This resource includes a lesson that tasks learners with reading a short selection before answering a set of accompanying questions. This resource may be used as a quick quiz to test a learners understanding of the aligned standards.

In this lesson, students will be determining the central idea of a text about the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. They will also examine how quotes help to develop a central idea. Next, they will be writing an objective summary. Students will then research information from NASA about becoming an astronaut, as well as quotes that support why someone should become an astronaut. Finally, students will plan and write an argumentative essay about why someone should apply to become an astronaut using claims, evidence, and commentary. 

Using a variety of magazines for this lesson, students work cooperatively to determine the main idea of a text and how details help support the main idea.

In this lesson, students will be determining the central idea of a text about the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. They will also examine how quotes help to develop a central idea. Next, they will be writing an objective summary. Students will then research information from NASA about becoming an astronaut, as well as quotes that support why someone should become an astronaut. Finally, students will plan and write an argumentative essay about why someone should apply to become an astronaut using claims, evidence, and commentary. To enhance this lesson with a digital focus, instead of the traditional essay format in the origial plan, students can be given the choice of several digital mediums to present their findings. This digital foucs allows for student choice, selection and/or creation of visuals to support student thinking and arguments, and customization of content for the stuent's specific audience.