US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branch O Mania
Learn about the duties of each branch of government with this learning game. Help Ben Franklin catch the items that are unique jobs for each particular branch of government. Level up with your knowledge!
US National Archives
Docsteach: The Legislative Process: Congress at Work
Students will analyze historical records of the House and Senate to understand the sequence of steps in the legislative process. The students will work collaboratively to study documents and identify the step in the process that each...
Read Works
Read Works: Jumping Bodies
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read a story about a boy named Charles who has the ability to switch bodies. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Key Literacy Component: Vocabulary
What's in a word? Mastery of oral and written vocabulary promotes comprehension and communication. Find out how proper instruction can help students who struggle with vocabulary.
Vocabulary University
My vocabulary.com: Presidents' Day
This page has a variety of vocabulary puzzles and activities using 36 vocabulary words on the topic of Presidents' Day. It also includes an extensive Vocabulary Word List for Presidents' Day (382 words) and ideas for President's Day...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Understand New Vocabulary Within Context (English 7 Reading)
You will learn how to determine or clarify the meaning of words using context within a sentence and in larger sections of text.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Reference Materials Printed and Electronic
Learn how to use dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauri in order to determine meanings of words and phrases, including their denotations, connotations, and etymologies.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Applying Word Study Strategies (English I Reading)
Apply previous lessons, (1) Linguistic Roots and Affixes, (2) Denotation and Connotation, (3) Origins and Meanings of Foreign Words, (4) Cognates, and (5) Reference Materials, to improve fluency and comprehension.
Love To Know Media
Your Dictionary: Reading Activities and Games for Vocabulary
This article focuses on developing vocabulary through reading activities and games. The more a person reads, the better their vocabulary; this article provides ideas for teachers and parents to promote more reading for fun.
Other
Mine Safety and Health Administration: How a Bill Becomes a Law
This website provides a very simple walk-through of how a bill becomes a law, with minimal explanation.
iCivics
I Civics: Three Branches: Laws in Action
Embark on his WebQuest to follow the path an idea takes to eventually become a law. Read a short description regarding the role of each branch of government and then answer a follow-up question using the link provided.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Craft and Structure: Determine the Meaning of Words and Phrases
Learn how to use context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a Social Studies passage.
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Developing Academic Language: Got Words?
This is a research-based article concerning how to best teach academic vocabulary. Research finds that most teachers assign and mention vocabulary, but to be effective, instruction must be direct and meaningful. Recommendations for...
Learning Farm
Learning Farm: Common Core Standards: Dictionaries, Glossaries, Thesaurus
Learn about different reference materials such as dictionaries, glossaries, and thesauri to help you learn meanings of words, pronunciation, or parts of speech. View a short lesson then practice using Game Mode or Test Mode.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Learn a Word: Science Vocabulary Acquisition
In this lesson, students use multiple sources to learn the meanings of science words, collaborating to create useful resources for learning and retaining science vocabulary.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Practicing Science Vocabulary
In this lesson, 6th graders play a compare and contrast game and Pictionary to practice their science vocabulary.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Branches of Government
Introduction to a learning adventure on the Constitution and branches of government. Students click on their age group icon to find information on which part of the Constitution spells out the powers of legislative, executive and...
Vocabulary.com
Vocabulary.com: 100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
This site contains a list of 100 words that middle school students need to know to ensure academic success. Teachers can digitally assign this list to their students to reinforce the spellings, pronunciations, and meanings of these words...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: Legislative Branch, the Senate
Activities that students can use to understand the job of the US Senate, and become more engaged in the legislative process.
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: The Legislative Branch: Making Laws
Discover how laws are made in the United States, and then complete the trivia questions as a follow-up activity.
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: The Legislative Branch: House of Representatives
Read a brief synopsis of the House of Representatives in the Legislative Branch, and then complete the short quiz to check for understanding.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum: Three Branches of Our Government
This slide and the six that follow it (use the advance button near the bottom of the screen) offer an explanation of each of the three branches of government and the duties they perform, including discussion of the tensions arising from...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Instructor: Reading Clinic: Strategy Inventory
This lesson plan includes a group of activities that will teach students how to use vocabulary knowledge to help with comprehension of a text. Split into three activities, this lesson plan encourages students to use prior knowledge, word...
Florida Center for Reading Research
Florida Center for Reading Research: Morpheme Structures: Word Way [Pdf]
A lesson plan in which students identify unknown words within a text, identify their parts and syllables, and work to determine the meaning of each word. Materials are included.