Black History in English Language Arts

by Katie Auer | Jan 24, 2022 | Distance Learning, Informational Text, Literature, Seasonal & Holiday, Writing Ideas | 1 comment

Black History in English Language Arts

Black history is our history. It’s not some separate history to marvel. It’s not a gimmick to gawk at in February. Still, while it’s somewhat disappointing that it takes Black History Month to draw attention to Black History, it’s also a blessing to have this opportunity in English language arts.

Getting students reading, writing, and analyzing rhetoric by or about Black authors will likely spark something inside of them that will simmer, and – hopefully at the right times – enflame inside of them, throughout their entire lives. When your heart is touched by powerful rhetoric, it stays with you forever. You can’t ever forget the truth when it’s described so passionately. And, when you apply the lessons to your own life, it becomes wisdom.

So, here are 10 ideas for teaching Black History in ELA – your chance to get students reading, writing, analyzing, and most important – feeling – about our history, Black History.

1. Journal Writing About Famous Quotes in Black History: As a bellringer or a 10-minute “quick write” session, have students respond to the Black History quote of the day you give them. How about do this all throughout February since there are so many good quotes? For example, “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations” (Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut) or “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression” (W.E.B. DuBois), or “The time is always right to do what it right” (Martin Luther King, Jr.), or here’s 117 more Black History quotes you can use!

2. Divi Up & Jigsaw the Plethora of Topics: When you go looking for what to teach in Black History, it’s a bit like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant blasting out water. There are so many influential figures, movements, & accomplishments. So, how about have each student select a different figure or topic to write a research report or presentation about? Another option is jigsaw groups. This is where you assign small groups topics such as “Black athletes” and then the members of the group each research and report back on something specific, such as Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Serena Williams. Then, the groups present to the class (hopefully in an interesting way. See this post for 10 Great Ways to Research & Present Information. ) Here are some of the many ideas:

Notable Historical Figures & Institutions: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, John Lewis, Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune (Bethune-Cookman College), the Underground Railroad, the Mason-Dixon Line, Howard University, the Green Book, and more
Figures in Science & Technology: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Daniel Hale Williams, George Washington Carver, Bessie Coleman, Katherine Johnson, Percy Julian, Mae Jemison, Warren Washington, Benjamin Banneker, and more
Performers, Musicians, & Actors: Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Teddy Wilson, Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, Octavia Butler, Denzel Washington, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Muddy Waters, Oprah Winfrey, and more
Athletes: Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Wilma Rudolph, Hank Aaron, Bill Russell, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Jordan, Serena & Venus Williams, LeBron James, Simone Biles, Arthur Ashe, Kobe Bryant, and more
Military & Government Figures: Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Barack Obama, Thurgood Marshall, FDR’s “Black Cabinet,” and more
Civil Rights Topics & Leaders: Brown v. Board of Education, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Lunch Counter Sit-ins, Selma to Montgomery Marches, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Black Lives Matter Movement, Rosa Parks, The March on Washington, Assassination of MLK, Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, Jim Crow Laws, “separate but equal,” Jesse Jackson, NACW, NAACP, nonviolent protest, and more
Writers: Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, and more

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3. Make Modern-Day Civil Rights Posters, Buttons, or Inspirational Quote Posters: Have students look at images of civil rights posters, such as these Freedom Movement posters. Or, simply Google “civil rights posters” and you’ll see a ton of great ones, old and new, come up. Then, have students Google “civil rights buttons” or visit this collection of political buttons, which are visual symbols showing that the wearers are fighting for some cause. Next, have students make modern-day civil rights posters or buttons, each containing one simple slogan about what we should strive for or specifically do to advance civil rights in some way. BUT BE CAREFUL. You should require that the posters be peaceful in nature, non-offensive, non-aggressive…set whatever boundaries you like to keep this activity peaceful.

Steve.fami.ly, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Or maybe just have them do this less passion-provoking art instead: have each student write an inspirational quote on a posterboard, and decorate it to hang in the room. Or, have students make a poster promoting Black History Month. If you don’t want to display the artwork on the walls, you can have students do a “gallery walk” in which students walk around the class to view each other’s creations. Here are links to 120 Black History quotes or a list of 25 Quotations by MLK for the Classroom.

poster with quotes by martin luther king, jr. about hate is wrong

Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva Photostream via Flickr

MLK at NCLC Poster "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Image Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Or, I like this magnetic poster from Displate.com. This is the right idea!

equal rights magnetic poster by displate.com

4. Analyze MLK Primary Sources: What better way to honor Black History than to direct students straight to the sources – the primary sources – the documents written by those who actually experienced the history firsthand, by those who took the time to memorialize their powerful messages in rhetoric that lives on today.

Here are some of the many primary sources written by, about, or in collaboration with Martin Luther King, Jr.: The March on Washington pamphlet, the I Have a Dream speech (which was delivered 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and alluded to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address), the Letter From Birmingham Jail, Six Principles of Nonviolence (have students write a short explanatory essay explaining what they are and what they mean), MLK’s correspondence with the White House/JFK cabinet in letters and telegrams, teaching about Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers, Who Speaks for the Negro? collection, I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech, Senator Robert Kennedy’s Statement on the Assassination of MLK, MLK’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964, and the Smithsonian collection.

ALSO CHECK OUT THE BLOG POST “MLK in ELA” for EVEN MORE reading, writing, and language ideas!

