Article
©FOUR PAWS

How to Save a Baby Orangutan

When a baby orangutan was left for dead in the rainforest, a team of humans raced to save him.

By Mackenzie Carro
From the December/January 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will identify the problems faced by an orphaned baby orangutan and how caregivers from the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School helped solve them. Students will also identify the problems associated with rainforest deforestation and ways they can help. 

 

Lexiles: Starter, 500L-600L, 600L-700L
Guided Reading Level: Q
DRA Level: 40
Think and Read: Problem and Solution

As you read, look for the problems Gerhana faced and how the Forest School caregivers helped solve them.

Gerhana lay in the dirt. He was sick, starving, and alone. Death was closing in on the baby orangutan.

Just a few months earlier, Gerhana had been a healthy newborn. He clung to his mother’s side. They lived in the bright-green rainforests of Borneo. That’s an island in Southeast Asia.

All around them, the jungle burst with life. Flying squirrels glided from tree to tree. Monkeys perched in the branches. Lizards the size of crocodiles darted across the forest floor. Gem-colored frogs leaped through the mud. Leopards hunted their dinner.

Baby Gerhana [guhr-HAH-nuh] and his mother snuggled together each night. They slept in a leafy nest high in the treetops.

But one day, disaster struck. Gerhana’s mother was killed. She was probably shot by a hunter hired to keep orangutans away from crops.

Gerhana lay in the dirt. He was sick and alone.

Gerhana [guhr-HAH-nuh] had been a healthy baby. He used to live wIth his mother in the rainforest. They used to sleep in a leafy nest in the treetops.

The rainforest is in Borneo. That’s an island in Southeast Asia.

Gerhana’s mother had been killed. She was probably shot by someone who wanted to keep orangutans away from farms.

Gerhana lay in the dirt. He was sick, hungry, and alone. The baby orangutan was close to death.

Gerhana was born just a few months earlier. He had been a healthy baby who stayed at his mother’s side. They lived in the bright-green rainforests of Borneo. That’s an island in Southeast Asia.

The jungle was full of life. Flying squirrels glided from tree to tree. Monkeys sat in the branches. Lizards as big as crocodiles ran across the ground.

Bright frogs jumped through the mud. Leopards hunted their dinner.

Baby Gerhana [guhr-HAH-nuh] and his mother hugged each other at night. They slept in a leafy nest high in the treetops.

But one day, disaster struck. Gerhana’s mother was killed. She was probably shot by someone who wanted to keep orangutans away from crops. 

Gerhana lay in the dirt—sick, starving, and alone. Death was closing in.

Just a few months earlier, the baby orangutan had been a healthy newborn. He would cling to his mother’s side as she swung through the trees in the lush rainforests of Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia. All around them, the bright-green jungle burst with life. Flying squirrels glided from tree to tree. Fluffy brown monkeys perched in the branches. Lizards the size of crocodiles darted across the forest floor. Gem-colored frogs leaped through the mud, and leopards hunted their dinner.

Baby Gerhana [guhr-HAH-nuh] and his mother snuggled together each night in a comfy nest of leaves high in the treetops.

But then one day, disaster struck.

Gerhana’s mother was killed, probably shot by a hunter hired to keep orangutans away from crops.

Sadly, this is not uncommon, as more of the rainforest where orangutans live is being destroyed. Since the 1980s, about 30 percent of Borneo’s rainforests have been cleared by humans. Hundreds of millions of trees have been cut down for timber and to make room for coal mines and palm oil plantations. (Palm oil is found in many foods and products, including pizza dough, chocolate, and toothpaste.)

For orangutans like Gerhana, this deforestation is a catastrophe. Orangutans survive on the fruits and plants that grow in the rainforest. As their habitat shrinks, so does their source of food. To avoid starvation, the apes wander into places where humans live, looking for something to eat. But many humans see the orangutans as pests—like roaches and rats—and kill them.

Without his mother, Gerhana stood little chance of survival in the wild. For the first seven or so years of life, a baby orangutan is completely dependent on its mother. The two are never apart as the mother helps her baby learn how to find food, swing through the trees, and build a nest to sleep in.

