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 lesson provides students with opportunities to read closely and have deeper thinking with text.  Students will read Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parrish.  They will discuss with others text-dependent questions to better understand the character.  With further readings they will be able to Amelia Bedelia's chacter traits and the reactions Mr. and Mrs. Roger have to the same events.  They will generate a trading card for Amelia Bedelia at the conclusion of the lesson.

CESA #1 EL OER Project

Inquiry based research on endangered animals.
Understanding the different levels of animals in trouble.

In order to fully comprehend reading materials, students need to understand the cause-and-effect relationships that appear in a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts. In this lesson, students learn cause-and-effect relationships through the sharing of a variety of Laura Joffe Numeroff picture books in a Reader's Workshop format. Using online tools or a printed template, students create an original comic strip via the writing prompt, "If you take a (third) grader to."  Students use various kinds of art to illustrate their strip and publish and present their completed piece to peers in a read-aloud format.