FREE Letter From the Birmingham Jail LESSON: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter From The Birmingham Jail is a must-read. But, what I have for your ELA classroom is a must-have. Grab the FREE PRINTABLE IDENTiFYING THEMES IN NOTABLE MLK QUOTES FROM THE LETTER. It provides students with one page of monumental quotes from the letter, guiding students to identify theme in each of them. This is a standards-based activity, specifically aligned to Standard RI.9 in high school, which is to analyze seminal U.S. documents of literary and historical significance.

YOU CAN PIN THE IMAGE BELOW IF YOU LIKE:

Since teaching ELA for 10 years, I’ve been a contracted learning resource and assessment writer while running my store “Loving Language Arts.” I know how to align to standards like the back of my hand, yet I always aim to make resources high-interest to motivate reluctant readers and writers.

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NOTE: By the way, my High-Interest Text Passages and Practice Tests Workbooks and my High-Interest Text Passages and ELA Tasks Workbooks contain these speeches and more in easy-print and digital 1-page formats that are MAJOR TIME SAVERS.

5. Learn About “The Green Book”: Have students read this fascinating history about the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” an underground publication sometimes found in gas stations that helped Black citizens travel safely through the Jim Crow-era southern U.S. by directing them to safe places to eat and sleep.

6. Research the Black Lives Matter Movement: One thing I think about all the time is that if people just took the time to understand each other more and where they’re coming from, they’d be less likely to judge them so harshly or condemn their behavior. So, have students take the time to learn about BLM, starting at blacklivesmatter.com. Assign students articles to summarize and share, write a research report, compare and contrast this movement with another, etc.

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7. Read Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb” (2021) and the Inaugural Poems That Inspired Her: Amanda Gorman, the youngest (and current) Poet Laureate for the Biden Administration delivered a powerful rendition of her poem “The Hill We Climb,” that resonated not just with black Americans, but all Americans, about the current political climate as a piece in the overall journey for freedom we are all on togther. Check out the free transcript with ELA ideas to use in your classroom today.

Oh, and have your students compare and contrast, or analyze, these five previous inauguration poems that, according to Amanda Gorman, inspired her:

Robert Frost, who recited “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration. Frost recited the poem from memory after he was unable to read the text of the poem, “Dedication,” because of the sun’s glare on the snow-covered ground.
Maya Angelou, who read “On the Pulse of Morning” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration
Miller Williams, who read “Of History and Hope” (text; video) at Bill Clinton’s 1997 inauguration
Elizabeth Alexander, who read “Praise Song for the Day” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration
Richard Blanco, who read “One Today” (text; video) at Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration

the hill we climb by amanda gorman 2021 inauguralpoem and activities square cover

8. Combat Racism: Consider having students write persuasive essays and speeches (with reasoning based on evidence, facts, & testimony) that combat racism. Or, I also like the looks of these 6 Lesson Plans We Love for Creating Inclusive Communities and Combatting Racism.

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9. Teach Slave Narratives: Slave narratives are some of the most passionate, eloquent, honest, descriptive pieces of writing you will ever read. I believe it’s a must to have students read at least one. Here are some to consider: Narratives by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw (1772), Olaudah Equiano (1789), Nat Turner (1831), Frederick Douglass (1845), William Wells Brown (1847), Henry Bibb (1849), Sojourner Truth (1850), William and Ellen Craft (1860), Harriet Jacobs (1861), Jacob Green (1864), and more. Additionally, here is a collection of slave narratives at the Library of Congress (containing more than 2,300 firsthand accounts and over 500 photographs).

Also, GRAB THE FREEBIES below!

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10. Teach Students About Brown V. Board of Education and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall: The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case changed the course of history for the better. It turned out that the “separate but equal” education Black students were getting prior to the case was not so equal. It took declaring segregation as unconstitutional in this landmark case to make everyone see that. There is a plethora of resources on this topic, but here are some: PBS’s “Brown vs. Board of Education | A More or Less Perfect Union” with video, Learning for Justice’s “Brown v. Board: An American Legacy,” and the U.S. Court’s “Justice Thurgood Marshall Profile – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment.”

Or grab the freebie I just added a wee bit late in the month, but better late than never I always say.

Brown v Board of Education Passage & Task Black History Freebie

OK, now at this point I admit I went a little overboard with the Black History Month Freebies. I kept finding all these gems that I wanted to share with you, and here it is the end of February and I am just now stopping, lol. Here are a couple more.

ELA Passage & Test: Word Choice and Rhetoric in Deval Patrick's Inaugural Address

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MLK in ELA: Reading & Writing About Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Katie Auer | Jan 11, 2022 | Distance Learning, Informational Text, Language & Writing, Seasonal & Holiday, Social Studies Literacy, Writing Ideas

MLK in ELA: Reading & Writing About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring MLK in ELA really is a no-brainer because there’s a prolific amount of passionate writing you can find that’s been written by, and about, Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a fantastic speechwriter, a gifted orater, a brave fighter, a true collaborator, a civil rights activist, a tactful communicator — a man passionate and relentless in the ongoing fight for equality. So, here are 10 ideas for reading, writing, and language related to MLK you can incorporate into English language arts any time of year, but especially around MLK Day in January and Black History Month in February. I also give you a free text with ELA task for Letter From Birmingham Jail.

1. Journal Writing on the Topic of MLK: As a bellringer or a 10-minute “quick write” session, have students respond to their choice of journal topic. Here are a BUNCH of ideas: What do you know about MLK? Why do you think some states used to refuse to designate MLK Day a holiday while other states consistently pushed for it to be a holiday? MLK had a dream of equality; what do you sometimes dream about that would make the world a better place? Can you think of any ways to work on making your dream come true someday? Since MLK was assassinated in 1968 , in your opinion, how has the fight for equality continued in America (including ups and downs and signs of progress)? Who has taken the place of, or has continued in the footsteps of, MLK since he was killed? What do MLK and Black Lives Matter have to do with each other (broadly speaking)? What makes Martin Luther King, Jr. so memorable?

