CCSS ELA Standard: 4.W.2

Order to Chaos: Dominoes or Dam?

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

Earth’s Layers: Who Contributes The Most?

Earth’s layers will disagree about which one contributes the most to the planet’s success.

An Under-Appreciated Planet

Students write from the point of view of the most under-appreciated planet.

Chaos Can Be Positive or Negative

Sometimes we want order, but sometimes we need chaos!

Introducing Order and Chaos

Introduce Order by exploring “written” vs “unwritten” rules.

Power can be Visible or Invisible

What are examples of unseen Power? And can invisible power be more powerful than visible power?

That Quote’s Not Quite Right: Albert Einstein

When I see a quote, I often think, “That’s not quite right!”

Two Animals Switch Biomes

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

Not Like The Others: Rivers

Students will determine which river is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Cephalopods

Students will determine which cephalopod is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Flowers

Students will determine which flower is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: 19th Century Presidents

Students will determine which US President from the 19th century is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B

Students will determine which of these US Presidents is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group A

Students will determine which of these US Presidents is not like the others.

Student Introductions With Depth, Complexity, and Frames: Level Two

Once students know the prompts of Depth and Complexity, let’s take them much higher up Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Mother’s Day Cards

Let’s write the cleverest Mother’s Day cards you’ve ever seen!

Domesticated Animals Tournament

Which domesticated animal will win the tournament?

Natural Disasters Tournament

Who will win the tournament of Natural Disasters!?

Create A Civ: Capital City

How are capital cities a combination of natural and human-designed features?

Not Like The Others: African Nations

Students will determine which country in Africa is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: US National Parks

Students will determine which US National Park is not like the others.

Introducing Universal Theme of Change

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Change? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Introducing Universal Theme of Systems

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Systems? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Introducing Universal Theme of Power

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Power? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases

Students will determine which of these types of diseases is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Birds of the Desert

Students will determine which desert bird is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Penguins

Students will determine which type of penguin is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Microstates of Europe

Students will determine which of these tiny countries is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Microorganisms

Students will determine which of these microorganisms is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Ants of the World!

Students will determine which type of ant is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes

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

Not Like The Others: Types of Rocks

Which of these rocks is not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest

Students will determine which snake of the rainforest is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Deserts

Which of these deserts is not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Rainforests

Which of these rainforests is not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Stars

How is each of these stars not like the others?

Not Like The Others: US States

How is each of these states not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Mountains

Which of these mountains is not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Birds of the Tropical Rainforest

Which of these four birds is not like the others?

Not Like The Others: Branches of the US Government

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

Create A Civilization: Currency

What type of currency will your civilization use? What symbols will be on it? Why are they significant?

A Lunar Survival Mission

A favorite of mine! This task is delightfully complex and ambiguous, forcing students to make choices without enough information and with no right answer. How will they survive on the moon for three days?

Not Like The Others: Natural Disasters

Students will determine which type of natural disaster is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: States of Matter

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

Not Like The Others: Countries

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

Order Can Be Natural or Constructed

When is order natural and when is it designed by people?

Invisible Power Can Have Visible Effects

Can you think of times when power is unseen, but we can clearly see its effects?

Not Like The Others: Charlotte’s Web

Students will determine which of the characters is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Creatures of the Tundra

Students will determine which creature of the tundra is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: US Presidents

Students will determine which founding US president is not like the others.

Not Like The Others: Planets

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.

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.

Upgrade Research Questions With Depth and Complexity

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.

Student Introductions with Complexity and Frames

Students will introduce themselves by showing how they’ve changed over time.

Building Creative Analogies

We’ll take two seemingly unrelated pieces of content (say volcanoes and the human body) and then build analogies to connect the two ideas. In the end, students can create a skit, comic, or story relating the two concepts.

Create A Civilization: Calendars

Why 12 months? Why 30ish days? Why 7 days in a week? Your civilization could organize a year in any way you want!

A Caffeine Investigation – Part 3

Students will analyze advertisements about caffeine and create a public service announcement to communicate their findings.

Creating A Realistic Flower and Pollinator

Your students will create a new flower, designed to attract a specific pollinator.

Creating A Classroom Motto

Starting with specific examples of fantastic classroom behavior, your class will end up with one sentence summing up their expectations. It’s a classroom motto!