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 is an informational text (two pages) on various animals that inhabit the savanna of Africa. Animals discussed are single paragraphs containing 3-4 sentences. A student multi-standard question packet is attached along with the teacher answer key.

In this resource, educators will find the necessary tools to conduct an inquiry unit based on informational text at the kindergarten level.Educators will find teaching objectives for reading and writing, along with anchor charts and a checklist.There are also sample pages for interactive writing, shared writing, and student work.Mentor texts are also listed along with online resources to be used with students.

This video allows the teacher and students to have a visual and auditory of what a letter looks like along with its auditory sound.  This is great for thos students that are having difficulty learning the letters and sound. It can be stopped at anytime as to not overwhelm a child.

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.

CESA #1EL OER Project: A graphic organizer for an argument/opinion essay that includes sentences frames.

This activist and advisor didn’t let limiting ideas about what women could do —or uncomfortable corsets—confine her in her quest to get access to the ballot box and foster greater peace in the world.

Resources available for exploring this story include:
- A short animated video with captions and transcripts in English and Spanish
- A short biography book accessible as a slide deck, with per-page audio for listening along, and maps of key locations in the story
- Questions that can be used for conversation, reflection, and connection with the story
- A historical image gallery full of primary and secondary sources to explore
- A guide for activating the media with learners that includes story stats, extension activity ideas, and standards supported

This story is part of Wisconsin Biographies, a collection of educational media resources for grades 3-6. Explore the full collection at pbswisconsineducation.org/biographies.

Sick of struggling up steep hills on their bikes, these two gear heads jumped on the opportunity to improve the motorcycle, creating a business that became big in Wisconsin and around the world.

Resources available for exploring this story include:
- A short animated video with captions and transcripts in English and Spanish
- A short biography book accessible as a slide deck, with per-page audio for listening along, and maps of key locations in the story
- Questions that can be used for conversation, reflection, and connection with the story
- A historical image gallery full of primary and secondary sources to explore
- A guide for activating the media with learners that includes story stats, extension activity ideas, and standards supported

This story is part of Wisconsin Biographies, a collection of educational media resources for grades 3-6. Explore the full collection at pbswisconsineducation.org/biographies.

This sorting activity addresses critical-thinking skills, observation and categorization processes, and reading comprehension and writing skills, while at the same time providing teachers with a vast array of diagnostics through observation of student interaction and conversation. Students work as a class to sort books, first according to their covers and then according to their topics. They explore whether books could be included in multiple categories and whether some groups could be broken down further. Next, students work with a partner to sort twelve books. They orally explain their sorting criteria, and then record in writing what categories they used and why. Students may also compare and contrast two books using an online Venn diagram.

This resource was created as part of the CESA #1 EL OER Project to help elementary newcomer EL students learn vocabulary about places around school. Using the given template, teachers and students can create a personalized book showcasing different rooms/parts of the school and the teachers/ school staff that they interact with throughout the day. After creating the book, emergent readers will have a pattern book containing their name and picture clues to help them practice reading skills.

This is a listing of books teachers can use as mentor texts to support children becoming authors and illustrators

The Branches of the United States' Government worksheet and quiz was created for the CESA #1 EL OER Project. Students will be able to identify and describe the three branches of the United States' government after watching various videos. The graphic organizer will allow ELs to demonstrate their understanding of the three government branches by identifying, defining, and describing the three branches.

Students first learn how the sound-symbol correspondence in letters and words work so that they better understand how text is used.

Students will use illustrations and photos as a precursor to learning. They will understand that what they think, they can say. What they can say, can be heard ad written. What is written, can be read. It is a cycle of language.

Students will understand the five components of fluency- speed, pausing, inflection, phrasing, and expression and practice reading text the way the author intended. Through the use of a rubric, they will monitor their own growth over time.

This fly fishing phenom didn’t let her line get tangled up in the stereotypes of women of her time. She used her passion for fly fishing to start a brilliant business that put Stevens Point on the map and gave women new work opportunities.

Resources available for exploring this story include:
- A short animated video with captions and transcripts in English and Spanish
- A short biography book accessible as a slide deck, with per-page audio for listening along, and maps of key locations in the story
- Questions that can be used for conversation, reflection, and connection with the story
- A historical image gallery full of primary and secondary sources to explore
- A guide for activating the media with learners that includes story stats, extension activity ideas, and standards supported

This story is part of Wisconsin Biographies, a collection of educational media resources for grades 3-6. Explore the full collection at pbswisconsineducation.org/biographies.

This resource, created as part of the CESA #1 EL OER Project, includes a list of character traits with accompanying visuals. Students (especially ELs) can use it to understand and generate new vocabulary to describe the characters they are reading about in their texts. The first two pages list opposing character traits next to each other, while the third page contains additional traits.

Support your transitional readers (grades 2-3) to experience history by reading one of many You Choose books. Readers are transported in time to historic events. They are encouraged to engage with the text by making choices along the way and following the specific adventure paths that they choose. Further, prompt them to engage in close reading to understand the book's format and author's craft. Following the activity, students can create their won 'You Choose' story using Google Forms.