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MEANING CLUSTERS Speed learning format by Carl Peterson Copyright 2005. BISON 2 444 Bison crossed a land bridge. It connected Alaska and Asia. Bison moved south and east. Most concentrated on the great plains. Full-grown bulls can weigh 2,000 pounds. They stand over six feet at the shoulder. Thick hair covers their massive heads. They never shed their horns. They have small hips and huge shoulder humps. Bison, cows look similar. Cows weigh up to 1100 pounds.

INDEX Animal Phrases 4 – Bison 2 1. Bisons 2 444 2. Bison 3 333 3. Bison 4 333 4. Bison 5 333 5. Bisons 3 444 Their shoulders reach over five feet high. Cows first conceive at the age of three. Calving season begins in April. Calves walk within minutes of birth The bison provided food, for Plains Indians. They also provided clothing and shelter. Natural predators stalked bison herds. Mountain lions, bears and wolves hunted them. Prairie fires and disease killed bison as well. Thinning the herd kept it healthy.

BISON 3 Meaning Clusters Full-grown bulls weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand six feet or more at the shoulder. A thick matting of wiry hair covers their massive heads. They also bear a set of horns that are never shed. Huge shoulder humps and relatively small hips give the bison its top-heavy appearance. A bison cow is similar in appearance to the bull yet smaller in size. Cows weigh up to 1100 pounds and reach a height of four to five and a half feet at the shoulder. Cows usually conceive for the first time as three-year olds. Calving season usually begins in mid-April after a nine-and-one-half-month gestation period. Calves can walk within minutes of birth and remain with their mothers for a year or until another calf is born.

MEMORY TRIGGERS bulls_______________________________ ___________________________________ hair_______________________________ ___________________________________ horns______________________________ ___________________________________ humps_____________________________ ___________________________________ cow________________________________ ___________________________________ weigh______________________________ ___________________________________ conceive____________________________ ___________________________________ Calving_____________________________ ___________________________________ walk_______________________________ ___________________________________ Text from National Park Service Speed Learning format by Carl Peterson ©2005

BISON 4 Meaning Clusters For centuries, bison and humans lived on the Great Plains. The bison provided food, clothing and shelter for the Plains Indian. Natural predators such as wolves mountain lions and grizzly bears also stalked the bison herds. Accidental drownings, prairie fires and disease killed many bison as well. These fatalities kept herds healthy by thinning their numbers. In the 1830’s westward expansion of settlers and guns threatened the bison's existence. Between 1830 and 1880, hundreds of thousands of bison were killed for their hides. Thousands were killed just for their tongues, thought to be a delicacy. 250 bison could be shot in a day by one hunter. A good skinner could remove the hide in five minutes. Less than 300 wild bison remained by 1900.

MEMORY TRIGGERS humans____________________________ ___________________________________ shelter_____________________________ ___________________________________ predators___________________________ ___________________________________ disease____________________________ ___________________________________ herds______________________________ ___________________________________ westward___________________________ ___________________________________ bison______________________________ ___________________________________ tongues_____________________________ ___________________________________ skinner_____________________________ ___________________________________ Text from National Park Service Speed Learning format by Carl Peterson ©2005

BISON 5 Meaning Clusters Warnings and attempts to protect the bison came as early as 1776. The first federal legislation protecting this animal was enacted in 1894. Killing of bison was punishable by fine or imprisonment. More importantly the law was enforced. The small herd of bison living in Yellowstone National Park before this legislation was not protected against poachers. Some private individuals owned small herds. The bison protection law established game preserves that ensured the survival of the bison. Today, more than 125,000 bison roam North America. They can be seen in several national parks across the United States including a herd reintroduced to Yellowstone.

MEMORY TRIGGERS Warnings___________________________ ___________________________________ legislation___________________________ ___________________________________ punishable__________________________ ___________________________________ law________________________________ ___________________________________ bison______________________________ ___________________________________ preserves___________________________ ___________________________________ 125,000____________________________ ___________________________________ national parks_______________________ ___________________________________ Text from National Park Service Speed Learning format by Carl Peterson ©2005

MEANING CLUSTERS Speed learning format by Carl Peterson Copyright 2005. BISON 3 444 Westward expansion threatened the bison. Settlers and guns killed many thousands. One hunter could shoot 250 per day. Good skinners removed the hide in five minutes. Bison population drastically diminished. 300 remained by 1900. Some people tried to protect the bison. They attempted as early as 1776. The first legislation came in 1894. Killing bison became illegal. It was punishable by fine or imprisonment.

The law was enforced. Some individuals owned small herds. The law established game preserves. They ensured the survival of the bison. Thousands of bison roam North America. They can be seen in national parks.