Worksheet
Curated OER

Massive Tornado in Missouri

For Students 7th - 10th
The New York Times published an article on the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri in 2011. Learners read the article then answer each of the 11 who, what, when, where, and why questions. Hint: This article and ones like it link to a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Doors Open for Female Marines

For Students 9th - 12th
What do your kids think about female Marines? They can explore this idea by reading the related New York Times article and by answering each of the seven comprehension questions. A learner-driven blog is located at the bottom of the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Start of a New Era for Roman Catholics

For Students 9th - 12th
Read all about it! Check out this article from the New York Times. Kids read about changes made to the wording used in Catholic Mass. They consider these changes by responding to each of the 10 related questions that ask, who, what,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Taken by Storm

For Students 9th - 12th
Extreme weather can be frightning and as young readers find out, deadly. They read the New York Times artcle Taken by Storm and then answer eight comprehension questions. Note: Learners can post their thoughts about the article on...
Lesson Plan
NPR

Is There Really an Immigration Line?

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
If you've ever looked at the US immigration system, you know that it is complex and a source of controversy. An insightful lesson plan encourages learners to conduct their own analyses of the US immigration system by asking them to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non-Fiction Texts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine different types of non-fiction texts. In this non fiction lesson, 3rd graders use different types of texts to gather information. Students work in groups to analyze the texts for author's purpose, common...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imagining Back Story: Creating an Artifact for an Extra-Extended Text

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a "back story" for a character from Measure for Measure.  In this Measure for Measure lesson, students read the text closely as they look for clues about where the character came from and how he or she became what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bridging the Centuries: Teaching the Nineteenth Century English Novel Today

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Young scholars compare and contrast the elements used in the 19th century British novel and those novels in American society today. In groups, they brainstorm what it might have been like to be a teenager growing up in England during...
Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.3

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Make analyzing the sequence of events in an informational text easy. Ask readers to craft a one-sentence summary of each paragraph in a document and create a text map. To demonstrate their understanding of the process, participants read...
Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.10

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Assess whether your class members can comprehend complex informational text with a series of drills based on selections from Emerson, Thoreau, and G.K. Chesterton. The exercises could also be used for group work or a full-class discussion.
Activity
Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.6

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
What does the author believe about his topic? Why did he write in the first place? Challenge your class to figure out the answers to these questions as they read through informational texts. The resource provides a breakdown of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading With Fluency And Expression

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Practice makes perfect, and this lesson provides a rubric to prove it! To improve their ability to read with fluency and expression, readers listen to a series of online stories in order to hear how a well-read story should sound. They...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

A Novel Study Unit for The Cay

For Teachers 4th - 9th Standards
Novelly written questions are perfect for a novel study guide unit on The Cay. The well-rounded resource contains an anticipation guide for scholars to complete before reading, a variety of questions per chapter of the book, and a post...
PPT
Prezi

Freyja-"THE CAY" by Theodore Taylor

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Use this Prezi to demonstrate how to put together a Prezi about The Cay by Theodore Taylor. This  Prezi, created by a student, is made up of six slides that include information about the characters, setting, and plot of the story....
Organizer
Curriculum Corner

Fiction Organizer

For Students 1st - 3rd
Teach your youngsters about the elements of plot with this handy graphic organizer. Pupils note down the main character, the setting, the problem, and the solution of any fictional story they read.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Synthesizing Information: Writing an Apprentice Wanted Ad

For Teachers 4th Standards
Fourth graders view examples of help-wanted ads as they plan and create their own writing in the fourteenth instructional activity of this unit on colonial trade. The engagement of the class is captured when the teacher shares an actual...
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

If Men Were Angels: Teaching the Constitution With the Federalist Papers

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Much like the methods of group work, the writers of the Federalist Papers worked together to advocate for their viewpoints against the anti-federalists. The resource enables learners to break into small groups and conduct research before...
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Second Grade Skills Unit 3: Kids Excel

For Teachers 2nd Standards
The unit offers second graders skills practice in tricky spelling and words, grammar—nouns and punctuation, reading decodable texts, and writing a personal narrative. Lessons begin with a warm-up and go into a concept review, word work,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension Worksheet: Plants

For Students 5th - 6th
In this reading comprehension about plants worksheet, learners study an informative text about the medicinal use of plants. Students answer 4 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
US Mint

Desert Dwellers

For Teachers K - 4th Standards
What can a quarter possibly teach young learners about desert ecosystems? More than you might think. After displaying and discussing the included picture of the Arizona state quarter, the class participates in a series of...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing and Revising Our Texts: Using Peer Critique to Improve First Drafts

For Teachers 5th Standards
Mail me a postcard. Individuals design a postcard to show what Meg Lowman from The Most Beautiful Roof in the World might have written to her friends at home. They then continue to work on writing a science journal entry.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing Narratives from First Person Point of View: Imagining Meg Lowman’s Rainforest Journal

For Teachers 5th Standards
I spy with my little eye! Learners observe page 23 in The Most Beautiful Roof in the World and practice what they would add to a field journal. They discuss how details from the text help add to their thoughts. To finish,...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Blending Informative and Narrative Writing: Transforming Research Notes into Field Journal Entries

For Teachers 5th Standards
The fabulous four. Scholars learn the four key components for creating an excellent journal entry. They then work to create a journal entry rubric and participate in a mini lesson about organizing and outlining journal entries. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching about the Red Cross, Continued: How Did the Red Cross Aid Haiti After the 2010 Earthquake?

For Teachers 5th Standards
What a puzzle! Scholars participate in a Jigsaw discussion within their expert groups, determining the gist of an article about the 2010 Haiti earthquake. As they read and discuss the article, they record thoughts on their note...