Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
This No Prep Book Unit is based on Price Cinders by Babette Cole and contains 39-pages of interactive, cross-curricular and engaging activities -- all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, a review of Cinderella Elements, essays, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
Table of Contents
Cinderella Elements
#1: Prince Cinders Problem Solution Interactive Notebook Page
#2: Prince Cinders Character Traits RL.3
#3: Character Traits RL.3
#4: Critical Thinking Literature Questions Interactive Notebook Page
#5: Ask and Answer Questions on Illustrations RL.7
#6: Inferring RL.6
#7: Prince Cinders – What do you think? RL.1 and 3
#8: Problem/Solution Interactive Notebook Page RL.5
#9: Critical Thinking Questions
#10: About Prince Cinders RL 1 and 2
#11: Recounting Prince Cinders
#12: Character Motivation and Evidence RL.5
#13: Visualize the Future
#14 Prince Cinders: Character Conflicts RL.1 and 3
#15 Sentence Sorting RL.2 2,1,5,3,4,6.7
#16 From Sentence Sorting to Essay Writing RL1 and 2
#17: Quick Write: Compare and Contrast RL.9
#18: Text-to-Text RL.9
#19: I Can Answer Questions About the Text RL.1
#20: Theme
#21: Moral RL.2
#22: Inferring RL.6
#23 Retell the Story through your Favorite Drawings RL.7
#24: Cause and Effect
#25: The Prince Cinders Report Card
#26: The Prince Cinders Book Review
#27 The Elements of Prince Cinders
#28 The Prince Cinders’ Comprehension Quiz b,d,b,d,a,c
Rubric for Constructed Response
This is a novel study and unit for Little Women Part 1 . It is cross-curricular and Common Core State Standards-aligned. The activities are differentiated and designed to help struggling students understand the content of the novel with chapter-by-chapter reading fluency drills that may also be used as close reading assignments. Also included are cross-curricular science and social studies activities. The chapter “Think and Writes” are great stand alone assignments but are also perfect for Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Up.
Table of Contents
Introduction page 5
Character List page 6
Chapter by Chapter Think and Writes
Chapter 1: Compare and Contrast page 8
Chapter 1: Active Reading Making Inferences pages 9‐10
Chapter 2: Historical Context: Non‐Fiction pages 11‐14
Chapter 3: Critical Thinking page 15
Chapter 4: Character Burdens page 16
Chapter 5: Character Traits and Motives page 17
Chapter 6: Critical Thinking page 18
Chapter 7: Civil War Critical Thinking page 19
Chapter 8: The Ideal of Womanhood – Women in the 1860s page 20
Chapter 9: Social Studies Tie‐In Reading and Writing page 21‐23
Chapter 10: The P.C. and the P.O. and Your Life page 24
Chapter 11: Real World Tie‐In Transcendentalists page 25
Chapter 12: Camp Laurence – Your Life page 26
Chapter 13: Foreshadowing page 27
Chapter 13: Literature and Your Life page 28
Chapter 14: Your Future Dreams – Your Castles page 29
Chapter 15: Questions with Personal Tie‐In page 30
Chapter 16: Your Letter to Marmee page 31
Chapter 17: Penicillin: Science Tie‐In page 32
Chapter 17: Science Experiment – Growing Mold page 33
Chapter 18: My Dark Event page 34
Chapter 19: Conflict and Graphic Novel Activity page 35
Chapter 20: Confidential: My Bundle of Naughties page 36
Chapter 21: Critical Thinking page 37
Chapter 22: What Would My Gift’s Be page 38
Chapter 23: My Predictions for the Future page 39
My Little Notebook Instructions page 40‐56
1. Literary Terms: Throughout the reading.
2. What is Your Favorite Literary Term and Why – Halfway through the reading
3. Write and Think: You and the Novel. Which Character Are You Most Like? – After Chapter 10
4. What I Think: Are the Character’s Likeable? – Anytime after Chapter 3 (you may want to include this page twice and have
students re‐do it at the end of the story and compare to see if their perspective changed).
5. Social Studies Tie‐In: Feminist Literature Non‐Fiction Read and Write – Anytime after Chapter 14 (2‐3 days)
6. Non‐Fiction Tie‐In: Orchard House – The Home of
This Bundle Contains:
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Interactive Reader" was designed specifically with 21st Century Learning and the tenants of higher order thinking in mind. The activity infused unit study offers built-in differentiation, is jam-packed with black-line masters that foster student engagement and higher order thinking and is easily adjustable to remedial, gifted and every student in between.
