz to find out. (Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. By the time you’re done, you’ll be an expert.)

You’re about to read “The Search for Bigfoot.” In the story, the author writes about Bigfoot and mentions other mysterious creatures from around the world. What do you know about these creatures? Take the quiz to find out. (Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. By the time you’re done, you’ll be an expert.)

1. Bigfoot is usually described as looking like a giant person covered in ______.


1. Bigfoot is usually described as looking like a giant person covered in ______.


1. Bigfoot is usually described as looking like a giant person covered in ______.


The people who claim to have seen Bigfoot describe the creature as very tall with big feet (you probably already guessed that from the name!) and covered in fur.

The people who claim to have seen Bigfoot describe the creature as very tall with big feet (you probably already guessed that from the name!) and covered in fur.

The people who claim to have seen Bigfoot describe the creature as very tall with big feet (you probably already guessed that from the name!) and covered in fur.

2. What is a Komodo dragon?

2. What is a Komodo dragon?

2. What is a Komodo dragon?

Despite its name, the Komodo dragon isn’t a dragon. It’s a big lizard that lives in Asia. Komodo dragons are about 8 feet long and weigh as much as an adult human. At one time, people thought these animals were actual dragons.

Despite its name, the Komodo dragon isn’t a dragon. It’s a big lizard that lives in Asia. Komodo dragons are about 8 feet long and weigh as much as an adult human. At one time, people thought these animals were actual dragons.

Despite its name, the Komodo dragon isn’t a dragon. It’s a big lizard that lives in Asia. Komodo dragons are about 8 feet long and weigh as much as an adult human. At one time, people thought these animals were actual dragons.

3. Sailors once told stories about a terrifying sea monster called the kraken. What did this creature turn out to be?

3. Sailors once told stories about a terrifying sea monster called the kraken. What did this creature turn out to be?

3. Sailors once told stories about a terrifying sea monster called the kraken. What did this creature turn out to be?

The kraken was described as a creature with long tentacle arms (like an octopus has). Scientists later figured out that the sailors were seeing giant squids. These giant creatures can be over 30 feet long. That’s bigger than five refrigerators stacked on top of one another.

The kraken was described as a creature with long tentacle arms (like an octopus has). Scientists later figured out that the sailors were seeing giant squids. These giant creatures can be over 30 feet long. That’s bigger than five refrigerators stacked on top of one another.

The kraken was described as a creature with long tentacle arms (like an octopus has). Scientists later figured out that the sailors were seeing giant squids. These giant creatures can be over 30 feet long. That’s bigger than five refrigerators stacked on top of one another.

4. There are stories about creatures like Bigfoot told all over the world. What is another name for a giant hairy beast that walks upright like a human?

4. There are stories about creatures like Bigfoot told all over the world. What is another name for a giant hairy beast that walks upright like a human?

4. There are stories about creatures like Bigfoot told all over the world. What is another name for a giant hairy beast that walks upright like a human?

All of these are names given to giant hairy creatures, like Bigfoot. In fact, Bigfoot is called Sasquatch in Canada and by many Americans. Stories about the Yeti (also known as the Abominable Snowman) are told in parts of Asia. And there’s the Yowie, a creature from Australian tales.

All of these are names given to giant hairy creatures, like Bigfoot. In fact, Bigfoot is called Sasquatch in Canada and by many Americans. Stories about the Yeti (also known as the Abominable Snowman) are told in parts of Asia. And there’s the Yowie, a creature from Australian tales.

All of these are names given to giant hairy creatures, like Bigfoot. In fact, Bigfoot is called Sasquatch in Canada and by many Americans. Stories about the Yeti (also known as the Abominable Snowman) are told in parts of Asia. And there’s the Yowie, a creature from Australian tales.
Take the quiz again
Think and Read: Text Features

As you read the article and its text features, think about why some people believe that Bigfoot exists.

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM 

It was the night of February 7, 1962. Robert Hatfield was staying at his sister’s house in Fort Bragg, California. Her dogs were howling in the yard. Hatfield ran outside to find out why. He stared into the forest around the house. He could tell there was something out there in the woods.

