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

Analyzing the Purpose of a Newspaper Article

For Teachers 6th Standards
Shh! No talking during the discussion! Using the resource, scholars engage in a silent discussion called a Chalk Talk activity to analyze the purpose of a newspaper article. Additionally, they read a model newspaper article and try to...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Forming a Research-Based Claim: Cascading Consequences Chart

For Teachers 6th Standards
Can you put that in writing? Scholars work with a partner to write a practice claim before writing their own claims. After writing their claims, learners share with class using a Concentric Circles activity.
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...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing to Inform: Analyzing a Model Using a Rubric

For Teachers 6th Standards
Learn to write right. Scholars analyze the model essay Adversity Faced by Townspeople in the Middle Ages. They discuss the essay and make annotations working with an elbow partner. Learners then take another look at the essay using a...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing Author’s Point of View: Immediate Aftermath Excerpt of “Comprehending the Calamity"

For Teachers 6th Standards
Analyze that! Scholars continue reading and analyzing a primary source about the immediate aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. Then, individuals use graphic organizers to identify the author's point of view.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Gist and Analyzing Point of View: Moon Shadow

For Teachers 6th Standards
Character analysis isn't always earth-shattering. Using a graphic organizer, pupils analyze Moon Shadow's point of view following the earthquake in Laurence Yep's Dragonwings. Also, scholars co-create an anchor chart showing the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Making a Claim: Emma Burke’s Point of View of the Immediate Aftermath of the Earthquake

For Teachers 6th Standards
Sharpen those pencils; it's time to write! Scholars begin writing the first body paragraph of their literary analysis essays. Additionally, pupils use graphic organizers to analyze a character's point of view from Laurence Yep's...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Making a Claim: Moon Shadow’s Point of View of the Immediate Aftermath

For Teachers 6th Standards
Body paragraphs are the building blocks of every essay. Pupils view and discuss a model essay using a rubric to evaluate one of its supporting paragraphs. Next, scholars use what they've learned to continue drafting their own literary...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching Digital Sources, Part 1: Guided WebQuest

For Teachers 6th Standards
We are living in a technical world. Scholars learn how to examine digital resources for their research on DDT. They explore a list of websites using a Digital Resources on DDT sheet. Learners examine their research notebook to...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Resource Materials and Gathering Information: Reading Another “Choice” Text from the Research Folder

For Teachers 6th Standards
Look it up. Scholars use a dictionary and thesaurus to verify the meaning of the research vocabulary words they defined in the previous activity. They then use sticky notes to write a synonym for each word. Finally, individuals choose a...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Research Tasks: New Words, Relevant Information, Revision

For Teachers 6th Standards
Word builders. Scholars participate in a mini lesson plan about affixes. They then complete a research vocabulary organizer and share their definitions of the words with the class. They gather more evidence for their research from the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Applying Research Skills: “Rachel Carson: Environmentalist and Writer”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's important to cite sources! Scholars take a closer look at their research about DDT by examining how to cite sources. Learners take turns sharing information that would be used to cite sources to complement Rachel Carson:...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Interpreting, Integrating, and Sharing Information: Using Charts and Graphs about DDT

For Teachers 6th Standards
Is American growing fatter? Scholars begin with a mini lesson on reading charts and graphs using information about Human Body Fat in United States. They then transfer what they learned to charts and graphs using  harmful and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Getting the Gist and Tracing an Argument: “Public Fear” Excerpt from “The Exterminator”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Only fear fear itself. Scholars read Public Fear from The Exterminator. Triads work together to annotate and determine the gist of the text. They then complete a Tracing an Argument graphic organizer to identify arguments, claims,...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Annotating the Text and Identifying Argument, Claims, and Evidence: “Double Whammy” Excerpt from “The Exterminator"

For Teachers 6th Standards
That's a double whammy! Scholars read the excerpt Double Whammy from The Exterminator. After identifying the gist of the text, they annotate by marking the author's claim. The group discusses what is meant by double whammy and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading and Gathering Evidence from Frightful’s Mountain and “Welcome Back”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Where did the falcons go? Scholars read the article Welcome Back which describes the disappearance of falcons due to the use of pesticides. During a second read, learners annotate the text by marking unfamiliar words and facts about...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Launching Frightful’s Mountain: Building Background Knowledge and Establishing Reading Routines

For Teachers 6th Standards
Welcome to Frightful's Mountain. The teacher introduces scholars to the text Frightful’s Mountain by reading the first chapter aloud. Learners then talk with a partner about the text. The instructor models answering focus questions...