Carroll's beloved novel is laid out, chapter-by-chapter, with questions, literary study, writing activities, source document analysis, links to other resources, Socratic Seminar templates, vocabulary activities, games, interactive notebook pages and a whole lot more! There are also end of book questions and activities as well as in-depth character explanations and information on themes and other literature nuances.
A must-have for any teacher embarking on an "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" unit
study.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Plot Diagram PowerPoint and Template: A perfect companion to any Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland book study is this Plot Diagram Teaching PowerPoint and student template.
This plot diagram is an organizational tool focusing on a pyramid or triangular shape, used to map the events of a story. This mapping of the plot structure of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland helps students visualize the key features of the story and serves as an engaging, interactive tool.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Guided Paragraph Teaching PowerPoint and Student Template: Perfect for student differentiation and intervention – this PowerPoint helps you walk students through writing a paragraph – that transitions into an essay.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Themes and Motifs Guided Instructional PowerPoint
Perfect for student differentiation and intervention – this PowerPoint helps you walk students the themes and motifs of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Formative Assessment based on Tenniel’s Pictures
An engaging formative assessment has students demonstrating comprehension based on Tenniel’s pictures from the original book!
FREEBIE! This file contains two formative assessments - Circle Around and What Does it Mean to Me for Roald Dahl's "Fantastic Mr. Fox."
Download and enjoy!
Perfect for student differentiation and intervention – this PowerPoint helps you walk students through writing a paragraph – that transitions into an essay. Student Template included.
Check out my other “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” resources and a big Bundle at: /teaching-resources/shop/elizabethpinotti
This No Prep Book Unit is based on CinderHazel and contains 29-pages of interactive, cross curricular and engaging activities -- all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, a review of Cinderella Elements, essays, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
Table of Contents
Cinderella Elements
#1 CinderHazel Draw A Title Page
#2 Questions Along the Way
#3 CinderHazel Constructed Response Questions
#4 Story Connections for CinderHazel
#5 CinderHazel Characters
#6 CinderHazel Math Connections
#7 CinderHazel My Own Word Problems
#8 CinderHazel Comprehension
#9 CinderHazel Character Conflicts
#10 Sentence Sorting: CinderHazel
#11 Quick Write Compare and Contrast
#12 About the Author
#13 Story Summary
#14 Character Changes
#15 Text to Text – Connecting Texts
#16 My Thoughts While Reading CinderHazel
#17 Inferring Character Feelings
#18 Cause and Effect
#19 Compare and Contrast CinderHazel and Cinderella
#20 Cinderella Sentence Sorting
#21 CinderHazel Report Card
#22 CinderHazel Book Review
Rubric For Constructed Response
This is a 37-page Project-Based Learning Unit were student work cooperatively and independently to create their own government. This unit fosters 21st Century Learning Skills, is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and culminates in students deciding on a classroom government structure.
In this unit students will learn
The Basic Forms of Government
How to Research and Create a Video
How to Storyboard
How to Discern Creditable Information from the Internet
Research and Inquiry Skills
Writing Process Skills
How to think critically
Technology Skills
Cooperation
Communication
Table of Contents
Project Explanation “The Ruling Class Project” page 4
“Who Rules” Student Worksheet page 5
“Before You Begin” Browsing the Web Worksheet pages 6-7
“Where are They?” Internet Search Practice Sheet on Various Governments – Then and Now pages 8—11
“Types of Government” Worksheet with explanations on Autocracy, Democracy,
Theocracy, Oligarchy, Totalitarian, Dictatorship and Anarchy pages 12-14
Student Reference and Internet Resources Page page 15
“Our Classroom Government” Worksheet page 16
Create a Public Service Announcement Standards and Student Outcome Page page 17
PSA Checklist and Student/Teacher Monitoring Notes page 18
“My Classroom Government Planning Sheet” Worksheet page 19
“Research Template” and Fact Sheet Citation Page page 20
Public Service Announcement Script Outline Page 21
Script or Screenplay Writing 101 – A Quick and Dirty Guide to a Screenplay Page 22-23
