Students will read an article online about the first four presidents. The online article provides scaffolds for vocabulary and reading. Students can use the online quiz to check for understanding. Students will then perform a close reading of the article following six text dependent questions. The lesson describes the activities along with the language to use for each of the questions.

Developed by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this resource guide would be useful both in a single lesson for Lincoln's Birthday or for an extended look at Lincoln's Presidency and the challenges presented by the Civil War. The guide includes 3 middle school lessons including: "Understanding the Gettysburg Address", "The Language of the Gettysburg Address", and "A Civil Conversation". It allows for opportunities to include as part of the ELA curriculum as well.

The Secret Annex Online is the virtual version of the building where Anne Frank went into hiding during WWII. In this three-dimensional online environment visitors can explore the main part of the building and the Secret Annex as they were during the period in hiding.

Students discuss a photograph and decide on an appropriate caption, using the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning strategy. Activity focuses on improving discussion skills among students and close reading skills. Using a photograph makes this activity accessible to students at all levels of language learning.