Middle School Informational Text Activities

Students recognize the difference between primary and secondary sources:

This activity will help students practice determining primary and secondary sources. This skill is important across a variety of subjects.

When given a source, students will determine if it is a primary or secondary source. Based on their determination, they will be directed to draw a detail to complete a picture. This allows students to add their own creativity to their work. It also makes it easy for the teacher to determine understanding of the concept presented.

Provided follow up questions increases rigor. These questions can be used for early finishers, as a written assignment, or to lead class discussion.

This activity can be used individually, with a partner, as part of a center, or with a group.

Aligns with 5th grade Studies Weekly Week 2.

What's included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Student instructions.
• Sources sheet.
• Drawing sheet.
• Answer Keys.

How is this product useful:

• Low prep for teacher.
• Easy to check.
• Practice important skill.
• Students can add creativity.
• Helps with future research.

Are you ready to add a 'sweet touch' to learning text structures this Valentine's Day? Dive into our Valentine's Day Text Structure Coloring Sorts, a delightful and engaging free resource designed to help your students master the art of identifying different text structures. Perfect for grades 3-8, this activity blends the fun of Valentine's Day with essential learning objectives.

With our resource, students will explore five key text structures: Cause and Effect, Problem and Solution, Question and Answer, Chronological Order, and Description. Each text structure is cleverly themed around Valentine's Day, making learning both enjoyable and relevant.

All you need is the PDF copy and six colored pencils or crayons to get started. This activity serves as an excellent warm-up, a creative homework assignment, or a lively addition to any learning center. It's not just about coloring; it's about understanding and applying knowledge in a way that sticks.

Looking for more ways to engage your students in text structure mastery? Check out our comprehensive Informational Text Structure Mastery Bundle. This bundle complements the coloring activity and offers an in-depth exploration of text structures, perfect for middle school learners.

Don't miss out on this 'heartfelt' opportunity to blend creativity with critical thinking in your classroom. Download our Valentine's Day Text Structure Coloring Sorts today and watch as your students color their way to text structure mastery!

Enhance your students' understanding of Kwanzaa with this engaging Kwanzaa Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions resource! Perfect for the classroom, this product provides a detailed nonfiction passage that introduces the history, principles, and traditions of Kwanzaa.

Accompanied by six thought-provoking questions, this resource encourages meaningful discussions and helps students develop critical thinking skills.

Whether used for group activities, classroom discussions, or individual assessments, this two-page PDF is designed to captivate young learners while meeting educational standards.

Key Features:

• 1-page nonfiction reading passage about Kwanzaa
• 6 comprehension questions to assess understanding
• Ideal for Grades K-2, suitable for other elementary levels
• 8.5 x 11-inch format for easy printing and use
• Perfect for December and cultural heritage lessons

This versatile resource is excellent for celebrating Kwanzaa while also incorporating themes of diversity and cultural awareness. Download now to provide your students with a meaningful and educational learning experience!

FAKE NEWS! We hear this phrase almost every day. Teaching Digital Critical Literacy is more and more important. Use this freebie to open a discussion on techniques to determine whether a story students read or hear is real or fake.

This is part of my resource on FAKE NEWS, Developing Digital Critical Literacy with Kids(INA): Click here to learn more: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/FAKE-NEWS-Developing-Digital-Critical-Literacy-with-Kids-INA-3074653

Check out my FREE April Fool's Day Pranks for additional examples of News/ FAKE News for your students to review. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/APRIL-FOOLS-FREEBIEReally-2474186

Additionally, my resource on the history of April Fool's Day has LOTS of materials  which could also be used to develop digital literacy with your students. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/April-Fools-Day-ReadingFun-Facts-and-Activities-632947

The GOOGLE SLIDE digital MINI-LESSON contains :

10 colorful slides introducing elements of Hispanic culture such as language, music, geographic location, food, religion, Hispanic-American contributors and authors. Each slide is filled with photos, maps, as well as, music and video links. This is the perfect prelude to Hispanic short story lessons .

#kilefree

Have your students create a trading card for historical figures! Research a famous person and create a trading card to share important information about what they learn! A quick and free activity!

More Great Products from Kile's Classroom

6 Traits Writing Bundle .

Descriptive Writing - Show, Not Tell .

Interactive Word Wall.

Elements of Plot.

Writing Graphic Organizers.

