CCSS ELA Standard: 2.W.8

Autumn was once powerful because of the harvest. What gives Fall its power now?

Students explore the idea of indirect power – which can be both visible (a lighthouse) or invisible (magnetism).

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

13 colonies activities including a word search and task cards packed with facts. Plus, students will create their own colony with a name, story, and map!

What if a capybara and a kangaroo rat switched homes? Would their adaptations be helpful at all?

Who will win the tournament of mythological creatures!?

Four rivers. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four cephalopods. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four flowers. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four 19th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

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

Four African nations. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four US national parks. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four diseases. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four desert birds. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four penguins. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four of the tiniest countries in Europe. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four microorganisms. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Who will win in a tournament of eight plants with Interesting adaptations!?

Four ants from around the world. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Which animal has the most interesting, most valuable, or strangest adaptations?

Which part of speech is most useful? Interesting? Strange?

Which of these types of volcanoes is not like the others?

Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic — and one that doesn’t fit. But which one? Depends on your argument.

Four rainforest snakes. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Which of these deserts is not like the others?

Which of these rainforests is not like the others?

How is each of these stars not like the others?

How is each of these states not like the others?

Which of these mountains is not like the others?

Which of these four birds is not like the others?

How is each part of the United States Government not like the other parts?

Four natural disasters. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

How is each of the states of matter not like the others?

How is each of these four countries not like the others?

Four Charlotte’s Web characters. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four tundra creatures. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Four US presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.

Which of these planets is not like others? Well, it sure looks simple at first. But each option could be the one that doesn’t fit in.

Ever ask students to create research questions? Were their ideas a bit… blah? My own students had a very hard time writing questions they didn’t already know the answer to! This video is how I solved that problem: upgrade research questions with depth and complexity.