Celebrate Pi Day with these fun, no-prep activities that focus on the number (and its homophone) in a variety of ways that will engage and educate your elementary, middle, and even high school students. Activities in this resource:Activities in this resource: Agamograph: This engaging art project shows the word and symbol for Π when viewed from one angle, and the approximation 3.14 when viewed from another. Discovering Pi: Students measure the diameter and circumference of circles to determine the value of pi for themselves, them use their discovered value to predict the circumference of a circle they draw. Pie Idioms: Students use context clues to predict the meaning of idioms that include the word “pie” Hidden Message Pi Word Search: Students find the names of people throughout history who worked on calculating the value of pi. When they are done, the unused letters will reveal a quotation about pi. Uncovering Pi: Use PEMDAS to find the first ten digits of pi. Memorizing Pi: Create a story to help memorize the first ten digits of pi.

This Women's History Month resource contains activities related to Amelia Earhart and her last attempt to circumnavigate the globe. It also addresses the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The activities can be used individually, or as part of a themed unit. The comprehension questions use question stems from the 7th grade STAAR test, making the readings ideal for state testing practice. The pre-reading and idiom activities are especially helpful for English language Learners. Activities included are: Pre-Reading/Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: Students predict the topic of the reading, and complete the first two columns of a K-W-L chart, as well as an agree-disagree anticipatory set. Pre-teach Vocabulary: Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: Students use context clues to predict meanings of unfamiliar words, then match the words with the actual meanings. “Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight” Informational Text: A three-page reading about Earhart’s final flight with focused annotation questions in the margins. Final Flight Comprehension Questions: Based on STAAR sentence stems to help students prepare for standardized testing. “What Happened to Amelia Earhart?” In formational Text: Two page informational text with focused annotation questions in the margins. The article describes some of the most popular theories about the disappearance. “What Happened?” Comprehension Questions: Based on STAAR sentence stems to help students prepare for standardized testing. Figurative Language/Flying Idioms: Students use context clues to predict the meanings of idioms using the word “fly”, then match the idiom with the actual meaning. Idiom Task Cards: These eight task cards can be used at a literacy center, or posted around the room for a classroom activity. Two types of answer sheets are provided, one with four individual answer sheets and another complete sheet which requires the student to choose an idiom to use in a sentence and to illustrate the literal and figurative meanings of one of the idioms. Amelia Earhart’s Flight Plan: Students can use Google Earth to explore the path that Earhart took and record the distance between stops. A second sheet is included so they can mark out the path on a map. Amelia’s Accomplishments: Students read a list of Earhart’s accomplishments and write responses based on their own feelings and opinions. Final Flight Word Search: Not only are word searches fun for students, they also help develop cognitive skills, like pattern recognition. In this word search, students hunt for the cities on Amelia Earhart’s final flight plan.

Use the activities in this packet for a themed reading lesson, or to celebrate Dental Health Month. Activities include: Ratón Perez, Collector of Teeth: In Spanish-Speaking countries, Ratón Perez is the equivalent of the Tooth Fairy. This informational text tells a little of his background and baby tooth customs in other countries. Text Evidence: Ratón Perez: Students use colors to highlight the text evidence that answers questions about the Ratón Perez reading. Tooth Idioms Context Clues: Students use context clues to find the meaning of English idioms involving teeth. Tooth Idioms Task Cards: Eight Task Cards to be used in centers or posted around the room to assess student knowledge. Two types of answer keys are included. One page has a set of four individual answer keys for just the task cards. The other sheet has an individual answer key, along with additional activities for students to use with the idioms, including differentiating between figurative and literal meanings. Washington’s Teeth: Informational Text about our first president and his often painful dentures. Four Square Follow-Up: Activity sheet to be used as a follow-up to the informational text. Root Word Interactive Notebook Page: Instructions and page with cut-outs for students to create a notebook page for the root word “DENT” Math word problems: Combine reading AND math with these four story problems involving money earned when the Tooth Fairy visits.