Storyboard Information Sheet that Can Be Used as a Close Reading Assignment Page 24
“Storyboard Template” – Copy Multiple for Each Student Page 25
“Now What?” Instructions on What to Do Next Page 26
“Was I Convinced” Peer PSA Video Watching Review – Multiple for Each Student Page 27
“Name That Government Type” Group Quiz Page 28
“PSA Self-Reflection Sheet” Page 29
Answer Sheets Page 30-37
This No Prep Book Unit is based on Shirley Climo’s “The Egyptian Cinderella” and contains 43-pages of interactive, cross curricular and engaging activities – all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, a review of Cinderella Elements, essays, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
Table of Contents
Cinderella Elements
#1 Draw A Title Page
#2 Questions Along the Way
#3 In My Opinion
#4 Constructed Response Questions
#5 Story Connectors
#6 Character Analysis
#7 Correct the Grammar Errors
#8 Comprehension Quiz
#9 Character Conflicts
#10 Sentence Sorting
#11 Sentence Sorting – My Own Strips
#12 Sentence Sorting to Essay Writing Enrichment
#13 Dictionary Skills
#14 Compare and Contrast Rhodopis and other Egyptian Girls
#16 Compare and Contrast Rhodopis and Cinderella
#17 Read and Write Argumentative: Social Studies
#18 Story Summary
#19 Character Changes
#20 Text to Text – Cross Fiction Story Analysis
#21 My Thoughts While Reading…
#22 Inferring Character Feelings
#23 Cause and Effect
#24 Compare and Contrast – Story Elements
#25 Think, Question, Analyze
#26 The Egyptian Cinderella Report Card
#27 The Egyptian Cinderella Book Review
#28 Sentence Sorting Traditional Cinderella
#29 Lights, Camera, Action
Constructed Response Rubric Guide
Constructed Response Rubric
Answers
Thank you for looking,
Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti
#Chapin-PInotti
These Reading Comprehension Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and help to foster the 21st Century higher order thinking skills necessary in today's world. Not your ordinary multiple-choice bell-ringers, but learning tasks designed to engage students and get them thinking.
Fifteen (15)in all, these Daily Reading and Writing Warm-Ups are themed for any day of the school year and are written at reading levels from 3rd through 5th grades.
Dorothy Vaughn page 2
Frederick Douglass page 4
Frederick Douglass Life as a Slave page 5
Thurgood Marshall page 6
Carter G. Woodson page 7
Vonetta Flowers page 8
Mary Jane Patterson page 9
Halle Berry page 10
Frances Perkins page 11
Dolores Huerta page 12
Nelson Mandela page 13
Queen Elizabeth II page 14
Walt Disney page 15
Cleopatra VII page 16
Babe Ruth page 17
FREEBIE! Each student will be a scientist and create a unique scent through a science experiment. They will label, brand and market their product! Great for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day or anytime.
Students wil work through:
Next Generation Science Standards
•PK – grade 3 students
•K-LS1, 1-LS1, 2-LS1, 3-LS1, 2-PS1
•Grade 4 – 6 students
•4-LS1, 5-PSI, 5-LS1
•MS-PS1, MS-LS1
•Middle school students
•MS-PS1, MS-LS1
•High school students
•HS-PS1, HS-LS1
PS1- Structure and properties of matter: LS1-Structure and Function
and CCSS in this differentiated science and marketing project on how to make their own perfume.
This is a HUGE original Unit based on my book -- Cinderella Christmas. This packet contains -- Cinderella Christmas ebook, Cinderella Christmas PowerPoint, over 30 print-and-go activities, Cinderella Elements PowerPoint, Cinderella Christmas Plot Diagram PowerPoint with student sheet, From Sentence Sorting to Essay Writing PowerPoint and student template, teaching Cinderella Powerpoint and a whole lot more!
The story is timeless -- but with a modern twist: A Christmasy twist to the timeless tale of Cinderella. Travel with Princess Charity to the North Pole and enjoy the elements of Cinderella in a whole new, modern, light!
Happy Holidays For Free From Me!
These are Word Family – Short Vowel Flowers. I’ve been using them to teach students to read for years. They’re perfect for using at home or in a classroom learning center!
What are word families?
Word families are groups of words that share the same ending. For example, the words cat, fat, and mat all belong to the “-at” word family. The worlds ball, fall and tall belong to the "-all" word family.
Why teach reading with word families?
1) The English language is complicated. Word families help beginning readers find patterns within words.
2) Knowing word families makes sounding out words easier because instead of laboriously sounding out each letter, the reader reads the first sound and attaches it to the familiar word family name. When reading the word cat -- rather than reading /k/ /a/ /t/, the child learns to read /k/ /at/.
