$5 - $10 6th Grade Informational Text Centers

Did you know the theme for Black History Month 2024 focuses on African Americans and the Arts? Do you only have 20 minutes per day to incorporate Black History Month?

Switch up your classroom's exploration of African American history through art with our comprehensive digital resource, which includes 45 interactive Google Slides. This engaging and educational tool is designed to offer an in-depth look into the lives and works of 15 influential African American artists, perfect for daily learning activities in February or any time of the year perfect for daily warm-ups or part of a larger Black History Month unit.

Key Features:

• 15 Detailed Informational Texts: Each of the 15 African American artists across generations featured in this resource comes to life through meticulously crafted informational texts. These texts provide a rich narrative of each artist's journey, achievements, and impact on society.
• Engaging Short Videos: Accompanying each informational text is a carefully selected video, under five minutes in length, providing a visual and auditory learning experience. These videos are designed to complement the texts, offering a well-rounded understanding of each artist's contributions.
• Interactive Open-Ended Response Prompts: Following each informational text and video, students are encouraged to reflect and respond with open-ended questions. These prompts are designed to stimulate critical thinking, personal connection, and deeper comprehension of the material.
• 45 Easy-to-Navigate Slides: With a total of 45 slides, this digital resource provides a comprehensive yet accessible educational experience. Each artist is given a dedicated set of slides, ensuring an organized and focused learning journey.
• Digital Convenience and Accessibility: Hosted on Google Slides, this resource is easily accessible for both in-person and remote learning environments. It offers the convenience of digital use, allowing for interactive and engaging classroom or homework assignments.

Benefits:

• Cultivates an Appreciation for Diversity in Art: Students will gain a deeper understanding and respect for the diverse contributions of African American artists throughout history.
• Enhances Multimedia Learning: The combination of texts, videos, and writing prompts caters to different learning styles, ensuring a more engaging and effective educational experience.
• Promotes Critical Thinking and Expression: The open-ended response prompts encourage students to think critically and express their thoughts and interpretations, enhancing their analytical and communication skills.
• Ready-to-Use and Time-Saving for Educators: This all-in-one resource requires no additional prep, making it a valuable tool for educators looking for comprehensive, ready-to-use teaching materials.

Ideal for Teachers Who:

• Seek to provide a multimedia learning experience in their exploration of African American history and art.
• Require ready-to-go, comprehensive resources for Black History Month or cultural studies.
• Value the integration of videos and interactive elements in classroom instruction.
• Want to incorporate BHM briefly throughout February.

Transform your teaching approach with this enriching digital resource on African American artists. Inspire your students with the powerful stories, artistic expressions, and cultural impacts of these remarkable individuals. Add this multifaceted educational tool to your collection today and bring history to life in your classroom!

Teaching Science/Astronomy/Galaxy through Close Reading and Fine Arts using GLAD strategies.

Materials include lesson plans, activity pages, and posters with both student version and teacher’s version (with teaching scripts). Prep free! Grade 1-5.

Major components of the product:

- Student Package:

- 1 Info Organizer

- 3 Reading Passages

- 3 Text Dependent Questions Sets ( with 4 questions)

- 1 Vocabulary Sheet

-Teacher Package:

- 1 Info Organizer with answers

- 3 Reading Passages with Close Reading marks

- 3 Text Dependent Questions Sets with answers

- 1 Vocabulary Sheet with answers

- 1 Galaxies Black Line Drawing

- 1 Galaxies Black Line Drawing with labels

- 1 Galaxies Color Drawing

- 1 Galaxies Color Drawing with labels (great open house)

- 1 Vocab Poster with Post-it notes

- 1 Teacher Writing Sample

- 2 Student Writing Samples

- Lesson Plan embedded in 2 teaching scripts: 1 for Reading Passage and 1 for

Text Dependent Questions.

Save $$$s when you buy in bundles!