The World History Edition: World History Ancient Civilization Labs DBQ Analysis of SS.6.W.3.10 Identify how the government of the Roman Republic contributed to the development of democratic principles. Essential Question: How is the Roman Republic reflected in our current system of government? This activity is tagged with 6th grade Florida standards, but can be used in other grade levels. Sources used and examined in this activity: Source 1 Comparing the three branches of government Source 2 Speaker addressing the Roman Senate Source 3 Replica Roman coin Source 4 The Twelve Tables of Roman law

Did you know that one young girl's courage was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement? Introduce your students to the inspiring story of Claudette Colvin with our engaging and educational resource, perfect for Black History Month and STAAR test preparation. Suitable for grades 6-8, this free, print-and-go resource combines historical significance with critical thinking.

Our resource includes a short, informative text about Claudette Colvin, followed by four carefully crafted multiple-choice questions. These questions are aligned with STAAR standards, focusing on skills such as inference, summary, and author's purpose. It's an ideal tool for deepening students' understanding of important historical figures while honing their test-taking abilities.

This versatile resource is perfect for various classroom needs:

☑️ Center in stations

☑️ Homework assignment

☑️ Warm-up activity

☑️ Part of a larger unit on informational text

As a free resource, it’s designed to be easy for teachers – just print and you're ready to go. It's a valuable addition to any lesson plan during Black History Month and beyond.

Don't forget to check out our other free February resources, including the Valentine's Day Text Structure Color Sorts and the Valentine's Day Author's Purpose Coloring Quest! Grade 5-8 FREEBIE! (TeachShare.com)!

Be sure to follow our store for more free resources that bring ease and effectiveness to your teaching. Download now and bring Claudette Colvin's remarkable story into your classroom!

Sample of two Bookmark Bios! Eleanor Roosevelt and Dorothea Dix

Recently, while watching the morning news, two of the hosts couldn’t name the famous woman, from Rochester, NY, who helped women get the right to vote! One said, I think her name was Susan “something”. That got me thinking that Bookmark Bios might be a great way to introduce young people to many(not all) the famous women and men in history, STEM and Literature!

Giving the Bookmark Bios, could be a weekly thing, perhaps as a handout for an interactive notebook, after a testing period, or as a “bell ringer” before your class instruction begins. You could print the Bookmark Bios on cardstock or colored paper, cut them out and you might consider laminating them for a more durable handout. The first resource of 20 Women in Modern Times(1700s on) also comes with a Bookmark Bio card of 5 questions to encourage critical thinking. Bookmark Bios! Click here for complete resource:

This convenient GOOGLE SLIDE lesson contains a complete Digital EMERGENCY ELA lesson for the NONFICTION BOOK, THE BUFFALO ARE BACK, with hours of fun encompassing multiple reading strategies and skills aligned to Common Core.

EMERGENCY PLAN includes:

• Read-aloud video of the short, nonfiction text, The Buffalo Are Back, by Jean Craighead George. BL 4.9.
• Highly organized & complete package of PDF printables, perfect for any substitute or teacher looking for a total, STAND ALONE lesson for Reading.
• Genre & author information
• 10 bold photo vocabulary slides including part of speech
• Connotation & grammar mini-lesson and sort
• Printable activities and assessments
• Quizlet quiz links
• The lesson is loaded with optional activities (digital and print)
• Fun Fact videos and slides allow the presentation to be adjusted to fill any time frame.

PDF printables: 8 graphic organizers are included both digitally and in the PDF file, designed to coordinate with the GOOGLE SLIDES.

Introduction: slides include genre with link, author bio with link, and setting with maps

Video Link for Read Aloud: link to Buffalo are Back is included (17 min)

Vocabulary Study: flourished, extinct, fragile, crumbled, drought, rippled, wobble, graze, treaty, settler

10 vocab slides include word, bold photo, definition & part of speech, both a Vocab Organizer chart, and a Word Study chart are included (print and digital) to compliment the vocabulary.

Predictions: slides allow for student discussion prior to listening to the read aloud and again reflection on their predictions after the story has been heard.

*Optional Fun Facts: photos of plains animals, links to animal sounds from the grasslands, famous people bios from this time/place with links are all are pertinent to the text

*Optional Activities: these elements are provided within the digital product as well as PDF form. Connotation info/sort, Grammar info/sort, context clue worksheet with word bank

Practice/Assessment: Quizlet links for both a vocabulary quiz and a comprehension quiz are included

Enjoy this convenient GOOGLE SLIDE 'Lesson to Go'!

