Students create a checklist outlining what effective writers do, revise his or her own writing, and engage in a written conversation to help peers with the revision process.
Prompting Revision through Modeling and Written Conversations
Grades
|
Searching for Gold: A Collaborative Inquiry Project
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Each small group of students researches one aspect of the same big topic, such as the Gold Rush, and teaches what they have learned to the rest of the class.
Grades
|
Engaging Students in a Collaborative Exploration of the Gettysburg Address
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
In small groups, students closely examine one sentence from the Gettysburg Address and create a multigenre project communicating what they have discovered about the meaning and significance of the text.
Grades
|
Creating Family Timelines: Graphing Family Memories and Significant Events
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students interview family members, and then create graphic family timelines based on important and memorable family events.
Grades
|
Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students use text sets to research a topic inspired by a fiction book they have read. A text set is a collection of multiple text genres with a single focus.
Grades
|
Looking at Landmarks: Using a Picture Book to Guide Research
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson uses Ben's Dream by Chris Van Allsburg to highlight ten major landmarks of the world. Students research the landmarks and present their findings to the class.
Grades
|
Question and Answer Books--From Genre Study to Report Writing
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
After exploring several question and answer books on a variety of topics, students research a topic and create their own class question and answer book.
Grades
|
Bridging Literature and Mathematics by Visualizing Mathematical Concepts
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
During interactive read-aloud sessions, students identify how an author conveys mathematical information about animals' sizes and abilities. They then conduct research projects focusing on the same mathematical concepts.
Grades
|
Weather Detectives: Questioning the Fact and Folklore of Weather Sayings
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students adopt a skeptical stance and become weather detectives who ask "Why?" and "Why not?" as they investigate the history and validity of some common weather sayings.
Grades
|
Voting! What's It All About?
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students explore a variety of sources for information about voting. They evaluate the information to determine if it is fact or opinion, and then create a graffiti wall about voting.
Grades
|
Book Report Alternative: Writing Resumes for Characters in Historical Fiction
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students write resumes for historical fiction characters. They first explore help wanted ads to see what employers want, and then draft resumes for the characters they've chosen.
Grades
|
Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Recurring Lesson
Students observe animals using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world, with a focus on observation, discussion, questioning, and research.
Grades
|
Name Tag Glyphs
2 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
In this lesson, students practice a way to communicate without words by using a glyph. They create a name card using information about themselves. Students also interpret glyphs made by others.
Grades
|
A Recipe for Writing: Fairy Tale Feasts
2 - 4
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After examining recipes written based on students' favorite fairy tales, students research a recipe related to their favorite story, book, or fairy tale and include it in a classroom recipe book.
Grades
|
Writing Acrostic Poems with Thematically Related Texts in the Content Areas
2 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read thematically related texts, scaffolded from simple to complex, to help them gather necessary concept vocabulary and background knowledge in a content area. They then write acrostic poems to organize and present their learning in a creative way.
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: "Organize This!"
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
In this minilesson, students organize information they compile while doing research for a written report on a selected topic.
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: "Cite Those Sources!"
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students learn the importance of crediting others for their words and ideas, and then learn the paraphrasing and citation skills necessary to avoid plagiarism.
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
In this lesson from a research skills unit, students read informational text, looking for supporting details. They practice skimming and scanning print resources, and scrolling through electronic resources.
Grades
|
Myth and Truth: Independence Day
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
By exploring myths and truths surrounding Independence Day, students think critically about commonly believed stories regarding the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the Independence Day holiday.
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
In this lesson, students evaluate and rate the relevance of electronic resources as they research information about their state.