Middle School Close Reading Independent Work Packet (by date, latest first)

Exceptional learners such as English language learners will benefit tremendously from previewing the text prior to starting a nonfiction text. By activating prior knowledge, zooming in to titles and subheadings, and analyzing pictures they will spend quality time building context before reading.

This product contains three pages:

• Previewing the text anchor chart reference sheet so students can refer back when needed
• Previewing the text graphic organizer
• Previewing the text sentence starters

Looking for a versatile resource that works with any fiction novel? This Lit Circle Packet is perfect for Upper Elementary and middle school students, offering a wide range of engaging activities designed to encourage deep analysis, creativity, and critical thinking, regardless of the novel being studied. Whether you're working on a class novel, independent reading, or small group book clubs, this resource provides a comprehensive approach to exploring literature.

What’s Included: This packet includes 20 flexible and meaningful activities that can be applied to any fiction text. From character analysis to creative writing, each activity is designed to help students engage with and understand the story on a deeper level.

Activities:

1. Summary – Students summarize key events of each chapter to track the story’s development.
2. List the Characters – Identify characters and describe their roles or actions in the chapter.
3. I Predict... – Students make predictions based on text evidence, promoting critical thinking.
4. Significant Quote – Choose a key quote and explain its importance to the story’s themes or characters.
5. Illustrate an Important Scene – Draw and explain a pivotal moment from the chapter.
6. Vocabulary – Define new words, use them in context, and draw pictures to reinforce meaning.
7. Character Adjectives – Describe the protagonist with three adjectives and support one with text evidence.
8. Musical Playlist for the Main Character – Create a playlist that represents the character's journey or emotions.
9. Character Identity – Explore six key elements of the character’s identity and support with text from the novel.
10. Window and Mirror – Compare and contrast yourself with the main character, identifying similarities and differences.
11. Conflict Analysis – Identify and explain three types of conflict (e.g., character vs. character, self, society, etc.).
12. Text Conversation – Write a text message conversation between yourself and a character to help them solve their conflict.
13. Setting Analysis – Explore how different settings impact the characters and the story’s events.
14. Imagery of Setting – Use sensory details to describe a setting and analyze the mood it creates.
15. Theme Statements – Write three universal theme statements that apply to the novel’s message or lesson.
16. Rewrite the Ending – Get creative by rewriting the final chapter or scene using the author’s tone and style.
17. Comic Strip – Draw a comic strip of four key moments from the story, showing the progression of the plot.
18. Breaking News – Write a newspaper article about a major event in the story, reporting it as breaking news.
19. Expository Essay – Write an essay explaining how the protagonist changes throughout the novel, supported by evidence.
20. Argumentative Essay – Argue whether the protagonist’s critical decision was justified, using textual evidence to support your claim.

Why You’ll Love This Resource:

• Flexible for Any Novel: These activities can be applied to any fiction text, making this packet a versatile tool for any reading assignment, novel study, or literature circle.
• Engaging and Interactive: Activities encourage students to think critically, make connections, and engage creatively with the story.
• Multiple Skills: Students will practice a variety of skills, including summarization, analysis, prediction, creative expression, and essay writing.
• Ready-to-Use: Simply print and go! Perfect for class novels, independent reading, or book clubs.

Use this Lit Circle Packet to foster a deeper understanding of any novel while encouraging meaningful discussion and creative expression in your classroom!

This Teaching Bundle contains the following items:
* PowerPoint Presentation
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Analyzing Primary Sources

PowerPoint Presentation

This 15-slide PowerPoint presentation covers the women during the Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age. It is an ideal lesson for the post-Civil War period or as a stand-alone resource for women’s history. It is also a good resource during Women’s History Month.

Each slide contains information and graphics that highlight women’s changing roles due to industrialization. It highlights the different experiences based on social classes as well as work experiences and early organizational efforts.

The PowerPoint slides are available both as PPT and PDF. Check the Bonus section for the additional file.

There is also an Easel Assessment. For Home Schoolers or for asynchronous learning, this is a valuable digital tool.

Reading Assignment and Worksheet

This three-page Reading Assignment and Worksheet provides an overview of the various activities, attributes and activities of women between 1865 and 1910 as the United States faced dramatic changes due to the Industrial Revolution. Students will learn about the growing divisions between social classes as well as early efforts to combat some of the issues facing the nation.
Students can read this on their own as a homework assignment or it can be a group activity in a classroom. It is also ideally suited for home-schoolers or independent learners who want to learn more. A Worksheet with questions based on the reading is included, along with an Answer Key.
Reading Assignment - 2 pages
Worksheet - 1 page

The worksheet is also available as a digital resource through Easel so students may complete it online.