Introduce your students to Langston Hughes, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. There are activities to guide your students through analysis of two of Hughes's poems, as well as an informational text that highlights some of the experiences that shaped him as a champion of equality and black rights. This resource, originally designed as a poetry unit for ESL students, is great for both Black History Month and National Poetry Month, but also works well for cross-curricular units involving the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights. Activities and suggested timeline: DAY 1: “Hold Fast to Dreams”: Two activity pages that help students analyze meaning and figurative language in “Hold Fast to Dreams” by Langston Hughes “Hold Fast to Dreams: Comprehension Questions DAY 2: Self-Reflection: Two writing prompts to get students thinking about the themes in the lesson Pre-Reading Vocabulary: Use context clues and matching to introduce students (especially English language learners) to words from the informative text. Informative Text: A text about Langston Hughes and some of the events that shaped his decision to speak out for equal rights. Comprehension questions for the Informative Text DAY 3: Pre-reading Vocabulary: A cut-match-paste activity that introduces students to some of the vocabulary in the poem “Harlem”. (Designed with beginning-intermediate English language learners in mind. Some words will seem simple to more fluent students.) “Harlem”: Students fill in missing words in the poem and answer analysis questions. “Harlem”/Figurative Language: Students examine the similes in the poem and note their reactions “Harlem” Guided Analysis: Question (loosely based on the TPCAST method of poetry analysis) guide students through a deeper examination of the poem. “Harlem” Comprehension Questions Figurative Language Wrap-Up: Students identify types of figurative language as they work to get from START to FINISH in the maze.

Just in time for cold and flu season, with its accompanying need for emergency sub plans, it's a bundle of my most popular informational texts. Each of these eight texts comes with a set of comprehension questions, along with a no-prep activity. Just print and copy to keep your students engaged and learning while you rest. This resource includes: “It’s All About the Benjamins”: 2 reading levels of an informational text and comprehension questions about Benjamin Franklin, along with a “Mad Lib”-type activity that allows students to put their own twist on quotes by Benjamin Franklin. “The Story of Groundhog Day”: This text traces the origins o Groundhog Day. The accompanying activity challenges students to use the letters from GROUNDHOG DAY to make as many words as possible. “Inauguration Day 2017”: Informational text about Trump’s Inauguration Day , along with a word search using the last names of all the presidents. “Inauguration Day”: This informational text reveals some of the unusual events of inaugurations past. The text comes in two-levels for differentiation. The accompanying activity is an Oath of Office Word Cross. “Service Dogs”: This policy speech about allowing service dogs in businesses is offered in two different levels to fit the needs of your class. The activity requires students to research their own facts, statistics, quotes and examples to support a central argument of their choosing. “The Pope of Football”: This text introduces students to Vince Lombardi, the man for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named. The accompanying activity uses a quote of Lombardi’s to create an expository writing prompt. Pre-writing activities, editing checklists and a page for the final draft are also included. “Friday the 13th”: This text explains many of the negative associations that Friday the 13th has in our culture, Use the accompanying activity to preview vocabulary before reading. “Superstitions”: This one-page informational text describes superstitions, both in the United States and around the world. An acrostic puzzle is included as a follow-up to the reading. PLEASE NOTE: Each of these texts are available as part of an individual resource that includes more themed activities.

Everyone adores Valentine's Day. With candy, fun, and a chance to take a break from the books , it has everything your students love. With this resource, you can let your students enjoy the Valentine's Day while completing a variety of activities that keep them learning and engaged Activities in this resource include: Love Among the Robots: Students use logic to determine which members of the Robotics Club exchanged cards and what type of candy they shared on Valentine's Day. Famous Couple Match-Up: Build student background knowledge with this activity that requires students to match up famous couples in history and literature. While the students are cutting and matching, you can lead a discussion about each pair. Equivalent Fraction Match-Up:: Students “repair” the broken hearts by matching equivalent fractions to bring the left and right pieces together. Valentine’s Day Make-a-Word: Challenge your students to use the letters in Valentine's Day to make as many words as possible. Informational Text: Valentine’s Day celebrations around the world. Comprehension Questions The Language of Love: Students match different ways to say “I Love You” with the correct language. It’s Not Valentine’s Day: Students can stretch their creative muscles and enjoy a break from “mushy love stuff” by creating new celebrations for February 14. Circulation Station: Students read a paragraph about the process of circulation in the body and use the information given to label a diagram of the heart. Heart and Blood Word Search: Students search the grid for words related to the heart and blood

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Knowing how to identify the different types of supporting evidence not only allows students to analyze speeches, but also aides them in their own writing. The activities in this resource were designed to help middle school students (including ESL Newcomers) differentiate between quotes, facts, statistics, and examples. This resource includes: Lesson Guide: use this PowerPoint to walk your students through each step of the lesson. Notes Page Connections page: an activity that allows your students to connect the examples from the notes page with the definitions of each type of evidence. Give One/Get One activity: Students pair up with several different classmates throughout the activity to identify different types of evidence. Talking Head: Assess student knowledge with this activity that requires them to create their own examples of each type of evidence for a central argument of their choice. Service Dogs Informational Text and Comprehension Questions: Two levels of the same policy speech are included, along with comprehension questions, to be used as a post-assessment. ****** Check out my store for more ELA products including: 100TH Day of School with Benjamin Franklin: Informational Text and No-Prep Activities Myths and Superstitions: Informative Text, Reader's Theater, and Writing Activities Fact, Opinion, and Commonplace Assertions: Informational Text and Activities