2) Looking at the “I Have a Dream” Speech as Literature: When we look at works of nonfiction as literature, we call that Reading Literary Nonfiction. The “I Have a Dream” speech uses literary devices and techniques in such as way so as to move the reader, so that’s literary nonfiction. Not only that, but it’s an amazing speech with such a powerful message. Now I was going to make a whole little lesson right here, but I actually found a GREAT lesson plan for teaching the speech at the PBS Newshour website. So, rather than reinvent the wheel, you should check it out! But then promise to come back, ok?

3. Explain How You Would Improve the World (Dare to Dream): Most likely your students have spent some time daydreaming how they would make the world a better place. Heck, they might even be daydreaming right now with all this talk of the “I Have a Dream” speech. So, tap into the passion! Have students choose one aspect of the way things are in the world that they want to change. And, here’s the explanatory writing part — have them explain it in detail, including three specific steps they would take in the process to fulfill the dream. Have them include an introduction and conclusion — and BAM! — another standards-based essay done in no time.

← The New Year in ELA: Ideas for Reading & Writing in January Black History in English Language Arts →

Black History in ELA blog post for reading and writing about black history feature image

ALSO CHECK OUT MY POST "BLACK HISTORY IN ELA" FOR EVEN MORE FREEBIES & IDEAS!

4. Letter From the Birmingham Jail: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter From The Birmingham Jail is a must-read. But, what I have for your ELA classroom is a must-have. Grab the FREE PRINTABLE IDENTiFYING THEMES IN NOTABLE MLK QUOTES FROM THE LETTER. It provides students with one page of monumental quotes from the letter, guiding students to identify theme in each of them. This is a standards-based activity, specifically aligned to Standard RI.9 in high school, which is to analyze seminal U.S. documents of literary and historical significance.

YOU CAN PIN THE IMAGE BELOW IF YOU LIKE:

5. Explain the Six Principles of Nonviolence: Have students read King’s Six Principles of Nonviolence and write a short explanatory essay explaining what they are and what they mean. Exploring nonviolence seems like a good use of time in my opinion. Speaking of opinions, have your students write an opinion or persuasive essay about the six principles.

6. Compare and Contrast Influential Speeches: When you read enough of the monumental speeches made during American history, you start to notice similarities and differences in their structure, language/use of rhetoric, and repeated allusions to the ideals of freedom set forth in the Constitution. So, this is good news for ELA! You can have students compare and contrast speeches, honing in on such things as figurative language, rhetoric, structure, allusions, tone and attitude, being direct vs. being metaphorical, being tactful vs. aggressive, etc. Here are some ideas: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, JFK’s Inaugural Address, Deval Patrick’s Inaugural Address, Obama’s speeches such as his 2008 acceptance speech (the yes we can/si se puede speech) or the 2009 Inaugural Address (and many more), etc.

NOTE: By the way, my High-Interest Text Passages and Practice Tests Workbooks and my High-Interest Text Passages and ELA Tasks Workbooks contain these speeches and more in easy-print and digital 1-page formats that are MAJOR TIME SAVERS.

7. Read the Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech: When Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964, he delivered an amazing acceptance speech. Have students explain what the award is a “profound recognition” of. In the speech, he stated, “Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace…” In order for that to happen, what method must people learn, according to MLK?

8. Get Artistic About MLK.: How about assign each student a different quote by MLK (here is a list of 25 Quotations by MLK for the Classroom), and then have them do an artistic representation of it on an 8 12″ x 11″ page? Have them make the quotation visible, write 5 adjectives on the page describing it, include 5 images, etc….you decide.

9. Read Robert F. Kennedy’s Statement on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Sadly, this man who was making so much traction on the platform of nonviolence, was killed in 1968. Senator Robert F. Kennedy made a lovely statement to comfort others and remind them of his cause: “What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.” Have students write about their opinion on all of this, including examples.

10. MLK Biography Block: Have students read a biography of MLK and then, instead of those boring book reports that put everyone to sleep, have your students make biography blocks instead. Grab the FREE Biography Block Lesson and Template. And check out the sample Clara Barton biography block below.

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Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

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Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

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The New Year in ELA: Ideas for Reading & Writing in January

by Katie Auer | Jan 4, 2022 | Informational Text, Language & Writing, Seasonal & Holiday

The New Year in ELA: Ideas for Reading & Writing in January

The New Year in ELA means new opportunities for reading and writing! Get your students pumped by providing activities that get them to embrace a growth mindset, develop a vision for the upcoming year, learn about New Year’s customs in other cultures, read literature and informational text on the topic of New Years, summarize the sequence of events that led to January being the lucky month chosen to start each year, write a poem, and more. Here are 10 ideas for reading and writing in English language arts in January!

1) New Year, New Mindset: As a bellringer or a 10-minute “quick write” session, have students respond with their thoughts on this quote by Neil Gaiman, a well-known and respected author:

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

2) Vision Boards: Vision boards are amazing because they get you to envision what your future could look like and then manifest what it will actually take to make your dreams come true. You envision yourself succeeding at something — either very specifically — such as “going to college in the fall with scholarships,” “getting in shape this year” — or perhaps more broadly, such as “the life I want to be living in five years.” Then, you make a visual representation of it, such as a collage of images and phrases or perhaps just a simple web diagram. In the context of the English language arts classroom, perhaps just have student turn in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ vision board that contains at least 5 sentences and 5 images. You decide!

