The activities in this lesson provide a foundation for using nonfiction resources for developing and answering questions about gathered information. Using a wide variety of nonfiction literature, students learn to sort and categorize books to begin the information-gathering process. Then, working with partners and groups, using pictures and text, students are guided through the process of gathering information, asking clarifying questions, and then enhancing the information with additional details. Students complete the lesson by collaboratively making “Question and Answer” books for the classroom library. This is a high-interest foundation builder for using nonfiction literature in research as well as for pleasure reading

This mini unit walks students through the question/discovery process of nonfiction literature.  The first lesson encourages students to wonder while reading.  Then students research to find the answers to their questions.  They explore ways to show/write their new learning.  As a class the kids work to publish 1 or 2 classroom books on the research topic.  This is a great way to introduce the nonfiction unit and then let each student write thier own question book based on the process they used with the class book.

This lesson can be taught for first grade during the unit on patterns in space.This lesson can be added to Amplify’s Spinning Earth: Investigating Patterns in the Sky unit. It can be used with Lesson 2.1 after watching Zoom Out to Space videosChapter 2 Driving Question: Why was it daytime for Sai when it was nighttime for his grandma?The pursuit of Identity can be addressed throughout this unit. It is defined by Gholdy Muhammad as "Who you are, who others say you are and who you desire to be". Students see that a woman and person of color was able to fulfill her dreams of becoming an astronaut despite having this dream dismissed by a teacher. She took her parents' advice. She dreamt of being an astronaut, she believed she could do it, and she worked hard to achieve this goal.

CESA #1 EL OER Project

This presentation introduces students to using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two items

This series of eight lessons has students compare information found in fiction and non-fiction texts related to whales.  Students learn to formulate research questions, interact with an online scientist and write letters using the writing process.

A multi-age primary classroom teacher uses formative assessment as a barometer of student learning. She records anecdotal notes about her students' reading progress within an assessment notebook and references the notes for future instruction.