Groundhog Day 2017 is on February 2. Treat your students to some quick and educational activities to celebrate the day. From an informational text telling about the ancient origins of Groundhog Day to a maze requiring the students to use all four arithmetic operations on two and three- digit numbers, your students will have a chance to review skills and learn some interesting facts along the way. Activities: Informational Text: The Origins of Groundhog Day Comprehension Questions Math Maze: Help the groundhog find his shadow by finding the answers to basic two- and three-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. Groundhog Day Word Search Make-a-Word And, don't forget that Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner!! Super Bowl 2017: Informational Text and No-Prep Activities

This resource includes an assortment of math, reading, writing and critical thinking activities, all involving different aspects of the 52st Super Bowl on February 4, 2018. It's perfect for upper elementary and middle school students who need activities that allow them to review concepts while engaging them with the excitement of the big game. Activities include: Logic Puzzle: use the clues to figure out the team mascot and average points per game for four new teams that entered the NFL in 2034. Informational Text: The Pope of Football. The Super Bowl trophy is named after coach Vince Lombardi. This informational text details events from Lombardi’s life. Comprehension questions for “The Pope of Football”. Two Word Searches with Hidden Messages featuring the Eagles and Patriots starting players Make the Score: Students must figure out what combination of touchdowns, field goals, and point after touchdowns resulted in a given score. Did They Make the First Down? Students read a scenario and must determine if the team was able to move the ball at least ten yards in four plays. Great practice for integer addition! Scrambled Mascots and Cities: Students unscramble place names and mascots and match them together in this fun word puzzle. Predictions: Students use statistics from this year’s Super Bowl teams to predict the winner and final score of the big game. Students are also given sentence starters to justify their predictions. Create Your Own Team: Students can take a break from calculations and reading and exercise their creativity by creating a team name, choosing team colors, and creating a logo to put on their team helmet. Expository Prompt: Students write an expository prompt in response to one of Vince Lombardi’s quotes. A prompt analysis, pre-writing activity, rough draft, editing and final draft sheet are included. Answer keys for all activities ********** Looking for Informational Texts with comprehension questions and no-prep activities with the same theme? Need a last-minute lesson for your sub> Looking for a way to perk up your students on Friday afternoon with some engaging and educational activities? Check out some of these products: Myth and Superstition : Informational Text, Readers Theater, and More Benjamin Franklin: Informational Text and No-Prep Activities

This Benjamin Franklin - inspired twist on the more traditional observation of the 100th day of school, gives your middle school students a little education with their fun. (Or, maybe, a little fun with their education!). The no-prep activities in this packet all have to do with the $100 bill and Benjamin Franklin, and differentiated levels make them are suitable for 5th -8th graders. There is also a self-reflection journal that allows students to analyze their performance in the first 100 days. This 100th day, make it all about the Benjamin Franklins! Activities included are: Math word problems with answer keys. (Two sets: one with one-step problems and one with two-step problems) Informational Text: Text about Franklin’s accomplishments. Two different reading levels (app. 600 and 900) with comprehension questions. $100 Words: Find out how much your name is worth, and try to discover some $100 words. Franklin Quote Completion Challenge: Let your students step into Benjamin Franklin’s shoes and dispense words of wisdom based on his well-known quotes. Quote match: After coming up with their own endings to the quotes, students can try to match the actual beginnings and endings. Quote- Libs: Like the popular story fill-in game, but with Franklin-inspired quotations Creative Writing Prompt: What would you do if you found $100? Find the Difference: Examine twelve $100 bills and find the one that is not like the rest Find the Match: Examine twelve $100 bills and find the two that are identical. Reflection on the First 100 Days: Students think about what they’ve accomplished in the first 100 days, and what they would like to accomplish before the end of school.

