In this component students are exposed to a quality piece of literature with themes and bigger ideas focusing on childhood poverty. They will continue to develop a deeper understanding of the bigger issues while building compassion for others living this way. As students read The Most Beautiful Place in the World by Ann Cameron, they will practice summarizing each chapter and describing Juan using a Character Map. Two key strategies are utilized to guide conversation and understanding of the bigger ideas and text themes. First an anticipation guide is used to introduce the big ideas and character perspectives found within the book ("Anticipation Guide" 2016). The second strategy used is a Triad conversation protocol, where students work in teams of three and follow a system that leads them through academic conversation. (Dewees & Nelson "WIDA National Conference"). This lesson was developed by Karie Gregory 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 resource contains a vocabulary map that can be used to help students understand new vocabulary by thinking about the meaning of words in various ways.

In this module, students consider the guiding question: How do writers capture a reader's imagination? as they take a deep study of the classic tale Peter Pan.

This activity for gifted learners follows close reading of Bats: Creatures of the Night by Joyce Milton and the poem “A Bat is Born” by Randall Jarrell.  At the end of the reading of Bats: Creatures of the Night and “A Bat is Born,” all students will complete a Venn diagram that is differentiated based on readiness, using the two texts.  This activity should be assigned to students who not only demonstrate a solid understanding of the book and poem, but also show a keen ability to make connections between the big ideas presented texts.  Students will analyze the non-fiction and poetry pieces, with a special focus on the commonalities between bats & humans and the commonalities between the texts, as well.  This will culminate in the creation of a triple Venn diagram.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

In this poem, a boy helps a classmate on the first day of second grade. As students read, they take notes on the relationship between Jessica and Jared.

This activity for gifted learners might serve as part of a larger poetry unit. Students will take part in close readings of a variety of poems throughout the unit.  In this activity, gifted learners would work individually to close read “Fireflies” by Paul Fleischman.  They will then work to decipher the poem and it’s meaning, resulting in a new “Firefly Job Posting” (created in verse) to complement their knowledge/understanding of the poem.  They will then participate in a “Networking Event for Fireflies” with their peers and listen to others’ “firefly job posting” ideas, share their own ideas, and give/receive feedback regarding their ideas, word choice, metaphors, etc, which will culminate in a “Classified Ad” page for fireflies…. a compilation of the students’ work / poetic reinterpretations of “Fireflies.” This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

Nancy Jean Northcutt has written for Highlights. In this short story, a boy doesn’t want to receive kisses from his grandmas and aunts. As you read, take notes on how James feels about his new sibling.

In this short story, a boy doesn’t want to receive kisses from his grandmas and aunts. As students read, they take notes on how James feels about his new sibling.

In this adaptation of an old legend, a girl hurries to bring water for her mother in a tin dipper, a large spoon with a long handle. As students read, they take notes on the little girl’s actions on her way back with the water.

This resource provides a week long lesson plan centered around Dr. Martin Luther King jr, and the book Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King jr, by Doreen Rappaport. This is a remix including a video link authored by Scholastic. The video can be used to introduce a lesson. https://goopennc.oercommons.org/courses/the-man-who-changed-america-martin-luther-king

In this story, a narrator describes their favorite things to their grandmother. As students read, they take notes what types of things are special to the speaker.

Nancy Machlis has written for Highlights. In this short story, a brother and a sister visit their great-grandmother in a nursing home. As students read, they take notes on how the children feel when they visit their great-grandmother.

In this short story, a boy goes on his first dive for pearls in the Arabian Gulf. As students read, they take notes on how Omer feels about his first dive.

The student activites are inspired by Pablo Picasso's masterpiece entitled Guernica, which was an artistic expression resulting from the Spanish Civil War.This lesson supports third- through fifth-grade students as they apply think-aloud strategies to reading, as well as to the composition of artwork and poetry. Activities include collaborative as well as individual work. Technology tools are integrated as students research symbols of peace and as they prewrite, compose, and publish their poetry.

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 3rd Grade ELA.

This resource accompanies our Rethink 3rd Grade ELA course. It includes ideas for use, ways to support exceptional children, ways to extend learning, digital resources and tools, tips for supporting English Language Learners and students with visual and hearing impairments. There are also ideas for offline learning.  

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 3rd Grade English Language Arts. 

This activity for gifted learners complements close reading of Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.  Throughout the reading of Bud, Not Buddy, all students will work to create a glossary of unfamiliar terms/phrases found throughout the novel that is differentiated based on readiness. This project should be assigned to students who demonstrate solid understanding of the novel and are ready for a challenge as they create not only a glossary differentiating the literal and nonliteral meanings of the phrases/figures of speech found in the novel, but also a thesaurus of other figures of speech that could be used in place of the ones used in the novel.  This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

In this short story, a boy and his grandfather search for a beehive to collect the honey from inside. As students read, they take notes on how Guyo feels about his size.

Laura Wrang has written for Highlights. In this short story, Jess and his mother help Orry, a boy escaping slavery. As students read, they take notes on Jess and Orry’s relationship.