OR HERE’S A TWIST: INSTEAD OF HAVING STUDENTS DO BORING CHARACTER ANALYSIS/BOOK REPORTS, HAVE THEM MAKE VISION BOARDS FOR LITERARY CHARACTERS!

3. Write Resolutions Characters Should Make: While I think you should have students write resolutions in ELA to start off the new year, I also think it would be fun to have them come up with resolutions they think some characters in literature should make. You could ask students to choose different characters from literature you’ve read together, or perhaps you want to assign each student a different character. In any case, it would be fun to have each student share one resolution with the class at the end.

4. Delve Into New Year’s Poetry : I found a couple of great collections of literary poems related to the New Year: 1) The Poetry Foundation’s collection of New Year’s Poems, and 2) A major book publisher’s selection of Eight Beautiful New Year’s Poems. Have each student select one poem and do a quick analysis identifying the poet speaker, mood/tone, theme, message, setting, rhyme scheme, etc.

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5. Learn about Winter Sports!

Read, Write, Research All About Sled Dog Racing: Using my FREE ELA/Social Studies printables (also digital), have students read, write, research, all about sled dog racing: a winter sport most popular in the Arctic regions of the United States, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and some European countries. The sport involves the timed competition of teams of sled dogs that pull a sled with the musher standing on the runners.

A sled dog race was a demonstration sport at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, and again in Oslo, and again in the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer. However, it is not currently an official event in the Olympics.

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And Read About the Upcoming Winter Olympic Games: Have students read an interesting FREE 1-page informational text passage (with writing extensions) that explains when the Winter Olympic Games debuted, when they are held and why, how host cities are chosen, which sports compete, and the ideals of the International Olympic Committee.

Just in time for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games coming in February!

free text and writing about the winter olympic games

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6. Describe the Highlights of Last Year: Have your students write descriptively about the memory or memories that really stand out from last year. You may also want to ask them to reflect back with a growth mindset and write about what lessons he or she learned from the experience(s).

7. Learn About Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year starts in February and lasts for fifteen days. Check out my other blog post “5 Interesting Facts About Chinese New Year” to quickly learn what Chinese New Year is about. Then, have your students learn all about it too in this free 1 -page printable (that’s also digital). If you like, you can have students summarize the article, list interesting facts, and/or research to find out more about their zodiac sign and which zodiac sign correlates to the New Year. Oh, and have them write a compare-and-contrast essay comparing Chinese New Year to New Year’s in the USA or elsewhere! Meeting standards left and right!

cover for chinese new year reading passage and writing extensions ela lesson

8. The New Year Around the World: Along the lines of the idea above is to have students research how people in other cultures in other countries around the world celebrate the New Year. To get them excited, you can first have them read this list of ways to say “Happy New Year” in a bunch of different languages. It might be fun to ask students to each memorize one and then say it to people throughout January. Then, have them research how different cultures around the world start the New Year. Perhaps assign each student a different culture to research and have them turn in a short summary. Or, how about have them write a compare-and-contrast essay to compare how two cultures celebrate New Year’s?

9. Growth Mindset Journal Writing for One Week: As a bellringer or during some other short writing time that repeats daily for about a week, have students write in 10-15 minute increments about what they want to accomplish in the New Year. They are to just write freely and non-stop during the alotted writing period, focusing solely on what they want to accomplish for themselves in the current new year. The writing doesn’t have to be organized or published. It is just an alotted time to focus in one’s journal, manifesting one’s dreams so as to bring them to fruition by the end of the year.

10. Write an Essay About the Sequence of Events That Led to January 1 Being the Big Day: Have students quickly read this sequence of events that led to January 1 being the first day of the New Year. Then, have students write a short essay that explains the sequence of events in chronological order, using plenty of transition words, and tying together events by focusing on cause and effect.

Do you or someone you know teach math? Are you looking for math that’s relevant to real life? If so, check these out:

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

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ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

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Winter Fun in ELA

by Katie Auer | Dec 7, 2021 | Informational Text, Language & Writing, Seasonal & Holiday

Winter Fun in ELA

It’s that time of year when there’s a nip in the air and a palpable sense of anticipation for all that winter brings. Not only are your students getting antsy, but so are you. Y’all just can’t wait for all those winter holidays and events. In the meantime (and after you return from celebrating them), here are 10 fabulous ideas for reading and writing during this chilly yet wonderful season in English language arts.

1) Winter Haiku: According to poets.org, “A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression.” Haiku poetry is PERFECT for the winter season. First, have a brainstorming session with your students, making a list of possible topics together, to get them thinking what they’ll focus on (the haiku should focus intensely on one thing, usually having to do with nature). Then, give them some quick instructions (and perhaps samples) of how to write them: they consist of 3 lines with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the third line, using concrete imagery (vivid sensory descriptions that make readers get clear images in their heads). You may even want to have students make artistic posters out of their poems to display, like the one shown here:

high school student holding winter haiku poem

2. Winter Similes and/or Metaphors: Have students write symbolically about the winter. Similes use “like or as.” Metaphors simply say that something is something else that it is not. In upper elementary, it’s easier for kids to write similes. In high school, students should be challenged to write metaphors. First, brainstorm with students everything they can think of that has to do with the winter season. Then, have them write 5 similes and/or metaphors. For example, “The snow glistened pure white on the branches of the pine trees like the powdered sugar we sprinkle on our green Christmas tree cookies.”