This is a print-and-go learning center or whole class set for the “an” word family. It includes:
• -an phonics read and color booklet – “Stan and Dan Tan in a Pan”
• A set of “an” cards for Phonics Go Fish!
• Two separate Readers Theater scripts – at two levels
• Cards may also be used for “an” Concentration
Learning word families (also known as phonograms) helps students read in “chunks”. Reading in “chucks” allows students to recognize different word patterns – or sections of a word, such as “an”, rather than having to sound out each letter. For example, the –an family includes play, say, stay, etc.
Why are word families important?
1. When children begin to read, they sound out every letter. This breaks up the flow of the words, is extremely slow, and makes it difficult for them to transcend to reading comprehension. By learning families of words, children are able to read familiar patterns of letters quickly and fluently.
2. As children progress from simple to more complex words, the patterns, or chunks – continue to help them to decipher longer words.
3. Word families also help with spelling – as students are able to recognize spelling patterns and apply these to other words of the same family.
Print-and-Go Readers - a series of engaging English Language Arts lessons that allows students to incorporate engaging and essential ELA themes and standards while learning about fun places to visit. Perfect for centers, early finishers, ESL, intervention, whole class , SPaG and more.
High Interest Content!
Disney’s California Adventures: California Screamin’ – contains 12-print and go pages of activities that include: fluency practice, comprehension, word play, informational text , grammar, study and more.
Perfect for whole class, groups, pairs, intervention, centers and more. Use with the entire Journey series for a comprehensive fifth grade program. Works for summer school as well.
• Twelve pages in color and also in black and white for printing ease
• Great for students learning English
• Great for early finishers
• Work in pairs for intervention
Students practice reading, writing, grammar, critical thinking and 21st century skills
• Access their creativity
• Learn new words
• Learn about new places
This is a STEAM unit for middle school science that contains template pages for a "Save the Cacao Plant (NGSS LS3.A, 3.B, 2-4), an engineering design process to invent a candy bar and an art project to create a candy wrapper based on the science of color in marketing.
This STEAM unit contains templates for three distinct, integrated projects. The first is science - where students will use the NGSS scientific method to read research (two pages included as well as vetted links to more research) and work to save chocolate from extinction. There is also a PowerPoint to help demonstrate how the scientific method process works - with differentiated student templates for students to follow along.
In the second section, students are engineers and their task is to use the engineering design process to invent a candy bar.
In the last project, students use the psychology of color to create a candy bar wrapper. This section contains a PowerPoint on the Psychology of Color.
All three projects/labs can be done individually or in groups. This is an engaging way to teach NGSS - as it uses topics students can relate to.
• NGSS Save the Cacao Plant - Middle School Standards LS3.A, LS3.B, developing and using models, LS2.4.
• NGSS Engineering: Middle School ET-S1.1 and ET-S1.2
• National Art Standards - Anchor Standard - 2.3.7A for middle school
The student pages are template based and include a lesson on the scientific method NGSS-style.
This packet contains:
• 41-page handbook with teacher pages
• A ten-page PowerPoint on the NGSS scientific method
• A 20-page PowerPoint on “The Science of Color”
• Plus, various links to other research sites
This is a template for students to outline, storyboard and write their own Novella or Novel. This is a differentiated unit that is engaging and LOVED by all students.
Included is a CCSS matrix for grades 4 through 12 – as it is fully adaptable.
Also included is a completed template so you can walk you students through the process!
41-pages in all.
This is great for whole class Common Core writing work, for early finishers or broken down into centers.
This is a template-based lesson designed for students to either work through independently or be guided through, depending upon the grade level you teach and the particular levels of your students. The end product will be an outline for a novel, novella or long short story.
The project can result in actual written novels or may be used as the end product. Over the years, my students have enjoyed publishing their work in real book form. This is easily done by students and is Common Core Standards based!!
Students create a pdf of their work and we use the pdf to publish them. The resulting books are professional looking, there are no set up costs and students can purchase their work for only a few dollars.
My students love this! I have even compiled shorter work into one document and published anthologies. If you are working with a group of students at varying levels, it is helpful to begin the lesson in guided fashion and then let students fade off to write when they are individually comfortable doing so. After the templates are completed, have student write their masterpieces!!
The Elements and Before You Begin sections should be discussed/taught using active participation techniques. I find it helpful to walk through the entire template with struggling learners and create a group novel together.
