# data[].attributes.headline
ASSESSMENT: Living Timeline - Jigsaw Groups

# data[].attributes.subject
ASSESSMENT: Living Timeline - Jigsaw Groups

# data[].attributes.body
Using Jigsaw grouping, students will complete research over the the effects of British actions on the Americans' reactions. After learning in detail about the background of the American Revolution, students will then research key battles by themselves to then present to the class.

# data[].attributes.body
Students will rewrite their own version of the Preamble, substituting key words with synonyms to show their understanding of vocabulary terms. This also promotes creativity and personalizes their learning.

# data[].attributes.body
BrainPOP offers interactive lessons over the American Revolution for students to complete along with quizzes, the ability to create their own mini movies, games, and more!

# data[].attributes.body
This video serves as a great visual and auditory summary of the events that lead up to the start of the American Revolution.

# data[].attributes.body
This first-person interactive game allows for students to journey through the American Revolution. They get to make choices that a person from that period would have faced and get to interacted with historic features.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The game is narrated with snippets of animation, and kids are often able to click on and explore the environment. In doing so, they can learn more about the printmaking business, pre-Revolutionary War American culture, and politics. The overall path through the game is mostly linear, but kids are given the freedom to perform tasks and visit locations.

The game is a fun way for students to begin to understand the 1770s political climate, although the patriot characters are generally more pleasant to interact with than those who support the crown. It lends a certain bias to the game over and above the fact that students likely already know the war's outcome. Kids will weigh their options, navigate friendships, and eventually choose sides, as they do in real life. Unlike the other Mission US title, Flight to Freedom, decisions made during the game seem to have little impact on the final outcome. In the end, students will find themselves pondering the same decision regardless of their actions throughout.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mission US: For Crown or Colony? Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The game is narrated with snippets of animation, and kids are often able to click on and explore the environment. In doing so, they can learn more about the printmaking business, pre-Revolutionary War American culture, and politics. The overall path through the game is mostly linear, but kids are given the freedom to perform tasks and visit locations.

# data[].attributes.body
In groups, students will create a news report using Issuu or other technology to document one of the major battles of the American Revolution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Issuu | Create Interactive Flipbooks on our Digital Publishing Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Issuu converts PDFs and documents into an interactive flipbook and marketing assets. Embed flipbooks onto your website and distribute online. Create yours with Issuu.

# data[].attributes.body
In pairs, students will conduct interviews with each other role-playing as important people from the American Revolution that they will then present or perform to the class.

# data[].attributes.body
This video depicts America's journey to achieving independence from Britain.

# data[].attributes.body
Students will analyze and comprehend Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" by applying their understanding of context, tone, and rhetorical device in order to make meaning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
| | Filed Under: Close Reading, Reading

Close reading is a great way to get students to dig in and analyze a text. Close reading, when done right, allows for rich discussion and reflection while growing your students as critical, analytical readers. In this post, I will share close reading tips and strategies to help you implement this reading strategy into your instruction.

Close Reading Tips and Strategies

#1 - Introduce close reading early on, and provide ongoing practice throughout the year. I like to use this anchor chart when introducing close reading to help my students understand the purpose and focus of close reading.

#2 - Have one focus question or prompt per read. Don't bombard your students with pages of questions for each read. This will burn them out and is not the true focus of close reading.

#3 - Have specific annotation directions for each read. My go-to annotation direction is to have the students highlight, flag, or mark evidence to respond to the question/prompt. For example, if the close reading prompt is to identify the main character's traits, the students can highlight details used to support the trait they chose.

#4 - Color-code the annotation tools to organize details for each read. This will help the students keep their annotations organized so they can actually refer back to them as they are writing about or discussing the text. An added bonus is that it will help you keep your students accountable.

#5 - Explicitly model the annotation process (and then model some more). This one takes time, but it is worth it. Break down the process for your students and talk through a text while you annotate it, explaining why you chose to annotate specific details from the text.

#6 - Model how to use the annotations to respond both verbally and in writing to the prompt. Annotations will seem pointless to your students if they don't have a purpose. Show students how to refer back to their annotations when they are discussing or writing about a text.

#7 - Have the expectation that students should be prepared to defend, explain, and use their annotations when responding to texts. This will help with over-annotating or annotating without intention. However, if students are annotating ineffectively, I recommend stepping back and modeling the process again.
***Want more tips specific to annotating texts (including free printables) --> CLICK HERE!
#8 - Remember, there is no right annotation and often no one right answer. If the students can defend and use their annotations to explain their ideas, then the annotations are effective.

#9 - Students discussing the text and their understanding should be the focus, with the teacher guiding it as needed. Close reading should not be an isolated process. Invite the students to discuss the text and their understandings after each read.

#10 - Small-group close reading instruction works best for engagement, modeling, and accountability.

#11 - The purpose of each read is to provide new evidence and new understandings. If the students have already reached that level (as evident by their discussions), don't be afraid to skip or modify a prompt.

#12 - If students can zone in on exactly the area needed to close read and annotate, let them. Then challenge them to look in other areas of the text for more evidence.

#13 - Use close reading strategies and prompts that are transferrable and can be used again and again. Yes, the prompts should be text-dependent in the sense that the students need the text details and evidence, but they should not be highly specific to one text. Using prompts that are transferrable to other texts will allow you to get way more mileage out of your close reading instruction and help the students apply the strategies to new texts and other reading situations.

#14 - Keep a collection of excerpts and books that lend themselves to different close reading strategies (and ideally close reading strategies that fit your specific reading standards and the needs of your readers).
What close reading tips do you have to share that have worked for your students? Let us know in the comments!
#15 - The students may struggle with this type of instruction at first. Remember that productive struggle is important for learning. Model, do think-alouds, and provide additional support as needed.

Need Close Reading Resources?

Click below for close reading resources to implement rigorous and engaging close reading instruction in your classroom. These close reading resources are available in downloadable formats through TeachersPayTeachers or as hard-goods (with included lesson plans) through Hand2mind.

Hand2Mind Close Reading Kits

Note: The hand2mind links are affiliate links (which just means that if you or your school makes a purchase through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you).

TeachersPayTeachers Close Reading Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Close Reading Tips and Strategies for Upper Elementary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Filed Under: Close Reading, Reading Close reading is a great way to get students to dig in and analyze a text. Close reading, when done right, allows for rich discussion and reflection while growing your students as critical, analytical readers.

# data[].attributes.body
Using the 13 colonies and Great Britain, students will choose from these locations to construct a persuasive advertisement about why their audience should live there. Students will integrate the different government styles, economies, etc. into their advertisements.

# data[].attributes.headline
EVENTS: Declaration of Independence - Concept Mapping

# data[].attributes.subject
EVENTS: Declaration of Independence - Concept Mapping

# data[].attributes.body
With this resource, students can break down and organize key elements of the Declaration of Independence, taking into consideration the importance of each Amendment's impact.