Alabama ELA Standard: 4.LF.23.a

Sometimes outside forces turn order into chaos. But sometimes chaos comes from within.

Chaos can contain order. Order can contain chaos! Is chaos ever truly random?

Sure, a Blue Whale is huge. But does a tiny krill have more power?

When we try to solve a problem, sometimes we end up creating new problems. Which lead to new solutions. Which lead to new problems.

Which parts of a cell serve a similar job to the parts of a cruise ship, human body, computer, or other system?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about great sloths back into the correct order?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about The Moon back into the correct order?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about The Great Sphinx back into the correct order?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about rain clouds back into the correct order?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about the coral reef back into the correct order?

Every great capital is part geography, part human design. Research real ones, then build your own from scratch.

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about automobiles back into the correct order?

These sentences about Washington, DC got scrambled. Can you put them back in order using nothing but context clues?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about trains back into the correct order?

Can you use the context clues to get these sentences about earthquakes back into the correct order?

Here’s how effects be causes and causes can be effects!

Three paragraphs about baseball. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.

Three paragraphs about cucumbers. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.

Three paragraphs about the Empire State Building. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.

Three paragraphs about tomatoes. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.

Three paragraphs about wolverines. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.

Can you think of a time in your life when “Change lead to more change?”

Blow up a paragraph into individual sentences. Now reassemble it. The clues hiding in each sentence will surprise you.

What would an igneous rock be like? Would it get along with a sedimentary rock? Could they handle the hot personality of a metamorphic rock?

How have you changed over time? Students introduce themselves through the lens of change — and learn a Depth and Complexity tool in the process.

Poetry and Prose meet at a party. What would they say to each other? How would they feel about each other’s style?

Get students thinking broadly by exploring similarities across multiple topics. Combine with Depth and Complexity for bonus points!

Pull on one thread and watch the whole topic move. Contribution asks: what single factor is quietly shaping everything else?

Has something been changing recently? What might be causing that? What are the effects?

Is there a consequence for not doing something? You may have found a rule!

Want to get students thinking about how a topic has changed or might change in the future? The ⏳ Change Over Time thinking tool is just what you need!

Can your students spot anything that repeats? Or that has stopped repeating?

Did you ever notice that the structure of an essay is very similar to the structure of a paragraph? Hmm…

Ever read a student’s story that was just event after event after event and then a very sudden ending? They lack an understanding of a plot’s structure. With the help of Finding Nemo, I break down how to set up a well-structured plot.

We open our unit on narrative writing with a big idea: “structure increases creativity.” I show how this is true by bringing in examples from across all disciplines.