Step 1: Choose a Skill
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- Each lesson can be used multiple times with the same students. Choose different reading material each time. This gives the students a chance to become comfortable with the format and the expectations so they can focus on the skill.
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- Model, model, model, model!
- Demonstrate the skill in detail, explaining your thinking process out loud, especially for struggling students.
- Show the assignment page on an overhead projector. Read the article together. Pause and describe your thoughts as you look for the information needed to complete each part of the assignment.
- The first time you give an assignment, complete at least the first half of it as a whole class. Give the students multiple chances to hear you explain how to use the skill before asking them to try it on their own.
- Model, model, model, model!
- Allow students to work together. Talking through the work may help them clarify their thinking and gives you a chance to listen in and better understand how much they are able to do.
Lesson Ideas:
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| Grades 3-10 |
Match events to their outcomes. Can be used many times throughout the year with different texts
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| Grades 3-12 |
Students identify facts and write a fact-based summary of an article that includes or evokes strong opinions.
Materials:
– Fact vs. Opinion Chart |
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| Grades 2-10 |
Identify the most important ideas in a piece of text and the details that point to those ideas. Summarize.
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| Grades 3, 6-8 |
Students identify and defend the beginning, middle and end events in a story or article. Fiction or nonfiction
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| Grades 3, 6-8 |
Students line up strips of paper with events from a story.(Could be modified for nonfiction also)
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Step 2: Choose an Article
Each article is available at three reading levels:
- Level 1: Approximate reading level 3-4 grade
- Level 2: Approximate reading level 5-6 grade
- Level 3: Approximate reading level 7-10 grade
Note: These articles are fiction, but they are written to be read and used as non-fiction. Many of the stories have their basis in a real event or situation, but the names, places and details have been changed. As much as possible, statistics in the articles are true so that classroom discussion isn’t guided by false information.For older and more advanced students, these articles can be great resources for a lesson on validity of a source. Ask students: How do you know if what is written here is true? Can you believe what you read?
Articles:
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Legend of Silent Rock – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Story about the Silent Rock on Mt. Hood in Oregon, where superstition says you must be quiet or something bad will happen |
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Barefoot Running – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Cause/EffectInformational article about the pros and cons of recreational running without shoes |
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Beat the Heat – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Main IdeaInformational article about ways to stay healthy in the heat |
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Bell Ringers – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Cause/Effect Informational article about the people ringing bells to raise money for charity |
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Buried Treasure – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Sequencing Story of a man who found a mysterious box buried on his farm |
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Dog Rescue – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Main Idea, Sequencing Story of a girl who helps local dog shelters match missing dogs with their owners |
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Driving with Pets – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article about traveling safely with pets in a vehicle |
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Eat Your Greens – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article about students making healthier food choices |
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Gum for Health – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article about health benefits being added to new varieties of gum |
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Healthy Potatoes – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Sequencing Story about a man who ate nothing but potatoes for sixty days |
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House of Snakes – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Sequencing Story about a house infested with snakes |
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Is Summer Break Necessary? – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article about the reasons for a summer vacation from school |
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Legend of Silent Rock – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Story about the Silent Rock on Mt. Hood in Oregon, where superstition says you must be quiet or something bad will happen |
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Lost in the Woods – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Story about a boy who got lost during a camping trip |
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| Lottery Winners – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Sequencing Story about a winning lottery ticket with three possible owners |
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Lunch Choices – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Informational article about efforts to make school lunches healthier |
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School Uniforms – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Sequencing Story about a middle school that requires students to wear uniforms |
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Silent Football – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Story about a deaf student who plays football |
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Sleepy Teens – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article about the need for sleep |
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Test Taking Strategies – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion Informational article with suggestions for ways to prepare for a test |
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| Tips for Parents – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea Informational article with guidelines for parents of teenagers |
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Virtual School – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Fact/Opinion, Main Idea, Sequencing Story about a student who attends school online |
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Whitewater Rock – Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion, Sequencing Story about a dangerous section of a popular river for rafting |
Step 3: Assign Students
- Use assessment data and classroom performance to determine the most effective level for each child to work.
- Assign each student the level of article most appropriate for that individual student. All students can read about the same story and practice the same skills using reading materials that are at their own level so they are able to learn more (See Zone of Proximal Development)
- Be flexible. If a student is struggling or needs more of a challenge, adjust his/her assigned work accordingly.
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i do learn more
You just saved me!
Thanks for these resources and I’m so glad I have found you. I do teach English for out of school children here in my place.
– Liza C
The passages are leveled 1, 2, 3.
Can you give me any more details about the level (ie Lexile, grade level, etc.) for instance, are the Level 1s like a 3rd grade level, Level 2 is at a 4th grade, and the Level 3 are at a 5th grade level?
Thank you!
Level 1: Approximate reading level 3-4 grade
Level 2: Approximate reading level 5-6 grade
Level 3: Approximate reading level 7-10 grade
This is a great help!
The resources are too good. May I know if you’d provide critical thinking questions and their answers for these passenges?
Thank you
the variety of activities other than just multiple choice questions will be more enjoyable for kids.
My students have enjoyed these stories. I really like that we can all read and discuss the same basic text, but students can read it at their independent level. Classroom discussions can occur on the same article versus trying to juggle multiple stories.