Knowing how to engage in signature scientific acts, such as formulating questions and using evidence in arguments is an important part of science learning. This InfoBrief from the National Center for Technology Innovation offers more information about using technology to support struggling students.

In this informational text, elementary school readers learn about the difference between weather and climate and about components of the climate system. The text can be used to practice visualizing and other comprehension strategies. Available in K-2 and 3-5 grade bands and as an illustrated book as well as a text document, the story appears in the online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle.

This lesson introduces students to American colonial life and has them compare the daily life and culture of two different colonies in the late 1700s. Students study artifacts of the thirteen original British colonies and write letters between fictitious cousins in Massachusetts and Delaware.

This lesson concentrates on Anne Frank as a writer. After a look at Anne Frank the adolescent, and a consideration of how the experiences of growing up shaped her composition of the Diary, students explore some of the writing techniques Anne invented for herself and practice those techniques with material drawn from their own lives.

This 14 day Unit Plan integrates the Utah Core Standards for Language Arts and for Reading and Writing in History/Social Studies with the existing Utah Social Studies Standards. The students read, research, draw conclusions, and write beginning level argumentative essays comparing/contrasting major world religions. For a more thorough summary see the Background For Teachers section.

The ability to ask and answer questions while reading is essential to comprehension. This article discusses instructional strategies used to teach questioning and provides many online resources. The article appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle, which explores the seven essential principles of the climate sciences for teachers in k-grade 5 classrooms.

This article reprints and links to informational text about the adaptations that allow mammals and fish to survive in polar oceans. Versions are available for students in grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. Related science and literacy activities are included.

Students will compare an informational text versus a narrative text about Earth Day. Included in this lesson are videos and pictures of the lesson in action, a printable Earth Day Venn Diagram, and a recycling activity.

The first step in writing an informational text on the topic of students' choice is helping the student choose a topic of interest. Students will brainstorm ideas that will be possible final topics.

Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between two texts about the polar habitats by using a Venn diagram. Included in this lesson are guided questions to use while reading, a printable Venn Diagram, and pictures of completed students' work.

Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic. After reading and discussing books on the Arctic and Antarctic, they will use a Venn diagram and assorted images to compare and contrast the habits. Extensive resources are included such as worksheets, images, an assessment checklist, examples of student work, and video of the lesson in action.

In this lesson, students use details from a nonfiction article to create a visual representation and then, from that visual, provide evidence that demonstrates their understanding of the text. Includes samples of student work and lots of other resources.

This third grade lesson plan engages students in comparing and contrasting paired informational text passages about frogs. Students will use a Venn Diagram to keep track of the information.

What do inventors have that are alike? How are they different? Why do they invent? Learning about them may inspire you to invent new technology! In this lesson, students will compare and contrast key details in two texts on the topic of inventors. Pictures and videos of the students engaged in the lesson are provided.

This lesson is a great small group reading lesson that has a social studies connection. In this lesson, students will be comparing and contrasting schools from long ago and schools of today using informational texts. Included are printables to make a book and a bubble map. Examples of student work are also provided.

Students will analyze interactions between ideas, events, and individuals by creating a graphic organizer. They will utilize "I Never Had it Made" by Jackie Robinson for this activity.

Students will write an informative sentence in response to listening to the story "Does A Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?". Included in this lesson are videos of mother and baby animals, pictures of the lesson in action, and a video of student oral presentations.

What an impact delivery can make! Students will compare the written and spoken version of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Included are handouts, examples of student work, and a video of the speech.

In this lesson, students will be able to gather information from provided resources to answer a question. Using the book "Owls", the teacher will read the book while asking guiding questions. After the book, the students will have to opportunity to examine a real owl pellet and classify items they find inside. A link to a company where owl pellets can be purchased is provided. Pictures and videos of this lesson in action are included.

Students will use the illustrations and details in the text to describe how plants grow. This lesson uses a complex text to allow students to analyze the pictures in From Seed to Plant and From Seed to Pumpkin. Included are videos and pictures of the lesson in action.