5th Grade Balanced Literacy Centers

Learn about the top ten famous women scientists with this complete lesson plan packet of activities that includes: Quick facts coloring handouts of 10 women scientists including: Marie Curie Barbara McClintock Jane Goodall Rita Levi Montalcini Maria Mayer Gertrude Elion Rachel Carson Elizabeth Blackwell Rosalind Franklin Christine Nusslean-Volhard Quotes My Vocabulary Journal A Dinner Party Interview Daily News Report Writing Match It (Scientific Symbols with Authors) Chronological/Sequential Order Scientist's Life Map Roundtable Discussion 1 and 2 My Scientific Experiment Writing a Scientific Report A Day in the Life of a Nobel Peace Prize Winner (Speech Writing) Help Find the Laboratory (Maze) Recipe for a Scientist Fakebook for a Scientist 10 Fill-in-the-Blank Quick Fact Coloring Handouts Uses fact based information and critical thinking skills. Perfect for gifted/talented, homeschooling, flipped classrooms, group activities, and individual studies. Provides historical backgrounds, scientific quick facts, and much more. Use as test prep and review of contributions to society and for Women's History Month. Great for reviewing female scientists contributions and lives, as well as being role models for younger students interested in science as a career. Meets CCSS ELA guidelines.

Trapped in a snowstorm in a dangerous mountain pass, students use character traits to debate and give rationals to win the only two seats in the wagon. Students create avatars with this 22 page handout based on character traits and character flaws. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Western themed Male Avatars

12 Western themed Female Avatars

Wagon, Ho! Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

Unlock the Fun with Secret Synonyms & Antonyms Code Breaker Challenge!

Make teaching synonyms and antonyms exciting with this engaging code breaker challenge designed for literacy centres. Students will work collaboratively or individually to solve the synonym lock cards by determining the correct synonym for each word. Once they solve the challenge, they’ll use the first letter of their synonym answers to decode secret messages—combining learning with interactive fun!

For example, if the word is "Strong," the synonym is "Powerful." The letter "P" becomes the key for decoding the final secret message. This activity makes learning vocabulary dynamic, keeping students motivated as they unlock each level of the challenge.

Perfect for literacy centres or small group instruction when teaching grammar, this resource is easy to prep! You can print the lock cards in vibrant colour or simple black and white for versatile use. Students will enhance their vocabulary, strengthen their understanding of synonyms and antonyms, and enjoy the thrill of decoding secret messages.

Why You’ll Love This Synonym and Antonym Code Breaker Challenge:

• Hands on Literacy Fun: A fresh and engaging way to teach synonyms and antonyms. Perfect for upper elementary/primary.
• Flexible Printing Options: Print in colour or black and white for different classroom needs.
• Ideal for Literacy Centres: This challenge is perfect for literacy centres, small groups, or individual work.
• Interactive Learning: Combine problem solving skills with vocabulary building.

Boost your students' vocabulary and critical thinking skills while making literacy centres, grammar and vocabulary lessons more engaging and interactive!

Looking for more synonym and antonym resources? Check out these too!

Super Star Synonyms Game

Fall Synonym and Antonym Sheet

This is a set of 6 graphic organizers which can be used with any novel. Great for differentiation. Rubric is included. Includes Vocabulary, Plot, Theme,Characters, Playlist, and Symbols.

Turn your classroom into Antonym City with this fun and engaging antonym activity designed to help students master opposites in a creative way! "Opposites Day Conundrum" introduces your students to the concept of antonyms as they decode the funny, mixed up sentences and replace the bolded words with their correct opposite, or antonym. This activity fosters critical thinking, enhances vocabulary, and keeps students entertained as they "save the day" in Antonym City.

Perfect for literacy centres, independent practice, or as a fun whole class activity, this resource is a fantastic addition to your antonym lesson plans. With its unique format and imaginative twist, your students will have a blast while strengthening their understanding of antonyms.

What's Included:

• A set of creatively designed antonym practice sheets.
• Engaging scenarios that encourage students to think critically and use context clues.
• Opportunities for students to write and revise their own sentences using antonyms.
• Clear, easy to follow instructions for both teachers and students.

Looking for some synonym and antonym actiivties?

Secret Synonym and Antonym Code Breaker Challenge

Super Star Synonyms

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Digital Task Cards are a great way to help your students practice figurative language! These cards can work on a computer or mobile device! No printing of cutting just assign the deck to your students and you are ready to go! Boom Learning is free to sign up for. Students get immediate feedback and teachers can take advantage of reporting tools. Easy and effective! Great for distance learning or in a digital classroom. A total of 23 task cards.

*****READ MORE ABOUT BOOM CARDS: Boom Cards are self-grading, DIGITAL resources. They live in the cloud. They can't be printed. They play on most modern browsers, Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. You open a Boom Learning℠ account to play them (to protect the children). Create Fast Play pins to assign your Boom Cards to students.

Boom Learning also has premium accounts. Premium accounts offer advanced assignment tools, individual and whole class performance tracking, and more. If you are a new Boom Learning customer, when you redeem your Boom Cards purchase you get 90-day free trial of a premium account. When your trial ends, you can renew or move to a free account. You may upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time. Free accounts use purchased Boom Cards with Fast Play pins.

***Did you know??? You can use Boom Cards in Google Classroom™! Just CLICK HERE to find out how!

Every April, students can celebrate Tell-a-Story Day, which occurs at the end of the month. This 16 page handout will help students with organizing and telling fact-based stories. Great for building oral communication, evidence/proof, and re-telling memories. Includes: Finding storytelling topics Graphic Organizers for planning stories in chronological order Setting up a storytelling event Designing advertisements/invitations Peer workshopping stories Links to multicultural, professional, international/national storytelling centers, storytelling videos and websites Can be used any time of the year! Students will enjoy sharing stories while learning how to use fact-based information. Fun and educational!