Something big.

Something wild.

And then he saw it: A giant figure lurking in the shadows. It was more than 6 feet tall. It was covered in hair. Hatfield thought it was a huge bear.

He ran inside to tell people about the creature. Then Hatfield returned to the yard and—BAM! He smacked right into the bear. Except it wasn’t a bear.

“It was covered with fur with a flat, hairless face and perfectly round eyes,” Hatfield said. “It was half-man, half-beast.”

Terrified, Hatfield ran back inside. The beast disappeared into the woods.

Later, a group of neighbors searched the woods. They didn’t find the beast. But some of the neighbors were convinced they knew what Hatfield had seen. They were sure it wasn’t a bear. They were convinced it was a creature called Bigfoot.

It was February 7, 1962. Robert Hatfield was at his sister’s house in California. His sister’s dogs started barking. He ran outside. He thought there was something big in the woods. Then he saw it.

Something giant was lurking in the shadows. It was more than 6 feet tall. It was covered in hair. He ran across the yard. BAM! He smacked right into it. “It was half-man, half-beast,” Hatfield said. Then it disappeared. Some neighbors thought it was a creature called Bigfoot.

People have told stories about a beast in the woods for years. The first stories were told by different Native American tribes. The stories spread over the years. They turned into stories about the beast we call Bigfoot. But nobody believed that Bigfoot was real. Then something changed.

It was the night of February 7, 1962. Robert Hatfield was at his sister’s house in Fort Bragg, California. Her dogs were barking in the yard. Hatfield ran outside to see why. He looked into the forest around the house. He was sure something was out there.

Something big.

Something wild.

Then he saw it. A giant figure was lurking in the shadows. It was more than 6 feet tall. It was covered in hair. Hatfield thought it was a huge bear.

He ran inside to tell people about the creature. Then Hatfield returned to the yard. BAM! He smacked right into the bear. Except it wasn’t a bear.

Hatfield described the creature as covered with fur. Its face was flat and had no hair on it. It had round eyes. “It was half-man, half-beast,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield was scared. He ran back inside. And the beast disappeared into the woods.

Later, a group of neighbors searched the woods. They didn’t find the beast. But some of the neighbors thought they knew what Hatfield had seen. They were sure it wasn’t a bear. They were sure it was a creature called Bigfoot.

PAUSE AND THINK: What happened to Robert Hatfield on February 7, 1962?

PAUSE AND THINK: What happened to Robert Hatfield on February 7, 1962?

Spooky Stories

Interest Grew

Spooky Stories

BETTMANN/GETTY IMAGES

A Giant Clue

In 1958, workers found giant footprints in California. They believed the footprints belonged to Bigfoot.

Hatfield wasn’t the first person to see a giant, hairy creature in the forest. For years, people have told stories about beasts that hide in the woods.

The first stories in America were told by different Native American tribes. Some tribes shared stories of giants that stole food and tools. Others spoke of a huge “hairy man.”

Over the years, families shared these different stories with their children. Those kids grew up. They told their children. The stories spread and reached new people. And the tales changed along the way.

These tales turned into stories about the beast we now call Bigfoot. These stories were likely first told on the West Coast in the 1900s. Men who worked in the forests told spooky stories around campfires at night. They said a giant creature called Bigfoot roamed the woods. Nobody really believed that Bigfoot was real. But in 1958, something changed.

First, people found footprints. They were in the woods in California. They looked like human prints. But they were too big. Then strange things started happening. Four dogs disappeared. People heard noises. More footprints appeared.

Interest in Bigfoot grew. People searched for clues. Many said they found new footprints. Others said they found Bigfoot’s poop or hair. Hundreds said they saw Bigfoot.

In 1967, someone took a video that seemed to show Bigfoot. Some people wondered: Could the giant beast be real?

Hatfield wasn’t the first person to see a giant, hairy creature in the forest. For years, people have told stories about beasts that hide in the woods.

The first stories were told by different Native American tribes. Some were stories about giants. The giants stole food and tools. Others were about a huge “hairy man.”

Families shared the stories with their children. Those kids grew up. They told their children. The stories spread. They reached new people. And they changed along the way.

