This lesson teaches students to investigate published texts to help them learn how to revise their writing to add words and phrases that will create sharp, sensory-rich experiences for their readers. Students will learn to use “the experts” for inspiration in their own writing, creating personal connections with various authors. The published texts that students use to inform their writing will become their personal “mentor texts.”

As a way to support teachers with English Language Arts (ELA) instruction during the pandemic, the NCDPI ELA team created choice boards featuring standards-aligned ELA activities.The intended purpose of these choice boards is to provide a way for students to continue standards-based learning while schools are closed. Each activity can be adapted and modified to be completed with or without the use of digital tools. Many activities can also be repeated with different texts. These standards-based activities are meant to be a low-stress approach to reinforcing and enriching the skills learned during the 2019-2020 school year. The choice boards are to be used flexibly by teachers, parents, and students in order to meet the unique needs of each learner.Exploration activities are provided for a more self-directed or guided approach to independent learning for students. These activities and sites should be used as a way to explore concepts, topics, skills, and social and emotional competencies that interest the learner. 

Students learn that voluntary exchange is based on the fact that both sides expect to gain from trade and that exchange is made easier by the creation and use of money. Individuals and societies organize themselves to answer basic questions such as, How will goods and services be produced?

In this lesson, students learn cause-and-effect relationships by using of a variety of picture books by Laura Joffe Numeroff. They use online tools or a printed template to create an original comic strip for a given writing prompt.

In this lesson, students learn to identify and analyze the compare and contrast text structure within expository texts.

Students read a passage about different types of patterns and answer questions based on the passage. An answer key is included.

Students will use their prior knowledge of land forms and water forms to identify and recognize land forms and water forms in Africa. Students will use a KWL chart to specifically describe what they know about land forms and water forms specific to Africa. Students will use the online resource of Google Earth and Epic Books and ask and answer questions while using informational texts and text features to gain an understanding of Africa's geography.This lesson was developed by Anjali Nair as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.

Students will use a safe search engine for kids on their own computers and work with a partner to gather information about an assigned land form or water form. Students will complete a graphic organizer in which they will use later to write an informational piece on their African topic.This lesson was developed by Anjali Nair as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy

This lesson plan engages students in a discussion about their own perspectives on endangered animals and habitat reduction. Students will summarize the perspectives of their peers and their different reactions to the issue of endangered animals and habitat reduction. Students will learn about acceptance of differing opinions and how their perspective influences the way the interpret information and apply content. This lesson was developed by Ashley Harris as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

Students will visit Google classroom and read about the different components of the field guide. Students will research their animals using the provided websites. Upon completion of the packet, students will begin working on a video script to communicate with their audience about what they have learned and how they can work together to help animals and their habitats. A poster can also be made for those wanting to do further research on the challenges that face their animals and habitat. This lesson was developed by Ashley Harris as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.            

In this lesson the students will complete an anticipation guide and then read and discuss A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. The teacher will read the book aloud to the students. As part of the reading the students will answer questions as they go along. This lesson was developed by Margaret Derrick as part of their completion of the North Carolina Global Educator Digital Badge program. This lesson plan has been vetted at the local and state level for standards alignment, Global Education focus, and content accuracy.

This scientific article explains the historical background and the spreading of the legend. It starts with lady Kunigunde who, after the death of her husband, falls in love with Albrecht the Handsome from Nuremberg. After a misunderstanding she kills her two children from the first marriage. Albrecht leaves her and she dies of sorrow over her dead and her fate. Ever since she has been spooking in the Plassenburg castle. The legend spread in variations as one of the most popular ghost stories all over Germany and into England. The article is written for native speakers 9 years and up.

This article is divided into four parts. The first parts explains the structural features of bones and their role to physically support an organism. The second part focuses on the self-healing ability of bones and how broken bones are medically attended. The third part exemplifies how the sceletal and muscular system are connected with the example of the shinbone. The last part explains the astonishing fact that the number of bones shrinks with growing age, since separate bones during infantry grow together later in life into one bone. The text is written for native speakers age 9 and up.

This article provides information about the adaptation of cacti to drought and protection, as well as basic facts about age, distribution, and varieties. Pictures support the text that is written for native speakers age 8 and up.

This article starts with interesting facts about corn. The two next sections focus on the history of corn as a cultivated plant and the multitude of corn varieties and adaptations. The text is written for native speakers age 8 and up.

This is a scientific report with supporting links and audio files. The discussed sections are: Big Bang, the creation of the universe, creation of the solar system and the planet earth. Two audio files describe different creation stories in different traditions and the search for a second planet Earth. The two supporting files deal with the hypothetical questions of what is beyond the universe and what exactly the Big Bang was. The text is written and spoken in child friendly language for children 8 years and up.

This scientific article discusses two aspects about the sphere shape of our planet: the Earth concept through history of science and gravity as the source for ball-shaped structures in the universe. The text is written in child-friendly language for native readers age 9 and up.

This scientific article describes how glaciers are being created and how it ends in the sea, in rivers or in lakes. Additional information is provided about icebergs and why only the tip of an iceberg is visible. The text is written for native speakers 8 years and up.

This scientific article describes the physical phenomenon of gravitation. Starting with the discovery by Isaac Newton, the article explains the principles of gravitation, but also finds answers to the questions how heavy our planet is and why we still can lift a chair. The text is written for native speakers age 9 and up in child-friendly language.

This scientific article explains the phenomenon of high tide and low tide. It also compares the tide differences in oceans, the Mediterranean, and lakes. The text is written in child-friendly language for native speakers and appropriate for childen 8 years and up