Primary Source Analysis and DBQs

This 20 page Primary Source Analysis activity gives students a chance to delve deeper into women’s experiences and contributions during the Industrial Revolution and the Gilded Age. In addition, there are Document-Based Questions (DBQs) for students to complete.

Included is a one-page sheet that explains what primary sources are and how to analyze them using specific questions through a process called HAPPY. Primary sources include speeches, essays, a declaration and cartoons. Each page of primary sources includes questions. There is also a page at the end for students to apply the HAPPY process to one source. An Answer Key to all the questions and the HAPPY process is available at the end of the packet. This is excellent practice for all high school students, particularly Honors and APUSH students, but all students will find these resources engaging.

Students can read this on their own as a homework assignment or it can be a group activity in a classroom. It is also ideally suited for home-schoolers, college students or independent learners who want to learn more. Teachers can assign just a few sources to analyze or the entire packet. Student time will vary.

There is also an Easel Activity which allows students to answer the questions at the end of each primary source online. For homework purposes, Home Schoolers or for asynchronous learning, this is an especially valuable digital option.

This is part of the Women in American History Series which includes PowerPoint lessons as well as Reading Assignments and Worksheets, Primary Source Analysis and DBQs and Activities for other eras.

If you like World War II historical fiction, I have written a book called Hearts of War about a Nisei soldier who served in the Military Intelligence Service and a woman who served in the Women Army Corps. In writing this book, I wanted to bring an unknown aspect of history to light. Available on Amazon or Kindle and I appreciate any reviews!

Deepen your students' understanding of these eras!

This Teaching Bundle includes four Reading Assignments and Worksheets from 1800-1900:

* Early Women's Rights Movement Reading Assignment and Worksheet

* Women during the Civil War

* Women during the Industrial Revolution

* Women's Suffrage Movement

Convenient and quick to complete!

Each Reading Assignment and Worksheet is designed to take one class period or for students to complete on their own as independent study or to complete as homework. These close reading assignments will help students learn more about women's contributions in American society as well as the challenges that women faced during each of these eras.

Worksheets provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their reading. Worksheets are available as a printable or as a digital option through Easel.

Other Women in American History Series Reading Assignments and Worksheets are available:
Women in the 1920s: Reading Assignment and Worksheet
Women during the Great Depression: Reading Assignment and Worksheet
Women in the U.S. Military during WWII

Other Women in American History Reading Assignment and Worksheet bundles include the following:
U.S. Women's History Reading Assignments Bundle: 1600-1920
U.S. Women's History Reading Assignments Bundle: 1600-1860

This Teaching Bundle includes nine Reading Assignments and Worksheets from 1600-1920:
* Native American Women Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Colonial Women Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women of the American Revolution Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Early Women's Rights Movement Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women during the Civil War
* Women during the Industrial Revolution
* Women's Suffrage Movement
* Women during the Progressive Era

Each Reading Assignment and Worksheet is designed to take one class period, or portion thereof (30-50 minutes) or for students to complete on their own as independent study or to complete as homework. These close reading assignments will help students learn more about women's contributions in American society as well as the challenges that women faced during each of these eras.

Worksheets provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their reading. Worksheets are available as a printable or as a digital option through Easel.

Other American Women's History Series Reading Assignments and Worksheets are available:
* Women in the 1920s: Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women during the Great Depression: Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women during WWII: Reading Assignment and Worksheet

Or buy the entire bundle:
U.S. Women's History Reading Assignments and Worksheets: 1600-1945

This Teaching Bundle includes eleven Reading Assignments and Worksheets from 1600-1920:

* Native American Women Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Colonial Women Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women of the American Revolution Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Early Women's Rights Movement Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Women during the Civil War
* Women during the Industrial Revolution
* Women's Suffrage Movement
* Women during the Progressive Era
* Women during the 1920s

* Women during the Great Depression
* Women during World War II

Each Reading Assignment and Worksheet is designed to take one class period or for students to complete on their own as independent study or to complete as homework. These close reading assignments will help students learn more about women's contributions in American society as well as the challenges that women faced during each of these eras.

Worksheets provide students with an opportunity to process key facts and developments about women's experiences and to reflect on their reading.

