CreateExploreExplainDesign a weather-themed comic strip showing different types of weather.Use a weather app to track local weather for 3 days and write a summary.Teach a mini-lesson to a peer about how clouds form.Build a 3D model of a weather system using clay or recycled materials.Research extreme weather events and present your findings.Write a short story that takes place during a weather event.Make a weather forecast video using props or digital tools.Compare weather in two different cities and graph the differences.Create a poster explaining the water cycle.

For the appetizer students can define 10 vocabulary words from the book and use each in a sentence.

• Create a timeline of major events from the story.

• Write a short summary of each chapter.

  For the main course students can:

• Write a letter to a character in the book.

• Record a podcast discussing the book’s themes.

  For the dessert students can:

• Create a playlist of 5 songs that represent characters or events and explain your choices

Acting it out

Drawing a cartoon strip

Writing a skit

Draw ItDraw your favorite scene from the story.Write a new ending for the book.Act out a scene with a partner.Make a diorama of the setting.Design a new book cover

Write It Write a letter to a character.Pretend you're the main character and tell the story.

Act It Create a comic strip of the plot.

Create It.Illustrate the problem and solution.Write a summary in your own words.Make a puppet show of the story.Build a timeline of events.

I am a math intervention teacher. Talking It Out is a strategy we use in the classroom to help students internalize learning and explain their thinking. I would have a choice board about different ways students can Talk It Out, for example explaining it in writing, face to face, or recording it screencastify. I can do have similar options for other strategies we use.

-Write and illustrate a short story from the viewpoint of a raindrop traveling through the water cycle

-Use an interactive simulation (online) to model climate change effects on your region

-Build a 3D model showing layers of the atmosphere and label how weather phenomena occur in each

I would create a choice board and give students 3 or 4 choices on a novel we are reading in class. To differentiate skills for students, I would have the activity pre-order for them to write, make a podcast, video, presentation, or project to show their understand.

Collaborative Project-Based Activities

1. Survival Strategy Debate: Ethics in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Objective:
Students will engage in a collaborative debate where they defend or challenge the ethical decisions made by the man in The Road regarding survival and morality.

Instructions:

• Split the class into two groups. One group will defend the man’s moral choices, while the other group will argue against them.

• Both groups will identify key survival decisions made by the man (e.g., taking food from others, using limited resources, avoiding strangers) and build their arguments based on ethical reasoning and examples from the text.

• Each group will present their case to the class, citing specific moments from the novel.

  
  

  After the debate, a class discussion will follow to explore how survival affects morality and whether any of the decisions could have been justified in such an extreme environment.
  

Create a comic strip retelling a key event (e.g., Fall of Rome, Battle of Tours, Black Death, First Crusade, Rise of Islam).
Include:

• At least 8 panels

• Dialogue with the panels

• Accurate historical details to include dates

• One panel showing cause & effect

• Must present your Comic Strip to the class and share with the other students.

• Graded with a Rubric

• Create a comic strip

• Record a video explanation

• Build a 3D model

• Write a summary or essay

• Design a digital poster

• Create a mini-presentation

3x3 board to include:

create a game for the unit

make a mini documentary video

research presentation

create a skit with the inventors/discovery

write a fictional story related to the topic

design a quiz for the unit

create anchor charts for the unit

create a diorama or 3D art

design a comic strip

• Creating a comic strip of the story’s main events.

• Writing a letter to a character from the story.

• Recording a report about the story.

• Designing a new book cover for the story and explain why it fits the story best.

• Completing a theme analysis paragraph about the story.

Providing students with choices supports their academic strengths, in addition to providing opportunities to take ownership of their learning.

Create a visual that contains elements of human, economic, political, and physical geography

Create a timeline

Write a paper

We've used Kahoot as a reward after a review. We work each problem out and play a game of kahoot with open notes.

For my GT students who excel in ELA I can have them write sentences underneath the pictures to tell their story.

In the past, I've let the students choose between an array of texts relating to the same theme, read them individually and then share out how the text relates to the theme of the unit. For example, this 9 weeks we were reading texts about what it takes to achieve success. The students chose brief biographies of Yoyo Ma, Michael Jordan, Tony Hawk, etc. They then had to explain who the character was, what was their goal, the obstacle and how they over came.

The effectiveness of this strategy is two-fold: first they are given autonomy over choosing a text that aligns with their interest. Secondly, they can lead the discussion to the depth and pace they are more comfortable with before I as the instructor guide the conversation toward the lesson goals.

1. Create a Historical Diary: Write a first-person diary entry from the perspective of someone living during the event we studied. Include details about daily life, emotions, and challenges.

2. Design an Infographic: Summarize the key causes and effects of the historical event using visuals and short text.

3. Compare and Contrast Essay: Write a short essay comparing two civilizations or leaders, focusing on their contributions and impact.

4. Map Analysis: Draw or annotate a map showing trade routes, territorial changes, or migration patterns related to the topic.

5. Debate Preparation: Prepare arguments for or against a major decision made during this historical period and explain its consequences.

6. Create a Museum Exhibit: Design a mini-exhibit with artifacts, images, and descriptions that represent the era studied.

7. Timeline Project: Develop a timeline of significant events, including dates and brief explanations of their importance.

8. Video Presentation: Record a short video explaining the historical event and why it matters today.

9. Artistic Representation: Create a piece of art (drawing, painting, or digital) that symbolizes the theme or impact of the historical period.

• Create / Design a poster centered on the proportional relationship of your favorite sports teams wins and losses. Add a visual aid to help us see the proportional relationship of your teams wins and losses and add a summary on how they are proportional.

• Explain in your own words how you solved a question centered on proportional relationships (given to you by teacher). Make sure to be detailed in your explanation and include all mathematical process needed.

• Create your own proportional relationship question based on sports, real-life situations, or a character that you like from a show or movie. Give details why knowing the answer could be helpful to this sport, situation, or character.

• Create your own recipe for a change of your choice. How much off each ingredient will you need to make one and how much off each ingredient will you need to make 5? How can know how much off each ingredient you will need help you when you begin preparing to make the 5 cakes?

Engineering Design: Using 15 craft sticks and tape, design and build a bridge that can hold a toy car without collapsing.

Pattern Breaking: Look around your room and find 3 repeating patterns (e.g., stripes on a rug). Create your own pattern using 3 different colors of crayons.

Mental Math: Use a deck of cards to play "Make 10." Turn over a card, and mentally state (or write) what number you need to add to it to make exactly 10. [1]

Literacy & Fluency

Alternative Endings: Read a familiar story (like The Three Little Pigs), but draw and write a new ending where the pig and the wolf become friends.

Vocabulary Expansion: Find 5 "wow" (advanced) words in a book. Write them down and draw a picture defining what each word means to you.

Character Perspective: Choose a character from a story. Write a diary entry pretending you are that character experiencing the main event of the book.