Get down the basics of an essay in response to reading on a graphic organizer. The sheet includes space for an introduction and conclusion as well as four supporting ideas with textual evidence. 

Provide a framework for your pupils as they begin drafting argumentative essay. There is space on this graphic organizer to draft a brief introduction, a thesis, reasons and evidence, a counterargument and rebuttal, and a concluding...

Unfortunately, not all books are intended as entertainment, many are written to educate and inform readers. In the second lesson plan of this series, the teacher reads aloud the children's book Apples by Gail Gibbons, pointing out the...

Support a class reading of the novel Song of the Trees by Mildred D. Taylor with this series of discussion questions. Covering a variety of topics from character and setting to historical accuracy and symbolism, these questions challenge...

We all love to be entertained by the books we read, but how do we as readers know if that is the author's true intent? The first activity in this series begins with a class reading of the children's book The Adventures of Taxi Dog by...

Most young readers are aware that authors write to entertain or inform the audience, but it's also important for them to understand the art of persuasive writing. In the third activity of this series, the teacher reads two letters to the...

Throughout any piece of writing, words and phrases are used that provide the reader hints about the author's purpose. Teach young readers how to pick up on these clues as they learn to identify writing that entertains, informs, and...

The ability of young readers to cite textual evidence when discussing a piece of writing is essential to the development of their reading comprehension skills. The second lesson in this series allows learners to practice this technique...

Let's get to the point. The final lesson in this persuasive writing series helps learners revise their essays by clarifying how supporting details prove their theses. This activity would best be completed in pairs, allowing peer feedback...

After compiling the necessary research and organizing information in an outline, your young writers will learn how to add context and quality to details in order to construct a well developed paragraph. This is the sixth video in a...

While continuing to read the book Eagle Song, your class learns to cite specific details when answering questions and to use context clues when encountering unknown words. Learners begin by listening as the teacher reads aloud the first...

Fourth graders gain experience comparing multiple versions of a story as they continue reading the book Eagle Song. After first revisiting the article "The (Really) Great Law of Peace" from the previous unit, the class independently...

A new close reading approach is introduced as learners continue with the novel Eagle Song in the twelfth instructional activity of this unit. This reading comprehension strategy focuses on identifying the character, setting, motivation,...

Fourth graders continue reading and discussing Eagle Song in the thirteenth lesson of a literature unit. Starting with small group discussions about different aspects of Native American culture, readers analyze the beliefs held by...

As they continue to read Eagle Song, learners further develop their reading comprehension skills while working collaboratively with their peers. Following a similar format to previous lessons in this unit, the teacher reads aloud the...

As your class nears the end of the book Eagle Song, young readers stop to self-assess their progress toward the learning goals of this unit before continuing on with the story. This short, but effective self-assessment requires learners...

Your class reaches the end of the novel Eagle Song as young readers focus on determining the theme of this story. Similar to previous lessons in the unit, the teacher begins with a read aloud of the first few pages of chapter 8, before...

Children learn about bullying in schools while being tested on their ability to read closely and identify the main idea and supporting details of a text. Following the assessment, young scholars participate in a chalk walk, during which...

In instructional activity 13 of this unit on colonial trade, young researchers learn about apprentices as they prepare to write help-wanted ads for the specific trade they have been researching. To begin, the class listens closely as the...

In the first lesson plan of this unit on colonial trade, fourth graders gain background knowledge of different jobs performed by early colonists. The class begins with a slide show presentation that includes a variety of great...

Following the reading of the book Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, the ninth lesson in this unit involves emerging experts in a science talk about how bullfrogs survive. Looking back through the text, young scholars prepare for the...

The seventh lesson plan in this unit on colonial trade assesses fourth graders' ability to use details from an informational text to make inferences and create a piece of informative writing. The included assessment begins with learners...

In the third activity from this unit based on the book Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, learners focus on using specific details from the text-to-answer questions about the habitat of bullfrogs. While reading the text, young scholars are...

As 3rd graders continue reading Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, they focus on the concepts of predator and prey in the fifth lesson plan of this unit. Scholars further develop their ability to answer questions using evidence from the text...