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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prepare to Read Nonfiction

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students get an introduction to using KWL Charts as tools for reading nonfiction. They study unfamiliar words and share what they already know about the topic of the non-fiction selection and use this knowledge to help prepare to read.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore fiction and nonfiction writing. They identify the elements of fiction in a short story and identify the criteria necessary in a nonfiction piece. Students distinguish the author's purpose in an expository text,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organizing Main Ideas and Supporting Details

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read given information and identify the main ideas and specific detail of the story. In groups, they read a historical title and create a "book talk" for each one, summarizing the story. In addition, students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Comparing Key Ideas and Details in Fiction and Nonfiction

For Teachers K - 4th
Students recognize the differences between fiction and nonfiction texts. In this genre study lesson, students discuss what nonfiction means and write the definition. Students listen to a read aloud and vote whether the text is fiction or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Answering a Research Question

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore beginning research skills. In this nonfiction comprehension and research lesson, students generate possible research questions to answer when given the book title of Animals of the Sea and Shore by Ann O. Squire....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Main Idea in Informational Text

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Readers identify main ideas and supporting details using informational texts. In this literacy lesson, they make predictions and read the text to find the main ideas. They use a table diagram to define the main idea and supporting...
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Lesson Plan
Schmoop

ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.2

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Although the ideas on how to implement the skill RI.9-10.2 are lacking, the assessment would work well for challenging learners to summarize, and identify the main ideas of presidential speeches that are of similar topics. One could use...
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Lesson Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Alexander Graham Bell

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Study the features of nonfiction text with a set of comprehension and analysis materials. Readers learn about Alexander Graham Bell with questions about the text, writing prompts, and proofreading activities.
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Lesson Plan
American Press Institute

In the Newsroom: The Fairness Formula

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Reporting the news is easy, right? Think again! Show young scholars the difficult choices journalists make every day through a lesson that includes reading, writing, and discussion elements. Individuals compare the language and sources...
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Boost observational skills with an inquiry-based lesson that takes scholars on a virtual field trip. With help from webcams, learners observe animals in a zoo or aquarium. Observations go into a journal and a discussion is held to review...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

For Teachers 1st
Students find the difference between fiction and nonfiction. For this fiction/nonfiction lesson, 1st graders read the story Johnny Appleseed and discuss what makes this a nonfiction story. They listen to a fiction story and see what...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigating Nonfiction

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the arrangement of nonfiction. In this library skills lesson, 3rd graders examine Dewey Decimal classification as they collaborate to locate nonfiction materials in the library/media center.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension Practice: Nonfiction Text

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students practice their reading comprehension. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read or listen to a nonfiction article about meditation. This lesson includes discussion questions and comprehension questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guided Reading with Twister's Tricks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students participate in pre-reading activities before reading the book, Twister's Tricks. They read the book independently, but are guided by directive questions from their teacher. A discussion follows, as well as repeated readings for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shared And Guided Reading with On Our Farm

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students participate in pre-reading activities before reading the book, On Our Farm. They read the book independently, but are guided by directive questions from their teacher. A discussion follows, as well as repeated readings for mastery.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Comprehension and Apply Writing

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Elementary schoolers practice the skill of non-fiction writing. They study aspects of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, and write an essay which describes the tower and it's fascinating history. The article about the tower is included in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Purpose and Power of Persuasion

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Examine the power of persuasion and have learners consider how it influences events in their own lives. After reading and analyzing informational texts to understand the author's purpose, class members take a written test and craft a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imagine That! Analyzing Imagery

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Poems by O. Henry, Marion Dane Bauer, Monty Roberts, and Langston Hughes provide the text for a study of symbolism, hyperbole, and imagery. Employing the “think-pair-share” strategy learners generate definitions of these terms and locate...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Writing Prompts for High School

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here’s a great teacher resource - thirty-five writing prompts designed for high school writers. Categories include cause and effect, definition, expository/informative, persuasive, how to, descriptive, narrative, biographical narrative,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greed is Good?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
From Mr. Merdle to Mr. Madoff? A viewing of the PBS adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Little Dorrit” launches an examination of greedy characters in literature and a study of greed, unfairness, and economic hardship today. The richly...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing the Pumpkin Cycle

For Teachers K
Students observe and listen to nonfiction books about the life cycle of pumpkins. They practice early reading skills in a shared reading related to pumpkins. They observe the life cycle of a pumpkin including growth and decay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Main Idea in Informational Text

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Individuals complete a pre-assessment to gauge their ability to determine the main idea and supporting details in nonfiction text. They examine a new piece of nonfiction reading by looking at the table of contents, headings, and index...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Point of View

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
The point of view in a story can dramatically change the story itself. Focus on finding the points of view in various reading passages with a language arts packet, which includes fiction and nonfiction text.
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Lesson Plan
Main Memory Network

Longfellow's "The Village Blacksmith" and Whitman's "Song of Myself"

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Although the work Americans do has changed over time, the plight of the American worker has largely remained the same. Facilitate a class discussion aboutAmerican workers using Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Village Blacksmith" and...