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Finding Excellent Nonfiction in Long-form Journalism
How to find engaging, rigorous nonfiction texts through long-form journalism.
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Harnessing the Olympic Spirit
Use the energy and excitement of the 2014 Winter Olympics to motivate your class to research and write.
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Fountain Pen Makes a Comeback in Scotland
Students read and discuss a news article about a school in Scotland that is using fountain pens to write with. They answer article comprehension questions, participate in a discussion about the importance of handwriting, write their...
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Scientists Find 27 New Species in Caves
Students share their knowledge of creatures that live in caves, then read a news article about new cave animals that have been found in California. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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Journalism 101
Students understand the writing style in a newspaper. In this journalism lesson, students recognize that a newspaper has a catchy headline and objective writing. Students interview someone in an area of interest and write a news article.
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Understanding Tibet
Students work in cooperative groups to read one current situation of Tibet. They respond to a set of discussion questions. Pupils write a newspaper article expressing the current information explored. Students write an editorial or...
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Grocery Store Bans Plastic Bags
Students participate in the paper vs. plastic bag debate, then read a news article about one grocery store that is banning plastic bags. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a debate and a...
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Baby Animals Debut at Zoos
Students determine the names of animal babies, then read a news article about zoo's experiencing animal births. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with vocabulary activities, then students read the news...
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Chips, Anyone?
Students identify how computer technology affects their lives, then read a news article about the impact of computer chips implanted under some people's skin. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Scientists Breed See-Through Frogs
Students participate in a pre-reading activity, then read a news article about the breeding of transparent frogs. In this biology and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a question and a vocabulary activity,...
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Scientists Use Web Site to Report Volcano Activity
Students react to statements about volcanoes, then read a news article about scientists monitoring eruptions at Augustine volcano in Alaska. For this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
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School Newspaper
Students investigate writing a school newspaper. In this writing a school newspaper instructional activity, students choose topics that will be included in the school newspaper. Students view online sites about writing articles and break...
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Summing the Disaster
Young scholars assume the role of a newspaper editor during the time of the Titanic disaster. They must search out the accurate answers to the questions: What? When? Where? Who? and Why? students then write their own newspaper article...
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Reading a Newspaper
Students define the terms associated with parts of a newspaper. They identify various sections of a newspaper and the type of articles found in each and provide the responses to who? what? when? where? and why? contained in a ...
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Kids Build Pumpkin-Tossing Catapult
Students read a news article about the creation of a catapult that will throw pumpkins. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion of catapults and a vocabulary activity, then...
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Recycled Vegetable Oil Powers Vans, Cars
Students share their knowledge about fuel sources, then read a news article about vegetable oil as a cleaner alternative to gasoline. For this current events and environmental science lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Scientists Study Dinosaur "Mummy"
Students share ideas about how scientists know about dinosaurs, then read a news article about the recently found remains of a hadrosaur. In this dinosaur lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a class discussion and...
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Construction Starts on Freedom Tower
Students are introduced to an image of Freedom Tower, then read a news article about the construction of this building that will be completed in 2011. In this current events activity, the teacher introduces the article with an...
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Bears' House Vandalized, Witnesses Say Blonde Girl Spotted Fleeing from the Scene
Students explore journalism. In this expository writing lesson, students read several newspaper articles and note common features. After reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett, students work with a partner to write a news...
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Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the...
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Remembering Jackie Robinson
Young scholars create a list of famous African Americans, then read a news article about Jackie Robinson. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read the...
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A Town on the Move
Students evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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Creative Can Sculptures Help Feed the Hungry
Young scholars look at pictures of Canstruction sculptures, then read a news article about the construction of these canned food sculptures. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with pictures of winning...
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U.S. Set to Celebrate Lincoln Bicentennial
Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson based on a news article, students participate in a...