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Organizer
Polk Bros Foundation

Answer the BIG Question with Cited Examples and Evidence

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Close up your unit of study with an examination of one of the guiding or essential questions as it relates to what your class has studied and other research. Class members first write down the question. Then they note down information...
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Activity
FNO Press

Fno.org: The New Plagiarism

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Subtitled "Seven Antidotes to Prevent Highway Robbery in the Electronic Age," this article is particularly addressed to teachers who assign research projects.
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Unit Plan
Other

Christina School District: Kindergarten: Essential Questions [Pdf]

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Printable six-page document. Each page begins with a Big Idea topic and then lists five essential questions for students to ask and learn from throughout the unit. Bid Idea topics include: We see all kinds of people each day; Books help...
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Website
Other

Driving Questions: Students Uncovering Amazing Content Through Inquiry

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This blog post provides background on the concept of Driving Questions as a basis for Project-Based Learning and gives some direction for how to create them. The links at the end of the blog allow teachers to explore this technique more...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 7th Grade Thematic Unit: Heroes

For Teachers 7th
Complete teaching unit for 7th Grade Thematic Unit: "Heroes." In this unit, 7th graders will read seven texts that explore why people act heroically. Throughout this unit, students will revisit the essential question: "Why do people act...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Thematic Unit: Growing Up

For Teachers 6th
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Thematic Unit: "Growing Up." Students will read eight texts that speak to the theme of growing up. They will revisit the essential question: "What does it mean to grow up?," read thematically-paired...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Thematic Unit: Outside Looking In

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Thematic Unit: "Outside Looking in." Students will read seven texts that speak to the theme of being an "outsider." They will revisit the essential question: "What makes someone an outsider?" Students...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Poetry Unit: Identity

For Teachers 6th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Poetry Unit: "Identity." Students will read 6 poems that speak to the theme of creating an identity. They will revisit the essential question: "How do we forge an identity?", read thematically-paired...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 5th Grade Author Study: Shel Silverstein

For Teachers 6th
Complete teaching unit for 5th Grade Author Study: Shel Silverstein. Students will read 6 poems by Shel Silverstein that speak to the theme of how we should live our lives. Students will revisit the essential question "According to Shel...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 9th Grade Thematic Unit: Education

For Teachers 9th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 9th Grade Thematic Unit: "Education." Students will read six informational texts focusing on the essential question: "How can education be used to create change?" They will gather information from their...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 5th Grade Author Study: Gary Soto

For Teachers 5th
Complete teaching unit for 5th Grade Author Study: Gary Soto. Students will read 4 short stories and 2 poems by Gary Soto that examine romantic and family love. Students will analyze these texts while considering the essential question:...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 8th Grade Argumentative Writing Unit: Improving Society

For Teachers 8th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 8th Grade Argumentative Writing Unit: "Improving Society." Students will read six texts about problems in society. Throughout the unit, 8th graders will gather information from their readings in a graphic...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 7th Grade Thematic Unit: Happiness

For Teachers 7th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 7th Grade Thematic Unit: "Happiness." Students will read 6 texts that speak to the theme of happiness. Students will revisit the essential question "How we can achieve happiness?" throughout the unit. They will...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 6th Grade Informational Unit: Success

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Complete teaching unit for 6th Grade Informational Unit: "Success." Students will read six informational texts focusing on the essential question: "What does it take to be successful?" Students will gather information from their readings...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 12th Grade: Thematic Unit: Morality

For Teachers 12th
This is a complete teaching unit for 12th Grade Thematic Unit: "Morality." In this unit, 12th graders will read eight texts that speak to the theme of morality. Students will revisit the essential question "How do we evaluate what's...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 11th Grade: Thematic Unit: Values and Beliefs

For Teachers 11th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 11th Grade Thematic Unit: "Values and Beliefs." Students will read 8 short stories that examine how values and beliefs are shaped. They will analyze these stories, and the short story form, while considering...
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Lesson Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Units: 9th Grade Thematic Unit: Love

For Teachers 9th Standards
Complete teaching unit for 9th Grade Thematic Unit: "Love." In this unit, 9th graders will read six texts that speak to the theme of love. They will revisit the essential question "What is love, and how does it change us?" throughout the...