Read Works
Signal Words in Expository Text
Signal words are one way that authors make the relationships between their ideas clear. Allow your learners the chance to investigate cause and effect in texts by identifying signal words. They locate and analyze cause-and-effect...
Institute for the Professional Development of Adult Educators
Using Context Clues with Signal Words
When you come across an unfamiliar word in a text, do you skip it and move on? Practice using context clues to identify words you don't know with a thorough set of language arts lessons. The resource reinforces close reading and critical...
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Two Settings in One Text
Look for the signal words! Scholars get both instruction and practice comparing and contrasting. Although it is completely scripted, it can also serve as a detailed outline. Demonstrate this as you read a passage (included) and search...
Curated OER
Connecting Kansas: Past and Present
Upper graders identify five forms of transportation and describe how Kansans are connected to the rest of the country using transportation and communication. They complete a graphic organizer for each type of text structure given to them...
Curated OER
Can You Get the Signal?
What is a signal word? Recognizing these words is an important step in both reading and writing formal text. Review a list of signal words (provided and organized into specific categories), and then have your class play a game to...
Curated OER
Signal Words
What is a signal word, and why is it important? Since signal words are so important in a text, provide your learners with the list provided here. There are also three sample exercises provided here; they focus on the signal words but,...
Curated OER
Comprehension Instructional Routine: Sequence of Events in Text
If you're looking for a detailed lesson on event sequencing from informational text, you've found it. There is an entire script for you to draw from as you explore order of events and sequence words. Scaffolding is key here; learners...
EngageNY
Expert Research Groups: How the Traffic Signal and Airplane Met Society’s Needs, Part 2
Ready, set, act! Using the fun resource, pupils patriciate in a vocabulary charades activity to practice key terms from the unit. Next, scholars work in expert research groups to read an article about the invention of the traffic signal...
EngageNY
Expert Research Groups: How the Traffic Signal and Airplane Met Society’s Needs, Part 3
Pupils work in expert research groups, reading an informational article about an invention and completing a note-catcher worksheet. Afterward, scholars work in triads to answer questions based on the text.
Curated OER
Identifying Opinions with Signal Words
First graders identify opinions within a text. In this language arts lesson plan, 1st graders discuss the definition of opinion. Students identify words that signal opinions and work together to identify opinions within the text.
Curated OER
Lesson: Text Messages
Can a neon sign be considered art? Kids consider two different works that use neon text as the basis for conveying artistic social messages. They then analyze a truism from Jenny Holzer's web site that holds meaning to them personally....
Curated OER
Order! Order!
Polish organization skills in your youngsters. With this lesson, they are introduced to the trait of organization and participate in activities that reinforce organization. They cut apart a familiar story, receive different...
Curated OER
Sequence, Predict, Infer: Pink and Say
Practice sequencing with your 2nd graders via Patricia Polacco's Civil War book Pink and Say. Begin with a blindfold and a bag of mystery items. Connect their use of clues to identify what they can't see with the skill of making...
Curated OER
Lesson 1:Cause and Effect Signal Words
Give your class a strategy they can use when trying to identify cause and effect relationships in text. You'll model, and they'll practice using signal words to quickly identify cause and effect. They focus on signal words such...
Curated OER
Comprehension: Identify Cause and Effect Relationships in Text
Third graders and their teacher work together to understand cause and effect relationships in texts. The I do, we do, you do method is used as learners discuss and determine the cause and effect relationships found in several short...
EngageNY
Expert Research Groups: How the Traffic Signal and Airplane Met Society’s Needs, Part 1
Where would society be without the TV? Working together, scholars complete an anchor chart about the invention of the television. Additionally, pupils complete vocabulary cards for key terms from the unit and organize them on a metal...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
6 Traits: Word Choice
Students explore language arts by participating in a vocabulary usage activity. In this word choice lesson, students read examples of great word usage in literature and discuss with the class why some words appear stronger than others....
Alabama Learning Exchange
Compound Words
Learners identify compound words in the story, "Once There Was A Bull." They work with a partner to discuss what makes up a compound word and participate in a game that helps them to understand the concept better. As the assessment...
Curated OER
General Introduction To Microsoft Word
Fourth graders investigate the fundamentals of using Microsoft Word. They practice using the common word processing techniques. Students practice composing a document and experiment with changing font sizes, editing tools, saving, and...
Curated OER
Slim Pig
Beginning readers study the short /i/ sound. First they determine how the mouth moves when they say the target words in a tongue twister. They complete letterbox activities by making words with the short /i/ before reading What Is It and...
Curated OER
Exposing Expository Text Structure in a Rainforest Setting
Young scholars create a thematic booklet containing examples of different types of expository text structures. They explore a variety of expository text structures.
DeKalb County Schools
Compare/Contrast
A series of reading activities is sure to engage your young readers! Based on comparing and contrasting ideas, the packet provides opportunities to compare characters, themes, texts, and other elements of fiction.
Curated OER
Using Compare and Contrast Key Words
Compare and contrast while challenging your class with this higher-level thinking and reading comprehension lesson. After observing the teacher model comparing and contrasting bats and birds, learners read passages about two towns. They...
EngageNY
Analyzing the Central Ideas, Part 2: “The Border”
Writers use the Short Response Graphic Organizer: The Border to learn how to answer short response questions. After completing the organizer, they rotate among classmates conducting peer critiques of their work.