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BISONS 1 444 Meaning Clusters Speed learning format by Carl Peterson Copyright 2005. Bison are large grazing mammals. They have hooves, horns and a hump. They eat grasses and other plants. The American bison are related to cattle. They are also called plains buffalo. In winter they grow dark shaggy coats. They shed the coat in the spring. Native Americans hunted bison. They used the bison’s flesh and hide. Europeans killed them for their tongues. They almost became extinct. The American bison is a protected species.

INDEX Animal Phrases 3 – Bisons 1 Bisons 1 444 Bison 333 Bison 1 333 Bison 2 333 Bisons 1 444 American Indians called them “tatanka.” The European bison is called a wisent. Bison feed on types of grass. They are herbivores. Bison reach maturity in seven years. They may live thirty years. The bison’s ancestors came from southern Asia. They lived over 400,000 years ago. The bison went through many changes. One kind had horns nine feet wide. They became smaller over the years.

BISON PHRASES Meaning Clusters Bison are large grazing mammals with hooves, short horns, and a hump. They eat grasses and other plants. Bison are related to cattle. The American bison is also called a plains buffalo. In the winter it grows a dark brown shaggy coat. In the spring it sheds this coat and grows short light brown fur. American bison were hunted by Native Americans for their flesh and hides. European settlers slaughtered them for their tongues. They almost became extinct. The American bison is now a protected species. The European bison is called a wisent. Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson

MEMORY TRIGERS Bison ________________________________ _____________________________________ with _________________________________ _____________________________________ They eat _____________________________ _____________________________________ Bison________________________________ _____________________________________ The American _________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ In ___________________________________ it grows______________________________ _____________________________________ In the ________________________________ _____________________________________ and grows ____________________________ _____________________________________ American ____________________________ _____________________________________ by __________________________________ _____________________________________ European _____________________________ _____________________________________ for __________________________________ They ________________________________ _____________________________________ The American _________________________ _____________________________________ The European _________________________ _____________________________________

BISON 1 Meaning Clusters The buffalo or Bison bison is the largest mammal in North America. They belong to the Bovidae or cow family. French explorers gave them their common name “les boeufs,” meaning oxen. The name changed from “buffle” to “buffelo” before arriving at “buffalo.” Bison is the correct scientific and common name. But buffalo has been used and accepted for many years. American Indians referred to them as “tatanka.” Bison are herbivores and feed primarily on wheat and buffalo grass, blue grama, and other similar grasses. Bison reach maturity at seven or eight years of age. They may live as long as thirty years.

MEMORY TRIGGERS buffalo_____________________________ ___________________________________ Bovidae____________________________ ___________________________________ French_____________________________ ___________________________________ “les boeufs”_________________________ ___________________________________ Bison______________________________ ___________________________________ American Indians____________________ ___________________________________ herbivores__________________________ ___________________________________ maturity____________________________ ___________________________________ live________________________________ ___________________________________ Text from National Park Service Speed Learning format by Carl Peterson ©2005

BISON 2 Meaning Clusters Ancestors of the American bison probably originated in southern Asia during the Pliocene epoch, 400,000 years ago. The ancient bison was much larger than the present-day animal and ranged throughout the northern hemisphere. Paleontologists learned that during its long history, the bison went through many changes. At one point in its evolution, a prehistoric bison, Bison latifrons, had horns measuring nine feet from tip to tip. A more modern bison, Bison occidentalis, evolved in the late Pleistocene and was the immediate ancestor of our present-day bison. Bison initially came to America across a land bridge that once connected Asia and North America. Bison moved south and east, ranging from Mexico to southern New England. The greatest concentration of these animals, was found in the prairies and plains where the number of bison has been estimated at between 40 and 60 million.

MEMORY TRIGGERS Ancestors__________________________ ___________________________________ Pliocene____________________________ ___________________________________ ranged_____________________________ ___________________________________ Paleontologists______________________ ___________________________________ evolution___________________________ ___________________________________ horns______________________________ ___________________________________ land bridge_________________________ ___________________________________ Bison______________________________ ___________________________________ prairies____________________________ ___________________________________ Text from National Park Service Speed Learning format by Carl Peterson ©2005

BISONS 1 444 Meaning Clusters Speed learning format by Carl Peterson Copyright 2005. Bison are large grazing mammals. They have hooves, horns and a hump. They eat grasses and other plants. The American bison are related to cattle. They are also called plains buffalo. In winter they grow dark shaggy coats. They shed the coat in the spring. Native Americans hunted bison. They used the bison’s flesh and hide. Europeans killed them for their tongues. They almost became extinct. The American bison is a protected species.

American Indians called them “tatanka.” The European bison is called a wisent. Bison feed on types of grass. They are herbivores. Bison reach maturity in seven years. They may live thirty years. The bison’s ancestors came from southern Asia. They lived over 400,000 years ago. The bison went through many changes. One kind had horns nine feet wide. They became smaller over the years.