“This website is my sub plans.” ~ a teacher describing Byrdseed.TV

Arizona ELA Standard: 5.RI.6

Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.

What’s In My Brain: Primary Sources
What’s In My Brain: Primary Sources
Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Halloween Worksheets
Halloween Worksheets
Crosswords, image analysis, and writing prompts for Halloween!
Gr 1-8
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Sometimes power is concentrated in one place. Other times it is spread out.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B
Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Robot Writing: Acropolis
Robot Writing: Acropolis
One painting of ruins. Three robots. Three pieces of writing. Who wrote it best?
Gr 1-8
Robot Writing: The Bridge
Robot Writing: The Bridge
One painting of a bridge. Three robots. Who wrote it best?
Gr 1-7
Robot Writing: Orchestra
Robot Writing: Orchestra
Read three pieces of writing from three different robots based on a beautiful painting and decide who wins!
Gr 1-8
Looking Closely at Holiday Photos
Looking Closely at Holiday Photos
Let’s write from multiple perspectives using an old timey holiday photo!
Gr 1-8
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica
Is it an island or an archipelago?
Gr 1, 3, 6, 8
Discussing An Important Decision from History
Discussing An Important Decision from History
How would people with two different perspectives discuss a decision from history?
Gr 2-8
Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict
Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict
So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Conflict? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.
Gr 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Chess Variant: Monster Chess
Chess Variant: Monster Chess
What if you had really weak chess pieces, but you could always move twice?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases
Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases
Four diseases. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Penguins
Not Like The Others: Penguins
Four penguins. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Plant Adaptation Tournament
Plant Adaptation Tournament
Who will win in a tournament of eight plants with Interesting adaptations!?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Charge of the Light Brigade – Chess Variant
Charge of the Light Brigade – Chess Variant
What if one side played with THREE QUEENS and the other had SEVEN KNIGHTS!? What if?
Gr 2-8
Exploration Technology Tournament
Exploration Technology Tournament
Which of these pieces of exploration technology is most important? Most underrated? Most long-lasting?
Gr 1-8
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Which of these inventions of the ancient world is most influential? Least useful today? Most taken-for-granted?
Gr 1-8
Animal Adaptation Tournament
Animal Adaptation Tournament
Which animal has the most interesting, most valuable, or strangest adaptations?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest
Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest
Four rainforest snakes. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Analyze Paragraphs: Baseball
Analyze Paragraphs: Baseball
Three paragraphs about baseball. They all cover the same topic — so what makes each one different? Now combine them into one super-paragraph.
Gr 1-8
Paradox: Rebuilding A Ship
Paradox: Rebuilding A Ship
What if we completely rebuild something slowly? What if we completely rebuild it all at once? Is it still the same thing?
Gr 1-8
The Pros and Cons of Producers and Consumers
The Pros and Cons of Producers and Consumers
Sure, students might know the difference between a producer and a consumer… but have they considered how they feel about each other? What, in a producer’s opinion, are the pros and cons of a consumer?
Gr 1-8
Think Like A Philosopher
Think Like A Philosopher
What would Socrates have thought if he watched Frozen?
Gr 2-8
Holiday vs Holiday (from a Mascot’s Perspective)
Holiday vs Holiday (from a Mascot’s Perspective)
Want something to do during the holiday season that is both fun and involves thinking? Get students writing about what a snowman would think about Halloween or what a ghost would think about Thanksgiving.
Gr 1-8
What’s In My Brain: May vs May
What’s In My Brain: May vs May
The word “may” can be used for possibility or permission. It’s a modal auxiliary verb!
Gr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Create A Civilization: A Change In Government
Create A Civilization: A Change In Government
It’s a great moment for your civilization! Power is moving from the hands of a few to a more democratic government.
Gr 1-8
The Tournament of Biomes
The Tournament of Biomes
Want to move beyond memorizing the characteristics of biomes? In this lesson, students work through a Tournament of Biomes, explaining which biome wins in each round (based on criteria you choose). In the end, they crown a 👑 Champion Biome!
Gr 1-8
Upgrading Compare and Contrast Writing
Upgrading Compare and Contrast Writing
Upgrade compare and contrast writing with just a couple of key words.
Gr 1-8
Describing Author’s Voice
Describing Author’s Voice
What if… Edgar Allen Poe wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Content Imperatives: Convergence
Content Imperatives: Convergence
Add complexity by considering how multiple factors 🔄 Converge within one topic.
Gr 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Content Imperatives: Parallel
Content Imperatives: Parallel
Get students thinking broadly by exploring similarities across multiple topics. Combine with Depth and Complexity for bonus points!
Gr 1-8
Depth and Complexity: 📈 Trends
Depth and Complexity: 📈 Trends
Has something been changing recently? What might be causing that? What are the effects?
Gr 2-8
Depth and Complexity: ⚖️ Ethics
Depth and Complexity: ⚖️ Ethics
Want to add drama to any topic? Use the Ethics prompt!
Gr 2-8
Depth and Complexity: 📚 Across Disciplines
Depth and Complexity: 📚 Across Disciplines
No topic is an island! With the 📚 Across Disciplines prompt, students note connections within and across multiple fields.
Gr 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Depth and Complexity: 👓 Multiple Perspectives
Depth and Complexity: 👓 Multiple Perspectives
Every topic looks different depending on who’s looking. This prompt teaches students to see through someone else’s eyes.
Gr 1-8
Historic Social Media
Historic Social Media
How would people from history have interacted online? Students will develop a conversation online between people involved in the same event from history.
Gr 1-8
Characters’ Talents and Multiple Intelligences
Characters’ Talents and Multiple Intelligences
How do characters from novels line up with Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences?
Gr 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Literary Technique: Juxtaposition
Literary Technique: Juxtaposition
Put a grumpy character next to a joyful one and they make each other stand out even more. Opposites are powerful!
Gr 1-8
An App For A Historical Figure
An App For A Historical Figure
What kind of an app could have helped Abe Lincoln accomplish his goals?
Gr 1-8
Asynchrony: Developing At Different Rates (For Students)
Asynchrony: Developing At Different Rates (For Students)
For students! In some areas, a student may be shockingly advanced, while in others… surprisingly average. This is asynchrony in action.
Gr 3-8