3. Read, Write, Research All About Sled Dog Racing: Using my FREE ELA/Social Studies printables (also digital), have students read, write, research, all about sled dog racing: a winter sport most popular in the Arctic regions of the United States, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and some European countries. The sport involves the timed competition of teams of sled dogs that pull a sled with the musher standing on the runners.

4. Delve Into Winter Poetry & Literature: Winter poetry and storytelling can be just as cozy, warm, and soothing as snuggling up indoors by the fireplace. Of course, it can convey much more. Have students each find a winter poem (or excerpt from literature) to analyze, and perhaps share with the class. Analysis can be as simple as identifying 1) the poet speaker 2) the setting 3) the feeling tone 4) figurative language. Here are some ideas:

“…It snowed and snowed, the whole world over,
Snow swept the world from end to end.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned…” – from Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

“When all aloud the wind doth blow,
And coughing drowns the parson’s saw,
And birds sit brooding in the snow,
And Marian’s nose looks red and raw,
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl.” – from Love’s Labour Lost by William Shakespeare

“Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.” – from My Antonia by Willa Cather

“Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.” – from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

“In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.” – from “A Christmas Carol” by Christina Rosetti

“In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candlelight.” – from “Bed in Summer” by Robert Louis Stevenson

“There’s a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons,
That oppresses, like the Heft
Of Cathedral Tunes.” – from “No. 258” by Emily Dickinson

“Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow.” – from “The Snowstorm” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

2022 promotional ad for ELA Reading Workbooks Grades 4-12

5. Read About the Winter Games: Have students read an interesting FREE 1-page informational text passage (with writing extensions) that explains when the Winter Games debuted, when they are held and why, how host cities are chosen, which sports compete, and the ideals of this international sporting event.

Just in time for the February 2022 games.

All About the Winter Games Reading and Writing Freebie

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6. Describe Your Favorite Winter Memory of All Time: Have your students think back to a special wintertime memory that will probably stay in their heart forever. You can have students write a simple description full of concrete details, or if you really want to force the concrete imagery out of them, have them write a 5-senses poem: “I saw…I heard…I smelled…I tasted…I touched…I felt…”

7. Funny Holiday Rhymes (In Poetry and Song): Check out my other blog post “3 Funny Christmas Holiday Rhymes in ELA” to have students read, listen to, and/or watch three humorous rhymes and do associated ELA tasks. One of those FREE tasks is my FREE 1-page printable “Summary & Song Lyrics of the Grinch Christmas Story.”

blog post 3 funny holiday rhymes, songs, and poem lyrics to use in ELA winter

free text about how the grinch stole christmas story and lyrics

8. Consonance and Assonance Fun: One way to spice up a creative story, dialogue, humor, or a speech is to add consonance (the repetition of a consonant sound in successive words) and/or assonance (the repetition of a vowel sound in successive words.) For example:

Sassy snowmen scared Santa on his sleigh.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer really reads a lot.
Snow scatters scantly over the fields.

9. Write Your Version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: Have students read the classic story ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and then have them write their own shorter version, borrowing from some of the lines in the story. Students can change “Christmas” to something else if desired.

10. Why There are Seasons (FREE DOWNLOAD): Usually when people notice the days are getting so short, they start thinking about why there are seasons anyway. That’s why I made this literacy in science informational text and ELA activities so that students can read and write all about it. Check it out! It’s free!

why there are seasons literacy in science ela activities

Do you or someone you know teach math? Are you looking for math that’s relevant to real life? If so, check these out:

cover winter holidays math word problems

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

by Katie Auer | Sep 7, 2021 | Informational Text, Language & Writing, Literature, Seasonal & Holiday, Writing Ideas

Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

Once your students return to school in the fall, it’s time to grab their attention and get them excited about reading and writing again! Fall in ELA is perfect for reading and writing because there is just so much to read and write about – the changing weather, fall colors, pumpkins & other harvest, treats, scary stories, spooky creatures, cautionary tales, corn mazes, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more! I came up with 20 great ideas for you which can be used in grades 4-12. I have noted which ones are geared more toward younger or older students, when applicable.

10 back to school writing ideas blog main

1) Fall Haiku: According to poets.org, “A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression.” Haiku poetry is PERFECT for the fall. First, have a brainstorming session with your students, making a list of possible topics together, to get them thinking what they’ll focus on (the haiku should focus intensely on one thing, usually having to do with nature). Then, give them some quick instructions (and perhaps samples) of how to write them: they consist of 3 lines with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the third line, using concrete imagery (vivid sensory descriptions that make readers get clear images in their heads). You may even want to have students make artistic posters out of their poems to display, like the ones shown here:

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2. Fall Similes and/or Metaphors: Have students write symbolically about the fall. Similes use “like or as.” Metaphors simply say that something is something else that it is not. In upper elementary, it’s easier for kids to write similes. In high school, students should be challenged to write metaphors. First, brainstorm with students everything they can think of that has to do with the fall season. Then, have them write 5 similes and/or metaphors. For example, “The air changed as if someone turned on the air conditioning,” “The pumpkin is like an orange balloon,” “The candy is as sour as 100 lemons,” “The haunted house is my nightmare,” etc.

pumpkin jack o'lantern gif for blog post

3. For Grades 4-6: It Came From Planet Simile:

Have students draw this creature, the creature from planet Simile.

planet simile drawing activity

4. For Grades 7-12: Frightening Flash Fiction: One of the most famous flash fiction stories is by Ernest Hemingway.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Only six words, it still manages to tell a scary story. If one line isn’t enough, you can double or triple it, though. These are so short that you can have students read them aloud!