Orphaned babies are doomed. Some starve. Many others are illegally captured and sold to private zoos, where they are forced to live behind bars.

No one is sure exactly what happened to Gerhana after his mother died. It is likely that he stayed by her side. Only six months old and unable to climb trees by himself, Gerhana would have been stranded. All he could have done was cry out—miserable, starving, and alone.

But help was on the way.

JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN R

Where Is Borneo?

Borneo is a tropical island made up of three Asian countries. Its mountains, rivers, and rainforests are home to thousands of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

Cutting Down Treats

Help for Gerhana

Cutting Down Treats

Racing to Help

Since the 1980s, about 30 percent of Borneo’s rainforests have been cleared by humans. Hundreds of millions of trees have been cut down. Why? People use wood from the trees to make buildings. Cutting down trees also makes room for coal mines and palm oil farms. (Palm oil is found in many foods and products, such as pizza dough, chocolate, and toothpaste.)

This deforestation is a disaster for orangutans. They live on the fruits and plants that grow in the rainforest. As their habitat shrinks, so does their source of food. The apes wander into places where humans live, looking for food. But many humans see the orangutans as pests—like roaches and rats—and kill them.

Without his mother, Gerhana stood little chance of survival in the wild. For the first seven or so years of life, a baby orangutan depends completely on its mother. The two are never apart. The mother helps her baby learn how to find food, swing through the trees, and build a nest to sleep in.

Babies without a mother are doomed. Some starve. Others are illegally captured and sold to private zoos. Then they live behind bars.

No one knows exactly what happened to Gerhana after his mother died. It is likely that he stayed by her side. He was only six months old. He could not climb trees by himself. He would have been left completely alone.

But help was on the way.

Millions of trees have been cut down in Borneo. Why? People use the wood to make buildings. They also want to make room for other things, like palm oil farms.

This deforestation is a big problem for orangutans. Orangutans eat the food that grows in the rainforest. But when the rainforest is cut down, they have to find their food somewhere else. They look for food where humans live. And sometimes the orangutans are killed because of that.

Without his mother, Gerhana almost died. A baby orangutan cannot survive on its own. Mothers teach their babies how to find food and swing through the trees.

Luckily, help was on the way.

People came to pick Gerhana up. He needed medical help. Gerhana was taken to the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School. It was a six-hour ride to the school. Once he got there, caregivers fed him. They made sure he drank. He was given medicine and belly rubs. Everyone worked hard to help the baby orangutan.

Part of the rainforests in Borneo have been cleared away by humans. Millions of trees have been cut down. Why? People use wood from the trees to make buildings. Plus, cutting down trees makes room for other things. People put in coal mines. They plant palm oil farms. (Palm oil is used in many items, such as pizza dough, chocolate, and toothpaste.)

This deforestation is a big problem for orangutans. Orangutans eat the fruits and plants that grow in the rainforest. But their habitat is getting smaller, which means less food for the orangutans.

The apes wander into places where humans live. They are looking for food. But many humans see the orangutans as pests—like roaches and rats. Some of those humans kill the orangutans.

Without his mother, Gerhana was unlikely to survive in the wild. A baby orangutan needs its mother for almost seven years. The two are never apart. The mother helps her baby learn how to survive. She shows her baby how to find food, swing through the trees, and build a nest to sleep in.

Babies without a mother are doomed. Some die of hunger. Others are taken and sold to zoos. Then they live behind bars.

No one knows what happened to Gerhana after his mother died. He probably stayed right by her side. He was only six months old. He couldn’t climb trees by himself. He would have been completely alone. 

On January 30, 2018, a farmer called the local authorities and told them there was a baby orangutan—Gerhana—in his garden. The authorities picked Gerhana up and took him back to their headquarters. Gerhana needed medical attention—fast. He was dangerously underweight, dehydrated, and feverish. He also had no hair, a sign of malnutrition.

Fortunately, the authorities had a plan. They contacted the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School. At this extraordinary place in the heart of the rainforest, primatologist Signe Preuschoft and her staff care for orphaned orangutans.