They turned into stories about a large beast. We call the beast Bigfoot. These stories were likely first told on the West Coast. Men worked in the forests in the 1900s. They told spooky stories around campfires. They said a creature called Bigfoot roamed the woods. Nobody really believed that Bigfoot was real. But in 1958, something changed.

PAUSE AND THINK: Who told stories about Bigfoot in the 1900s?

PAUSE AND THINK: Who told stories about Bigfoot in the 1900s?

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

People Start Believing 


People Start Believing

What caused people to start believing in Bigfoot? A set of footprints! In the summer of 1958, workers noticed strange footprints in the woods in California. The footprints had five toes and a heel. But they were big—much too big to be human prints. Odd things also started happening. Four dogs disappeared. People said they heard strange noises in the night.

And then more giant footprints appeared. Newspapers began to write articles about them. The stories shocked and excited readers.

In the coming years, the fascination with Bigfoot grew and grew. Groups of people went into the forests to search for clues. Many said they found new footprints. Others said they found clumps of Bigfoot’s poop or hair. Hundreds of people, including Robert Hatfield, claimed they saw Bigfoot with their own eyes.

In 1967, someone shared a shocking video. It seemed to show Bigfoot strolling along a creek in California. People around the world wondered: Could this giant, hairy beast really exist?


Why did people start to believe in Bigfoot? A set of footprints in 1958! Workers noticed strange footprints in the summer. They found them in the woods in California. The footprints had five toes and a heel. But they were big—too big to be human footprints. Then odd things started happening. Four dogs went missing. People said they heard strange noises in the night.

People found more giant footprints. Newspapers wrote about them. The stories were shocking—and exciting.

Fascination with Bigfoot grew. Groups of people went into the forests to look for clues. Many said they found new footprints. Others said they found Bigfoot’s poop or hair. Hundreds of people claimed they saw Bigfoot with their own eyes.

Then someone shared a video in 1967. The video shocked people. It seemed to show Bigfoot. It showed him walking near a creek. People wondered: Could Bigfoot be real?

PAUSE AND THINK: What did workers notice in the summer of 1958?

PAUSE AND THINK: What did workers notice in the summer of 1958?

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Video Proof?

This is an image from the 1967 video that claimed to show Bigfoot.

Easily Explained?


Easily Explained?

Some of the evidence for Bigfoot is easily explained. Those famous footprints in California? They turned out to be a hoax. Years later, two brothers admitted that they had put fake footprints in the woods as a joke.

Many people have doubts about the other pieces of Bigfoot evidence too. They say the fur, footprints, and poop don’t prove anything. They could have been left by another animal. And those strange noises at night? Wild animals could have made those too.

Plus, the video from 1967 is blurry. Most experts believe that it’s fake. They say it probably shows a person in a costume. If Bigfoot were out there, wouldn’t we have a clear photo or video by now?


Some evidence for Bigfoot can be explained. Those famous footprints in California? They were a hoax. Two brothers said they put fake footprints in the woods. They did it as a joke.

Many people think the other evidence is also fake. They say the fur, footprints, and poop don’t prove that Bigfoot is real. Animals could have left them. And those strange noises at night? Wild animals could have made those too.

Plus, the video from 1967 is blurry. Most experts believe that it’s fake. They say it probably shows a person in a costume. If Bigfoot were real, wouldn’t we have a clear photo or video by now?

PAUSE AND THINK: What turned out to be a hoax?

PAUSE AND THINK: What turned out to be a hoax?

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Smile!

This drawing shows what Bigfoot might look like. (There are no clear photos of the creature.)

Real-Life Monsters 

People Keep Searching

Real-Life Monsters 

But some people think this mysterious creature is out there. Scientist Jeff Meldrum has studied Bigfoot for 25 years. He’s looked at hundreds of huge, human-like footprints. “They’re too big to be human, but they don’t belong to any other known animal,” he says. “I’m convinced Bigfoot exists based on the evidence I’ve seen.”

