Sharon Draper was born on this day in 1952.

Students read a book from one of Draper's trilogies and then meet to discuss their book with students have read the other two books.

Grades   5 – 12

Gary Soto, poet and children's writer, was born on this date in 1952.

Using one of Soto's stories, students take part in share stories about their families, describe their street/neighborhood, or compose an acrostic poem using the Acrostic Poems interactive tool.

Grades   K – 6

Today is D.E.A.R. Day!

April 12 is known as D.E.A.R Day! D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives.

Grades   K – 12

Seamus Heaney was born on this day in 1939.

Students focus on the figurative language in Heaney's poem, "Digging," and discuss the speaker's attitude, and how metaphor, simile, and image contribute to the poem.

Grades   7 – 12

Noah Webster published his American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828.

After dividing students into small groups, students play a variation of the game Balderdash to celebrate the publication of Webster's dictionary.

Grades   2 – 12

The RMS Titanic sank on this day in 1912.

Students use the Internet Workshop model to explore web links about the Titanic disaster.

Grades   3 – 12