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Sign up for my mailing list to receive the FREE resource: Nurses during the Civil War: Mini-DBQ and Primary Source Analysis (also included in Women in the Civil War DBQ and Primary Source Analysis resource).

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I have been a high school history teacher for over 15 years, both in-person and online with involvement in education for over 25 years. I have primarily taught U.S. History, AP World History, World History, AP World History and U.S. Women’s History.

Thank you for your interest in this resource!

Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns or comments about this resource at christa@historyprisms.com.

The U.S. Women’s History Curriculum- Part 1 (1600-1920) contains Reading Assignments and Worksheets, Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s and Power Point Lessons covering seven different eras.

This curriculum unit covers women’s experiences, contributions and perspectives from the pre-Columbian Native American era through the turn of the century, but also including the culmination of the Women's Suffrage Movement with the passage of the 19th Amendment.

The U.S. Women’s History Curriculum – Part 1 is an ever-evolving curriculum unit that includes not just the listed resources but any other resources that will be added in the future.

This curriculum unit can stand alone as its own course or can serve to supplement your United States History curriculum or AP United States History curriculum. These materials provide a more nuanced and complex look at how women participated in American society than is usually given in standard textbooks.

For 8th Grade through 12th Grade students, the Reading Assignments and Worksheets are excellent summaries of women’s experiences that are completed individually or as group exercises. Reading assignments are usually 2-3 pages with 1-2 page worksheets.

For APUSH students, the Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s are excellent opportunities for students to delve deeper into questions relating to developments, changing attitudes and policies relating to women during critical times in U.S. History. These resources usually include anywhere from 9 to 25 primary sources which vary from excerpts from books, letters, diaries, journals, newspaper articles, lectures and more, photographs, drawings, paintings, graphs, charts, maps and more. They provide excellent practice in identifying change/continuity over time (CCOT), cause/effect and in assessing significance of events.

Teachers can deliver the Power Point Lessons live or can record them for online viewing by their students. Power Point Lessons are usually 12-20 slides.

U.S. Women’s History Curriculum Unit – Part 1 (20 Resources)

⭐ Native American Women: Pre-Columbian Era through 1810
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Power Point Lesson
⭐ Colonial Women: 1600-1763
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s
* Power Point Lesson
⭐ Revolutionary Women: 1763-1783
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s
* Power Point Lesson
⭐ Early Women’s Rights Movement: 1840-1865
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s
* Power Point Lesson
⭐ Women during the Civil War: 1861-1865
* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s
* Power Point Lesson

⭐ Women during the Industrial Revolution: 1865-1920

* Reading Assignment and Worksheet
* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s
* Power Point Lesson
⭐ Women's Suffrage Movement: 1865-1920

* Reading Assignment and Worksheet

* Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s

* Power Point Lesson

All of these resources are also available for purchase separately or as teaching bundles for each era but as a curriculum unit, you can take advantage of the discount of immediate access and pre-planning opportunities.

Bonus File: How to Integrate Sources in a DBQ

This Power Point file gives students direction and examples on how to integrate primary sources into sentences, whether from a quantitative source or a written one.

U.S. Women’s History Curriculum – Part 2 coming soon!

Individual Resources are also available for post-Civil War topics:

⭐ Women during the Progressive Era Reading Assignment and Worksheet: 1900-1920

⭐ Women during the 1920s Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s: 1920-1929

⭐ Women during the 1920s Reading Assignment: 1920-1929

⭐ Women during the Great Depression Reading Assignment and Worksheet: 1929-1939

⭐ Women during the Great Depression Primary Source Analysis and DBQ’s: 1929-1939

⭐ Women during World War II Reading Assignment and Worksheet: 1941-1945
⭐ Women during World War II Power Point Lesson: 1941-1945

Follow I Like History

Follow my store so that you know when I add new products. Click the star next to my name and my new products will appear on the front page of your TeachShare account.

I have been a high school history teacher for over 15 years, both in-person and online with involvement in education for over 25 years. I have taught U.S. History, AP World History, World History, AP World History and U.S. Women’s History.

Provide Feedback

Also, don’t forget that you can earn credit towards future purchases when you give feedback!

For each purchase that you make, you can leave feedback which earns you credit for future purchases. Easy and financially-savvy too! Feedback helps me to know what teachers want for their students.

Interested in Free Resources?