And you know what? Some mysterious creatures have turned out to be real. Explorers once told stories of lizard monsters in Asia. At the time, few people believed them. Now we know that these lizards were Komodo dragons. Then there’s the kraken. Many years ago, people thought sailors had made this monster up. We now know it as the giant squid.

Plus, scientists find thousands of new plants and animals each year. They say there are likely millions of others that haven’t been found yet. Couldn’t one of those animals be Bigfoot?

Some people say Bigfoot is fake. Those first footprints turned out to be a hoax. Most experts think the video from 1967 is fake too. They say it probably shows a person in a costume. Others say the fur and poop were left by other animals.

But scientist Jeff Meldrum has studied Bigfoot for 25 years. He’s looked at hundreds of footprints. He thinks some belong to Bigfoot.

And you know what? Some mysterious creatures turned out to be real, like the Komodo dragon and giant squid. New plants and animals are found each year. Scientists say there are more out there. Couldn’t one of those animals be Bigfoot?

So people keep searching. People in every state say they’ve seen Bigfoot. People love the mystery. There are Bigfoot books, shows, and toys.

Maybe there really is a mysterious creature in the woods. What do you believe?  

But other people are sure Bigfoot is out there. Jeff Meldrum is a scientist. He’s studied Bigfoot for 25 years. He’s looked at hundreds of huge footprints. He says the footprints are too big to be human. And he says they aren’t from any other animal we know about. He’s looked at a lot of evidence. He thinks Bigfoot is real.

And you know what? Other stories about mysterious creatures turned out to be real. Explorers told stories of lizard monsters. Only a few people believed them. Now we know the stories were about Komodo dragons. There were also stories about the kraken. People used to think sailors were making the stories up. Now we know they were about the giant squid.

And scientists find new animals each year. Scientists believe there are millions more out there. So many animals haven’t been found yet. Couldn’t one of those animals be Bigfoot?

PAUSE AND THINK: What mysterious creatures turned out to be real?

PAUSE AND THINK: What mysterious creatures turned out to be real?

FRANCO BANFI/NPL/MINDEN PICTURES

Mysterious Creatures

Some “monsters” have actually turned out to be real animals. The giant squid is one example.

The Search Continues


The Search Continues

Today, people continue to search for Bigfoot. No bodies or bones have ever been found. But the sightings continue. People in every state claim they’ve seen the creature. And a 2018 survey found that about 1 in 5 Americans think Bigfoot is real.

Real or fake, Bigfoot is loved by many. They enjoy the excitement and mystery. They pay to go on searches. There are Bigfoot toys, books, and shows. (In most stories, Bigfoot is a shy, gentle giant.) One town in California even has a Bigfoot parade!

We may never know what Hatfield saw that night in 1962. Maybe it was a bear after all. Maybe he was in on a Bigfoot hoax. Or maybe there really is a mysterious creature roaming the woods. What do you believe?  


People keep searching for Bigfoot. Nobody has found Bigfoot bodies. Nobody has found Bigfoot bones. But the sightings continue. People in every state say they’ve seen the creature. There was a survey in 2018: About 1 in 5 Americans think Bigfoot is real.

Many people love Bigfoot. They enjoy all the excitement. They love the mystery. They pay to go on searches. There are Bigfoot toys, books, and shows. (In most stories, Bigfoot is shy and gentle.) One town in California has a Bigfoot parade!

We may never know what Hatfield saw that night in 1962. Maybe it was a bear. Maybe he was in on a Bigfoot hoax. Or maybe there really is a mysterious creature roaming the woods. What do you believe? 

PAUSE AND THINK: How is Bigfoot described in most stories?

PAUSE AND THINK: How is Bigfoot described in most stories?

COURTESY OF TEESHIRTPALACE.COM (SHIRT); COURTESY DOUGLASTOYS.COM (DOLL); © NWAVE PICTURES, 2020 (POSTER)

Bigfoot on the Big Screen

There are Bigfoot movies, T-shirts, and toys!

THINK AND WRITE 

Do you believe that Bigfoot exists? Using information from the article and its text features, explain your answer in a paragraph. Five winners will each receive a Scholastic Store e-gift card. See our contest page for details. 

