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Activity
Novelinks

The Lightning Thief: Before Reading Strategy

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
This pre-reading activity will certainly make your class ponder. With five questions to reflect upon, get insight to the moral dilemma Percy faced in the novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. 
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Activity
Novelinks

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle: Problematic Situations

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
When is it okay to go against authority and what can happen if you do? This is the leading question in this activity to accompany your classroom reading of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. After reading chapter eight,...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Walk Two Moons: Discussion Web

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Is Phoebe a good friend to Sal or not? After reading chapters twenty-five and twenty-six of Walk Two Moons, class members use the provided graphic organizer to develop an argumentative piece. Writers must decide if the two main...
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Activity
Bermingham City Schools

Opinion Writing

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
It's no secret that children can be very opinionated, but rather than fight against this natural tendency, embrace it with this primary grade writing project. After a shared reading of a children's book about persuasion, young learners...
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Activity
Florida Center for Reading Research

Fact Versus Opinion

For Teachers K - 1st
Is that a fact or an opinion? Learners explore the difference using this pocket chart activity during which partners read statement cards and determine whether they are facts or opinions.
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Activity
Alcohol Education Trust

Talk About Alcohol: Why Are Young People Advised Not to Drink?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
What should young people think about before drinking alcohol? Have your class consider the eight reasons listed here, some of which are facts, and others opinions. Pupils rank each statement from one to eight, where one is the most...
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Printables
Polk Bros Foundation

Comprehensive Nonfiction Reading Questions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Analyze any nonfiction text with the set of questions on this sheet. Class members practice inferring by noting the main idea and purpose of a passage. They also analyze an opinion in the passage and write a brief summary. See the...
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Lesson Plan
4
4
The New York Times

News and News Analysis: Navigating Fact and Opinion in the Times

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Help your class understand the difference between fact and opinion by exploring the New York Times homepage and articles. In pairs or small groups, pupils complete a scavenger hunt, answering the provided questions. Next, discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Group Discussion: Accessing Books Around the World

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Continue work with an informational text by following the procedures detailed here. The plan, part of a series, focuses on My Librarian is a Camel. Class members complete text-dependent questions and then prepare for and participate in a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Communicative Group Activity: What's Your Opinion?

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students participate in a topic discussion in English. They choose a topic from a group of cards and then give their opinion on what was read. The other students have to offer their opinions as well in English.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Stereotypes

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Pupils confront age-related stereotypes, explore how stereotyping impacts their lives, and discuss how they can make changes to reduce over-generalizations, unfair assumptions, and critical judgments about people groups. They use a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

In Legal Limbo

For Students 9th - 12th
Newspapers are great learning tools. They act as a conduit for current events, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. Here, pupils read a New York Times article regarding US immigration law under the Obama administration and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Value of Facebook

For Students 9th - 12th
Does Facebook actually have any value? Find out what the New York Times thinks by reading this informational article. Learners use the 10 guiding questions to aid them as the read the provided article regarding the value of Facebook. Two...
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Writing
Curated OER

Awesome Stories: Vincent van Gogh

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Who was Vincent van Gogh? Most of the questions can be answered in two or three sentences; however, there is at least one essay prompt and one personal response question that require longer answers. Questions call for a good mix of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Four Corners Debate

For Teachers K - 12th
Should the student population wear uniforms to school? Pupils express whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with a controversial statement, moving to a designated corner of the room to indicate their stance....
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Curated OER

Don't Let the Earth Down

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Writing a persuasive argument starts with a clear thesis. Using this resource, your class will write a persuasive paper on a conservation issue. They will then transform their argument into a 30-second public service announcement. If...
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Lesson Plan
5
5
Curated OER

Persuasive Practice: A Mt. Rushmore Addition

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Budding authors research a US President and persuade the National Park Service to add him to Mt. Rushmore. In addition to the persuasive essay, individuals are required to develop a visual presentation using a web-based software that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Convey Ideas in Writing

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Use the platforms of the 2004 presidential candidates to bring persuasive writing to your class. Young voters identify the three issues most important to them in the election and research the issues and candidates' positions. They write...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Getting to Know Characters

For Students 8th
This set of worksheets constitutes enough work and materials to be considered a lesson. They guide readers through a process of exploring characters and their motivations, and writing a paragraph about them. Here are seven handouts that...
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Writing
1
1
Curated OER

Information from Posters

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
Budding journalists examine and evaluate an informative poster advertising a public meeting to discuss city park issues. They write a paragraph explaining what they found to be effective and ineffective about the poster, then imagine...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Student Opinion: What Small Things Have You Seen and Taken Note of Today?

For Students 7th - 12th
An interesting and unusual topic for a news article, this resource from the New York Times website asks learners to take a moment and consider all the things they notice during a typical day. Based of the editorial piece "Things I Saw"...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding and Using Primary and Secondary Sources in History

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore primary and secondary sources in this historical analysis instructional activity. Young researchers define the terms primary source and secondary source. They read a primary source document provided by the teacher and answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fact vs. Opinion (Part II)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How can you tell the difference between fact and opinion? Using newspapers, learners determine which articles contain statements of fact, and which articles reflect the writer's opinion. The lesson plan includes a discussion format and a...
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Lesson Plan
Media Smarts

How to Analyze the News

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Teach kids how to watch television, specifically the news, with this creative idea for learners of all ages from the Media Awareness Network. The elementary school plan focuses on presenting news as a story and uses Jon Scieszka's story...