Sign up for my mailing list to receive the FREE resource: World War II Oral Histories from the Homefront. (not available on TeachShare)

To receive information about podcasts, offers for freebies, and more, join my mailing list here.

Please reach out if you have any questions, concerns or comments about this resource at christa@historyprisms.com.

Thank you for your interest in this resource!

Christa Nonnemaker
B.A. History/M.A. American History

This three-page Reading Assignment and Worksheet provides a summary of women's roles and contributions during the Industrial Revolution and Gilded Age in the United States. It covers the time between 1865 and 1900. After the Civil War ended, the economy in the North and Midwest began to expand with the growth of factories and railroads. As a result, immigration increased and distinct social classes developed, creating different experiences for women. These impacts will be addressed in separate resources about women and industrialization.

Students can read this on their own as a homework assignment or it can be a group activity in a classroom. It is also ideally suited for home-schoolers or independent learners who want to learn more. A Worksheet with questions based on the reading is included, along with an Answer Key.

Reading Assignment - 3 pages

Worksheet - 1 page

The worksheet is also available as a digital resource through Easel so students may complete it online.

This is part of the Women in American History Series which includes PowerPoint lessons as well as Reading Assignments and Worksheets, Analyzing Primary Sources and Activities from other eras.

Here are links to other Reading Assignments and Worksheets:

Women in the US Military during WWII: Reading Assignment and Worksheet
Women during the 1920s: Reading Assignment and Worksheet

Progressive Era Women: Reading Assignment and Worksheet Women's Suffrage Movement: Reading Assignment and Worksheet

Early Women's Rights: Reading Assignment and Worksheet Women of the American Revolution: Reading Assignment and Worksheet Women in Colonial America: Reading Assignment and Worksheet Native American Women: Reading Assignment and Worksheet

If you like World War II historical fiction, I have written a book called Hearts of War about a Nisei soldier who served in the Military Intelligence Service and a woman who served in the Women Army Corps. In writing this book, I wanted to bring an unknown aspect of history to light. Available on Amazon or Kindle and I appreciate any reviews!

Bring the vibrant underwater world of coral reefs to life with this informative nonfiction passage and set of 10 multiple choice questions. This science reading comprehension worksheet features a 150 word passage describing how coral reefs form and the threats facing these diverse ecosystems today. Useful for grades 3-5 science classes, the text and questions address key reading skills like main idea, detail identification, vocabulary, and author's purpose. After reading about the biology of coral reefs and the animals that depend on them, students will answer multiple choice questions testing comprehension, vocabulary meaning in context, drawing conclusions, differentiating fact and opinion, and more. From building reef structures to the need for conservation, this engaging worksheet will introduce students to coral reef ecology and build essential nonfiction literacy skills.

Skills covered:

Main idea & details

Vocabulary

Drawing conclusions

Differentiating fact & opinion

Author's purpose

Supporting evidence

Bring the magic of narwhals into your classroom with this engaging comprehension worksheet! The 150 word informational passage describes the unique characteristics and behaviors of the unicorn of the sea, the narwhal. Accompanying the text are 8 multiple choice questions plus 2 short answer questions that cover skills like main idea, vocabulary, drawing conclusions, supporting details, and author's purpose. Perfect for reading instruction, science lessons on ocean mammals, or sparking interest in persuasive writing on protecting endangered wildlife, this activity will challenge students while exposing them to an intriguing Arctic creature. Intended for grades 4-6, this worksheet can be used independently for practice or as part of a unit on whales, oceans, or endangered species. Watch your students light up as they learn all about magnificent narwhals and hone essential reading comprehension strategies at the same time!

Skills Covered:

Main idea & details

Vocabulary

Drawing conclusions

Author's purpose

Supporting evidence

Short answer response

Approximate Word Count: 150

Reading Level: R/S

Usage: Independent practice, comprehension checks, science enrichment, endangered species persuasive writing prompt.

Rosa Parks Reading Comprehension Activity Pack

Welcome to our special Reading Comprehension Activity Pack featuring the remarkable Rosa Parks! In celebration of Black History Month or Women's History Month, this pack is designed to deepen students' understanding of Rosa Parks and her significant contributions to civil rights.

Inside this pack, you'll find an engaging reading passage that tells the inspiring story of Rosa Parks. This passage is written in simple words, making it accessible to students of various reading levels.