THINK AND WRITE 

Do you believe that Bigfoot exists? Using information from the article and its text features, explain your answer in a paragraph. Five winners will each receive a Scholastic Store e-gift card. See our contest page for details. 

THINK AND WRITE 

Do you believe that Bigfoot exists? Using information from the article and its text features, explain your answer in a paragraph. Five winners will each receive a Scholastic Store e-gift card. See our contest page for details. 

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras
From the Storyworks 3 Archives

Pair this article with “The Legend of the Lake Monster” from our October/November 2020 issue. It delves into the story of another mysterious creature: The Loch Ness Monster!

More About Bigfoot

Bigfoot is a mystery not only in the United States. Visit this page for children from Canada’s public radio website that describes Bigfoot-like creatures all over the world.

Watch This

Your students will love this 3-minute video from Colossal Cranium that provides more information about the search for the elusive Bigfoot. It includes a brief discussion of the Gigantopithecus, a now-extinct animal that some believe is the basis for stories about Bigfoot and similar creatures. Note: This video states that Bigfoot is not real. 

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Close Reading

3. SEL Focus

4. Skill Building and Writing

5. Differentiate and Customize

Struggling Readers, Multilingual Learners, Advanced Readers, Creative Writing

1. Preparing to Read

Preview Text Features  (20 minutes)  

  • Help students prepare to read the article by showing the Background Builder Slideshow. 

  • We offer several reading experiences for this article. As a first read, have students either watch the Video Read-Aloud, in which author Lauren Tarshis introduces and narrates the article as it comes to life with images; listen to the Author Read-Aloud; or read the article in the magazine or digitally.

  • To acquaint students with Bigfoot, Komodo dragons, and other creatures mentioned in the story, invite them to take the online quiz “Test Your Knowledge of Mysterious Creatures!” Emphasize that this quiz is just for fun.

  • Look at pages 4-5 with the class. Read aloud the headline and subhead to students. Ask: What does the main image show? Does the figure in the picture look familiar? What kind of mood does the illustration create?

  • Based on the headline, subhead, and images, ask students to predict what this article will be about. Have them review their predictions after they finish reading.

  • Explain that the images and captions provide information that will help them better understand the events of the story. Ask students to point out the different images of Bigfoot that they see in the article. What is similar or different about these images?

Introduce Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • We have highlighted in bold five words that may be challenging and defined them on the page: lurking, roamed, fascination, evidence, and hoax.
  • Preview these words by projecting or distributing our Vocabulary Skill Builder and completing it as a class. You may also play our Vocabulary Slideshow, in which audio and images help students with pronunciation and comprehension.

Set a Purpose for Reading (5 minutes)

  • Call on volunteers to read aloud the Think and Read box on page 4 and the Think and Write box on page 9. These support the story’s featured skill, text features. Remind students to keep in mind the Think and Read prompt as they read the article.

2. Close Reading

Reading and Unpacking the Text

  • First read: Read the story as a class. Use the Pause and Think questions at the end of each section to check comprehension. 

  • Second read: Project, distribute, or assign the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking Questions to the class. Preview them together. Ask students to read the article again and answer the questions as a class or in small groups. (Alternatively, assign all or part of the Learning Journey Slide Deck, which contains the questions—along with other activities from this lesson plan and links to the story and Video Read-Aloud.) 

  • Follow up with the SEL Focus activity.

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes)