The Forest School immediately sent a team to pick up Gerhana. The baby orangutan was terrified. He clung tightly to Yuli, a Forest School caregiver, for the entire six-hour ride to the school. After they arrived, Yuli and the other caregivers sprang into action. They worked around the clock. They fed him and made sure he drank. They gave him medicine and belly rubs.

YUSNIZAM YUSOF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Borneo

Racing to Help


Racing to Help

Important Skills

On January 30, 2018, a farmer called the local officials. He said there was a baby orangutan in his garden. It was Gerhana. The officials picked Gerhana up and took him to their headquarters. He needed medical help. He was dangerously underweight. He was dehydrated and feverish. He also had no hair, a sign of malnutrition.

The officials contacted the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School. This is a special place deep in the rainforest. It’s where scientist Signe Preuschoft and her staff care for orphaned orangutans.

The Forest School sent a team to pick up Gerhana. He was very scared. It was a six-hour ride to the school. Gerhana clung to a caregiver the whole ride. Once there, the team got to work. They fed him and made sure he drank. They gave him medicine and belly rubs. They worked around the clock.


On January 30, 2018, a farmer called local officials. He said there was a baby orangutan in his garden. It was Gerhana. The officials came to get Gerhana. He needed medical help. He was very underweight. He was dehydrated and had a fever. He also had no hair. That’s a sign of malnutrition. 

The officials talked to the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School. This is a special place in the rainforest. It’s where scientist Signe Preuschoft cares for orangutans who need help.

The Forest School sent a team to pick up Gerhana. He was scared. It was a six-hour ride to the school. Gerhana hung onto a caregiver the whole time. Once there, the team got to work. They fed him and made sure he drank. They gave him medicine and belly rubs. They worked around the clock. 

As the days went by, Gerhana’s strength returned. It was clear that he would survive. With his health getting better, it was time for Gerhana to start his “lessons.”

In the wild, baby orangutans learn necessary survival skills by observing and imitating their mothers. At the Forest School, baby orangutans learn in much the same way. But instead of watching their mothers, they watch their human caregivers.

For example, in the wild, Gerhana might have seen his mother peel the bark away from a tree and eat the nutritious fibers underneath. At the school, human caregivers showed Gerhana how to do this. (Baby orangutans at the Forest School also learn by watching the older orangutans.)

As time goes on, the caregivers give the young apes more time to explore the forest on their own. Once the orangutans are healthy, fully grown, and independent, they are released back into the wild, where they belong. But this process can take 10 years or longer.

AHMAD ZAMRONI/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES (CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT); BAY ISMOYO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES (PALM OIL FARM)

Cleared Out

In Borneo, millions of trees have been cut down to make way for palm oil farms.

Important Skills

Saving the Rainforest

Important Skills

Cheeky Grin    

As the days went by, Gerhana got stronger. It was clear that he would survive. Now it was time for Gerhana to start his “lessons.”

In the wild, baby orangutans learn survival skills by watching their mothers. At the Forest School, they learn in much the same way. They watch their human caregivers.

In the wild, Gerhana might have seen his mother peel bark away from a tree. Orangutans eat the juicy layer beneath the bark. It contains nutrients, the vitamins and substances that animals, people, and plants need to grow healthy and strong.

At the Forest School, human caregivers showed Gerhana how to peel bark away from trees. Baby orangutans there could also learn by watching the older orangutans.

Over time, the caregivers give the young apes more time to explore the forest on their own. When the apes are ready, they are released back into the wild. That’s where orangutans belong. But this process can take 10 years or longer.

Gerhana got stronger. Soon it was time for him to start his “lessons.” Baby orangutans learn by watching their mothers. At the Forest School, they watch their human caregivers.

The Forest School does a lot to help orangutans. But the school can’t fix everything. Orangutans are in danger of extinction. Some laws stop people from cutting down trees. But the laws aren’t doing enough.

Protecting the rainforest won’t help only orangutans. It will also save thousands of other plants and animals.

Gerhana is now 3 years old. He loves to eat and play. He often wears a big leaf over his head like a hat! He still has a lot to learn. But his human caregivers will be there to help him.  