To ensure comprehensive understanding, we've included a variety of question types:

1. Multiple Choice
2. True or False
3. Fill in the Blanks
4. Timeline
5. Critical Thinking

In addition to the reading comprehension materials, students will enjoy:

• Word Search Puzzle
• Coloring Page with a Quote
• 2 Bookmarks

With this comprehensive activity pack, students will not only learn about Rosa Parks but also develop essential reading comprehension skills in an engaging and meaningful way.

May you are also interested with:

Black History Month Oprah Winfrey, Women's History Month Reading Comprehension

Join us in celebrating Women's History Month or Human Rights with our special Reading Comprehension Activity Pack featuring the remarkable Susan B. Anthony! This pack is designed to honor Susan B. Anthony's pioneering efforts in the fight for women's suffrage and equality.

Inside this pack, you'll find an engaging reading passage that tells the inspiring story of Suzan B. Anthony. This passage is written in simple words, making it accessible to students of various reading levels.

To ensure comprehensive understanding, we've included a variety of question types:

1. Multiple Choice
2. True or False
3. Fill in the Blanks
4. Timeline
5. Critical Thinking

In addition to the reading comprehension materials, students will enjoy:

• Word Search Puzzle
• Coloring Page with a Quote
• 2 Bookmarks

With this comprehensive activity pack, students will not only learn about Suzan B. Anthony but also develop essential reading comprehension skills in an engaging and meaningful way.

⭐ This download is a sample from my:

Bundle Women's History Month Reading Comprehension Human Rights Activity

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Save 20% on 15 books from the What Is? and What Was? book series. Each one includes a book report flipbook template and a comprehensive reading comprehension digital lesson (with a built-in reward system).

The books in the series include:

1. What Was the Age of Exploration?
2. What Was the Children's Blizzard of 1888?
3. What Was the Wild West?
4. What Was the Donner Party?
5. What Was the Ice Age?
6. What Was the Boston Tea Party?
7. What Was Ellis Island?
8. What Was the Great Depression?
9. What Was the Plague?
10. What Was the Titanic
11. What Were the Salem Witch Trials?
12. What is Climate Change?
13. What is the Constitution?
14. What is the Coronavirus Disease COVID-19?
15. What is the Women's Rights Movement?

This product is easy to use:

1. Print the template (same template for every book in this series), cut along the dotted line on each page, then staple the top to create the flipbooks (students can do this on their own).
2. Read the book (independently or as a class/group)
3. Click through the Google reading comprehension digital lesson (no-prep required!)
4. Students fill out the template independently/homework or as a class or group. In my class, we work on the book report template together through each section of the lesson.

The sections of the reading comprehension digital lesson and 9-page book report template include (along with the built-in reward system):

• book title info
• rating & review
• vocabulary
• facts
• text ideas
• series of events
• making life connections
• what I learned
• questions I have
• setting/subject
• interesting event
• important event

If you are looking to explore non-fiction text structures, this "What Was The Donner Party?" book report project digital product for 3rd and 4th-grade students is perfect. It's designed to enhance non-fiction reading comprehension and book report writing skills!

This resource includes:

• Comprehensive Google Slides digital lesson for reading comprehension and book report writing support
• 9-page printable PDF book report flip book template

Please see the product preview for more visual details.

NOTE: You need a (free) Google account to access the digital lesson, and you will need access to the book "What Was The Donner Party" by Ben Hubbard to complete the digital and printable activities.

Students will dive into the historical context of The Donner Party, gaining a deeper understanding of this significant event in world history. The digital lesson guides students through key facts, timelines, and the impact of these events.

How to use this resource:

• Have students read the book, "What Was The Donner Party?"
• Print the book report flip book template
• Open and present the Google Slides digital lesson
• Follow the intuitive prompts, which will take you through each step of the book report. For example, if it's time to work on the "facts" page, there is a series of multiple-choice questions on specific facts detailed in the text that will help refresh the students' memories and comprehension. Then students can fill in the facts they found most interesting.
• Have fun guessing the mystery puzzle between each section of the book report!

The printable PDF book report flip book template provides creative book report ideas, such as summarizing the events, using critical thinking skills, and creating a timeline. It can be used with any non-fiction book. Students will also use a book review template to evaluate The Donner Party's significance. Overall, this project offers an engaging way for students to explore non-fiction text structures while learning about a crucial event in history.