UPDATED ON JANUARY 21, 2017. Update includes a second informational text that focuses specifically on President Trump's Inauguration day. This resource contains informational texts, , critical thinking activities, word puzzles and other fun activities for January 20 or any unit involving the election process in the US. Teach your students about the peaceful transfer of power in the US every four years with these fun and educational no-prep activities. Included in this resource: Inauguration Day Informational text (2 levels)-- Unexpected at the Inauguration -- odd things that have ahppened over the years Inauguration Day 2017-- informational text about Donald Trump's Inauguration Day and address Comprehension questions for all informational texts Presidential Word Search Oath of Office Word Cross Presidential Birthplace Hunt Presidential Birthplace Mapping Activity Inauguration Alphabet Challenge Inauguration Acrostic and coloring page Create-Your-Own Oath of Office and coloring page Answer keys

Be ready for Friday the Thirteenth or any day with this bundle of thirteen reading, math, science and history activities. This package contains thirteen different activities from all four core classes for you to use for centers, early finishers, brain breaks, or just a fun Friday activity. Each activity has the number 13 as a focus, making them especially ideal for Friday the 13, but suitable for any day. The activities included in this set are: The First Thirteen Elements: Students answer questions about the first thirteen elements in the Periodic Table, then find the elements in a word search. The unused letters reveal a quotation about the Periodic Table. My _________ Day: Students select words to complete a fill-it-in story that may or may not be about Friday the 13th. Target Thirteen: Students play in groups of 2 – 4 to add and subtract single digits and develop strategies to be the first person to reach 13. The Thirteen Colonies: Students have an opportunity to review the names and locations of the thirteen colonies by labeling a map and using a color key to highlight the three major regions. Thirteen Languages: Students test their language skills as they work together to translate “hello”, “good-bye” and “thirteen” into thirteen different languages. Thirteen Pairs: After cutting apart the triangle, students reconstruct the original by pairing up sides that add up to thirteen. This would be a great activity to laminate and have on hand for early finishers to work on. Make Thirteen: Students use the ten digits 0 – 9 to make the number thirteen according to the operations given. There are two versions – one with some of the numbers in place, and one without. Friday the Thirteenth Make-a-Word: How many words can be made with the letters in “Friday the Thirteenth”? Friday the Thirteenth: This reading passage gives students information about the origins of the unlucky day, and is accompanied by a set of comprehension questions. The Thirteenth Amendment: This reading passage introduces history students to what may be a surprising fact about slavery in the United States and asks, “Does the Thirteenth Amendment need to be changed?” Thirteenth Amendment Word Fill-In: The words of the Thirteenth Amendment are featured in this Word Cross puzzle. The Thirteenth Guest: Jemima Ficklewort needs an heir. Students must solve a logic problem to find out who the lucky person is. Thirteen Pieces of Gold: This easy to learn strategy game helps students develop problem-solving skills and learn to think ahead as they try to outwit their opponent. The real treasure is the fact that once students figure out the strategy to the original game, different variations can be created to further challenge their thinking.

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .unless you're a teacher with one day left before vacation and you need to keep your students focused and entertained. Word searches are the perfect solution for those difficult days when clock watching and fidgeting seem to be the major activities. Word puzzles such as the ones included in this package can help increase vocabulary, improve spelling, and give your students a fun mental challenge, while still engaging your students with a special holiday activity.. This download includes four different types of word searches with hidden messages. In two puzzles, students must unscramble the words before finding them in the grid. There are two versions of the scrambled word search, one with words that only go left to right and top to bottom with no overlap, and one where the words are written in all directions, including diagonally, and using shared letters. For younger students, or ESL students who are just learning holiday vocabulary, there are two versions of the word search puzzle with the words unscrambled. One version has words in all directions and with shared letters, and the other has the words only written left to right and top to bottom with no shared letters. Once the words have been found in the grid, the remaining letters can be written in the blank grid to reveal the hidden message. The two scrambled word searches have the same hidden message, and the two unscrambled word searches have the same message.

Are you trying to get your students to connect with what they read? This product contains an informational text about Friday the 13th and a literary non-fiction piece thatwill capture student attention and engage critical thinking. High-level comprehension questions at the end of the readings will help you assess student understanding. The informational text also has a pre-teach vocabulary worksheet that will help make content comprehensible for language learners, while the literary non-fiction has a character trait follow-up. It's everything you need for a no-prep, print-and-teach lesson that you and your students will all enjoy. CONTENTS Reading passage (single page) Comprehension questions "Think About It" questions/Exit Ticket Coloring page with make-a-word activity Vocabulary pre-teaching sheet Second reading passage (double-sided) Interactive notebook root word activity Character analysis activity Answer keys for all activities

