Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Making Inferences About Informational Text: Science Talk on How My Insect Contributes to the Rainforest Ecosystem

For Teachers 5th Standards
We need to talk. Learners participate in a science talk by discussing the idea of how insects are important to the rainforest. They record notes about their conversations as they talk. For homework, pupils add to their field journals.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Conducting Research: Analyzing a Variety of Sources to Capture Information about My Insect

For Teachers 5th Standards
From picture to words. Scholars analyze a picture of an ant and then list two facts they observed and any questions that may arise. Expert groups from the previous instructional activity then look at a diagram about either an ant or...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Details: Taking an Inventory in the Rainforest (Pages 28–31)

For Teachers 5th Standards
Take inventory. Scholars analyze pages 28-31 of The Most Beautiful Roof in the World and use a note catcher to model how Meg Lowman took inventory of the species in the rainforest. Learners then take a close look at the vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading Informational Text for Details: Meg’s Rainforest Experiment (Pages 17–20)

For Teachers 5th Standards
Take good notes. Scholars record information in their note catcher sheets as the teacher reads aloud pages 17-20 of The Most Beautiful Roof in the World. Learners then reread parts of the text in groups and rotate to share the notes...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Science Talk

For Teachers 5th Standards
Talk like a scientist. Pupils engage in a science talk about rainforests, using a note-catcher worksheet to record important points. Next, they work in triads to synthesize their ideas about the rainforest, adding notes to a KWL anchor...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Synthesizing Information: Living Things in the Rainforest

For Teachers 5th Standards
How is a map a type of informational text? Class members view a world map of major rainforests, discussing its text features with a partner. Next, they take notes on key details from multiple texts about rainforests and write an...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit 1 Assessment: Analyzing an Interview with a Rainforest Scientist Part 2 and Comparing and Contrasting Texts About Rainforest Biodiversity

For Teachers 5th Standards
The end is in sight. Pupils complete an end of unit assessment, analyzing an interview with a rainforest scientist and then comparing and contrasting two informational texts. Next, they complete a self-assessment to reflect on their...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing Documentary Videos: “Great Bear Rainforest Remote Camera Project” British Columbia, Canada

For Teachers 5th Standards
Lights, camera, action! Viewers discuss a video about the Great Bear Rainforest Remote Camera Project. As they watch, they find the gist, determine the meaning of unknown words, and analyze the features of a documentary as an...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Mid-Unit 1 Assessment: Analyzing an Interview with a Rainforest Scientist Part 1

For Teachers 5th Standards
What's it like to study snakes, reptiles, and turtles in their natural habitats? Serving as the mid-unit assessment, pupils read an interview with a rainforest scientist. Next, they analyze the text and answer text-dependent questions.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Summarizing Informational Text: “Hawaii’s Endangered Happy Face Spider”

For Teachers 5th Standards
Put on a happy face. Using an interesting resource, pupils read an informational text about Hawaii's endangered Happy Face Spider. Next, they participate in a jigsaw discussion to find the gist of the article. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Continued Close Read of “Sloth Canopy Researcher: Bryson Voirin”

For Teachers 5th Standards
Let's explore the rainforest by studying its inhabitants. Pupils continue reading an interview with a sloth scientist and answer text-dependent questions. Next, they engage in a class discussion to share the new facts they learned about...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading an Interview: “Sloth Canopy Researcher: Bryson Voirin”

For Teachers 5th Standards
It's time to slow down and learn about sloths! Scholars read the first few questions of an interview with a sloth canopy researcher, looking for the gist. Next, they create a glossary in the back of their journals to add new scientific...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Building Background Knowledge: Examining the Unique Living Things of the Rainforests and the Scientists Who Study Them

For Teachers 5th Standards
Gorillas, tigers, and tree frogs ... welcome to the rainforest! Scholars complete a KWL chart to determine what they already know—and what they want to find out—about the rainforest. Next, they participate in a gallery walk, viewing...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Narratives as Theater, Part I: What is Readers Theater?

For Teachers 5th Standards
Discover the exciting world of readers theater! Scholars learn all about the reading strategy, reading a script about American heroes and completing an I Notice/I Wonder chart. Next, pupils participate in readers theater using the...
Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Captioning the Civil Rights Movement: Reading the Images, Writing the Words

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Scholars boost their knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement with a lesson that challenges writers, readers, and historians to analyze primary sources and caption their observations. By way of reading, writing, discussion, independently,...
Unit Plan
Crabtree Publishing

Remarkable Lives Revealed

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Six lessons make up a unit all about biographies. Scholars read about a remarkable life while taking notes and identifying characteristics of the biographical genre. Readers examine the tale's obstacles, accomplishments, and sequence of...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Using Multiple Resources of Information: Creating a Cascading Consequences Chart about DDT and Practicing a Fishbowl Discussion

For Teachers 6th Standards
For every action there is a consequence. Scholars continue their work on creating a cascading consequence chart about DDT using Welcome Back, The Exterminator, Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution along...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Performance Task: Final Informative Consumer Guide

For Teachers 6th Standards
Formative feedback should be kind, specific, and helpful. Pupils engage in a peer editing process, using a rubric to critique a partner's writing. Next, scholars use the feedback to create the final version of their informative consumer...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing the Features of an Informative Consumer Guide

For Teachers 6th Standards
Analyze, strategize, synthesize! Scholars analyze informative consumer guides to determine what features to include in their own guides. Next, pupils select charts and images to use in their guides.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment: Drafting the Informative Consumer Guide

For Teachers 6th Standards
Not all sandwiches are edible. Scholars use a Quote Sandwich graphic organizer to draft the written content of their informative consumer guides. Additionally, they view a mini-lesson plan on formal writing. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Planning Content of Informative Consumer Guide: Sustainable Fishing Methods

For Teachers 6th Standards
There's no such thing as over-planning. In preparation for their informative consumer guides, scholars complete a Quote Sandwich graphic organizer to compile their information about sustainable fishing methods. Next, volunteers share...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Planning Content of Informative Consumer Guide: The Issue of Overfishing and Fish Depletion

For Teachers 6th Standards
Let's get organized! Pupils organize the information they have gathered about overfishing into a Quote Sandwich graphic organizer in preparation for their informative consumer guides. Next, they engage in a pair share activity to discuss...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Evaluating Research

For Teachers 6th Standards
Calling all archaeologists! Scholars dig through their research about overfishing, searching for the best information to include in their consumer guides. Next, pupils engage in a pair-share activity to discuss their findings with a...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Mid-Unit 3 Assessment Part 1: Researching Information about Buying Fish Caught Using Sustainable Methods

For Teachers 6th Standards
Sustainable seafood is not an oxymoron. Pupils watch a video about how consumers purchase seafood responsibly. Then, using resources in their assessment research folders, they complete a graphic organizer to record factual information...