As the days went by, Gerhana got stronger. It was clear that he would live. Now it was time for Gerhana to start his “lessons.” 

In the wild, baby orangutans learn how to survive by watching their mothers. At the Forest School, they learn in a similar way. They watch their human caregivers.

In the wild, Gerhana might have seen his mother peel bark away from a tree. Orangutans eat the juicy layer underneath the bark. It contains nutrients. Those are the vitamins and substances that animals, people, and plants need to grow.

At the Forest School, humans showed Gerhana how to peel bark. Baby orangutans could also learn by watching the older orangutans.

Over time, the caregivers give young apes more time to explore the forest on their own.

When the apes are ready, they are sent back into the wild. But that could take 10 years or longer. 

As much as the Forest School is doing for orangutans, the problem is bigger than the school can solve on its own. Since 1950, orangutan populations have declined by about 80 percent. Orangutans are now in danger of extinction. There are laws in place to prevent deforestation, but more must be done to enforce them, Preuschoft says.

She points out that protecting orangutans helps more than just orangutans. Borneo’s rainforest is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. If humans protect the rainforest for orangutans, says Preuschoft, they will also be protecting thousands of other important plants and animals.

As for Gerhana, he is now a thriving 2-year-old with a coat of bright-red hair. He loves to play and is well-known around the school for his “cheeky grin.”

Preuschoft isn’t surprised by Gerhana’s remarkable recovery. “That’s typical of orangutans,” she says. “They are very resilient.”

Gerhana still has a lot to learn though. Fortunately, his many human moms and dads will be at his side, helping him every step of the way. 

©JEJAK PULANG | FOUR PAWS | JAMES MEPHAM (CAREGIVERS, SIGNE PREUSCHOFT)

Helping Hands

Caregivers hold orangutans at the Four Paws Forest School. The school was founded by Signe Preuschoft.

Words Into Action

Five things you can do to help orangutans

Five things you can do to help orangutans

Five things you can do to help orangutans

Five things you can do to help orangutans

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

1. Write a Letter

Many products, like shampoo and ice cream, contain palm oil. Ask brands to make sure the palm oil they use doesn’t hurt rainforests.

1. Write a Letter

Many products, like shampoo and ice cream, contain palm oil. Ask brands to make sure the palm oil they use doesn’t hurt rainforests.

1. Write a Letter

Many products, like shampoo and ice cream, contain palm oil. Ask brands to make sure the palm oil they use doesn’t hurt rainforests.

1. Write a Letter

Many products, like shampoo and ice cream, contain palm oil. Ask brands to make sure the palm oil they use doesn’t hurt rainforests.

VALLONEART/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

2. Waste Less

Reuse or recycle items so fewer resources—like trees—are needed to make new products. 

2. Waste Less

Reuse or recycle items so fewer resources—like trees—are needed to make new products. 

2. Waste Less

Reuse or recycle items so fewer resources—like trees—are needed to make new products. 

2. Waste Less

Reuse or recycle items so fewer resources—like trees—are needed to make new products.

COURTESY OF FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL 

3. Shop Smart

Try to buy paper and wood products with the label below. That means when trees were cut down to make that product, new trees were planted in their place.

3. Shop Smart

Try to buy paper and wood products with the label below. That means when trees were cut down to make that product, new trees were planted in their place.

3. Shop Smart

Try to buy paper and wood products with the label below. That means when trees were cut down to make that product, new trees were planted in their place.

3. Shop Smart

Try to buy paper and wood products with the label below. That means when trees were cut down to make that product, new trees were planted in their place.

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES 

4. Raise Money

There are many groups that help orangutans. Do some research. Then plan a way to raise money for your favorite one.

4. Raise Money

There are many groups that help orangutans. Do some research. Then plan a way to raise money for your favorite one.

4. Raise Money

There are many groups that help orangutans. Do some research. Then plan a way to raise money for your favorite one.

4. Raise Money

There are many groups that help orangutans. Do some research. Then plan a way to raise money for your favorite one.

ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES 

5. Have a Conversation

 Share what you’ve learned with others! You can use your voice to spread awareness and make a difference

5. Have a Conversation

 Share what you’ve learned with others! You can use your voice to spread awareness and make a difference

5. Have a Conversation

 Share what you’ve learned with others! You can use your voice to spread awareness and make a difference

5. Have a Conversation

 Share what you’ve learned with others! You can use your voice to spread awareness and make a difference

From Tree to Tree


From Tree to Tree


The Forest School does a lot to help orangutans. But the problem is too big for the school to solve on its own. Orangutan populations have dropped by about 80 percent since 1950. Orangutans are now in danger of extinction.

There are laws in place to prevent deforestation. But Preuschoft says that more needs to be done to make sure these laws are followed.

She points out that protecting orangutans helps more than just orangutans. Borneo’s rainforest is known for its biodiversity. So protecting the rainforest won’t just help orangutans. It will also protect thousands of other plants and animals.

Gerhana is now 3 years old. He loves to eat and play. He swings from tree to tree. He is often seen wearing a big leaf over his head like a floppy hat!

Preuschoft is not surprised by Gerhana’s recovery. Orangutans are tough, she says.

Gerhana still has a lot to learn. But his many human moms and dads will be there to help him. 


The Forest School does a lot to help orangutans. But the school can’t fix the problem on its own. The number of orangutans has dropped by about 80 percent since 1950. Orangutans are now in danger of extinction. Some laws stop people from cutting down trees. But Preuschoft says that more needs to be done so that these laws are followed.

She points out that saving orangutans is good for a lot of reasons. Borneo’s rainforest is known for its biodiversity. Protecting the rainforest won’t help just orangutans. It will also protect thousands of other plants and animals.

Gerhana is now 3 years old. He loves to eat and play. He swings from tree to tree. He is often seen wearing a big leaf over his head like a floppy hat!

Preuschoft is not surprised by Gerhana’s recovery. “Orangutans are tough,” she says.

Gerhana still has a lot to learn. But his human moms and dads will be there to help him. 


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Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Watch This

Check out this incredible (and adorable) 5-minute video showing orangutans learning to climb at the Four Paws Forest School.

Reach Out

Encourage students to write thank-you notes to the staff at the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School for their work with Gerhanna and other orphaned orangutans. You can send in images of your students’ notes to [email protected]. We’ll pass them along to the School. The staff at Four Paws is excited to receive your students’ notes and plans to respond to all of them. 

 

Teach This

Explore the kids section of the Orangutan Conservancy’s website, which has more background information about orangutans, ways to help, coloring pages, and a fun section where students can put captions on pictures of orangutans.

From the Storyworks 3 Archives

If your students loved learning about Gerhana, be sure to direct them to the Nonfiction feature “How to Save a Baby Elephant” from the March/April 2017 issue of Storyworks 3. 

More About the Article

Content-Area Connections

Science: primates

Social Studies: rainforest habitat and conservation

Social-Emotional Learning: responsible decision-making

Key Skills

problem and solution, text features, vocabulary, figurative language, key idea, supporting detail, key detail, cause and effect, main idea, explanatory writing

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. PREPARING TO READ

Watch a Video/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 watch the Video Read-Aloud, in which author Mackenzie Carro 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.
  • Look at pages 4-5 with the class. Read aloud the title and subtitle with students. What is happening in the illustration? 
  • Based on the title, subtitle, and illustration, ask students to predict what this article will be about. Have them review their predictions after they finish reading.
  • Explain that the map, photos, and captions on pages 4-9 provide information that will help them better understand the events of the story. Point out the sidebar on pages 8-9 and ask students to read it after finishing the rest of the article.

Introduce Vocabulary (15 minutes)

  • We have highlighted in bold six words that may be challenging and defined them on the page: deforestation, habitat, dehydrated, malnutrition, extinction, and biodiversity.
  • Preview these words by projecting or distributing our Vocabulary Skill Builder (available in your Resources tab) and completing it as a class. You may also play our Vocabulary Slideshow, in which images help students with 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, problem and solution. 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 (available in your Resources tab) 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 Slideshow, which contains the questions—along with other activities from this lesson plan and links to the story and Video Read-Aloud. Find it in your Resources tab.) 

