Biography Research Project using We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Students choose from people in the lyrics to research and then write a biography. Includes instructions for the teacher with a link to the video on teachertube, lyrics, handout on late 20th century peacemakers or controversial figures, assignment handout and rubric. This really got my students using the writing process, research skills, and writing without plagiarism. I was very happy with the results I got this year from my average students! They were very motivated. - HappyEdugator

The Dying Detective Support Materials with Vocabulary and Test. Contains study guides, a vocabulary worksheet with key, a stage directions hand-out, and a TEST with a key to go along with the PLAY adaptation of The Dying Detective by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in which Sherlock Holmes appears to be dying, quite grumpy with Watson, and surprises everyone by his sudden comeback to catch a killer. - HappyEdugator

Barbara Frietchie by John Greenleaf Whittier Close Read and Study Guide. The poem is about the Confederate invasion of Frederick, Maryland during the Civil War. Includes background information sheet, vocabulary, close reading sheet, study guide, a copy of the poem, and answer key.

Storms - Hurricanes vs. Tornadoes. Paired nonfiction reading with a Venn Diagram- and compare tornadoes and hurricanes. Students read about tornadoes and hurricanes, then compare and contrast the characteristics of hurricanes and tornadoes on this basic Venn diagram activity sheet. Add to your weather unit and have students research facts about storms. Also a good supplemental resource to use when reading books that have hurricanes or tornadoes in them, such as The Cay by Theodore Taylor or Tornado Alert by Franklyn M. Branley. - HappyEdugator

Subject Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases - Handout and Worksheets. Includes a handout explaining the rule for subject verb agreement with intervening phrases, two practice worksheets with 10 sentences each, a worksheet or assessment with 15 sentences that have intervening phrases between the subject and the verb on a full sheet or as two per page to save copies. Phrases that come between the subject and the verb commonly cause students to choose the incorrect verb form. Students have two choices to choose from, and they have to look past the phrase to find the correct answer. Good test prep. Print and go. No prep. Keys included. - HappyEdugator

Leap Year. Facts and fun. Animated PowerPoint on Leap Year. Answers questions many kids have about leap year. Slides include: What is Leap Year? When does Leap Year Happen? When do we add the extra day? Why do we have Leap Year? When was the first Leap Year? What calendar do we use today? How is Leap Year determined? 2016 is Leap Year - what are the next 4 leap years? 2016 is Leap Year - what year was the last leap year? The last slide is a partner activity the kids can do that is related to leap year and February 29.

Rikki Tikki Tavi Constructed Response Based on Common Core Standards. Writing assignment based on the short story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling. Emphasis on using text evidence for support a response to literature. Students must analyze the theme of the short story. Includes writing prompt with instructions for writing an argument that uses textual support for claims, a sample essay for students to use as a model for their writing that demonstrates how to use evidence from the text, and a writing rubric. Created to support writing that is highly rigorous as required by the new common core standards. - HappyEdugator

Try this fun Getting-to-Know-You activity for Back to School All. It's an All About Me Graphic Organizer. This is a great way to learn your students’ names at the beginning of the year, and your students will love making their special graphic organizer about themselves. Make enough copies for everyone in your class. Card Stock is best. Take photos of your students and attach them to the center of the graphic organizer. Your students can then fill it out with their best attributes, family, friends, interests, etc. There is a Character Traits list included so students can have a reference for their writing. These make a great display, but don’t stop there. You can have students present them to the class, create a writing assignment based on their graphic organizer, use them to create lessons based on their interests. You can do this activity as a whole group, giving an example to the class of your own personal graphic organizer to introduce your students to who you are. You can also have them complete them in groups or use them in centers. - HappyEdugator

Five Paragraph Essay PowerPoint - How to write a five paragraph essay. Information for students on the structure of a five paragraph essay. including introductory paragraph, 3 detail paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

Common Root Words Handout. Common Greek and Latin roots, root words or stems, prefixes, suffixes, and math and science affixes and roots on a comprehensive printable handout. Includes reasons why learning roots and affixes are important. Good to review before standardized testing. 8 pages. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

Christmas Similes Activity. A fun printable Christmas activity handout to help your students create some simple Christmas similes. Your students, after reading the example, should be able to fill in the blanks with their own Christmas similes, and even make up a few of their own. Great winter fun. Also fun to do after watching the scene in the movie "A Christmas Carol" when the party-goers play the game "Similes." Also includes simile cards. Print out on cardstock, and cut out. Give to students to fill out and draw a representation of their simile. Punch a hole in the corner of each, tie with a ribbon, and hang on your "Simile Tree." - HappyEdugator

Biography Project Rubric. This rubric is for a student written biography project. Includes assessment of: Focus on Assigned Topic Organization Spelling and Punctuation Accuracy of Facts Creativity Neatness Illustrations Room for comments/grade information at the bottom. - HappyEdugator

At the beginning of the year, it is important to set up a substitute information folder or binder in case you wake up with the flu and can't be there. When you go back to school, fill out these forms so your substitute will know what to do if you have to be out. You can print these out and put in a binder or a folder so you can leave it in plain sight on your desk for an emergency. Has informational pages, and dividers for class lists, rules, maps, etc. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator ©2016 HappyEdugator.

Literary Terms for Fiction TEST. Elements of Literature multiple choice test on 33 critical literature terms or story elements of literature that are important to student understanding of fiction texts, such as plot, theme, conflict, setting, etc. 10 pages, including key. It is based on my literary terms for fiction handout which is also available to use as a study guide. - HappyEdugator

Synonyms - Synonym Scramble I Have Who Has GAME. Helps students build vocabulary by matching synonyms in a classic I Have...Who Has format. Included are directions for play and synonym word lists to pass out to the students for discussion and review, and blue and red synonyms to use to make the synonym cards for play. Just print out and glue onto index cards. Enjoy!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins Vocabulary List and Activities. Complete Vocabulary List and Activity sheets for the Hunger Games book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The first page is a word list with definitions of 47 important words to know from the novel. There are four pages of vocabulary activities: two different fill-ins, a crossword puzzle, and a synonym match. Key included. - HappyEdugator

Logical Fallacies Handout - defines logical fallacies, and helps student understand why they are important to avoid when writing an argument. Includes a list of common logical fallacies with examples of each, including Ad Hominem, Appeal to Popular Opinion, False Analogy, Attacking the Motive, Red Herring, Begging the Question, Inconsistency, Straw Person, Look Who's Talking, Slippery Slope, Hasty Generalizations, Circular Argument, and Genetic Fallacy. - HappyEdugator

Foldable Book Review. Template and directions. How to make a foldable booklet that will stay together without glue or tape. Includes pages in this order; Title and author Main characters Setting Problem/solution Events of the plot Important words Main Idea or Theme My Opinion Detailed directions, photos, and easy to print, ready to go, no prep template. Students will love making their mini booklets about the books they read. - HappyEdugator

Flowers for Algernon True False Test. 20 question true-false comprehension test for the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Key included. - HappyEdugator

Rikki Tikki Tavi Writing Activity and Rubric. This activity is a good way to get students to summarize a story in a creative way. Have them write a newspaper article, including illustration, about the story they have read and use this rubric to guide their work. This works well with almost any story. I used it with Rikki-tikki-tavi with great success. Includes directions on how to write a newspaper article and information on inverted pyramid news stories. - HappyEdugator