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Related Lessons:

Science Word Search: Astronomy 5 in 1 Bundle

Science Word Search: Space

Science Word Search: Galaxies

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Click a link below to see my other Close Reading Lessons:

Close Reading Bundle: Science + Holidays from Gail Gibbons

Plant:

Close Reading: Plant Unit

Close Reading: Apples

Close Reading: Corn

Close Reading: From Seed to Plant

Close Reading: Tell Me, Tree

Close Reading: The Fruits We Eat

Close Reading: The Pumpkin Book

Close Reading: The Vegetables We Eat

Animals:

Close Reading: Animal Unit

Amphibian:

Close Reading: Frogs

Arachnid:

Close Reading: Spiders

Bird:

Close Reading: Owls

Close Reading: Penguins!

Fish:

Close Reading: Sharks

Insect:

Close Reading: Monarch Butterfly

Close Reading: The Honey Makers

Close Reading: Ladybugs

Mammal:

Close Reading: Bats

Close Reading: Elephants of Africa

Close Reading: Polar Bears

Close Reading: Wolves

Close Reading: Whales

Reptile:

Close Reading: Alligators and Crocodiles

Close Reading: Dinosaurs!

Close Reading: Sea Turtles

Close Reading: Snakes

Environment:

Close Reading: Environment Unit

Close Reading: Caves and Caverns

Close Reading: Coral Reefs

Close Reading: Deserts

Close Reading: Marshes & Swamps

Close Reading: Rain Forests

Close Reading: Recycle!

Weather:

Close Reading: Weather Unit

Close Reading: It's Hurricanes!

Close Reading: It's Raining!

Close Reading: It's Snowing!

Close Reading: Tornadoes!

Season:

Close Reading: The Reasons for Seasons

Astronomy:

Close Reading: Astronomy Unit

Close Reading: GALAXIES, GALAXIES!

Close Reading: Planet Earth/Inside Out

Close Reading: The Moon Book

Close Reading: THE PLANETS

Matter:

Close Reading: States of Matter

Social Studies/Holidays:

Close Reading: Holiday Unit

Close Reading: Christmas Is ...

Close Reading: Easter

Close Reading: Halloween Is ... by Gail Gibbons

Close Reading: St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons

Close Reading: Thanksgiving Is ... by Gail Gibbons

Close Reading: Valentine's Day Is ... by Gail Gibbons

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Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this lesson.

• Check out my store https://www.TeachShare.com/store/Qiang-Ma for more lessons to help your students have fun while learning!

• Comments, suggestions, feedback and questions always welcomed!

• Each time you give feedback, TeachShare gives you feedback credits that you use to lower the cost of your future purchases. I value your feedback greatly!

• Be sure to click on the green ★ to follow me for updates and new product announcements!

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Bring the vibrant essence of spring into your middle school classroom with our "Spring Text Structure Color Sort" ELA resource. This fun, season-themed toolkit offers a dynamic way for students to engage with informational text structures, marrying educational depth with the rejuvenating spirit of spring.

Product Highlights:

• Dynamic Learning Adventure: Propel kinesthetic and visual learning as students engage in color sorting and matching activities, solidifying their grasp on six distinct text structures.
• Diverse Spring Topics: Covering everything from the rejuvenation of plant life to Easter traditions and St. Patrick's Day lore, this package guarantees engagement and broadens cultural and seasonal awareness.
• Custom-Designed for Middle School: Crafted to captivate and intellectually stimulate young learners, these activities promote critical thinking, analytical skills, and practical application.
• All-Inclusive Educational Resource: Comes equipped with a Google Slides presentation for straightforward instruction or a quick review, alongside a graphic organizer for note-taking and facilitated learning.
• Flexible Application: Ideal for cooperative group tasks, solo practice, or inclusion in your ELA centers, adapting effortlessly to varied educational environments and teaching methodologies.

Benefits:

• Boosts Text Structure Mastery: Elevates students' understanding of different informational text structures, essential for achieving ELA competence.
• Interactive & Captivating: Transcends conventional teaching aids by providing a tactile, engaging learning experience.
• Promotes Autonomous Learning: With self-assessment opportunities, it encourages student independence and self-assurance in ELA abilities.
• Spring-Themed Learning: Infuses your teaching space with the lively, hopeful essence of spring, maintaining student interest and enthusiasm for learning.

