History Lesson Plans and Reading Lesson Plans
for Elementary and Middle School - 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Grades

Ask Kari - A Teacher Talk Questions and Comments Forum

Send us your comments or your questions about teaching reading and history in your classroom. We will add your comments and your questions or answers to the topics in our forum below. Or, if you wish, we will answer your queries in an e-mail. Just let us know.

Our building is moving toward differentiation and I have a question about how the lessons in your e-booklet are differentiated. Could you tell me an example of how they are differentiated in the Civil War for high, medium and lower students? I did print out an example, but it was the Investigation cards, and I was not sure if that is what you meant for different levels. Do you have a way to tell me this so I can use the lesson plans for the whole year? Thanks.


Hi Fellow Teacher,
The US History Investigation Tasks are differentiated in two ways. First, the tasks are differentiated by learning style. There are two sets of tasks to choose from for each concept students are expected to master. Each task emphasizes a different set of learning modalities. Second, the tasks are differentiated by ability according to Bloom's taxonomy of levels of thinking. Each task has a "Choose your Challenge Level" extension. The basic task relies on recall and application skills. Each challenge level then requires more of the student in terms of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Finally, you can also differentiate the learning by the quantity of work you provide, suggesting that your students complete a predetermined number of tasks to meet the basic requirement such as 3 out of the 6 tasks, while others can complete 4 of the 6 for enrichment or perhaps extra credit. I often allow students to choose their own challenge level, but sometimes I will steer a gifted student toward the higher order thinking "Challenge Level" or, conversely, I might suggest that a struggling student do the more basic task. I hope this helps you in your planning. Use the following link to download a sample of the task cards. Take note of the "Choose Your Challenge Level" section at the bottom of each card.
Cheers!
Kari Wilson

I am interested in teaching reading strategies in reading lessons, but I wonder how you can integrate reading strategies into a lesson effectively, whether to present them explicitly or indirectly? Which way is the most effective way for the students who haven't learned strategies before?

Hi Emily,
I introduce a reading strategy in a 10-15 minute mini-lesson. Next, I provide ample opportunities to practice strategies as students read. I usually use a graphic organizer to help students gather their thoughts. Then I refer to strategies with individual students as I see a need. The mini-lessons in the FunLessonPlans.com Literature Circles Book Clubs units directly address the reading strategies proven by research to be most effective in strengthening reading achievement. These include: summarizing, making comparisons, making inferences, making personal connections, skimming and scanning, as well as others. Thank you for your question and good luck in your teaching efforts!
Kari Wilson

a lang./rdg. teacher

I'm a fifth grade Language Arts teacher. I purchased the teacher and student booklets for setting up and conducting lit. circles. The materials look like they're going to be highly effective. I can't wait to begin. We had a revamping of our book/resource room this year. We're finally ready to start checking out class book sets. Also, we have quite a group of students this year! They need consistency and spelled out boundaries at all times. I looked at the setup of these booklets and recognized the quality and thought that went into the planning. If you could let me know any of the success that has come from using this resource it would be appreciated!

a lang./rdg. teacher

Hi fellow lang./rdg. teacher,

Thank you for your kind comments. I'll be adding more variations of how we use the plans and hope other teachers will add their experiences as well. CLICK HERE to send your comment in an e-mail and I'll add your ideas to this or other discussion threads.

Best wishes,
Kari

Hi Melinda,
I'm not sure if you are asking about making multiple copies of the Book Clubs Student Booklet or referring to ordering the student literature books which we recommend for use with Book Clubs, so here are two answers!

1. At my school I am able to print the student booklets directly from the downloaded pdf on my computer to our photo copier and have them collated and stapled. We also have a district copy center where I can send an original and request the number of copies needed. If you don't have access to either of these services I'd suggest going to your local copy shop. Don't forget to ask for the school discount; most businesses want to support education! As long as you are using the Book Club Student Booklets with all your own students you are welcome to make as many copies as you like! If other
teachers at your school are using the materials we do ask that they order their own teacher's guide and one download of the student booklet from which to make copies for their own students.

2. If you're asking about the literature titles, I've had great luck at the Scholastic Book Fairs where they usually have a two for one deal. If you have a Bargain Books store in your area or something similar they are another great source. I usually pay about $2.50 for each paperback.

Hope this helps. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask!

Kari
FunLessonPlans.com

Hi Mrs. Marilyn,

Thank you for your kind note. We sell many lesson plans to residents of Australia. The credit card processing company usually approves purchases from all over the world. Transactions are in US dollars only, but they seem to have a way to convert for most countries.

We once had a purchaser in another country whose bank responded, "Transaction has been Declined." because card is from an "Issuing Bank which does not support Card Code." That happened only once, so if you have a Visa or Mastercard credit card, just make your purchase in the shopping cart and the automated system should process your order.

Best wishes,
Kari

I am a professional development and educational technology teacher in a suburban school district.

I would like permission to copy, print, and share with teachers in our district page 3 of your directions for making "little books" from this website: http://www.funlessonplans.com/reading_lesson_plans/buddies.pdf. Your resource and information is excellent, and of course, I will give credit to your site for all the information. The copyright information will stay on the printed page.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
M. B.

FunLessonPlans.com
Hi M. B.,
We have attached a PDF of the file you requested. The letter we have included grants permission for you to copy and share the file with the teachers in your school district. The attached instruction sheet for folding the little books has been reformatted without the "page 3" text and is published as a single page. Thank you in advance for retaining the copyright notice which must remain on all copies.

Thank you for your interest in FunLessonPlans.com.
Best wishes,
Kari
Kari AT funlessonplans.com

Hi Jackie,
Our lesson plans are all published as electronic booklets only. The copyright lets you to reproduce the booklets for all of your students and assistants. In my district I send the entire file to my computer at work where I can now have 80 copies printed back to back, collated, and stapled all with the press of a button! For instance, if I need 80 additional student booklets for Friendship Book Clubs, I just specify that only pages 33 to 66 of the PDF (Portable Document Format)
e-booklet be printed. You will find this information in the Table of Contents of your booklet.
Thanks for asking,
Kari

How do you handle the storage for the materials you need for the investigation activities?

I organize materials in large plastic tubs. I cut out and tape an investigation ‘file’ to the front of each tub. I outline each Investigation File with a different colored highlighter to color code the tubs and add a large number 1,2,3,4. In each tub I place both research resources and supplies that the students will need to complete the projects. Students can then take the tubs to work tables throughout the classroom.

An added bonus of this method of organization is that it helps you form student groups based on common interest as those students working on a particular Investigation gather around the resources and materials tub in one area of your classroom! I encourage students to share and discuss as they are working on investigations. (Unless I’m using the investigations as an assessment!) They learn so much from each other.

The link to the download is included in the receipt that is e-mailed to you when you complete your purchase. Just click on the link in your receipt to go back to the download page. The link and your password will work for 24 hours. If you need more time, just click on the Contact Us link below, send us an e-mail message, and we will extend your password.
Best wishes,

Kari