This resource was created as part of the CESA #1 EL OER Project to help EL students (primarily levels 1 & 2) access social studies curriculum and text related to the 5 themes of geography. It can be used to introduce/pre-teach the 5 themes of geography vocabulary and/or as an assessment tool. Students could answer unit questions by pointing to a picture or they could complete the sort to show understanding of the 5 different themes.

5th Grade Historical Literacy Curriculum outlines the content of social-studies integrated units taught within the readers' and writers' workshop framework and taught daily for 90 minutes. Each six week unit contains standards, teaching points, vocabulary, and assessments. Readers' and writers' workshop naturally differentiates for all learners. By June of 2020, each unit will have a slide deck associated with it that contains the teaching points, integrated grammar work, vocabulary, and strategies for partner practice. Our district places careful emphasis on vocabulary, as we have a high percentage of English Language Learners.

Paraphrasing helps students make connections with prior knowledge, demonstrate comprehension, and remember what they have read. Through careful explanation and thorough modeling by the teacher in this lesson, students learn to use paraphrasing to monitor their comprehension and acquire new information. They also realize that if they cannot paraphrase after reading, they need to go back and reread to clarify information. In pairs, students engage in guided practice so that they can learn to use the strategy independently. Students will need prompting and encouragement to use this strategy after the initial instruction is completed. The lesson can be extended to help students prepare to write reports about particular topics.

This is a lesson for tropical rainforests that fits best for third- through fifth-grade students. There are multiple reading and writing strategies implemented within the lesson. Throughout the lessons, there will be opportunities to build upon prior knowledge, write, draw, and listen to sound effects of the rainforest. Students will use graphic organizers and websites to aid in the understanding and learning of rainforests. There are also extension lessons for students to create a list of questions in small groups to research. Throughout these lessons the students will be exposed to multiple media sources. 

Google Expeditions is a fantastic app for taking students on virtual field trips. This resource is a guide for using Expeditions when teaching students about WW2.

Students learn about an astrophysicist that is working in science to open possible ideas for themselves in science careers. Pursuits addressed: Identity-Students will learn about people who they can relate to who are currently working in STEM related careers and study possible STEM related careers that could be meaningful to their own lives/cultures.Skills-The students will research scientists who they can relate to culturally who are working on STEM related careers and then write letters to these scientists in a way that is interesting, genuine, authentic, and allows them to use their own voice.Intellect-Students will choose which scientists they would each like to study by finding scientists who they can relate to culturally who are currently working in STEM related careers and showing examples of Black Excellence.Details: This lesson can be added to 5th Grade Amplify Patterns of Earth and Sky: Analyzing Stars on Ancient Artifacts, with Lesson 2.1 after looking for patterns, making observations, and reflecting on the Model. Explain to the students that this is exactly what astrophysicists do.