Challenge your students with this 1000 L reading passage about superstitions. This text can be used with students at any time of the year, but is particularly relevant when Friday the 13th rolls around. ( In 2017, there will be one in January and one in October). This product gives students an informational text to read about the superstitions, and activities that go with the reading. The no-prep format allows you to print it out and hand to the students, which also makes it ideal for days when you need an emergency lesson for a substitute. This packet contains: Frayer model to be used for a bellringer or anticipatory set (3 versions: ESL, Gen ED, and customizable)) Informational reading passage about superstitions (2 versions -- one-sheet "paper saver" and two-page "note-taker) Comprehension questions, including questions about text structure, fact vs opinion, and author’s purpose Phrase search Word Search with hidden message Superstition Acrostic Writing Prompt with Pre-writing guides and editing checklists Answer keys for all activities

Every US History student is expected to know the names of prominent Federalists and Anti-Federalists, weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and why we have a Bill of Rights, This fun, 20-minute reader's theater script allow students to review these concepts in a fresh, interactive way. With added bits of humor (did Patrick Henry really say, "Give me liberty or give me a side of beef?") and the constant middle-school scuffling between Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, students will see that the Founding Fathers might be a little less stuffy and a lot more interesting than first impressions might have indicated. It's the Federalists vs Anti-Federalists reader's theater that you've been waiting for! The dialogue is conversational and modern, to engage students and make the material more accessible. Contents 20- minute Reader's Theater script with 9 speaking parts Comprehension questions

Everything you need for a two week reading and writing unit that includes fiction, drama, and informative text. Introduce your students to Baldur and Loki as they really were in myth, before they became Marvel characters. This product contains the following items: Suggested sequence: Two weeks worth of exit tickets Five interactive notebook pages for root words List of optional definitions for the root word sheets Root Word Fill-In worksheet Myth: Loki’s Betrayal Reader’s Theater: Loki’s Betrayal Story summary graphic organizer Comprehension questions: Loki’s Betrayal Pre-teach vocabulary: Magical Mistletoe Informational text: Magical Mistletoe Comprehension questions: Magical Mistletoe Creative Writing Prompt Expository Writing Prompt (written in the fashion of the STAAR 7th grade prompts) Guided expository pre-writing Peer and self-edit checklists Pages for rough draft and final copy

A lot of people are arguing about the 2016 election and the Electoral College, but do your students understand how the president is really elected?. This packet introduces your students to the concept of the Electoral College by comparing the process to winning a sports championship. The packet includes three leveled reading passages that cover the same information, to meet the needs of students at different reading abilities. The estimated Lexile levels are: Winning the Election – about 400L (Written with the beginning/low intermediate level ESL student in mind) Winning the Big Game—about 750 L The World Series of Politics—about 900 L Each reading passage is followed by seven comprehension questions, mostly at the interpretive and evaluative levels. The question stems come directly from the seventh and eighth-grade STAAR Reading template. Another activity requires students to research 2016 election results, compare the popular vote and electoral vote, and make inferences. Finally, there are three leveled writing activities. All involve responses to the question “Should the president of the United States be elected by popular vote?”" and include pre-writing activities to guide the student writing. Should we abolish the electoral college? Try this lesson with your students and start tomorrow's voters thinking about this issue today.

With television, social media, and the internet, students have the ability to gather information almost effortlessly. But, this convenience requires an ability to discern between what is true and what is the author's opinion or a misguided belief. This sample, excerpted from a two-day lesson, includes both a reading passage and exit ticket. CONTENTS Informational text: the story of Nicholas of Patara, who may have been the man who we know today as Santa Claus. Exit ticket: a winter-themed worksheet to check your students' abilities to distinguish fact from commonplace assertions and opinions. Reading comprehension questions: assess student knowledge over the reading. PowerPoint slides: preview the longer lesson

Students need to understand the difference between fact, opinion and commonplace assertion, so they don't fall into the trap of believing everything they read on the Internet, or hear on television or radio or podcasts. This product was designed to help students differentiate between fact and opinion, and introduce them to the idea of commonplace assertions -- those things that many people believe to be true, but really aren't. With a PowerPoint that guides both teach and students through the activities, activities that allow movement, cooperative learning opportunities, and interactive notebook suggestions, it's a two day lesson that is both engaging and valuable. This product contains the following items: PowerPoint for students that guides the lesson and activities over the two days. Card sorting Activity Give One/Get One activity Three leveled readings about Pocohontas (app. 350, 650, 1050 L) Exit ticket