August Lessons and Activities BUNDLE - 20 Days - Perfect for back to school!
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Products in this Bundle (5)
Description
When I think of August, I think of back to school! That’s what this August bundle of resources is all about! This set of six resources makes preparing for the start of a new school year a breeze! You’ll find everything you need to get students learning and having fun in your classroom. There’s 20 days’ worth of activities and lessons in this bundle, so your entire month is already planned. You’ll find back to school activities, sequencing centers, a biography writing unit, nonfiction text structure doodle and do, and an independent reading program that you can use the entire school year! Just print and teach!
***GREAT NEWS!*** This bundle is part of this YEAR OF ELA INSTRUCTION! The bundle includes 60 turn-key units that you can teach all year long! Units are bundled into monthly folders with a suggested scope and sequence. Your entire year is already planned for you! LEARN MORE HERE.
This bundle includes:
• Back to School Activities-- There’s two resources included in this bundle to get ready for back to school. First, you’ll find a resource that is all about the first day of school. Then, there’s a pack of back to school checklists, a classroom community brainstorm, writing prompt, and icebreaker.
• Sequencing Learning Centers -- This Sequencing Centers resource contains activities and lessons for six learning centers. Each center is designed to give students engaging and exciting learning experiences to practice, enrich, reteach, and enhance their learning. Working independently and with their small groups, student will have the opportunity to develop the critical reading comprehension skill of identifying and finding the order of events in nonfiction and fiction passages.
• Biography Writing Unit-- In this detailed, common-core aligned, 10-day unit, students will learn about biography writing and actively participate in the writing process. Students will write biographical sketches about a classmate. In their biographies they’ll include information about their classmate’s early life, personal life, and accomplishments. They’ll also include critical elements of biography writing. (Includes PDF and Google-Classroom compatible writing packet and rubric.)
• Comparing and Contrasting – Nonfiction Text Structure -- This “Doodle and Do” resource includes “DOODLE” notes to help students develop understanding of the Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Text Structure AND six activities that students can “DO” to help them showcase their learning.
• Independent Reading Program -- This Independent Reading Program is a 6-week program where students read self-selected books and complete 8 assignments to demonstrate and develop their comprehension and reading skills. Over the course of six weeks students will complete a Pre-Read, Journal Entry, Reading Strategy Graphic Organizer, Final Response and Book Talk. All assignments are designed to be glued into or completed in a steno notebook.
Looking for more monthly unit packs? Find them here…
• July / Summer Unit Plans Pack
Learn more about the units included in this bundle:
First Day of School – 1 Day – 22 pages
This resource is filled with activities to get your school year off to the best possible start. With a student survey, teacher interview activity, writing prompt, and icebreakers, you’ll be able to keep your students engaged and actively involved in your classroom from the first minute they arrive. Filled with the perfect combination of fun and community-building, this resource will have your students excited about learning and becoming a part of your classroom.
The First Day of School Resource includes:
• A teacher guide that includes the purpose, preparation, and activity instructions for each 1st day of school activity.
• Two-page student survey
• 20 questions for the teacher interview activity
• Classroom Links - super simple craftivity
• Creative writing prompt
• Parent writing prompt
• A comprehensive list of additional ideas to incorporate into your first week of school.
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Back to School Activities – 3 Days – 21 pages
Get your school year off to a fantastic start with this resource filled with engaging Back to School Activities! Filled with back to school checklists, warm-ups, about me mini-books, personalized name tags, teacher predictions, a classroom community brainstorm, writing prompt and an icebreaker, this set of activities has everything you need to not only learn about your students, but set up a classroom community that is engaging and supportive.
In this resource, you’ll find…
• A Detailed and Comprehensive Overview on HOW to implement each activity (3 pages)
• Back to School Checklist for Teachers with tips and tricks for a successful school year
• Students’ Thoughts on the First Day of School Overview
• All About You Name Tag Survey and Activity
• All About You Name Tag Template (with motivational quote)
• Teacher Prediction Activity where students make guesses about YOU!
• Teacher Prediction Scoring Guide and Results
• How-To Make a Mini-Book - Step-by-Step Instructions
• A Little Bit About Me Mini-Book Template
• This or That Warm-Up Worksheet about Finding Sequence
• Creative Writing Prompt (great to use as a baseline writing assessment)
• Classroom Community Brainstorm
• Icebreaker or Lesson Extension Activity
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Sequencing Learning Centers – 3 Days – 62 pages
These centers are extremely versatile! They can be taught during a single class period, spread out over consecutive days, or taught at different times throughout the year.
