Stronger Together Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will identify how Dr. King worked with others as a team to change unfair laws.

 

Social Studies Focus:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

SEL Focus:

social awareness

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, opinion writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a timeline

 

Vocabulary:

segregation, marches, role

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 write opinion pieces; W.2.8 recall experiences to write; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level: 

L

 

Lexile Level: 

480L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Dr. King: A Leader and a Hero.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question: 

  • What is one reason Dr. King was a hero?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured terms are

segregation, marches, and role.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. Ask: What is a team? Have you ever worked as part of a team?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about what a team can do!” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • The “Design a Poster” game lets students review text features as they make a digital poster in honor of Dr. King. Let them share their work by digitally displaying or printing their posters.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important SEL and ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words segregation, marches, and roles.

Editor’s Pick: Opinion Writing (15 min.)

SEL Focus: Social Awareness (15 min.)

  • Cut and distribute the Go, Team, Go! scenario cards and have students discuss or act out what they would do in the situations described. Not only will they discuss being good team members, but they’ll get to practice teamwork too!

Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 580L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 480L