Elementary School Close Reading Unit Plans

Introduce students to Summer & Winter Solstice celebrations while building essential reading comprehension skills. With structured vocabulary activities, lesson plans, & comprehension questions to support critical thinking & ELA test prep in a meaningful, culturally rich way.

This Winter & Summer Solstice Unit includes 4 close-reading passages focused on key traditions, from Winter Solstice to Yalda Night.

From the mysteries of the Winter Solstice to the festivities of Dongzhi and Yalda Night, students will uncover global traditions while mastering reading skills such as sequence, cause and effect, and compare and contrast.

Incorporate this unit to enrich your curriculum with meaningful, solstice-themed reading comprehension lessons that promote deep learning and understanding.

These activities are perfect for close reading, test prep, or any time!

What’s Included?

⭐ Teacher Resources

⭐ Lesson Sequence 1. (Introduction to Background Knowledge and Vocabulary, Essential Question)

⭐ Passage 1: Winter Solstice, Passage

⭐ Passage 2 Dongzhi Festival (Cause and Effect), Passage

⭐ Passage 3: Yalda Night (Sequence),

⭐ Passage 4: Summer Solstice (Compare and Contrast),

⭐ Review, Reflection, and Interactive Activities.

⭐ Teacher Guide

⭐ Lesson Purpose

⭐ Lesson Plans & Standards

⭐ Essential Question

⭐ Vocabulary Cards & Activities

⭐ Writing Activities

⭐ 4 Close Reading Passages Text Dependent, Text Marking, & Open-Ended Questions (Winter Solstice, Dongzhi Festival, YALDA NIGHT, & Summer Solstice)

⭐ Unit Assessment

⭐ Answer Keys

Additional Ways to Use This Resource

⭐ Reading Comprehension Prep: Ready-made for preparing students for reading comprehension exams.

⭐ Test Prep: Focused passages help students practice ELA test skills with structured support.

⭐ Independent Assignments: Perfect for homework, sub plans, or enrichment activities.

⭐ Winter Learning Stations: Engage students in learning centers with culturally rich solstice-themed passages.

You can find other helpful activities :

⭐ Unit 1 Week 5

⭐ Winter Close Reading Packet

⭐ Self-Checking Google Sheet Bundle 3rd-5th Grade

⭐ The Girl & The Bicycle Read Aloud Unit Lesson Plans, Slides & Activities

⭐ Behavior Management | The Diamond Trail Challenge

⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏

Thank you so much for your support and honest feedback!

Click here to learn about my store-wide sales, freebies, and new products.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram

Facebook Group

Pinterest

Email

Newsletter

Thank you so much for all you do for students as educators!

M. Tehfe

Literacy Tales

Where Stories Come Alive✎

Transform your classroom into a winter adventure with this Winter Wonderland Vacation PBL! This engaging, print-and-go project-based learning unit is perfect for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas or any time during the winter months. Students will plan their dream winter vacation while developing critical skills in research, budgeting, creativity, and presentation. With minimal prep for teachers and maximum excitement for students, this resource is a must-have for your seasonal curriculum!

What’s Included:

✅ 8 Comprehensive Lesson Plans – Covering daily tasks with clear pacing and objectives.
✅ Task Rubrics – Detailed rubrics for all 8 tasks, ensuring easy grading and clear student expectations.
✅ Printable PDFs – Research guides, worksheets, and templates to guide every step of the project.
✅ Editable Slideshow Template – Students create a final presentation showcasing their vacation plans.
✅ Total Budget Sheet Template – A fun and practical way for students to manage costs within a $5,000 limit.
✅ Pacing Plan – Simplified day-by-day instructions for a stress-free implementation.

Skills Covered:

This interdisciplinary project incorporates:
Research Skills: Students investigate destinations, transportation, lodging, activities, and meals.
Math and Budgeting: From calculating costs to managing a $5,000 budget.
Creativity and Design: Crafting a visually appealing slideshow and planning unique trips.
Critical Thinking: Balancing priorities to stay within budget and justifying decisions.
Presentation Skills: Sharing their vacation plans with confidence and clarity.

Why Teachers Love It:

Low Prep: Simply print and go! All materials are ready to use or easily editable.
Flexible Use: Perfect for grades 5+, with extensions for higher or lower ability levels.
Seasonal Fun: Keeps students engaged during the weeks leading up to winter break.
Real-World Learning: Combines academic rigor with practical life skills in a fun, meaningful way.
Time-Saving: Includes ready-to-use rubrics and templates for smooth implementation.

Perfect for:

❄️ The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
❄️ A winter-themed project in January or February.
❄️ Enrichment activities for early finishers or gifted students.
❄️ Cross-curricular lessons with ELA, math, and social studies connections.

Close Reading Toolbox! Give your students the tools to analyze, summarize, and comprehend a text. Everything is included to guide you through building a lesson and your routine. Students will learn to summarize, identify the main idea, author's purpose, genre, and key details, define new vocabulary words, and make connections. Step by step, create your lessons and purpose, choose a text and an objective, align the objective with the standards, & list the key points.

✔️PERFECT FOR :

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th -grade teachers want to create a routine that will increase with close reading to elevate students' reading skills and growth.

✔️WHAT’S INCLUDED :

❤️ Why Do You Need A Close Reading Toolbox?

❤️ What Is Close Reading?

❤️ What Are You Looking For ( Standards Included).

❤️ Teacher's & Students' Roles

❤️ All About Annotation

❤️ Close Reading Anchor Charts & Bookmarks

❤️ All About Monitoring (Reading Strategies).

❤️ A Roadmap of A Close Reading Lesson

❤️ Close Reading 1st , 2nd & 3rd Read Anchor Chart

❤️ How to Set up your Lesson Plans ( Template Included)

❤️ Teacher's Lesson Schedule

❤️ Teacher's & Students Close Reading Schedules

❤️ Teacher's & Students Checklists

❤️ Student Activities (12 Pages)

NOTE: This pack DOES NOT include passages.

⭐ Muslim Heritage Month

⭐ Winter Close Reading Packet

You can find other helpful activities :

⭐ November Holidays ELA Packet

⭐ Self-Checking Google Sheet Bundle 3rd-5th Grade

⭐ The Girl & The Bicycle Read Aloud Unit Lesson Plans, Slides & Activities

⭐ Behavior Management | The Diamond Trail Challenge

⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏

Thank you so much for your support and wonderful feedback!

Click Here to be the first to know about my store-wide sales, freebies, and new products.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram

Facebook Group

Pinterest

Email

Thank you so much for all you do for students as educators!

M. Tehfe

Literacy Tales

Where Stories Come Alive✎