Another way to use the template: This is a wonderful, standards-based project for individuals, Gifted or advanced, who finish their work quickly and like to be challenged.
Sight Word “Go Fish” and Concentration
These are engaging versions of Go Fish! and Concentration that use Dolch Sight Words rather than numbers for these fun and engaging games. The decks of cards are Dolch lists.
This packet includes:
Pre-K -40 words – 160 card deck
K – 52 words -204 card deck
1st Grade – 41 words 204 card deck
Go Fish First! This is an engaging version of Go Fish! that uses Sight Words rather than numbers rather than numbers. The decks of cards are Dolch lists.
Copy cards on cardstock. (Avery 5271 Business Card template also works and makes cutting easier!)
Laminate for durability.
Each player gets five cards.
If you are dealt four of a kind, or get four of a kind during game play, those cards are removed from your hand, and you get a point.
Moving clockwise, players take turns asking a specific player for a given word card: “Do you have any “the”s?
The person with the most packs of four at the end of the game wins.
*Option: If you want to put backs on the cards – the last page can be used to copy the backside of each set.
*Note: Mix and match the cards any way you wish. Some of the sets are large – break them up but be mindful of needing to keep “packs” of four together.
The font is KG Behind These Hazel Eyes. I have paid for a license; however, since you are using this resource for your class and are printing the Word version – you may download the font for free. I chose this particular font because the “a”s are: a and easier for students to read.
Concentration Rules
Use the same cards as for Go Fish!
Game Set Up:
1. Shuffle, or mix up, the cards well
2. Place each card face down in rows and columns
Game Play
1. Each player takes a turn by turning two cards over.
2. If the cards match, then the player picks up the cards and keeps them
3. If they don't match, the player turns the cards back over
Included:
Pre-K Dolch Word Card Deck: 40 words – 160 cards
K Dolch Word Card Deck: 52 words – 204 cards
1st Dolch Word Card Deck: 41 Words - 164 cards
Great for whole class, early finishers, interventions, buddy work and more...
This bundle includes :
40 Words 160 Card Deck for Pre-K
52 Words – 240 Card Deck for K
41 Words – 204 Card Deck for 1st
46 Words: 184 Card Deck for 2nd Grade
41 Words: 164 Card Deck for 3rd Grade
51 Dolch Noun List 1: 204 Card Deck
42 Dolch Noun List 2: 204 Card Deck
Plus: "Word Family Flowers: Phonics - 45 word families in all.
The non-fiction Common Core aligned readings and primary source Document Pamphlet series: Discovering America is designed to help students read for information and think critically while forming their own ideas. Students and adults alike will discover history by looking at artifacts constructed by the people who shaped the United States of America.
Perfect for any classroom, from Fifth Grade to college, this series engages students and prompts them to think for themselves, question, reflect and gain a deeper understanding of history.
100s of Pages of Engaging Student Document Analysis, lessons, debates and Activities.
Print-n-Go STEM Readers – Upper Elementary: “Giant Pandas”. STEM Readers is series of STEM lessons that are cross curricular with ELA lessons that allows students to incorporate engaging and essential STEM and ELA themes and standards while learning about engaging subjects – like Giant Pandas. Perfect for centers, early finishers, whole class assignments and more. ALL NGSS-based.
Giant Panda STEM Reader - Next Generation Science Standards:
3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
5-PS3 Energy and 5-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
S1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
Differentiated PLUS cross curricular – ELA embedded assignments – SPaG and standards based. STEM activities – including two video links (3 minutes and 5 minutes) with activities. Students can complete these items alone or as a class – depending on technology available and student aptitude.
Page 2 Fluency practice: “Life Cycle of a Giant Panda
Page 3: Comprehension Quiz
Page 4: Fluency practice: “Transfer of Matter in Ecosystems”
Page 5: Transfer of Matter in Ecosystems of Giant Panda Worksheet
Page 6: Giant Panda Fact Contraction Check Adjective and Alliteration Practice
Page 7: Giant Pandas – Shrinking Refuge Comprehension and Vocabulary
Page 8: STEM Vocabulary
Page 9: Sentence Structure and Perfect Panda Personification (see what I did there?)
Page 10: WoLong’s Pandas (3-minute video link and comprehension questions
Page 11: Bamboo Mountain: China’s Pandas (5:32) and comprehension questions with summary practice
Page 12: Describe Each Picture: Topic Lifecycle of a Giant Panda