In this lesson, students will look at picture clues to determine the topic of texts. ELs will build vocabulary and language skills by working with partners to discuss and represent texts using drawings.

Want to engage students in reading? Give them books that they want to read! This lesson will give you a chance to learn about your readers so that you can best support them to become fluent readers.

It's time to dig into some nonfiction books! In this lesson, students will practice identifying the main topic of nonfiction texts. This lesson can be used alone or with the How to Find the Main Idea lesson plan.

Read a well-loved story aloud to your second graders and inspire them to write funny titles. In this lesson, students will brainstorm outrageous titles of their very own!

Second grade students will step into the author’s shoes as they hunt for evidence to determine what a nonfiction author’s purpose might be.

Use this lesson to help your students learn how to find the main idea and details in a nonfiction text using a graphic organizer for support.

In this lesson, students will read text features and discuss how each text feature relates to the main idea of a nonfiction text. Use a stand alone activity or a support for the Examining the Author's Purpose in a Nonfiction Text lesson.

In this lesson, students will retell stories by drawing and talking about what happens at the beginning, middle, and end. This lesson can be used alone or with the Goldilocks and Beginning, Middle, and End lesson plan.

In this lesson, students have a great time using their imaginations to collaborate and create their own story following the "how and why" style of common folktales.

This lesson teaches kids all about Malcolm X and how his childhood influenced him to become one of America's most well known, controversial, and revolutionary figures. First kids will listen to a read-aloud authored by Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, and then they will write an informative paragraph.

Ask an important question this month: What does an activist do? This engaging lesson can be used leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and year-round). It supports students in understanding what it means to be an activist and how Martin Luther King Jr. used collaborative action to change the world and speak out against oppression. Perfect for first graders and second graders, this activity explores word meaning and other reading and writing skills.

This lesson plan teaches students about Jean-Michel Basquiat and his life as a child. First, students will listen to a story and figure out the main topic and details. Next, students will be asked to think deeply about what it means to be an artist and some of the types of art they like to create. Perfect for first graders and second graders, the lesson Black Artists: Basquiat highlights reading informational texts and building vocabulary.

This engaging lesson plan provides students with an opportunity to learn all about America's prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief.

This lesson will help students identify the author's point of view and purpose for writing an informational text.

Teach your students about picture walks as a strategy to understand the author's purpose in a fictional text. This lesson can be used as a stand-alone lesson or as support for the Examining Author's Purpose in a Fictional Text lesson.