The centers are completely turn-key and include everything:
• Center Implementation Guide
• Center Table Labels
• Teacher Resources - 6 Detailed Center Overview and Set-Up Guides
• Student Packets (where students record their work from each center)
• Center Materials (includes Student Directions - with extension activities and any resource students will need to complete the activity)
• Grade Sheet (to track and grade student work)
• Keys (for all center activities)
Sequencing Centers Overview:
Center 1: Putting Events in Order
Students work to put two sets of how-to directions into the correct order.
Center 2: Sequencing Through Time
Students read two nonfiction passages and put the events from each passage in order on a timeline.
Center 3: Sequencing Signal Words
Students cut and paste sequencing clue words into two passages.
Center 4: Reading Comprehension
Students put a nonfiction passage in order, read the passage together, and respond to reading comprehension questions.
Center 5: Sequencing Mini-Books
Students create mini-how-to books with a focus on putting the steps in sequential order.
Center 6: Story Sequence
Students read a fable and then create a foldable with the plot events in order.
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Biography Writing Unit - 10 days – 54 pages
In this detailed, common-core aligned, 10-day unit, students will learn about biography writing and actively participate in the writing process. Students will write biographical sketches about a classmate. In their biographies they’ll include information about their classmate’s early life, personal life, and accomplishments. They’ll also include critical elements of biography writing. Students will research their subject with interviews, journal entry analysis, and photograph reviews. Through the study of a mentor text, pre-writing activities, draft guidelines, revision mini-lessons and guides, peer conferencing, and editing, students will write a powerful biographies. This unit is perfect for the start of school since it’s a great way for students to get to know their classmates, as a compliment to narrative writing, or as an engaging writing unit anytime during the year. Whenever you teach this unit, you’ll be thrilled with the superb writing that students create and the pride they show in their work.
In this unit, students will:
• Write a biography about a classmate
• Conduct and collect research on their biography subject
• Prepare research (journal and photographs) for their biographer
• Develop skills in organizing events naturally and logically
• Interpret facts and present them in an engaging way
• Learn about and write using biography techniques including chronological order, direct quotations, and factual information
• Use a variety of transition words and phrases in their writing
• Use precise words and develop word choices and sensory language to convey experiences and events
• Produce a biography writing piece that is appropriate to task, purpose and audience
• Strengthen their writing through planning, revising, editing, and conferencing
• Build a community of writers
• Actively listen to and identify elements of biography writing in their peers’ writing while responding to a listening guide
This detailed Biography Writing Unit includes:
• Detailed lesson plans (10)
• Rubric - Biography Writing
• Guided notes - Biography Writing
• Teacher key - Guided notes
• Mentor text - Biography - “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
• Mentor text - Analysis
• Mentor text - Timeline
• Biography Writing Rubric
• Interview Question Formulation Directions
• Interview Question Bank - 27 Questions
• Interview Cut-and-Paste Activity
• Interview Charts
• Research Collection - Journal Entries and Photograph
• Planning - Putting Events in Order
• First Draft Guidelines
• First Draft - Beginning, Middle and End
• Revising - Leads
• Revising - Transitions
• Revising - Sensory Details
• Revising - Ending
• Revising - Checklist
• Editing - Checklist
• Peer Conference Form
• Final Copy Guidelines
• Picture Facts
• Journal Entry Guide and Prompts
• Teacher Keys (Analysis and Timeline)
• Biography Listening Guide
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Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Text Structure – 3 Days – 38 pages
About the “Doodle” Notes:
Students will develop an understanding of the Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Text Structure first by completing a set of doodle notes. Doodle notes are color-it-in, fill-it-in, and doodle-encouraging note sheets. They’re not only visually engaging, they’re also effective in helping students increase their focus and ability to recall information. Plus…they’re really fun! In this resource, there are 2 options of Doodle Notes:
• Option 1: All the notes are filled in. With this option students will color, embellish, and add doodles to the notes as you review the information with the class.
• Option 2: Some of the notes are filled in and students need to fill in the remainder of the notes (like guided notes). Students will work to fill in the notes as you teach the content.
About the “Do” Activities
After students complete their Doodle Notes it’s time for them to “Do” some fun activities. The activities are designed around lessons to help students deepen their understanding of the Compare and Contrast Nonfiction Text Structure. There are six activities in all:
• Compare and Contrast Doodles: Students carry the doodle concept into the first activity where they doodle houses and then compare and contrast their work with a partner.