Image by myscrapnook.com

5. Pumpkins Literacy Activities (FREE DOWNLOAD): Grab their attention with INTERESTING & FREE informational texts about pumpkins, historical literacy passages, vocabulary connections, a poem, fascinating facts incorporated into critical thinking activities, writing explanatory text about how to make a jack-o-lantern, writing a short persuasive text about why and how people can eat more pumpkin in their diets, and more challenging yet fun ELA activities. Perfect for the fall season in ELA, including Halloween and Thanksgiving.

pumpkins literacy reading and writing activities for ela

6. Write a How-to Explanatory/Informative Text: Have your students write a short “how-to” informative, explanatory essay to relate an organized sequence of events, beginning with a short introduction, then the steps (using transition words in between), and a short conclusion. Here are some ideas: make a specific costume, carve a pumpkin, host a Thanksgiving, cook a turkey, make candy apples, bob for apples, decorate for Halloween, make a treat, trick-or-treat, etc.

7. Extreme Candy Summaries: Have your students read about how scientists make three types of “extreme candy” in this article. Have your students choose one process to summarize (or two, or three). Have them write one paragraph in their own words, explaining how scientists make that extreme candy.

Image by Fun Classroom Creations

8. Character Eulogy: Tell students to write a eulogy for a fictional character. A eulogy is a speech praising someone who recently passed away. This activity is strange, but it is character analysis, so why not? Have students follow these steps: 1) Choose a character (protagonist or antagonist) 2) Write opening remarks such as “I am the character’s brother…or I was his sworn enemy” 3) Spotlight character traits…”He was brave and daring,” “She was timid yet kind…” Here is a humongous list of character traits to peruse. 4) Give words of comfort and a final farewell.

9. Thanksgiving Gratitude Theme Reading & Writing Activities (FREE DOWNLOAD): Grab their attention and get them feeling grateful with this Free Thanksgiving Gratitude Theme Reading, Writing, and Language! A great selection of Aesop’s Fables with themes (morals) related to being grateful and giving thanks. Students explore character, motivation, theme, and new vocabulary. A writing warm-up is included with a selection of writing topics in which students must self-reflect on gratefulness. A language portion requires students to make corrections to sentences. Plus analogies to practice new vocabulary! It’s Thanksgiving in ELA! Comes with the fables and an answer key.

10. Analyze Fall Poetry: Have students select a Fall Poem to analyze. Analysis can be as simple as identifying 1) the mood or feeling tone 2) the poet speaker (whether that’s a pumpkin, a mysterious “I” narrator, the author, etc.) 3) theme 4) setting, etc. For upper elementary students, I recommend having them select one of these Harvest/Pumpkins Poems & Songs. For older students/high schoolers, I recommend having them select from one of these Fall poems (such as “Fall, leaves, Fall” by Emily Bronte).

Image by digiwebstudio.com

11. Add a Scary Stanza to a Classic Poem: Have students select a scary classic Halloween poem, such as:

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
“Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
“All Hallows” by Louise Glück
“All Hallows’ Eve” by Dorothea Tanning
“Song of the Witches” from Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Then, have them add an additional stanza that would fit into the poem using the same voice, rhyme scheme, meter, language, imagery, etc. as if it were part of the poem. “The Raven” is an especially good choice.

12. Explain How to Make a Corn Maze: Have students write an explanatory, informative text that explains how the Treinan family makes their corn mazes. Have students read all about how the Treinan Farm family makes their corn mazes in three phases. Have them also watch this great short video that explains it. Then, have students write three paragraphs to explain each phase of the corn maze-making process in their own words.

13. Research & Present Why/How Leaves Change Color in the Fall: Have students research about how and why leaves change colors in the fall, such as at this website using an article from weather.com. Then, have them make a graphic organizer listing causes and effects. Here are three causes they can use: 1) temperature changes and the amount of daylight changes 2) chemical changes occur 3) the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments. Using the article, students can list causes and effects.

14. Make a Potion Recipe: For upper elementary students, you can have them write a recipe card with fake ingredients such as “1/4 cup kindness” or “1 cup dog fur”…and choose what the potion is meant for, such as “Kindness Potion” to make people nicer. For older kids, perhaps have them write a paragraph about an imaginary potion, what it would be used for, and how it would be made, plus any cautions, etc.

Reading Informational Text Passages Workbooks Promotional Page

15. Write a Halloween Story: For upper elementary students, I recommend having them select one of these story prompts from “13 Halloween Writing Ideas.” For older students such as high schoolers, you can have them write a “Gorey Story.” Edward Gorey is a writer/illustrator known for his strange, gloomy art. Have students select an image and then write a story based on it. Here is an example of Gorey image “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” :

Edward Gorey Image "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"

16. Story Weaving: This is all about spooky campfire-story-style group story telling. It can be done orally by having each student add one line to the story aloud. Or, it can be done in a written format called “story pass writing” in which you have groups of students (5 or 6, such as a row of students) create stories. Tell everyone to write a beginning (such as “Once upon a time on Halloween night…), give them 2-3 minutes, then tell them to pass it to the next person. The next person writes the next part of the story. And, so on. You use a timer to give them about 2 minutes per round. Just before the final round, remind students to write an ending that wraps everything up. Students can read the stories aloud for fun.

Image by myscrapnook.com

17. Why There are Seasons (FREE DOWNLOAD): Usually when people are getting sick of the summer heat and longing for the air to cool off, they start thinking about why there are seasons anyway. That’s why I made this literacy in science informational text and ELA activities so that students can read and write all about it. Check it out! It’s free!