  • Why was Robert Hatfield sure that the creature he saw wasn’t a bear? (text evidence) The creature Hatfield saw was more than 6 feet tall and covered in hair. But it also had a  “flat, hairless face and perfectly round eyes.” Hatfield described it as “half-man, half-beast.” These details convinced Hatfield that what he saw wasn’t a bear.
  • How did the stories that some Native American tribes told about giant creatures turn into stories about the creature we now call Bigfoot? (cause and effect) Families shared these stories with their children over many years. Once the children grew up, they told the stories to their families. The stories spread to new people and changed along the way.
  • What happened in 1958 that caused people to start believing in Bigfoot? (key detail) Workers in California found a set of footprints that seemed too big to be from a human. 
  • According to the section “People Start Believing,” what else helped people believe in Bigfoot? (key detail) Odd things started to happen: Dogs disappeared. People said they heard strange noises in the night. People found new footprints. They also found clumps of poop or hair. Hundreds of people claimed to see Bigfoot, and someone shared a video that claimed to show Bigfoot. 
  • Read “Easily Explained?” How can some of the Bigfoot evidence be explained? (synthesizing) The footprints that were found in 1958 turned out to be a hoax. The strange noises could have been made by wild animals. The poop, hair, and other footprints could have come from animals too. Most experts believe the figure in the video of Bigfoot was a person in a costume. 
  • Why do you think the author included information about Jeff Meldrum in the story? (inference/author’s craft) Jeff Meldrum is a scientist who has studied Bigfoot for 25 years. The author probably included information about him to show why people might think Bigfoot is real. After all, a scientist who has done a lot of research believes that Bigfoot exists.
  • Read “Real-Life Monsters.” How is Bigfoot similar to the Komodo dragon and giant squid? How is he different? (compare and contrast) Bigfoot is similar to the Komodo dragon and the giant squid in that people told stories about all of these creatures. Not everyone believed these stories at first. However, people have been able to prove that the Komodo dragon and giant squid are real animals. Nobody has been able to prove that Bigfoot is real.
  • Read “The Search Continues.” What examples show that people are very excited by the idea of Bigfoot? (supporting details) There are Bigfoot toys, books, and shows. People pay to go on searches in the woods to find Bigfoot. There is a town in California that holds a Bigfoot parade.

Critical-Thinking Questions (10 minutes)

  • Choose one image in the article and explain how the image, along with its caption and information from the text, helps prove that Bigfoot does or does not exist. (text features/analyzing) Answers will vary. Sample answers: 1. The photo at the top of page 6 shows giant footprints that were found in 1958. But the footprints turned out to be a hoax. It could be that Bigfoot sightings and other evidence about Bigfoot are also hoaxes. 2. The photo on page 8 shows a giant squid. This animal was once thought of as a  made-up monster called the kraken, but it turned out to be real. Maybe the same thing will happen with Bigfoot. 
  • Do you think someone in the future will prove that Bigfoot really exists? Explain your answer. (supporting an opinion) Answers will vary.

3. SEL Focus

Making a Reasoned Judgment

The article presents two different perspectives on the existence of Bigfoot and asks readers what they believe. Discuss the importance of making reasoned judgments using the article as an example. You might ask your students questions, such as: Why do you think the authors of “The Search for Bigfoot” decided to include information that supports people’s belief in Bigfoot along with information that does not? Do you think you would have come to the same conclusion about Bigfoot if the article had presented only one side? Why might it be important to carefully study all the evidence before coming to a conclusion?

4. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Text Features

  • Distribute our Text Features Skill Builder and have students complete it in class or for homework.  

  • Discuss the writing assignment in the Think and Write box on page 9. Students can complete their paragraphs in class or as homework.

Differentiate and Customize
For Struggling Readers

Work together with students in a small group. As you read the article, prompt students to use one color to highlight text evidence that shows why some people have believed that Bigfoot exists and a different color to highlight text evidence that shows why his existence is unlikely. Remind students to look at the text features as well as the article text when working on this assignment. (When students read the articles online in Presentation View, they can use the highlighter tool to mark the text.) 

For Multilingual Learners (MLL)

The concept of Bigfoot may be unfamiliar to your multilingual learners. Have them read or listen to the lower-Lexile version of the article. After reading, work with the class to make a list of words that describe Bigfoot. Encourage students to refer to the illustrations and images as well as the article text when coming up with descriptive words.

For Advanced Readers

Instruct students to read “The Legend of the Lake Monster” from the October/November 2020 issue of Storyworks 3. Ask students to write a short essay comparing and contrasting the two stories.

For Creative Writing

Ask students to pretend that they just saw Bigfoot in their neighborhood. Have them write a paragraph about what they saw, when it happened, and why they believe that it was Bigfoot. Encourage them to make the paragraph as exciting as possible.

Text-to-Speech