Students discuss how the form of a film script affects the story, why the author may have selected this writing style, and write a story using a similar format.

Students explore their own roots by interviewing family members and use their family history to write a fictional account of their roots.

Students select and explore a scientific topic in detail using Simon's nonfiction science books and then use what they learn to write original poetry on the topic.

Independent reading is promoted among students by organizing a paperback book swap in the classroom or with other classes at the same grade level.

Students share family stories of their own by writing original poems and reviewing parts of speech using the Diamante Poems tool.

Students explore varying points of view, one of Van Allsburg's common themes, by rewriting a traditional story.

After students have read one of Brian Jacques' Redwall stories, a class newspaper is created based on the story.

Students work in small groups or as a class to map the plot of a selected Cynthia Rylant story and create original literary works using the plot diagrams.

Students brainstorm a list of modern news sources and from previous centuries. Groups then research one of these sources and create a timeline showing the evolution of news.

Students brainstorm a list of civil rights-related issues and use the Acrostic Poems interactive to create poems.

Students celebrate Get Caught Reading Month by doing a reading-related service project such as planning an intergenerational reading day or organizing a book drive.

Using one of Numeroff's books as a model, students use the circle plot structure as a culminating project for a unit of study completed in the classroom.

In a small group or as individuals, students write letters related to a unit of study or particular topic they have studied.

Each student chooses a book that is special and writes a short story about why it deserves special mention. Students can plan the pages of their own stories and then make a Stapleless Book or use the ReadWriteThink Printing Press.

Students make mental "snapshots" of a natural setting, then capture the details of their setting by writing and then creating a class booklet of the nature walk.

Students brainstorm a list of objects and processes that have changed over time and use the Timeline tool to sketch out the evolution of the item they have chosen. A giant class timeline can be created to show the evolution of the items students have investigated.

Students consider why there are so many different dates associated with the Declaration of Independence and why the nation's birthday is celebrated on July 4.

A scene from one of Twain's works is chosen and students map the story setting using the Story Map. Setting is then discussed as a class.

Students consider how zoos have changed over the past century and design their own zoo of the future using drawings, posters, dioramas, or other displays.