Close-Reading Questions (30 minutes

  1. Read the first section. The author writes that “the jungle burst with life.” What does this phrase help you imagine? (figurative language) This phrase gives you an idea of what the jungle is like. You can imagine that there are many animals living in the jungle. They are probably all moving around and making noises. There are probably a lot of trees and other plants.
  2. Read “Cutting Down Trees.” Why are so many trees in Borneo’s rainforest being cut down? (key idea) The wood from the trees is used for buildings. Also, the trees are cut down to make room for coal mines and palm oil farms.
  3. How do baby orangutans depend on their mothers to survive? (supporting detail) Baby orangutans learn how to survive by watching their mothers. They learn how to find food, swing through trees, and build a place to sleep.
  4. Reread the section “Racing to Help.” Why did Gerhana need help immediately? (key detail) Gerhana needed help immediately because he was sick. He hadn’t had anything to eat or drink in a long time. He had a fever and was losing his hair.
  5. How did Gerhana learn skills to survive, such as peeling away bark from a tree? (key detail) Gerhana learned skills by watching his human caregivers. He could also learn from watching older orangutans at the Forest School.
  6. Look at the section “From Tree to Tree.” Why are orangutans in danger of extinction? (cause and effect) Orangutans are in danger of extinction because their homes are being destroyed. When humans clear away trees in the forest, they take away the orangutans’ food and nests. 

Critical-Thinking Question (10 minutes)

  1. Why do you think many humans want to help orangutans and their habitats? (main idea) Answers may vary. Sample answer: Many humans want to help orangutans and their habitats because orangutans are in danger of extinction. It would be sad to have a world without this special animal. Helping orangutans also helps to protect the entire rainforest, including all the plants and animals that live there. 

3. SEL FOCUS

Words Into Action

Help students work (or ask them to work with an adult at home) on the first suggestion in the “Words Into Action” sidebar—writing a letter to a brand to ask about its use of palm oil. Have students use details from the article to explain why the issue is important to them. 

4. SKILL BUILDING AND WRITING

Featured Skill: Problem and Solution

  • Distribute or assign our Problem and Solution Skill Builder (available in your Resources tab) and have students complete it in class or for homework.  

  • Discuss the writing assignment in the Think and Write box on page 9. Students should sum up the main idea of their paragraph in the first or last sentence. They can complete their paragraphs in class or as homework.

GREAT IDEAS FOR REMOTE LEARNING

  • Our new Learning Journey Slideshow (available in your Resources tab) is designed to make your life easier. Have students move through it at their own pace or assign smaller chunks for different days. You can also customize the slideshow to your liking.

  • Have kids listen to the Author Read-Aloud. Then convene your virtual classroom, choose the Presentation View of the article, and share your screen. Students can take turns reading aloud as they would if together in the physical classroom.

  • Have students complete the close-reading and critical-thinking questions together in a video chat or on a shared Google Doc.

  • Our new Choice Board (available in your Resources tab) is perfect for remote learning. It offers nine varied activities for students to choose from. Students can do one activity or as many as they like, working at their own pace. Most of the activities on the Choice Board can be done away from a computer. 

Differentiate and Customize
For Struggling Readers

Have students read the lower-Lexile article in pairs. As they read, they should create two lists: one with details about why orangutans are special and the other with details about why they need our help. Students can then use their lists to respond to the Think and Write prompt on page 9.

For ELL Students

Read through the lower-Lexile version of the article together with students, pausing to make sure they understand each section. Ask them to reread the article and underline the details that show the problems faced by Gerhana and the solutions offered by the caregivers at the Forest School. Remote-learning tip: When students read the article online in Presentation View, they can use the highlighter tool to mark the text. Afterward, have them work in pairs to complete the Problem and Solution Skill Builder.

For Advanced Readers

Ask students to read the higher-level Storyworks version of the story, along with this issue’s poem, “A Poem From the Treetops.” After, have them complete the Storyworks version of the Vocabulary Skill Builder and Quiz.

For School or at Home

Have students write a thank-you note to the Four Paws Orangutan Forest School for helping Gerhana. They can draw a picture of Gerhana at the Forest School to include with their note.

Text-to-Speech