This English Language Arts lesson for 9th or 10th graders focuses on reading comprehension and vocabulary via nonfiction articles linked from commonlit.org, and addresses the following NE state standards: NE.LA 10.1.5.A; NE.LA 10.1.5.C; NE.LA 10.1.6.A; NE.LA 10.2.2.BThe lesson will take approximately 90 minutes.

This nonfiction story is about a partnership between a policeman, Officer Mike, and his partner, a police dog named Aero. Information about daily routine (work and breaks), Aero's special talents and Officer Mike's training and care of Aero is included.

In this class we will practice skills in reading, analyzing, and writing about fiction, poetry and drama from a select sampling of 20th Century American Literature. Through class discussion, close reading, and extensive writing practice, this course seeks to develop critical and analytical skills, preparing students for more advanced academic work.

This article includes links to expository text for students in grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 about the climate differences between the Arctic and Antarctica.

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.

This article includes links to expository text for students in grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 about the aurora.

This resource aims to generate ideas and possibilities about how to advance student understanding of logic in writing beyond the notion that logic is always a collection of data points or a reference to facts. Instead of reducing logic to numbers and statements, this source hopes to introduce students and teachers to the existential questions that are always involved in the logical appeals of a text: how do we know what we know and why does it matter?

The activities here work on analysis and synthesis skills. They take canonized text that are often taught at different times in the school year due to their placement in U.S. and world history and ask students to pair them together. A variety of activities and assessments are described or suggested throughout this resource to help students explore the boundaries surrounding certainty and doubt and lived experience. 

SYNOPSIS: This lesson educates students on the impact that climate change has on national parks.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson demonstrates the impact of climate change on national parks and lets students investigate and communicate through infographics the best solutions for building climate resilience in the parks and other ecologically sensitive habitats. All materials embedded in the lesson are factual, and this lesson has passed our scientist review.

POSITIVES:
-Students are introduced to the causes and effects of climate change.
-Students are able to make real-world connections on how climate change impacts national parks across the United States.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students should have a basic understanding of climate change vocabulary in order to comprehend the reading material.
-Students should be comfortable using technology to be able to create the infographic.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The Warming Up to Adaptation: Everglades National Park video can be paused midway to discuss with students and assess their understanding of the impacts and mitigation solutions.
-Students with lower level reading skills can be paired with a peer with higher comprehension skills.
-If a student is not comfortable creating the digital infographic, they can be paired with a more tech-savvy peer.
-Students can also create infographics on paper or posters.
-Infographics can be printed and placed around the room for a gallery walk. Students can walk around the room, observe the different infographics, and discuss their observations with their classmates.

This resource introduces, suggests, and proposes multiple approaches for making Joan Didion's essay more accessible while trying not to oversimplify it. 

This nonfiction article, written for students in grades 4-5, explores the life and seasonal migration of the sanderling bird. Modified versions are available for students in younger grades.

This article describes the reading strategy of determining importance and provides templates and guidance for teaching this content area strategy to elementary students.

Students compare the traits fact and fiction by using a Venn diagram to compare fiction and nonfiction books about Native Americans.

This expository article for elementary students describes the dinosaurs that lived in polar regions as well as the adaptations that helped them survive in the dark and cold environment. Modified versions for younger grades are available.

Students will read the provided complex text about erosion and use the outdoor space to verify or deny the content of the text in the real-world setting.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson explores the complexities of food waste and its connection to climate change.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson illustrates the concept of food waste and food loss and provides initiatives to reduce food waste. This will not only help in improving food security but is a good alternative to drawdown greenhouse gas emissions from food waste. All materials have been fact-checked, and the lesson is credible for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson includes a diverse set of perspectives, communities, and solutions.
-Students are able to learn about the complexity of food waste from different contexts.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students are likely to have different perspectives and emotions regarding food waste. It can be an overwhelming experience to learn about the severity of this problem. This lesson embeds questions to give students time and space to process these emotions and inequities.
-The Big Waste video contains some statistics from 2012-2013, so some data may be outdated and obsolete.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Seeing the severity and inequities of food waste might cause feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger, despair, or surprise in some students. It is recommended for teachers to remind them that those feelings are normal and natural. Sharing those feelings with the class can help support students’ social-emotional learning. It is recommended to encourage students to share their honest reactions.
-This exploration and these discussions might naturally lead into the “What can we do about it?” discussion.

This article describes how to help students engage with nonfiction text by asking questions, identifying facts, making connections, and reflecting on the text. A template for use with students is included.

This expository article, written for students in grades 4-5, explains why ice floats and how this is essential to life on earth. Modified versions are available for younger students.

Students will read the provided complex text about habitat in the outdoor classroom and explore the area to make connections to the content in the text.

Students will read the provided complex text about habitat in the outdoor classroom and explore the area to make connections to the content in the text and draw inferences from the text.