The New York Times
News and News Analysis: Navigating Fact and Opinion in the Times
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...
News Literacy Project
Is It “Checkable”?
Upper elementary scholars test their checking skills with a lesson that challenges them to distinguish between fact and opinion. First, the class takes part in a discussion regarding a helpful flow chart. Next, learners follow the flow...
Serendip
Golden Rice – Evaluating the Pros and Cons
More than half the world's population eats rice as a daily staple ... imagine if that rice could prevent illness. Scientists genetically engineered rice to include vitamin A for just that purpose. However, room for debate still exists....
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Saved from the Gallows — the Trial of Leopold and Loeb
Was justice served for Bobby Franks? An informative article about the 1924 trial of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold includes an overview of the murder of Bobby Franks, the defense’s legal strategy, and excerpts of closing arguments from...
The New York Times
Looking for Answers: Making Sense of the Boston Marathon Bombing
How should America respond to acts of domestic terrorism? What motivates or prompts a terrorist attack? After reading an opinion piece on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, your learners will critically analyze factors that could have...
Jackson Public Schools
Summer Reading Activities
Provide parents with the tools they need to bridge the summer learning gap with this collection of fun activities. Whether it's creating an alphabet poster with illustrations for each letter, playing a game of sight word concentration,...
Curated OER
Hurricane Katrina: You Be the Reporter
Students work in a small group to create news stories, feature stories and editorials/letters to the editor and organize them in a podcast, video-based program, or newspaper/magazine focused on Hurricane Katrina.
Curated OER
Reporting Live from the 20th Century!
Students read and write newspaper articles. For this newspaper article writing lesson, students collect and share current news articles, examine how they are written, then choose an event from the 20th century and write their own news...
Read Works
Read Works: Washington Rides Again
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about wax statues of George Washington at Mount Vernon in Virginia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in identifying fact and opinion.
Read Works
Read Works: Seven Billion and Counting
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the increasing world population. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Should You Be Afraid of Sharks?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about sharks and why they should not be feared. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: From Pet to Threat
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about problems caused by exotic pets like pythons and tigers. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Will You Go to School This Summer?
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating the pros and cons of year-round school. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Nobel Work
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Nobel Prizes and prize winners in 2006. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Cutest Animal Finalists
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage shares the information about animals that students have voted as being "the cutest" in a Weekly Reader contest. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential...
Read Works
Read Works: Fashion Do or Don't
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage expresses the pros and cons of school uniforms. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding for...
Read Works
Read Works: A Constitution for Kids
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a children's book that translates the Constitution for kids. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: News Debate Tough Cell
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not students should be allowed to use cell phones in school. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Sinking City
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about an idea that might keep the city of Venice, Italy from sinking. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: On Hallowed Ground
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about several Civil War sites that are slowly disappearing due to modern industry. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: You're Out
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a new baseball field designed to help parents be good sports during the games. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Weight Debate
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not schools should send reports home about students' body mass index (BMI). A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Tribal Tribute
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian Institution. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading...
Read Works
Read Works: Right On
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a program called "Do Something About It" designed to teach kids about the Bill of Rights. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.