Anti-Defamation League
Why are Children’s and Young Adult Books Challenged and Banned?
September's "Banned Books Week" brings attention to the number of books that are challenged, censored, or banned each year. After watching a video about banned book week, reading articles about the history of book banning, and examining...
Mr. Nussbaum
Lewis and Clark
An informational text focuses on Lewis and Clark. Scholars read the text and answer 10 questions to test their reading comprehension skills.
K20 LEARN
A Way With Words: Copy Editing And The Writing Process
Learning to edit copy using correct grammar and mechanics is an essential skill in school—where scholars are called upon to edit their peers' writing—and in business. Class members practice this skill by first editing a provided article...
K20 LEARN
Allow Me To Introduce Myself: Writing A Letter Of Introduction
"Who am I?" is not only a great philosophical question that requires a lot of reflection but is also at the heart of a letter of introduction. The challenge, of course, is figuring out where to start. Middle schoolers get a little help...
Penguin Books
Teacher's Guide: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
It's the American Dream! A house of your own, a better life, freedom to be who you want. But what happens when the dream withers? Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning drama, A Raisin in the Sun, offers some powerful answers to these...
K20 LEARN
Active Or Passive?—"The Monkey's Paw": Grammar/Language Usage
Don't you wish you could use passive voice? Be careful what you wish for! "The Monkey's Paw" is the focus of a grammar and language usage activity about active and passive voice. Readers identify examples of active and passive voice in...
K20 LEARN
(Not Quite) Breaking All The Rules: Poetry And Grammar
FANBOYS will enjoy breaking grammar rules, but they will have to use coordinating conjunctions, gerunds, compound sentences, compound-complex sentences, and even predicates as they craft poems like Shel Silverstein.
K20 LEARN
Alienstock: Analyzing Information, Media, And Validity
One only has to watch MSMBC and FOX News to realize that media can present the same story in very different ways. Middle schoolers have an opportunity to test their ability to determine the validity and trustworthiness of information by...
Mr. Nussbaum
American Revolution
An interactive practice challenges scholars to read an informational text and answer 10 questions. The topic of the passage is the American Revolution.
Mr. Nussbaum
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart is the focus of a reading comprehension interactive practice. Scholars read an informational text; then answer 10 questions.
Mr. Nussbaum
Age of Exploration
An informational text focuses on the Age of Exploration. Scholars read the passage and then answer 10 questions to test their reading comprehension skills.
Mr. Nussbaum
United Kingdom
An interactive practice tests scholars' reading comprehension skills. Learners read an informative text, then answer 10 questions.
Mr. Nussbaum
Trail of Tears
An interactive practice boosts reading comprehension skills. Scholars read an informative text, then show what they know by answering 10 questions. A progress report details their answers and overall score.
Mr. Nussbaum
Thomas Jefferson
Boost reading comprehension skills with an interactive about Thomas Jefferson. Scholars read an informational text then answer 10 questions.
Mr. Nussbaum
Susan B. Anthony
An interactive reading practice focuses on Susan B. Anthony. Scholars read an informational text, then answer 10 questions.
Mr. Nussbaum
Sharks
Learners read an informational text about sharks, then test their knowledge by answering 10 questions.
K20 LEARN
A Visual Exploration Of Theme: Picture The Theme
"What is the theme of this story?" Now there's a question that can strike fear in the hearts of learners. Here's a lesson that uses photographs to introduce the concept of theme. Scholars examine six photographs and then attach a theme...
K20 LEARN
Analyzing Literary Figures: Analyzing Literature
The author study gets an update in a research project designed for high schoolers. Scholars search for information about literary figures that connects them to their times, their works, their themes, and other writers. Researchers also...
Mr. Nussbaum
Sioux (Lakota) Nation
Scholars test their reading comprehension skills with an interactive that focuses on the Sioux tribe. After reading an informational text, learners answer 10 questions.
Mr. Nussbaum
Colonial Rhode Island
An interactive focuses on Colonial Rhode Island. Scholars read a brief informational text, then answer 10 questions. Feedback appears immediately and comes with a final progress report.
K20 LEARN
A Multimodal Approach To Edgar Allan Poe Using Drawing To Understand An Author's Style
True! Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" makes readers nervous. But how? Young scholars create a drawing while listening to a reading of Poe's eerie tale to understand how writers create the mood of their stories and what their writing style...
Overcoming Obstacles
Writing Reports
Following a review of how to research and take notes, scholars define the term paraphrase and identify ways to organize information and finish reports. To put their newfound knowledge to the test, learners interview a peer, take notes,...
Overcoming Obstacles
Using Appropriate Resources
A lesson dives deep into reference materials. The class begins with a discussion of which resources are best used for specific purposes and how to identify ways to get the needed information. Learners share information about the internet...
Facing History and Ourselves
Becoming Ourselves
Here's a great way to build community during the first days of the new school year. Participants read personal narratives, then craft and share their stories with others.