The non-fiction book report flip book pages include:

   ✏book title info

   ✏rating & review

   ✏vocabulary

   ✏facts

   ✏text ideas

   ✏series of events

   ✏making life connections

   ✏what I learned

   ✏questions I have

   ✏setting & subject

   ✏interesting event

   ✏important event

If you liked this product, you might also like . . .

   ✏What Were the Salem Witch Trials? Non-Fiction Book Report Project 4th Grade

   ✏Non-Fiction Book Report Template Project 4th Grade | What is Climate Change?

I’m so glad you stopped by my store and checked out this resource! Follow my store to be updated about new products and sales. Don’t forget to leave feedback to earn credits toward future purchases by heading to MY PURCHASES in your TeachShare account. 

Connect with me!

• Follow my store for resource updates and sales!

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❤️  Teacher Bethanie @TaughtOught Homeschooling

Did you know that there is no land at the North Pole? It's all made of ice! Learn more about the North Pole in this comprehensive reading comprehension Google lesson.

This product is so easy to use and has practically no prep:

1. Read the book
2. Print the 9-page template
3. Review the no-prep reading comprehension Google lesson with a built-in reward system (students LOVE this feature!)
4. Fill out the book report template based on the reading comprehension review as a group or independent work/homework

The template pages include (and are reviewed in the digital Google lesson):

• book title info
• rating & review
• vocabulary
• facts
• the land (animals & landmarks)
• key information (capital, population, languages, climate, agriculture, natural resources, politicians)
• what I learned
• questions I have
• historic events
• draw a map

Love,

Teacher Bethanie

Looking for an exciting way to teach your students about soils and weathering? This New York State Escape Room is the perfect blend of social studies content, close reading, and gamified learning! In this activity, students will explore the geography of New York State including cities, landmarks, and state/country/body of water borders through an engaging close reading article and four unique challenges.

Overview of the Activity: Students begin by reading a two-page informational passage about New York state geography, borders, cities, important landmarks within the state, etc.. The article includes essential vocabulary like state, city, lake, country, border, river and mountain, providing a solid foundation for students before they tackle the four interactive challenges.

Each challenge targets a different skill:

• Challenge 1: Matching vocabulary terms to their definitions (reinforcing social studies concepts).
• Challenge 2: True/false questions based on key facts from the reading (to build comprehension).
• Challenge 3: Multiple-choice questions (testing understanding of key concepts).
• Challenge 4: Identifying the paragraph where certain information is found (developing close reading skills).

For each correct answer, students receive a clue—a one-digit number. After completing all four challenges, students use their numbers to solve a final puzzle and “escape” the room.

**Why Use Close Reading?:**Close reading is an instructional approach that encourages students to carefully analyze and interpret a text. In this escape room, students must return to the passage multiple times to find the answers to the questions, helping them:

• Improve their reading comprehension.
• Strengthen critical thinking skills.
• Become more independent readers who can tackle complex information.

Benefits of Gamified Learning: Using an escape room format transforms a traditional lesson into an adventure! Students love the thrill of solving puzzles, working together, and completing challenges, which boosts their engagement and motivation. Here’s why gamified learning is a hit in the classroom:

• Increases engagement: Students are naturally motivated by challenges and competition, making learning more interactive and exciting.
• Enhances problem-solving skills: Escape rooms require students to use logic and critical thinking to solve clues and progress through tasks.
• Encourages teamwork: As students collaborate, they practice communication and teamwork, skills essential for success in group settings.

**Perfect for Social Studies and Literacy Integration:**This escape room seamlessly integrates social studies content with reading comprehension, making it a powerful resource for interdisciplinary learning. While students strengthen their understanding of New York State geography, they’re also developing literacy skills by interpreting information, analyzing key details, and practicing vocabulary.

Whether you’re teaching about New York states borders, geography within the state itself, or just looking for a fun, engaging way to challenge your students, this New York State Escape Room is sure to captivate their attention while reinforcing key learning objectives.

This engaging Halloween escape room activity combines the thrill of gamified learning with important close reading skills. Students start by reading an informative passage, which they will refer back to while completing four unique challenges. Each challenge emphasizes a different close reading skill:

• Vocabulary Matching
• True/False Statements
• Multiple Choice Questions
• Paragraph Identification

As students complete each task, they collect a one-digit number. Once they have all four digits, they solve the final puzzle to complete the escape room!

Designed to keep students excited and focused, this activity encourages critical thinking and close reading practice in a fun, interactive way. This versatile resource is perfect for independent work, group activities, or engaging early finishers, helping reinforce reading comprehension and critical thinking while embracing the spooky holiday theme.