18. Meet My Creepy Friend: Students can create and introduce a “creepy friend” or a “creepy monster” or a “creepy pet critter,” etc. To describe the creepy friend, monster, pet, etc., students find creepy character traits to incorporate into their descriptions. They can find some on my humongous list of character trait words, and/or find creepier ones elsewhere. They can also read this article that explains “How to Write About a Creepy Character Realistically.” Have students describe their creepy friends, perhaps add an illustration, and then “introduce” them to the class.

Image by myscrapnook.com

19. Research and Read Cautionary Tales From the Days of Yore: In just about every culture throughout history, there are cautionary tales that have been passed down from one generation to the next. They are terrifying! A cautionary tale is folklore that warns of danger. There are three essential parts: 1) A taboo or prohibition is stated: some act, location, or thing. 2) A tale is told in which someone disregarded the warning and performed the forbidden act, went to the forbidden place, used the forbidden thing, etc. 3) Finally, the violator experiences an unpleasant fate, frequently related in expansive, grisly detail. You could have students, depending on their age of course, research these. A good place to start is at this website. You could also have students write cautionary tales, again depending on their age and sensitivity levels.

Image by digiwebstudio.com

20. Logic Puzzles: So far, I have made a FREE Halloween logic puzzle asking “Which costume did each friend wear to the Halloween party? Students must use critical thinking deductions to discover the one and only solution. It actually turned out to be more challenging than I thought it would be, so that being said, I am thinking it’s best for middle schoolers, and certainly high schoolers (who need brain breaks too!). Sometime soon, I plan on making a Thanksgiving logic puzzle too, so pin this page and check back soon.

Do you or someone you know teach math? Are you looking for math that’s relevant to real life? If so, check these out:

$TGiving fract, dec, perc square cover$

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

Follow Me On Pinterest

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Earth Day in ELA – Ideas for Reading & Writing in April

by Katie Auer | Apr 11, 2021 | Content Area Literacy, Informational Text, Science Literacy, Seasonal & Holiday, Social Studies Literacy

Earth Day in ELA – Ideas for Reading & Writing in April

Do you realize that every single day is designated as a special day? You know like National Hot Dog Day?

But, just like in life, some days rise to the top. They get a lot of buzz, gain followers, and get popular. See I told you it was like life, lol. Earth Day is one of those days! It has gained momentum year after year since its debut in 1970. Every year, Earth Day organizers and event planners go all out to spread their message (in yearly themes). It seems like some years the message gets across better than others.

Anyway, all this buzz and energy about conserving the environment and saving our Earth from destructive practices provide great, ample opportunities for reading, writing, critical thinking, literacy in science and technical subjects, art — everything related to celebrating and protecting the natural wonders of our Earth. So, here are some ideas for you, which you can use all April long in English language arts.

pin and blog header Earth Day in ELA Ideas for Reading and Writing in April

Here are some ideas for Earth Day (and all of April) in ELA:

1) Quick-Write Response to One of These Writing Prompts:

A) The theme of 2022’s Earth Day is Invest in Our Planet. The statement below is from the organizers’ website:

“Because a green future is a prosperous future.

We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet.”

Ask students to write for ten minutes about what they think the theme “Invest In Our Planet” means — who should invest? When? Why? How? THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THEME! (Have them summarize the article too if you have time – literacy in science!)

B) Last year in 2021, the home page of the Earth Day website stated, “As the world returns to normal, we can’t go back to business as usual.” Write that in your own words while explaining what it means. Also, now that it has been a year, have we gone back to normal, and/or have we gone back to business as usual? Will we ever? Should we? Have student write about it for ten minutes.

2) Write a Short Research Report on a Specific Topic Such As…:

A) This April there will be a United Nations convention on Global Diversity, an urgent matter that must be attended to by world leaders working together. They will discuss the problem of unprecedented extinction rates, climate change causing havoc to habitats, the urgent nature of this problem, and possible solutions. Have students research any facet of this, and how about have them write a problem-solution opinion or argumentative essay?

B) Last year, President Biden helped host a global climate summit that took place during Earth Day 2021 (4/22/21). One of the topics they discussed was the Paris Agreement. What is the Paris Agreement?

C) A big focus of Earth Day every year is the climate. They state that “together we can prevent coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction.” What is happening with the climate? What is being destroyed?

D) What are you allowed and not allowed to recycle in your recycle bins at home? Why and why not? Could you improve how you recycle? If you don’t know what the “rules” are for recycling, how could you find out what they are?

CHECK OUT THE NEW WRITING TEST PREP PRODUCT LINE: “Writing Modules” to get your students writing ALL genres!

Comes with sources for students to cite text evidence
You can grade them quickly using the rubric and evaluation sheet
Get in on the Growing Bundle of modules (each focuses on writing a different genre) and you’ll get modules FREE for the rest of the school year!
Differentiated for Grades 4-6 and Grades 7-12

CHECK OUT THESE MODULES. TWO RELATE TO EARTH DAY! GRAB YOURS TODAY!

3) Delve Into Literature: A) Take a break from the literal and escape into the allegorical…Find literature to have your students read and decode, such as The Lorax, The Giving Tree, Walden, The Jungle, My First Summer in the Sierra, and many more.

4) Free 1-Page Informational Text & Vocabulary Task: Here is a free easy-print or digital version of a passage and vocabulary task you can use today. Students will discover the reason for Earth Day, its history, how it affects public policy, the yearly themes (including the one for 2022), and more.

All About Earth Day free reading passage and vocabulary task

5) Write a Persuasive Essay or Opinion Piece: Have each student choose a topic related to Earth Day, conservation, climate change, a great idea he or she has, a practice everyone should do to help restore the Earth, recycling, etc.

