Thematic pairings of novels/short stories with movies can help students access difficult texts and can lead to deeper comprehension and lively classroom discussion. This article suggests pairings for some commonly assigned middle and high school texts for several important themes.

This activity is an indoor/outdoor activity that incorporates both literacy and scientific observation to make an ABC book based on Antler, Bear, Canoe by Betsy Bowen. Family participation is encouraged.

Donkey Hodie and her pals are making art projects from materials found around Someplace Else. As they play and create their art projects, children practice collaboration, cooperation and perspective-taking. In the classroom, teachers can lead a discussion on collaboration.

Learn to identify and avoid online scams by analyzing a real-life situation in a group. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

Philosophical Chairs discussions allow students to make meaning of texts while developing, defending, and supporting their claims. This resource walks you through how to implement this type of discussion in your classroom. Included are steps, worksheets, organizers, videos, special education modifications, and tech tools.

Links to 17 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard SL.3.1b: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussion (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics an texts under discussion).

Links to 57 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard SL.4.1b: Follow agreed upon rules for discussion and carry out assigned roles.

Links to 60 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard SL.4.1c: Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.

Students learn to generate ideas with a clear focus in response to questions while participating in a shared inquiry discussion. Included are shared inquiry guidelines, and tips on discussing fiction and non-fiction books using this method.

This article provides an overview of how teachers can use bibliotherapy to help students deal with social, emotional, and behavioral issues.

Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Identify the shared characteristics of the natural sciences
Summarize the steps of the scientific method
Compare inductive reasoning with deductive reasoning
Describe the goals of basic science and applied science

Practice brainstorming ideas and collaborating with others to share information using digital tools. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

Create a healthy technology balance by reflecting on digital habits with one of three creative projects. Time to complete: 6-9 hours

Build a mind map to reflect on a recent local, national, or global event using Google Drawings. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

Reflect on past events and look forward to the future by creating a timeline using Google Drawings. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

Improve a writing assignment by creating an automated editing program with code. Time to complete: 4-6 hours

This video clip serves as a source for professional development. In the video, third grade teacher, BJ Namba, shares her approach in facilitating book clubs. Her goals are related to empowering students to take charge of their discussions in a way that makes students accountable to each other and not just to her. [18:45]