Students learn the importance of crediting others for their words and ideas, and then learn the paraphrasing and citation skills necessary to avoid plagiarism.
![Research Building Blocks: "Cite Those Sources!"](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1848_0.jpg?h=a842b940&itok=JJkU6QcG)
Research Building Blocks: "Cite Those Sources!"
![Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1851_0.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=FLYgvpOb)
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
In this lesson from a research skills unit, students read informational text, looking for supporting details. They practice skimming and scanning print resources, and scrolling through electronic resources.
![Myth and Truth: Independence Day](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1852_0.jpg?h=a141e9ea&itok=j3zc_B3X)
Grades
|
Myth and Truth: Independence Day
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
By exploring myths and truths surrounding Independence Day, students think critically about commonly believed stories regarding the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the Independence Day holiday.
![Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1856_0.jpg?h=8aa1005f&itok=ZrVyHkGO)
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
In this lesson, students evaluate and rate the relevance of electronic resources as they research information about their state.
![Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1857_0.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=RFiRHWcc)
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
Students are guided through the process of taking notes while reading factual information, then turning those notes into new sentences and paragraphs written in their own words.
![Research Building Blocks: Hints about Print](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1858_0.jpg?h=a141e9ea&itok=v3do21A0)
Grades
|
Research Building Blocks: Hints about Print
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
In this lesson from a research skills unit, students examine abstracts on selected books to determine their relevance and helpfulness.
![Giant Story Problems: Reading Comprehension through Math Problem-Solving](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1859_0.jpg?h=790be497&itok=PkqMmr0E)
Grades
|
Giant Story Problems: Reading Comprehension through Math Problem-Solving
1 - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students create posters using images, text, and mathematical equations to represent a story problem.
![Book Sorting: Using Observation and Comprehension to Categorize Books](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1860_0.jpg?h=5be166a5&itok=aHUggoJj)
Grades
|
Book Sorting: Using Observation and Comprehension to Categorize Books
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students utilize their reading and writing skills as they think critically in order to sort books in multiple ways.
![Draw a Math Story: From the Concrete to the Symbolic](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1861_0.jpg?h=9dd951d5&itok=T0JHwZCk)
Grades
|
Draw a Math Story: From the Concrete to the Symbolic
1 - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students create math stories by first drawing, then writing, and finally using math symbols to show addition or subtraction.
![Book Report Alternative: Character and Author Business Cards](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1862_0.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=CEZyLNfN)
Grades
|
Book Report Alternative: Character and Author Business Cards
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students respond to a book they have read by thinking symbolically to create a business card for one of the characters.
![Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1866_0.jpg?h=51a72048&itok=2Jz2POiL)
Grades
|
Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students identify the elements of fiction in a book they have read and share summaries of them by writing and illustrating their own mini-book.
![Book Reviews, Annotation, and Web Technology](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1867_0.jpg?h=29155064&itok=Xo5u2OkT)
Grades
|
Book Reviews, Annotation, and Web Technology
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students work in groups to create annotated book reviews with links to topics of interest related to their book.
![Creating Class Rules: A Beginning to Creating Community](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1868_0.jpg?h=0d1180fd&itok=6T5F2YJT)
Grades
|
Creating Class Rules: A Beginning to Creating Community
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students work together to create classroom rules by brainstorming why they are at school and what they need while they are there.
![Book Report Alternative: Summary, Symbol, and Analysis in Bookmarks](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1869_0.jpg?h=864273e7&itok=y2RCN_zX)
Grades
|
Book Report Alternative: Summary, Symbol, and Analysis in Bookmarks
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students make bookmarks on computers and share their ideas with other readers at their school, while practicing summarizing, recognizing symbols, and writing reviews—all for an authentic audience.
![Powerful Writing: Description in Creating Monster Trading Cards](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1870_0.jpg?h=ac778ff2&itok=2XmM54Z0)
Grades
|
Powerful Writing: Description in Creating Monster Trading Cards
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students create their own monster trading cards using "powerful," vivid language to describe their creatures.
![Choose Your Own Adventure: A Hypertext Writing Experience](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1875_0.jpg?h=a159dc54&itok=VHOJVufh)
Grades
|
Choose Your Own Adventure: A Hypertext Writing Experience
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students analyze "choose your own adventure" stories and brainstorm to develop setting, characters, and plots for their own adventures stories and related Websites.
![Guess What's in the Bag: A Language-based Activity](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1877_0.jpg?h=790be497&itok=08CXybT6)
Grades
|
Guess What's in the Bag: A Language-based Activity
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
Students play a guessing game to practice using descriptive language.
![Technical Reading and Writing Using Board Games](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1878_0.jpg?h=a141e9ea&itok=NbGBY69M)
Grades
|
Technical Reading and Writing Using Board Games
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students celebrate a novel they have read and get hands-on experience with technical writing by creating a board game based on the novel and writing the instructions for it.
![Peer Review: Narrative](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1879_0.jpg?h=bb4917c6&itok=JtnsFjW9)
Grades
|
Peer Review: Narrative
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
This minilesson guides student in using the PQP techniquePraise–Question–Polishto offer concrete and useful peer review feedback.
![Inside or Outside? A Minilesson on Quotation Marks and More](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1883_0.jpg?h=01f1c071&itok=r74oA0W2)
Grades
|
Inside or Outside? A Minilesson on Quotation Marks and More
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Minilesson
Students often question whether a punctuation mark goes inside or outside the quotation marks, especially when writing dialogue. This lesson helps students identify the conventions and apply them to their text.