“This was the best money I have ever spent on a teaching tool.” ~ a teacher in Wisconsin

Indiana ELA Standard: 5.W.2

Write informative compositions on a variety of topics that:

Depth and Complexity Frame Intro: Change

Depth and Complexity Frame Intro: Change

Scrooge went from “Merry Christmas!” to “Bah! Humbug!” and never noticed it happening. Students watch Scrooge’s frame fill with before-and-now pairs, then map their own changes: what they say, what they repeat, what they follow, and what matters most to them.

Holiday Worksheets

Holiday Worksheets

Writing prompts, non-fiction analysis, and science topics related to Christmas and Hanukkah.

Earth’s Layers: Who Contributes The Most?

Earth’s Layers: Who Contributes The Most?

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

A System Similar to a Cell

A System Similar to a Cell

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

What If… Unreliable Water?

What If… Unreliable Water?

What would the consequences be if a town’s tap water became… unreliable?

What If… Long Life?

What If… Long Life?

What would the consequences be if all people lived much, much longer?

What If… No Sleep?

What If… No Sleep?

What would the consequences be if no one had to sleep anymore?

Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes

Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes

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

Not Like The Others: Deserts

Not Like The Others: Deserts

Which of these deserts is not like the others?

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.

Analyze Paragraphs: Cucumbers

Analyze Paragraphs: Cucumbers

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

Writing Technique: Opposite Adjectives

Writing Technique: Opposite Adjectives

A specific technique to help students add some spice to their writing. We’ll be using antonyms to describe the same topic!

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.

Upgrading Compare and Contrast Writing

Upgrading Compare and Contrast Writing

Upgrade compare and contrast writing with just a couple of key words.

Create A Civilization: The River

Create A Civilization: The River

The Nile, the Tigris, the Euphrates, the Seine, the Thames, and now… your river!

Educational Valentines

Educational Valentines

Let’s make valentines with an educational twist!