In this introductory lesson, students engage in a hands-on, collaborative investigation of the definition of reading by participating in small group brainstorming sessions and an analysis of a variety of texts and the strategies they need to read them. Students also create individual Reader’s Profiles with an online tool modeled on social networking sites. Sharing these profiles and reflecting on their own learning, students ultimately develop a working definition of reading which they refine during the year.

Students will be taught the "drill skill and kill" method to be used on grammar concepts within an argumentative paper.

This story is set in a Tennessee peach orchard on the night before the Civil War battle of Shiloh. A young drummer briefly considers staying behind when the fighting begins. Then a man walks by and stops to talk, and the boy discovers that this man is his general. From their discussion, the boy arrives at a new understanding about his role in the battle to come. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Science created this resource as part of an online workshop series, but you are welcome to use or modify it for your classroom. It includes a video and written directions for creating nature journals and tips for incorporating them into your classroom. For information on taking any the Nature Neighborhood online workshops for CEUs or EE credit, visit: https://naturalsciences.org/learn/educators/online-workshops.

This lesson asks students to write a profile of a classmate, with a particular focus on a talent, interest, or passion of that classmate. As an introduction to the feature article, students compare the characteristics of a hard news story to those of a feature story. They then practice writing about the same event in the two different styles.

This lesson provides hands-on differentiated instruction by guiding students to search for the literal definitions of figurative language using the Internet. It also guides students in understanding figurative meanings through the use of context clues and making inferences.

Science fiction has the potential to spark lively discussions while inviting students to extrapolate from their own working knowledge of scientific principles. They first define the science fiction genre and then read and discuss science fiction texts. Next, they conduct research to find science facts that support or dispute the science included in the plot of the science fiction book they read. Students then revisit their definition of the genre and revise based on their reading. Finally, students complete a project that examines the science fiction genre in relation to real-world science concepts and topics.

This speech, presented as an address in 1927 to the mayor of Chicago, William Hale Thompson, sought to reform the stereotypical image of American Indians in history textbooks and classes. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

A mentally challenged man is presented with an opportunity to have an operation that will triple his intelligence. The story chronicles the journey that he takes as his intelligence progresses and regresses. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

Johnny, the narrator, and McDunn, the lighthouse keeper (Johnny's boss), are working in a lighthouse on a November evening. McDunn shares his experience of witnessing strange sea mysteries, including the sighting of a monster that appears at this time each year. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

In this personal essay by Isaac Asimov, the author relates his journey of becoming a science fiction writer. Asimov explains discovering science fiction through magazines despite his father’s objections. He also recounts publishing his first science fiction story at the age of eighteen and the challenges of being an immigrant. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

This lesson will provide eighth grade students with an inquiry-based research project based on C.S. Lewis' classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Students will determine the author's purpose in writing this story. This will be accomplished by researching material using the Alabama Virtual Library and Gale Resources.

Students will read scientific text about top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and how they may be affected by global climate change. Students will work individually or collaboratively to write a report based on the scientific text they have read and participate in a large-group discussion session based on their analysis.

This selection provides an overview of two laws dealing with fugitives from slavery. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 establishes monetary penalties for protecting fugitives. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 addresses the same topic but is more detailed. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

In this lab activity, students will investigate the law of conservation of mass by weighing chewing gum before and after it is chewed.

In this lesson, students pull together all of their graphic organizers and planning notes and draft their essay.

Harriet Tubman's first journey to Canada on the Underground Railroad is fraught with danger, harsh conditions, and uncertainty. In order to keep her disillusioned party of runaway slaves safe during the long journey, she bolsters their spirits by telling stories of freedom and singing spirituals. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

These excerpts from Maya Angelou’s autobiography describe important points in her childhood. First Angelou describes the importance of her Grandmother’s store. Later, when she becomes withdrawn and unhappy, Mrs. Flowers takes an interest in her and encourages her to read aloud and share her thoughts. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this history through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

This poem was written in letter format and was addressed to the U.S. authorities in response to Executive Order 9066. Executive Order 9066, dated February 19, 1942, authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens from Japan. The speaker of this poem is a fourteen-year-old girl, who stresses that she is an American. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this poem through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.

In this autobiographical text, Gary Paulson narrates experiences he had in the bitter cold of the North which taught him to respect all animals. In this CCSS lesson, students will explore this story through text dependent questions, academic vocabulary, and writing assignments.