We’re excited to share two new formats for our youngest students: introducing the video and audiobook versions of “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team!”
We’ve been thinking about ways to make our free educational resources even more accessible for a variety of audiences, so we’re piloting some new formats using our Reader “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team.” In this popular Reader, students from kindergarten to 2nd grade meet Smokey Bear and some of the people who work with him in wildfire prevention.
“Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” – The Video Read-Along
The video includes read-along text that boldfaces as the narrator reads. A helpful “dictionary chipmunk” introduces new words that are highlighted in yellow.
We’ve also included additional photos and video not seen in the printed version of the Reader to help young children understand key concepts. The video even walks kids through a fun activity to help reinforce Smokey’s rules for fire safety.
Kids can follow along with their own copies of the Reader, or they can watch the video on its own!
You can access the video read-along in a variety of ways. The video is available as a stand-alone resource on our website (see below, left), or you can find the video on our YouTube channel. It’s also linked on all the product and resource pages for the Reader (see below, right).
The video read-along for “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” is available as its own resource on the Natural Inquirer website. You can play the video directly from here or from our YouTube channel.
You can also access the video read-along from the “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” product page. Find the video in the “Articles” tab.
“Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” – The Audiobook
We’re also piloting a new “audiobook” format to be used at listening centers. Children with a copy of “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” can follow along in their own books as the narrator reads. We’ve even included helpful chimes to tell listeners when to turn the page.
You can access the audiobook at the top of the product page (as seen above) and in the “Articles” tab. Below the “Explore Article” and “Download Article” buttons, you’ll see a small download button. Clicking that button will open the audiobook in a new browser window; you can play the audiobook from there!
Don't have a copy of the Reader?
If you don’t already have a print copy of “Meet Smokey Bear’s Team” and the Reader is out of stock on the website, you can always print a copy for free! All our materials are available to download or print.
We hope you enjoy these two new formats! We’ll be adding these features to “Meet Dr. Hoagland” next, where you can learn all about Mexican spotted owls and Dr. Hoagland’s work studying their habitat.