Key Features:

• Gamified tasks to maintain engagement
• Emphasis on core close reading skills
• Great for collaborative or independent learning
• Fun, Halloween-themed to excite students

Looking for an exciting way to teach your students about soils and weathering? This Soils and Weathering Escape Room is the perfect blend of science content, close reading, and gamified learning! In this activity, students will explore how soil forms, the layers of soil, the importance of soil, and the difference between physical and chemical weathering through an engaging close reading article and four unique challenges.

Overview of the Activity: Students begin by reading a two-page informational passage that explains what soil is made of, how weathering occurs, and why soil is essential for plants and the environment. The article includes essential vocabulary like soil, rock, particles, silt, nutrients, weathering, and abrasion, providing a solid foundation for students before they tackle the four interactive challenges.

Each challenge targets a different skill:

• Challenge 1: Matching vocabulary terms to their definitions (reinforcing soil and weathering concepts).
• Challenge 2: True/false questions based on key facts from the reading (to build comprehension).
• Challenge 3: Multiple-choice questions (testing understanding of key concepts like the layers of soil and types of weathering).
• Challenge 4: Identifying the paragraph where certain information is found (developing close reading skills).

For each correct answer, students receive a clue—a one-digit number. After completing all four challenges, students use their numbers to solve a final puzzle and “escape” the room.

**Why Use Close Reading?:**Close reading is an instructional approach that encourages students to carefully analyze and interpret a text. In this escape room, students must return to the passage multiple times to find the answers to the questions, helping them:

• Improve their reading comprehension.
• Strengthen critical thinking skills.
• Become more independent readers who can tackle complex information.

Benefits of Gamified Learning: Using an escape room format transforms a traditional lesson into an adventure! Students love the thrill of solving puzzles, working together, and completing challenges, which boosts their engagement and motivation. Here’s why gamified learning is a hit in the classroom:

• Increases engagement: Students are naturally motivated by challenges and competition, making learning more interactive and exciting.
• Enhances problem-solving skills: Escape rooms require students to use logic and critical thinking to solve clues and progress through tasks.
• Encourages teamwork: As students collaborate, they practice communication and teamwork, skills essential for success in group settings.

**Perfect for Science and Literacy Integration:**This escape room seamlessly integrates science content with reading comprehension, making it a powerful resource for interdisciplinary learning. While students strengthen their understanding of soils and weathering, they’re also developing literacy skills by interpreting information, analyzing key details, and practicing vocabulary.

Whether you’re teaching about the formation of soil, the processes of physical and chemical weathering, or just looking for a fun, engaging way to challenge your students, this Soils and Weathering Escape Room is sure to captivate their attention while reinforcing key learning objectives.

Looking for an exciting way to teach your students about the Iroquois and Algonquian tribes? This Iroquois and Algonquian Close Reading Escape Room is the perfect blend of social studies content, close reading, and gamified learning! In this activity, students will explore the civilizations through an engaging close reading article and four unique challenges.

Overview of the Activity: Students begin by reading a two-page informational passage that explains different aspects of each of the civilizations, (who the Iroquois and Algonquian tribes are, aspects of their daily lives, how they interacted with their environment, as well as similarities and differences between their cultures.). The article includes essential vocabulary like confederacy, longhouse, wigwam, and council, providing a solid foundation for students before they tackle the four interactive challenges.

Each challenge targets a different skill:

• Challenge 1: Matching vocabulary terms to their definitions (reinforcing social studies concepts).
• Challenge 2: True/false questions based on key facts from the reading (to build comprehension).
• Challenge 3: Multiple-choice questions (testing understanding of key concepts about the various civilizations).
• Challenge 4: Identifying the paragraph where certain information is found (developing close reading skills).

For each correct answer, students receive a clue—a one-digit number. After completing all four challenges, students use their numbers to solve a final puzzle and “escape” the room.

**Why Use Close Reading?:**Close reading is an instructional approach that encourages students to carefully analyze and interpret a text. In this escape room, students must return to the passage multiple times to find the answers to the questions, helping them:

• Improve their reading comprehension.
• Strengthen critical thinking skills.
• Become more independent readers who can tackle complex information.