• Signal Words Sort: Students learn about the key words that authors use to signal when subjects are compared and contrasted. Then, they sort the words into two categories.
• Find the Clues: Students read a passage written using the compare and contrast nonfiction text structure. Then, they identify clues in the text that support the text structure.
• Problem-Solution Text Structure Reading 1: Students read a passage using the compare and contrast text structure and then complete a Venn diagram.
• Problem-Solution Text Structure Reading 2: Students practice reading another passage using the compare and contrast text structure. Then, they respond to reading comprehension questions.
• Compare and Contrast Text Structure Writing: Students review stats on two different cities. Then, they compare and contrast the cities in a brainstorm. Finally, they write a passage comparing and contrasting the cities.
This detailed “Doodle and Do” resource includes:
- An overview and set-up of the mini-unit
- Doodle Notes lesson plan
- Detailed Lesson Plans for each “Do” Activity
- Doodle Notes – 2 versions! 1 version has all the notes filled in. The other version is missing some information and students are required to fill it in while learning.
- Student Learning Packet Cover Sheet
- Compare and Contrast Doodle Activity
- Doodle Activity Comparisons and Contrasts
- Signal Word Sort
- Reading Passage – “Sharks and Dolphins”
- Find the Clues – Text Analysis
- Reading Passage – “Olympic Games: Then and Now”
- Venn Diagram
- Reading Passage – “Celebrating a New Year”
- Reading Comprehension Questions
- Compare and Contrast Text Structure Writing Pre-Write
- Writing Paper for Compare and Contrast Writing
- All Answer Keys
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Independent Reading Program – 6 weeks – 61 pages
This Independent Reading Program is a 6-week program where students read self-selected books and complete 8 assignments to demonstrate and develop their comprehension and reading skills. Over the course of six weeks students will complete a Pre-Read, Journal Entry, Reading Strategy Graphic Organizer, Final Response and Book Talk. All assignments are designed to be glued into or completed in a steno notebook.
In this Independent Reading Program:
• Students will self-select an independent reading book.
• Student will complete:
----- Pre-Reading Response - This assignment enables students to make a thoughtful book selection, make predictions about the book, and set goals for the 5-week reading period.
----- Reading Strategy Graphic Organizer- Students will complete one of six graphic organizers utilizing reading strategies - connecting, clarifying, visualizing, predicting, questioning, and evaluating.
----- Journal Prompt - After selecting a journal prompt, students thoughtfully respond to the prompt.
----- Final Response - First students complete a pre-write and then using the ideas from the pre-write students write a well-developed final response after they finish reading their book.
----- Book Talk - Students will give book talks to the entire class after completing a book talk pre-write, final copy and then practicing their book talks.
• Students will be evaluated with rubrics and score sheets.
In this Independent Reading Program students will:
• Value the importance of reading
• Increase reading fluency and comprehension skills
• Become active readers while utilizing reading strategies
• Respond to reading in a thoughtful and reflective manner
• Build understanding of their reading
• Reflect on their reading and communicate ideas through journaling
• Appreciate different qualities found in various genres
• Set and meet reading goals
• Develop skills to be successful in meeting standard of the curriculum
Included in this Independent Reading Program:
• Parent Communication - Including a Parent Letter and Tips for Nurturing Readers
• Resource Guides that students will glue into the beginning of their steno notebook. These will serve as references for students throughout the 6-week program (and over the course of the year). These include:
----- Program Guidelines
----- Strategies for Reading
----- Reading Log
----- Journal Prompts
----- Book Talk Overview
----- Due Dates
----- Sample Graphic Organizers that model completion of each
• Program Assignments that students complete during each session of the program. These include:
----- Pre-Read
----- Reading Strategy Graphic Organizers (6)
----- Final Response Pre-Write
----- Book Talk Pre-Write
----- Book Talk Final Copy
• Scoring Guides
----- Independent Reading Novel Score Sheet
----- Reader Response Journal Rubric
----- Book Talk Rubric
• Nonfiction Text Resources (for students reading nonfiction books)
----- Nonfiction Journal Prompts
----- Nonfiction Graphic Organizers (Main Idea, Fact and Opinion, Sequencing, Supporting Details, Cause and Effect, Connecting)
----- Nonfiction Journal Response Rubric
----- Nonfiction Final Response Pre-Write
----- Nonfiction Book Talk Pre-Write
----- Book Talk Rubric
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