THIS LESSON IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN POWERPOINT.

Try Out A History Lab: Blog Link

https://historyguruTeachShare.blogspot.com/2024/01/todays-history-lab-on-ancient-india.html

The World History Edition:

World History Ancient Civilization Labs

DBQ Analysis of

SS.6.W.4.2 Explain the major beliefs and practices associated with Hinduism and the social structure of the caste system in ancient India.

Essential Question: What are the major beliefs and practices associated with Hinduism and the caste system in ancient India?

This is geared toward 6th grade standards, but can be used in other grade levels.

Sources used and examined in this activity:

Source 1

Diagram of the caste system

Source 2

Caste laws

Source 3

Religious beliefs behind the caste system

Source 4

Image of reincarnation with infinity symbol in the middle

Ready to 'color your students' world' with understanding this Valentine's Day?

Introducing our vibrant new resource, perfect for grades 4-6: the Valentine's Day Authors' Purpose Coloring Activity! This unique coloring resource brings together 20 engaging Valentine's-themed prompts, each carefully crafted to illustrate the six different author's purposes: Inform, Persuade, Entertain, Critique, Report, and Instruct.

In this colorful learning adventure, students will need our PDF and six specific colors to identify and color-code each author's purpose. It's not just a coloring activity; it’s a journey into the heart of reading comprehension and critical thinking, tailored specifically for young learners.

But wait, there's more love to spread! If you're looking for another delightful Valentine's Day coloring resource, don't miss our Valentine's Day Text Structure Color Sorts: A Rainbow of Learning. This free activity complements our Authors' Purpose Coloring Activity and is perfect for reinforcing text structure skills.

These resources are ideal for classroom activities, homework assignments, or as a part of your literacy centers. They're not just educational tools; they're a way to bring joy, color, and deeper understanding into your classroom this Valentine's Day.

So, why wait? Download our Valentine's Day Authors' Purpose Coloring Activity today, and watch as your students 'color their way' to mastering author's purposes, one hue at a time!

Space Day is the first Friday in May. It was started in 1997 to highlight space and to spark an interest in science among young people. John Glenn promoted the day as International Space Day. Possible Interactive Notebook Activity.

Use this Space Interactive Notebook Activity any time of the year, for a unit on space, for a Friday activity, before a vacation or on Space Day!

Other resources you may find of interest:

1. The Eagle Has Landed. Man Walks on the Moon, A Reader’s Theater Script. After 76 days, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, the astronauts for the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon, made history on July 20, 1969. After the Columbia reached the moon’s orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin went into a smaller module, the Eagle. They began a descent onto the surface of the moon and successfully landed on the moon where both men would become the first humans to actually walk on the moon. The date was July 21, 1969! Just think, from the first powered flight in 1903, it was just 66 years before we had humans walk on the moon! Part of my Ms. Bie Ografee Talk Show Series, Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins are guests of Ms. Bie Ografee and her studio audience ask the guests questions about their historic trip to the moon. In addition to the play, with 10 audience questioners, there are Did You Know Fun Facts, comprehension questions, a teacher page with extension activities and the key to the comprehension questions: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Moon-Landing-Man-Walks-on-the-Moon-A-Readers-Theater-Script-4538523

2. Learn about astronaut John Glenn with this web quest! John Glenn, Astronaut!

This convenient POWERPOINT lesson contains a complete Digital Emergency ELA lesson for the NONFICTION BOOK, THE BUFFALO ARE BACK, encompassing hours of activities, multiple reading strategies and ELA skills all aligned to Common Core.

'EMERGENCY PLAN' includes:

• Read-aloud video of the short, nonfiction text, The Buffalo Are Back, by Jean Craighead George. BL 4.9.
• Highly organized & complete package of PDF printables, perfect for any substitute or teacher looking for a total, STAND ALONE lesson for Reading.
• Genre & author information
• 10 bold photo vocabulary slides including part of speech
• Connotation & grammar mini-lesson and sort
• Printable activities and assessments
• Quizlet quiz links
• The lesson is loaded with optional activities (digital and print)
• Fun Fact videos and slides allow the presentation to be adjusted to fill any time frame.

PDF printables: 8 graphic organizers are included both digitally and in the PDF file, designed to coordinate with the Powerpoint.