Benefits of Gamified Learning: Using an escape room format transforms a traditional lesson into an adventure! Students love the thrill of solving puzzles, working together, and completing challenges, which boosts their engagement and motivation. Here’s why gamified learning is a hit in the classroom:

• Increases engagement: Students are naturally motivated by challenges and competition, making learning more interactive and exciting.
• Enhances problem-solving skills: Escape rooms require students to use logic and critical thinking to solve clues and progress through tasks.
• Encourages teamwork: As students collaborate, they practice communication and teamwork, skills essential for success in group settings.

**Perfect for Social Studies and Literacy Integration:**This escape room seamlessly integrates social studies content with reading comprehension, making it a powerful resource for interdisciplinary learning. While students strengthen their understanding of the Iroquois and Algonquian Native American tribes, they’re also developing literacy skills by interpreting information, analyzing key details, and practicing vocabulary.

This is a escape room uses gamified challenges and is based on how Iroquois and Algonquian tribes interacted with the environment and developed unique cultures which is studied in the 4th grade curriculum under the following standards:

4.2 Native American groups, chiefly the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and Algonquian-speaking groups, inhabited the region that became New York State. Native American Indians interacted with the environment and developed unique cultures.

4.2a Geographic factors often influenced locations of early settlements. People made use of the resources and the lands around them to meet their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

• Students will examine the locations of early Native American groups in relation to geographic features, noting how certain physical features are more likely to support settlement and larger populations.
• Students will investigate how Native Americans such as the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and the Algonquian-speaking peoples adapted to and modified their environment to meet their needs and wants.

4.2b Native American groups developed specific patterns of organization and governance to manage their societies.

Students will compare and contrast the patterns of organization and governance of Native American groups such as the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) and Lenape, including matrilineal clan structure, decision-making processes, and record keeping, with a focus on local Native American groups.

4.2c Each Native American group developed a unique way of life with a shared set of customs, beliefs, and values.

• Students will examine Native American traditions; job specialization the roles of men, women, and children in their society; transportation systems; and technology.
• Students will examine contributions of Native Americans that are evident today.

If you want a fun, engaging way to challenge your students, this Iroquois & Algonquian Escape Room is sure to captivate their attention while reinforcing key learning objectives.

Introduce your students to the thrilling no prep Soils, Rocks and Landforms Scavenger Hunt! This engaging and interactive activity puts students in the shoes of a geologist mining in a city in Arkansas that is rumored to be full of rare gems that would make the finder rich!

Each student, or group of students, will receive 10 reading task cards related to soil, weathering (chemical and physical), erosion, deposition, fossils, types of landforms and how they are created. The task is not only to read the cards but to solve 10 questions—the catch is that the answer to each question is found on a different card, encouraging students to read all the information thoroughly.

How It Works:

• Students will need to determine the code word for each card by answering the fill-in-the-blank questions.
• Once all the code words have been found, students must unscramble the letters from each code word to discover the final mystery word.
• In addition, they will collect clues to uncover a 4-digit code, which will help them successfully complete their journey.

Failing to unscramble the mystery word or crack the 4-digit code will result in the having failed to find any precious gems. However, completing the mission means students will become a legendary gem hunter and have mined enough gems to become rich!

What Makes This Activity Perfect for Your Classroom:

• Engaging and Educational: Your students will be excited to play the role of a geologist solving the clues to find the hidden gems within the dig site.
• Critical Thinking Skills: By having to cross-reference information from multiple task cards, students practice comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail.
• No-Prep Needed: Simply print the task cards and hand them out to your students! It’s ready to go with minimal prep.
• Flexible Usage: This scavenger hunt can be used independently, as a group activity, or even as a fast-finisher task. It works perfectly as a history lesson, or as a fun, educational activity!

Ideal for Different Learning Styles

Whether done individually or in groups, this scavenger hunt provides the perfect opportunity for students to collaborate and share ideas as they solve the puzzles. If students are working independently, it gives them a chance to practice self-paced learning while still engaging with the science background on soils, rocks and landforms.

Perfect for History Lessons or Fun Themed Activities This activity fits seamlessly into your classroom’s history curriculum. It’s a perfect way to introduce and reinforce learning about soil, weathering (chemical and physical), erosion, deposition, fossils, types of landforms and how they are created.

This Soils, Rocks and Landforms Scavenger Hunt is not only a fun, no-prep classroom activity, but it also ensures that students gain a deeper understanding of science while developing important reading and comprehension skills. Bring the excitement of the search for the rare gems into your classroom with this adventure-packed scavenger hunt.