Ideal For:

• Middle School ELA Educators
• Literacy Specialists
• Homeschooling Parents
• Reading and Writing Tutors

With the "Spring Text Structure Color Sort," transform your educational environment into a blossoming garden of knowledge. Embark on a refreshing educational journey with your students, exploring the wonders of spring while unraveling the intricacies of text structures, one colorful sort at a time!

"New Year's Insights: Informational Text Structure Set" is a comprehensive educational resource expertly crafted for middle school ELA teachers. This engaging and cross-curricular package is designed to enhance students' understanding of various text structures, aligning perfectly with STAAR and other standardized testing requirements.

Product Description:

• Rich Content Spanning Five Articles: Dive into five captivating articles, each centered around the iconic Times Square New Year's celebrations. These articles are not only informative but also diverse in their presentation, covering a range of topics from the history and evolution of the celebrations to their environmental impact.
• Diverse Text Structures: Each article in this set is a model of a different text structure – Description, Chronological, Problem and Solution, Compare and Contrast, and Cause and Effect. This variety provides a dynamic learning experience, helping students recognize and understand these essential components of informational texts.
• Aligned with Standardized Testing: Accompanying each article is a set of carefully crafted multiple-choice questions focusing on the central idea, vocabulary, author's purpose, and text structure. These questions are specifically aligned with STAAR and other standardized tests, making this resource an invaluable tool for test preparation.
• Cross-Curricular Learning Experience: While rooted in ELA, this resource offers a cross-curricular approach, touching on aspects of history, culture, science, and environmental studies, thus enriching the overall educational experience.
• Introduction to Text Structures: Included is an introductory Google Slides presentation that either refreshes or introduces students to the concept of text structures. This presentation is designed to be interactive and student-friendly, making it an excellent starting point for the lesson.
• Graphic Organizer for Effective Learning: To aid in comprehension and retention, a graphic organizer is provided for students to take notes during the presentation. This organizer serves as a valuable reference tool during work time, helping students organize their thoughts and analysis.
• Comprehensive Answer Keys: For each article's question set, a detailed answer key is provided, simplifying grading and allowing for in-depth class discussions on each topic.

"New Year's Insights: Informational Text Structure Set" is a must-have for any middle school ELA classroom. It not only bolsters students' reading and comprehension skills but also encourages critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world around them. This resource is perfect for teachers looking to add depth and variety to their instruction while aligning with educational standards.

This resource is included in the New Year 2024 Bundle Here: Ring in Learning: New Year's Thematic Middle School Classroom Bundle (TeachShare.com)

Comprehensive Text Structure Resource for Middle School ELA (Grades 5-8)

Aligned with TEKS 5.10B, TEKS ELA 6.9b, ELA 7.9B, ELA 8.9B, and Common Core State Standards: Literacy.RI.5.5, RI.6.5, RI.7.5, RI.8.6

Introducing a meticulously crafted resource designed to empower middle school ELA and intervention teachers. Dive into the world of text structures with this comprehensive package that seamlessly blends theory with hands-on practice.

Objective: Equip students with the skills to identify six distinct text structure types of informational text and discern the author's purpose.

What's Inside:

• Engaging PowerPoint presentation with clear directions and captivating visuals.
• Comprehensive guided notes and a graphic organizer.
• Eight pages of practice materials, including text structure exercises and author's purpose identification tasks.
• A fun and educational coloring sort activity.

How to Use:

1. We Do (15 min): Kickstart the lesson with the provided note-taking graphic organizer. As you navigate through the PowerPoint, students will jot down definitions, signal words, and the author's purpose for each structure. Enhance engagement by having students read aloud or using popsicle sticks for random selections.
2. Teams Do (20 min): Transition to partnered practice with six high-interest paragraphs centered around social media. Students will highlight signal words, pinpoint the text structure, and elucidate the author's rationale behind choosing a particular structure.
3. You Do (20 min): Culminate the lesson with an independent color sort activity, allowing students to showcase their understanding.

Formats Available: PDF and PowerPoint.

Unique Selling Points:

• Print & Go: Save precious prep time with materials that are ready to be printed and presented.
• Low Prep: Minimize your preparation efforts without compromising on the quality of instruction.