Introduction: slides include genre with link, author bio with link, and setting with maps

Video Link for Read Aloud: link to Buffalo are Back is included (17 min)

Vocabulary Study: flourished, extinct, fragile, crumbled, drought, rippled, wobble, graze, treaty, settler

10 vocab slides include word, bold photo, definition & part of speech, both a Vocab Organizer chart, and a Word Study chart are included (print and digital) to compliment the vocabulary.

Predictions: slides allow for student discussion prior to listening to the read aloud and again reflection on their predictions after the story has been heard.

*Optional Fun Facts: photos of plains animals, links to animal sounds from the grasslands, famous people bios from this time/place with links are all are pertinent to the text

*Optional Activities: these elements are provided within the digital product as well as PDF form. Connotation info/sort, Grammar info/sort, context clue worksheet with word bank

Practice/Assessment: Quizlet links for both a vocabulary quiz and a comprehension quiz are included

Enjoy this convenient Powerpoint 'EMERGENCY LESSON PLAN'

*ALSO AVAILABLE IN GOOGLE SLIDES

The World History Edition:

World History Ancient Civilization Labs

DBQ Analysis of

SS.6.W.3.5: Summarize the important achievements and contributions of ancient Greek civilization.

Essential Question: How did Greek advancements help shape our world today?

This is standard labeled for 6th grade, but can be used for other grade levels.

Sources used and examined:

Source 1:

Excerpt from Pericles’s speech, Athens, c. 430 B.C.E.

Source 2:

Photograph of ancient bone levers

Source 3:

Illustrations of Greek Columns used in architectural designs

Source 4:

Images and description of Greeks Gods and Goddesses

Use this handout to have students learn about endangered species. In 2023, Endangered Species Day is May 19th.

Check out these resources on Endangered Species:(Webquests)

1. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Rhinosaurus-Rotund-Rhinos-A-Webquest-698938
2. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Polar-Bears-A-Webquest-604797
3. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/ElephantsOn-SafariA-Webquest-610125
4. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Leopards-Leaping-Leopard-Webquest-848064
5. https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Giraffe-Learn-all-about-Giraffes-Internet-Activity-2924515

"The Buffalo are Back" by Jean Craighead George: This introductory Google Slide lesson provides digital pre-reading information for the author, genre, and setting. Fun facts, photo visuals, and video clips support the story details. The lesson also includes vocabulary study, practice, and assessment.

This standard-aligned material is for use with whole group, small group, or independent work for regular ed, learning support, ESL or virtual/homeschool classrooms

Google Slides:

1. **Author Biography** We provide author biographies for each short story. This adds depth to the lesson, allowing students to appreciate the story in the context of the author's life experience.

2. **Setting**Highly informative slides include maps, historical images and intriguing video links allowing students to have a deeper understanding of the location and time-period in which the story takes place. This is a crucial element when preparing students to read outside their own worldview.

3.**Bold Photos: ** Visual learners will thrive with our visually appealing slides, featuring bold and relevant images that help reinforce vocabulary concepts and make learning more engaging.

4. **Vocab with Concise Definitions and Part of Speech: ** Our lesson provides clear and concise definitions for challenging vocabulary words, ensuring that students understand the meaning of each word in context. Understanding the parts of speech is crucial for effective language comprehension. Our lesson includes sections dedicated to identifying the part of speech for each vocabulary word.

Vibrant Vocab slides (flourished, extinct, fragile, crumbled, drought, imbalance, rippled, ecosystem)

5.**Quizlet Practice Link ** Reinforce learning and encourage self-assessment with Quizlet practice tailored to the vocabulary words covered in the lesson. This interactive tool allows students to review and quiz themselves.

6. **Fun Fact Images and Videos** These features highlight unique elements of the text to aid comprehension .

7. **Audio Link to Book**Providing an additional resource to support diverse learning styles and ensuring all students can access and engage with the text.

PDF FILE.

Plus, each ZIP file comes with a PDF folder containing printable worksheets to be used with the lesson!

**Grammar Sort**

Strengthen language skills with integrated grammar review sections, ensuring students can apply the vocabulary words correctly in their own writing and communication.

**Connotation Sort**

Dive deeper into vocabulary nuances by exploring the connotations of words, helping students grasp the subtle shades of meaning and usage.

**Context Clues Sentences, Word Bank and Key: **

Our lesson includes carefully curated sentences that employ context clues, enabling students to decipher word meanings from surrounding text. This fosters independent comprehension skills. These worksheets can be used for practice or assessment.

