After reading several examples of how a published author incorporates facts in fiction writing, students research a topic of their choice and write fictional diary entries that incorporate factual information.
Blurring Genre: Exploring Fiction and Nonfiction with Diary of a Worm
Grades
|
Finding the Science Behind Science Fiction through Paired Readings
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read science fiction texts and then use nonfiction texts to extrapolate the scientific principles presented as they discuss the "what ifs" within the context of scientific principles.
Grades
|
Digging Up Details on Worms: Using the Language of Science in an Inquiry Study
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson, in which students research worms in order to create a classroom habitat, incorporates reading and writing across content areas as well as math and science activities.
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
|
Creating Question and Answer Books through Guided Research
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This series of activities is designed to teach research strategies. Students use KWL charts to guide their inquiry and publish their results in a collaborative question and answer book.
Grades
|
Paying Attention to Technology: Exploring a Fictional Technology
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students complete a short survey to establish their beliefs about technology. They compare their opinions to the ideas in a novel that depicts technology (such as 1984 or Fahrenheit 451).
Grades
|
Getting Graphic with Alternative Energy Sources
7 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching alternative sources of energy, students create online comic books to present their information.
Grades
|
A Blast from the Past with Nuclear Chemistry
11 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching the history and basic facts of a nuclear chemistry topic, students utilize the Web 2.0 tool Timetoast to create an electronic timeline that they use to present their research to the class.
Grades
|
Fashion Fun with Fossil Fuels
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
After researching specific fossil fuel issues, students create their own clothing brands that express their opinions about the issues and then share their information and clothing line using either PowerPoint or Prezi.
Grades
|
Investigating Animals: Using Nonfiction for Inquiry-based Research
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Inspired by their curiosity about animals, students work together to research an animal of their choice and present the information they gather to an authentic audience.
Grades
|
Power of Picture Books, The: Using Content Area Literature in Middle School
5 - 9
Professional Library
| Book
Featuring descriptions and activities for fifty exceptional titles, Mary Jo Fresch and Peggy Harkins offer a wealth of ideas for harnessing the power of picture books to improve reading and writing in the content areas.
Grades
|
Brainstorming and Reviewing Using the Carousel Strategy
Grades
5 - 12
Strategy Guide
This strategy guide introduces Carousel Brainstorming, also known as Rotating Review, and offers suggestions to implement this technique in your classroom for brainstorming about new topics or reviewing learned information.
Grades
|
Socratic Seminars
Grades
6 - 12
Strategy Guide
This strategy guide explains Socratic seminars and offers practical methods for applying the approach in your classroom to help students investigate multiple perspectives in a text.
Grades
|
Teaching with Zooming Slideshows through Prezi
Grades
6 - 12
Strategy Guide
Through Prezi, a web application, students create "zooming" presentations for various purposes, such as presenting research, defending an opinion, or sharing a digital story.
Grades
|
Technology and Copyright Law: A "Futurespective"
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students research and report on instances of how copyright laws have adapted to encompass new technologies. They write articles predicting copyright issues that may arise with new and future technologies.
Grades
|
Discovering Memory: Li-Young Lee's Poem "Mnemonic" and the Brain
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students learn about memory by doing a memory-writing exercise, studying the brain to understand how it affects memory, reading Li-Young Lee's poem "Mnemonic," and creating projects to demonstrate their understanding.
Grades
|
Textmasters: Shaking Up Textbook Reading in Science Classrooms
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Engage students in content area reading with the Textmasters strategy, which allows students to collaborate with their peers in different roles that enable better understanding of the content.
Grades
|
Four Simple Steps to Small-Group Guided Writing
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students will go batty about the three writing strategies they learn in this lesson centered on Nicola Davies' Bat Loves the Night.
Grades
|
Hoax or No Hoax? Strategies for Online Comprehension and Evaluation
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Are your students easily fooled? You'll find out in this lesson in which students carefully and critically examine hoax websites to determine their validity.
Grades
|
Weather: A Journey in Nonfiction
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Questions about weather clear up when students use what they learned from their books to create a presentation to share with the rest of the class.