Perfect for introducing text structures or as a refresher, this resource is structured into three distinct sections: We Do, Teams Do, and You Do. Designed to fit snugly into a 55-minute class period, it offers a balanced mix of guided instruction and independent practice.

Elevate your teaching game with this comprehensive resource. Ideal for middle school grades 5-8, it aligns with key educational standards, ensuring that your students are on the right track.

Engage your middle schoolers with a festive dive into informational text skills using the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as the backdrop. This comprehensive resource is designed to captivate students while reinforcing critical reading skills over two to three class periods.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and analyze the central idea in informational texts.
• Understand and evaluate the author's purpose.
• Recognize and interpret various text structures.
• Determine the meaning of academic words in context.

What's Included:

• Five high-interest informational texts centered on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• A four-question multiple-choice quiz for each text, complete with an answer key.
• A Google Slides presentation to introduce and review key informational text skills.

How It Works:

• Day 1: Kickstart the lesson with a Google Slides presentation to refresh students on each skill's definition. Then, dive into the first two texts with guided annotation and strategic multiple-choice question approaches.
• Day 2: Continue with the remaining texts and quizzes, followed by a comprehensive review of the answers, solidifying students' understanding.

Perfect for Busy Teachers:

• Print & Go: No prep needed! Simply print the materials or share them digitally for an interactive class experience.
• Highly Engaging Material: The vibrant history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade keeps students interested and learning.
• Holiday Themed: Bring the Thanksgiving spirit into your classroom with content that's both educational and festive.
• Rigorous & Multi-Skill Focused: Challenge students with texts that are rigorous and cover multiple ELA standards.

Usage Scenario: Ideal for ELA, special education, and interventionist teachers, this resource serves as an excellent review of priority standards. It's adaptable to various student abilities and can be used after teaching the skills explicitly, ensuring that all students can participate and learn effectively.

Highlights:

Holiday Material: Students will enjoy learning with content themed around a beloved national holiday event.

• Engagement & Rigor: Not only does this set engage students, but it also challenges them to apply multiple literacy skills in a cohesive manner.

Elevate your ELA curriculum with this ready-to-use Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade informational text set. It's the perfect blend of holiday cheer and academic rigor, designed to keep your students engaged and on track with their literacy skills!

Immerse your middle school students in the festive spirit of learning with this "Winter Holiday Text Sort" ELA resource. This unique, holiday-themed package offers a hands-on approach to mastering informational text structures, perfectly blending educational rigor with seasonal fun.

Product Highlights:

• Dynamic Learning Experience: Embrace kinesthetic learning as students color sort and match texts, reinforcing their understanding of six different text structures.
• Broad Range of Holiday Topics: From the magical lore of Santa Claus to the fascinating facts about snowflakes, this resource covers a variety of winter holiday topics, ensuring high engagement and cultural enrichment.
• Designed for Middle School Students: Tailored to captivate and challenge young adolescents, the activities encourage critical thinking, analysis, and application.
• Comprehensive Instructional Tool: Includes a Google Slides presentation for direct instruction or as a refresher, along with a graphic organizer for note-taking and guided learning.
• Versatile Usage: Perfect for group activities, individual practice, or as a part of your ELA stations. This resource adapts seamlessly to different classroom settings and teaching styles.

Benefits:

• Enhances Text Structure Comprehension: Students gain a clear understanding of various informational text structures, a crucial skill for ELA proficiency.
• Interactive and Engaging: Moves beyond traditional worksheets, offering a tactile and interactive learning experience.
• Facilitates Independent Learning: Students can self-check their work, fostering autonomy and confidence in their ELA skills.
• Holiday Themed: Adds a festive touch to your classroom, keeping students engaged and excited about learning during the holiday season.

Ideal For:

• Middle School ELA Teachers
• Literacy Coaches
• Homeschool Educators
• Tutors specializing in Reading and Writing

With the "Winter Holiday Text Sort," transform your classroom into a winter wonderland of learning. Engage your students’ minds and hands in an educational journey through the holidays. Watch as they unwrap the gift of knowledge, one text structure at a time!