Rodent
/ˈroʊdənt/
nounB2
Definition
A rodent is a type of small animal that has two large front teeth which keep growing. These animals use their teeth to bite and chew hard things like wood or seeds. Rodents are found all over the world and many live near humans.
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See It in Action
A small mammal with sharp front teeth for gnawing
- •The rodent chewed through the wooden box.
- •Many rodents are active at night.
- •Squirrels are rodents that climb trees.
Sometimes used to describe animals considered pests because they damage food or property
- •Farmers try to keep rodents away from their crops.
- •Rodents can carry diseases that affect humans.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rodent" like "mouse" (A1 word), but "rodent" is the group name for many animals like mice, rats, and squirrels
- ✓Picture a small animal with sharp, long front teeth always chewing on something hard, like a mouse nibbling a piece of cheese
- ✓It’s the feeling when you see a tiny animal quickly running and hiding in a field or house
- ✓Sounds like "ROAD-ent" → imagine a small animal running fast on a road, using its sharp teeth to nibble on things nearby
- ✓Think of famous cartoon mice like Mickey Mouse—he is a rodent, part of this animal group
- ✓NOT like "insect" (small animals with many legs), rodents are mammals with fur and teeth for chewing
- ✓NOT like "bird" (animals with wings and feathers), rodents live on land and have teeth for gnawing
- ✓NOT like "cat" or "dog" (larger pets with different teeth), rodents are smaller and have special front teeth that grow all the time
Try Other Words
- •Gnawer: an animal that bites or chews on hard things (Use when focusing on the biting action)
- •Pest: an animal that causes problems or damage (Use when rodents cause trouble)
- •Small mammal: general term for small animals with fur (Use when you want a simple, broad description)
- •Mouse: a small rodent (Use when referring to that particular animal)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "rodent" from Latin root "rodere" meaning "to gnaw" or "to bite"
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin "rodent-" from "rodere," which means to gnaw or bite
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 17th century to describe animals with strong teeth for gnawing
- •Modern usage: Refers to a large group of small mammals with continuously growing front teeth, common worldwide and important in nature and human environments
Reflect & Connect
•How do rodents survive in cities and nature using their sharp teeth?
•What are some ways people and rodents interact, both good and bad?
Fill in the blanks
1.Rodents use their sharp front teeth to ___ through hard materials like wood or seeds.
2.Many farmers try to protect their crops because rodents can ___ them.
3.Unlike birds, rodents are mammals that have ___ and teeth for chewing.
4.Squirrels, mice, and rats are all examples of ___.
5.When a rodent is active at night, it is called a ___ animal.
6.People sometimes call rodents ___ because they can damage food or property.
7.Rodents are different from insects because they have ___ and fur, not many legs.