**Vocabulary Organizer**

This worksheet allows the students to infer the meaning from the animated vocabulary slide. After students complete the organizer, it is a great reference sheet.

**Synonym and Antonym Word Study**

The graphic organizer allows the students to explore the variations in meaning of the new vocabulary word.

DIGITAL USES IN THE CLASSROOM:

· Introduce new story

· Provide backstory to text

· Stimulate group discussion

· Create predictions about text

· Use as distance learning resource

· Post on webpage for review

· Add to electronic notebooks

· Provide test review

· Prompt Writing or Research assignments

· Grammar study / parts of speech

· Discuss Word Connotation

Please be sure to view the preview and watch the video for detailed images and descriptions of the lesson.

This lesson is also available in PowerPoint.

Enjoy!

-From Kiwious About Vocab!

W.H. History Lab- DBQ Style learning unit on Mesopotamia and Egypt Document Based Questioning through Language Arts and Reading Strategies Ms. Dunne's EOC Prep Course The World History Edition: World History Ancient Civilization Labs DBQ Analysis of SS.6.W.2.2 Describe how the developments of agriculture and metallurgy related to the settlement, population growth, and the emergence of civilization. Essential Question: How have the following agricultural resources and tools helped to further develop ancient Mesopotamia? Aimed at 6th Grade and labeled with a 6th Grade Florida Standard, but can be used in 5th grade and up. List of Sources: Source 1 Sickle, farming tool Source 2 Sumerian plowing farm with oxen Source 3 Early Mesopotamian City-States Source 4 Mesopotamian Pottery Wheel and pottery Marking the text: Strategies included to learn to mark a document! Options: -Packet -Gallery Walk -Print, put on a file folder, and laminate for students to mark up! Customer Tips: Be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies and product launches: • Look for the green star next to my store logo and click it to become a follower. You will then receive email updates about this store. I value your feedback greatly as it helps me determine which products are most valuable for your classroom so I can create more for you. If you have any concerns or any of my resources are not what you expected, please contact me first before leaving feedback so I can have a chance to fix it for you! You can email me at kaisha.dunne@gmail.com or follow/DM me on instagram (@msdunneseocprepcourse). How to get TeachShare credit to use on future purchases: • Please go to your My Purchases page (you may need to login). Beside each purchase you'll see a Provide Feedback button. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. Each time you give feedback, TPT gives you feedback credits that you use to lower the cost of your future purchases. This is such an awesome program. Like this product? • Click on the Pin it button and pin it to one of your boards!

Using the news in the classroom to introduce topics in history. A Phoenician trading ship was discovered off the coast of Spain and it is hoped that since the ship is only about 6 ft. down, marine archaeologists plan to bring the ship to the surface this year. Freebie includes fun facts about the Phoenicians and several activities as well as the news story.

Fun facts about the history of Inauguration Day with a couple of extension activities for students to do.

Check out my web quest on Inauguration Day. the oath of office, a big parade and evening balls, Inauguration Day is a very busy day for the incoming President! There are 12 web questions, a Did You Know? section, comprehension questions and extension activities: Inauguration Day Webquest

Additional Resource of Interest:

Learn about the White House with 10 informative web questions, comprehension and discussion questions and several extension activities: Learn about the White House: A Webquest

2. Did You know that President John Quincy Adams had an alligator? Martin Van Buren had two tiger cubs and President McKinley's pet parrot could whistle, "Yankee Doodle". Did you know that President Franklin D. Roosevelt served HOT DOGS to the King of England? Did you know that President Garfield could write with both his right and left hand at the SAME time? Presidential Webquest/Extension Activities: Presidential Webquest

3. Did you know that First Lady Hillary Clinton was the first First Lady to become a senator of New York? Did you know that Florence Harding was the first woman to be able to VOTE for her husband in a presidential election? Did you know that Eleanor Roosevelt was called the " First Lady of the World"? Learn about the contributions of some of our first ladies with this fun and informative webquest: First Ladies of the United States: A Webquest

4. Do YOU Know Your Presidents is a series of three challenges. Each challenge worksheet has 25 questions(with 3 choices). The first challenge is the easiest with the third, the hardest.There is also a Presidential Did You Know? Section: Presidential Challenges(Three sets of Quizzes)

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER RESOURCES AT MY TeachShare STORE and CONSIDER FOLLOWING ME. THANKS! Gail Hennessey's TpT Store