Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Tracing a Speaker’s Argument: John Stossel DDT Video

For Teachers 6th Standards
Which side are you on? Scholars watch a video of John Stossel discussing the use of DDT pesticide. Learners talk about the purpose of the video and the speaker's argument and then complete a Tracing an Argument graphic organizer while...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching Part 1: Reading for Gist and Gathering Evidence Using the Research Guide

For Teachers 6th Standards
If only life came with an owner's manual. Pupils assemble with their research teams to discuss which of Steve Jobs' rules to live by most resonates with them. Scholars also read informational texts in pursuit of finding the gist and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing a Summary: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 1

For Teachers 6th Standards
What's this all about? Scholars learn the importance of summarizing skills using a summary writing graphic organizer. They work with an elbow partner to discuss summaries and complete the organizer using Middle Ages Excerpt 1. Learners...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Evaluating Evidence: Adversities Faced in the Middle Ages

For Teachers 6th Standards
How is that relevant? Scholars gain an understanding of the words relevant and compelling. They then go back to the End of Unit 1 Assessment Prompt: Adversity in the Middle Ages and look at the second bullet that pertains to relevant and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Drafting Body Paragraphs

For Teachers 6th Standards
That's just the style. Learners begin with a mini-lesson about formal writing style. They then use what they learned about formal writing to begin the body paragraphs for their End of Unit 1 Assessment Prompt: Adversity in the Middle...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Qualities of a Strong Literary Analysis Essay

For Teachers 6th Standards
Read like a writer. Scholars read a model literary analysis in preparation for a similar writing assignment before annotating each paragraph for the gist. Next, pupils devise a list of qualities of a strong literary analysis essay. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Performance Task: Hosted Gallery Walk of Scientific Posters

For Teachers 6th Standards
The guests have arrived. Scholars participate in a hosted gallery walk, using their scientific posters to share their research about DDT with their classmates. Then, using sticky notes, individuals leave positive feedback on their peers'...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Actions for a Position Paper: Identify, Discuss, Write

For Teachers 6th Standards
Anchors aweigh, it's time to write! After viewing an anchor chart detailing the parts of a position paper, pupils share their plans for their essays with a partner. Next, they write the rough draft of their body paragraphs. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Planning the Argument: Writing the Claim and Reasons

For Teachers 6th Standards
Step up! Using the resource, scholars discover the six steps to writing an effective position paper. Next, they work on a graphic organizer to begin planning their argument-based essays.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Forming a Research-Based Claim: Creating Stakeholders Charts

For Teachers 6th Standards
Present the facts. Scholars create presentations of their research on DDT using their Cascading Consequences chart and a Stakeholders Impacts chart as visuals. They discuss the term stakeholders and create a Stakeholders Impacts chart...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Interpreting and Connecting Information: Creating a Cascading Consequence Chart Using Frightful’s Mountain

For Teachers 6th Standards
Decisions, decisions. Scholars take a close look at making decisions by discussing the character Sam in chapters one through eight of Frightful’s Mountain. Partners discuss whether Sam should interact with Frightful and then...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Using Multiple Resources of Information: Creating a Cascading Consequences Chart about DDT and Practicing a Fishbowl Discussion

For Teachers 6th Standards
For every action there is a consequence. Scholars continue their work on creating a cascading consequence chart about DDT using Welcome Back, The Exterminator, Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution along...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Comparing an Author’s Presentation of Ideas: “Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's all in the presentation. Readers take a look at author's presentation in the article Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution. Scholars work together to complete a Comparing and Contrasting Authors’ Presentation graphic...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Gist: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 2

For Teachers 6th Standards
Read and repeat. Scholars repeat the strategies for digging deeper into text from lesson two. This time they focus on Middle Ages Excerpt 2. Learners write unfamiliar words in the word catcher and use details from the text to add to the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing a Summary: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 2

For Teachers 6th Standards
What is the big idea? Scholars use Middle Ages Excerpt 2 to complete a summary graphic organizer. They then use the information from the organizer to write a summary of the text on lined paper. Learners share summaries with the class.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment: Final Essay

For Teachers 6th Standards
This is just the transition phase. Scholars participate in a mini lesson about using transitions in writing. They then have a brief peer critique of the introduction and conclusion paragraphs for their end of unit assessment. Learners...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Gist: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 1

For Teachers 6th Standards
Dig deep. Scholars dig deep for meaning while reading Middle Ages Excerpt 1. They begin by finding unfamiliar words and adding them to a word catcher. Pupils then take a close look at adversity in the text and complete an...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Launching the Performance Task: The1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire

For Teachers 6th Standards
Picture that! Pupils view photographs of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, discussing what they know and wonder about each image. Then, scholars watch a short video about the historic event and complete a KWL...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Finding the Gist of the Immediate Aftermath: Excerpt of “Comprehending the Calamity”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Brace for the aftershocks! Scholars read an excerpt from a primary source document about the immediate aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. Next, pupils complete an anchor chart, analyzing how the author introduces,...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Planning for Writing: Introduction and Conclusion of a Literary Analysis Essay

For Teachers 6th Standards
First and last impressions are important. Using the helpful resource, scholars draft the introductory and concluding paragraphs of their literary analysis essays. Next, they use a writing evaluation rubric to self-assess their work. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching Digital Sources, Part 2: Guided WebQuest

For Teachers 6th Standards
Go surfing for the facts. Scholars continue their work using their Digital Resources on DDT sheet to find information by searching websites. After collecting information, they mix and mingle to hear information discovered by classmates.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Mid-Unit Assessment: Tracing an Argument in an Article and a Video

For Teachers 6th Standards
Pesticides—unnecessary pollutants or positive application? Learners watch a video about DDT and read Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution for their mid-unit assessment. They complete graphic organizers, answer multiple-choice...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Citing Evidence and Building Vocabulary: “The Exterminator”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It is an out-of-body experience. Scholars take a look at the sidebars outside the body of the text in The Exterminator. They discuss the purpose of this type of text feature and work to determine the gist. Learners write unfamiliar...
Handout
Scholastic

The Life and Words of Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Here is a precise article explaining chronological events that led Martin Luther King, Jr. to march for freedom and civil rights.