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Activity
Smarter Balanced

American West in the 1800s

For Teachers 8th - 12th
To establish a context for an assessment or a study of pioneers and the American frontier in the 1800s, groups examine photos and record observations about clothing, housing, and travel.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

BBC Learning English, Reading (Text Organization)

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students begin by unscrambling five nationalities. Next, students read a passage and identify countries that match the nationalities provided. Five missing sentences must be placed in the correct...
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Unit Plan
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Curated OER

The Glorious Whitewasher

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young readers can be exposed to the literary works of Mark Twain as they interact with challenging text and gain experience by reading the complex passages of chapter two "The Glorious Whitewasher" from his famous book, The Adventures of...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Read Expressions in Which Letters Stand for Numbers II

For Teachers 6th Standards
Reading and writing take on a whole different meaning in math class. Young mathematicians learn to read verbal phrases by focusing on operation words. They write equivalent algebraic expressions for both mathematical and contextual...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass an American Slave, Written by Himself

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Foster reader confidence when encountering complex text and reinforce the skills readers have acquired to build and extend their understanding of text. The plan uses a section of Douglass’ narrative as an exemplar text. Directions for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the newspaper

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers read articles related to local, state, national, and world events using word maps.
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Lesson Plan
Ohio Resource Center

Clouds

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Get your little readers moving with a fun lesson about Eric Carle's Little Cloud. After reading the book together, they engage in a series of locomotor and manipulative activities to illustrate how different elements of the story would...
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Handout
Stanford University

Contextualization

For Students 5th - 10th
Part of a series of posters designed to be used with a unit fostering the skills needed to read like a historian, this template models the questions researchers need to ask to contextualize a primary source document.
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Worksheet
K12 Reader

Little Women: Helping Father

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Jo's decision to sell her hair to bringing her wounded father home is a pivotal and poignant scene from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Class members read the excerpt and answer four questions about the details, vocabulary, and plot...
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Website
University of North Carolina

Religious Studies

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What is the difference between religion and religious studies? Readers find out after reading an online handout. It outlines common assignments in religious studies classes, such as critically evaluating religious texts and writing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Because of Winn-Dixie

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Readers analyze an excerpt from Kate DiCamillo's novel Because of Winn-Dixie. They read silently, and then hear it read aloud. Definitions for underlined vocabulary words are in the margin, and other potentially difficult words are in...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

BBC Learning English, Determining Missing Dialogue

For Students Higher Ed
In this dialogue worksheet, students determine what words are missing from the conversation between Ellie and Alice. This exercise tests English language learners' contextual language skills.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading for Information

For Teachers 8th - 12th
What should readers do to prepare for reading an informational text? What should they do during their reading? What should they do after completing such a text? Introduce your pupils to reading strategies and techniques to gain meaning...
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Lesson Plan
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Shmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.6

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
It ‘s assessment check list time, and you have nothing to prove that your learners mastered the skill RL.11-12.6. Rest assured, here is a plan that is sure to appease your administrator. It offers solid examples on the difference between...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Because of Winn-Dixie

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Take an in-depth look at a passage from Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie. Included here is the reading passage as well as a step-by-step procedure for reading the text, a set of text-dependent questions, and a final writing...
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Professional Doc
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Curated OER

Visual Literacy: Using Images to Increase Comprehension

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
A colorful PowerPoint is a great way to introduce the topic of visual literacy. The eye-catching presentation begins with an overview of visual literacy and then provides some specific strategies to help enhance reading comprehension. As...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading for Information

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Young scholars explore different strategies for reading with a purpose utilizing information before, during and after reading selections. They find out about a topic of interest and then find a text that contains that interest and...
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Handout
Stanford University

Historical Thinking Chart

For Students 5th - 10th Standards
Narrow down your questions about author perspective, historical context, and veracity of claims in a document with the help of a historical reading chart. Learners track the basics of the document along with advanced evaluation skills...
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Lesson Plan
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US House of Representatives

Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The third lesson in a unit that traces the history of African Americans serving in the US Congress examines the period from 1929 through 1970. After reading a contextual essay that details the few African Americans elected to Congress...
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Lesson Plan
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US House of Representatives

“‘The Negroes’ Temporary Farewell,” Jim Crow and the Exclusion of African Americans from Congress, 1887–1929

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Despite some advances made during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, the period from 1887 through 1929, African Americans serving in Congress suffered severe setbacks due to Jim Crow Laws and voter suppression. Class members...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

African Americans and the Democratic Party

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Why did African American voters switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic party during the Depression Era? That is the question young historians attempt to answer as they study primary source documents from the period. The focus...
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Lesson Plan
1
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US House of Representatives

“The Fifteenth Amendment in Flesh and Blood,” The Symbolic Generation of Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1887

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The reading of a contextual essay launches a study of Black Americans who served in Congress from 1870 through 1887. Young historians identify the African Americans who served during this period, investigate the ways they won national...
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Lesson Plan
1
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US House of Representatives

Permanent Interests: The Expansion, Organization, and Rising Influence of African Americans in Congress, 1971–2007

For Teachers 7th - 12th
The fourth installment of the seven-lesson plan unit focused on African Americans elected to and serving in the US Congress looks at the period from 1971 through 2007. Class members read a contextual essay that provides background...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"As You Like It" by William Shakespeare

For Teachers 7th Standards
Jacque's soliloquy from Act II, scene ii of As You Like It sets the stage for a close reading exercise that models how to approach difficult, dense text and enables readers to practice reading comprehension and analysis skills. Learners...