In this activity, student learn how in many American schools, girls are prevented from playing high school football, which has been traditionally thought of as a sport for boys. Some people believe this is unfair, while others disagree. In this 2013 article by journalist Josh Bean, locals in an Alabama community put forth their opinions on this debate.

In this activity, students read a story and answer questions about the text. The resource contains guided reading and assessment questions.

A teachers guide for five Jack Henry books by Jack Gantos (Jack Adrift, Jack on the Tracks, Heads or Tails, Jack's New Power, Jack's Black Book), including an activity to complete throughout reading, discussion questions for each book as well as questions to draw connections between themes, and ways to connect themes and key subjects in the books to other areas of education.

In this activity, students learn about Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) who was a scientist, engineer, and inventor who was born in Scotland but became an American citizen in 1882. He invented the telephone in 1876, after years of putting in effort and proving his determination to technology. In his later years, he famously considered his invention a distraction, refusing to keep a telephone in his study. As students read, they take notes on how communication technology has changed over time.

Brad Robie has written for Highlights. In this short story, a boy gets lost while snowshoeing with his family. As students read, they take notes on how Luke responds to being lost.

In this lesson, students work as a class to chart the use of the three elements of setting in the story, using specific words and examples from the text. Students then discuss the techniques that the book’s author used to develop the setting, making observations and drawing conclusions about how authors make the setting they write about vivid and believable. Next, students work in small groups to analyze the setting in another picture book, using an online graphic organizer. Finally, students apply what they have learned about how authors develop good settings to a piece of their own writing

In this activity, students read about Sheldon Allan “Shel” Silverstein (1930-1999) who was an American poet, cartoonist, and author of children’s books. “Where the Sidewalk Ends” is a poem from Silverstein’s collection by the same name, which features poems alongside illustrations. Students respond to questions after reading the poem.

In this activity, students learn about Orville Wright (1871-1948) and Wilbur Wright (1867-1912) who were American inventors. They were aviation experts who are credited with building the world’s first successful airplane. As students read, they identify the challenges the brothers faced when engineering the first airplane.