Here are some persuasive arguments to emulate : 1) A Ted Talk (with written transcript if you need) called “Why Not Eat Insects?” by Marcel Dicke 2) “Stop the Waste” student opinion piece.

6) Read an Opinion, Then Write an Opinion: Have students do some standardized writing test prep that’s no prep at all! It’s ANOTHER FREEBIE in which students 1) Read an opinion piece and watch a short video by a Secretary of State advocating for protecting the oceans, and 2) Write an opinion or argument of their own, citing text evidence, stating what they and their peers can do to help protect the oceans.

Free writing opinion or argument about protecting the oceans and citing text evidence from John Kerry Passage

7) Get Inspired by a True Story in a Short Video & Journal About It: A documentary called “A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW” shows what happened in the 1990s when educator Laurette Rogers explained to one of her fourth-grade classes the concept of endangered species. Students asked what they could do to help. This question launched a program that’s still in practice called STRAW—Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed—which engages hundreds of schoolchildren in watershed restoration efforts across Northern California.

Quick-Write About It: Have students write their opinion of what they just watched, explain what is inspirational about this story, state what lessons they can learn from what they saw, consider how they can become environmental action heroes themselves, and more.

8) Free 1-Page Passage & ELA Test: Students read an excerpt from “You are Brilliant and the Earth is Hiring,” a commencement address by Paul Hawken. Students grades 6-12 also complete an assessment that focuses on nuances in language, tone, and citing evidence to support inferences.

Earth Day Passage & ELA Reading Test FREEBIE - Assesses Language & Tone

9) Students in Grades 4-12 Might Also Like:

Passage and ELA tasks "Earth's Water Supply"

WebQuest Practice Test #11 Living off the Grid GIF

WebQuest Self-Grading Reading Practice Test #13: The Problem With Recycling

I HOPE YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS LOVE EARTH DAY IN ELA!

You know what else students LOVE? These high-interest informational texts and tasks. I went out of my way to make the articles super interesting to upper elementary and middle schoolers by writing about things that interest them. And, guess what? It worked. I keep hearing from teachers how kids get so into these passages. They actually want to answer the questions. They even want to discuss the articles as a group.

middle school informational text passages and ela tasks volume 1

Volume I was so popular with students in grades 6-8 that I just HAD to create Volume II. Kids love them both!

middle school informational text passages and ela tasks volume 2

And now, workbooks for UPPER ELEMENTARY are here!

4th grade workbook informational text passages and ela tasks

5th grade workbook informational text passages and ela tasks

These are the ORIGINAL best-sellers for Middle School that kids love:

And now, workbooks for High School are here!

9th grade ELA workbook informational texts and ela tasks

10th grade english language arts workbook informational texts and ela tasks

11th grade english language arts informational texts and ela tasks workbook

12th grade high interest informational text passages and ela tasks workbook cover

Would you like to try a FREE one first?

free reading passage and task "yay or nay on daylight saving time?"

free reading passage and task "10 reasons to live off the grid"

MLK Letter From Birmingham Jail text and task product cover

free informational text cover how to become president

free informational text cardiovascular system

why there are seasons free informational text and ela science tasks

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Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Free Upper Elementary Practice Test

Free Middle School Practice Test

Free High School Practice Test

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

Try a Freebie!

ReBeckha L.

Sixth Grade Teacher, Teachers Pay Teachers

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Why not save this pin to your “Current Seasonal Resources” or “Literacy in Science” Pinterest board so you can read this again later?

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Black History in English Language Arts

Steve.fami.ly, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva Photostream via Flickr

Image Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

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NOTE: By the way, my High-Interest Text Passages and Practice Tests Workbooks and my High-Interest Text Passages and ELA Tasks Workbooks contain these speeches and more in easy-print and digital 1-page formats that are MAJOR TIME SAVERS.

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Black History Month” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

MLK in ELA: Reading & Writing About Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources,” “Diversity in ELA,” or “Literary Nonfiction” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

The New Year in ELA: Ideas for Reading & Writing in January

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Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

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Winter Fun in ELA

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Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

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Fall in ELA: 20 Ideas for Reading & Writing in Autumn

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Image by Fun Classroom Creations

Image by digiwebstudio.com

Image by myscrapnook.com

Image by myscrapnook.com

Image by digiwebstudio.com

Click below for FREE ELA PRACTICE TESTS – each targeting specific reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening/viewing standards.

Check out these GRADE-SPECIFIC test prep books with practice tests that target EVERY GRADE-SPECIFIC READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT STANDARD, one by one. An added bonus is that students LOVE the texts! In Easy-Print or Self-Grading Online Versions.

How about save this pin to your “Seasonal Resources” Board so that you can come back to this post again?

Related posts:

Earth Day in ELA – Ideas for Reading & Writing in April

Here are some ideas for Earth Day (and all of April) in ELA:

2) Write a Short Research Report on a Specific Topic Such As…:

CHECK OUT THE NEW WRITING TEST PREP PRODUCT LINE: “Writing Modules” to get your students writing ALL genres!

Comes with sources for students to cite text evidence

You can grade them quickly using the rubric and evaluation sheet

Get in on the Growing Bundle of modules (each focuses on writing a different genre) and you’ll get modules FREE for the rest of the school year!

Differentiated for Grades 4-6 and Grades 7-12

CHECK OUT THESE MODULES. TWO RELATE TO EARTH DAY! GRAB YOURS TODAY!

I HOPE YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS LOVE EARTH DAY IN ELA!