Ginger Specks

What a great way to get your students understanding science inquiry tables, and identifying fair and unfair tests! Students analyze the data table to determine if the investigation is fair or unfair. Then, after supporting their reasoning, they share how they could improve the test. These can be used as a whole group collaborative approach, or as small group conversation cards.

This 14 page resource includes an explanation on what is/is not a fair test, a student check list, activities, conversation/task cards, and visuals. The resource is intended to be used as a whole group lesson, small group lesson, reference source, and extension. It can be used as an introduction or to solidify student mastery.

SUMmarize like a pirate is a great (and fun!) enrichment to for small group or guided instruction. I have included 8 short passages (all around a DRA 30) all around pirates. These can be used as task cards or conversation cards. Students read the passage and then choose the best summary (multiple choice) for the text. An answer key is also provided and encourages students to utilize cooperative learning to share why the answer is correct, as well as how to improve the other options to make t

The Character Trait Task Cards include open-ended response cards to engage students in conversation around their desired text, and the character traits within. This is a great extension activity to promote mastery in the standard with the gradual release process.

This is a great resource aligning to the gradual release process, helping students discuss and share ideas around figurative and connotative meanings within text, using their context clues.

Task Box fun subitizing with dice! This product offers ideas to enhance number fluency and fine motor skills. Use as a small group activity, or as a quick exit ticket reference on individual number mastery.

The Fox and Crow passage has been modified for 2nd grade benchmark level 20 readability. The passage contains task cards to coincide with moral/lesson standard, and beginning/middle/end.

I have created a non-fiction text book about Ben Franklin. (The booklet was created to ease the printing ability. When the multiple pages are stacked upon each other, two booklets are able to be created at once.) The booklet is a DRA level 10 for first grade, and meets the needs for non-fiction standards, reading and following multi-step directions in text. This is a great resource to use during guide reading, and within the gradual release process in active engagement.

This is a great resource for teaching how figurative language adds meaning to the text, as well as how plot and conflict reflect history/culture. The resource goes along with pages 162 and 164 of Brown Girl Dancing, by Jacqueline Woodson.

Subitizing fun with snowflakes and a busy box! Include fine-motor skills into this activity by adding clothespins! This activity can be used in a small-group setting, independent, or with partners.

I have a created a nonfiction passage with 8 task cards. The passage was written at a DRA level 20, and includes directions within the text, addressing the nonfiction standard (showing comprehension of text and following directions within a text). This is a great resource to use during guided reading, or in a center/station to encourage the gradual release process towards standard mastery.

Students identify figurative language used in excerpts from James and the Giant Peach. Students then include reasons why the author included the figurative language, and discuss the text evidence included.

Snowman Letter Match is a great activity for small-group, peer:peer, or individual learning towards letter mastery. Hint: For fine motor skills, add clothespins to clip on the correct correlating letter.

This is a great resource to help students see how sentences in a text contribute to the meaning. The students have 5 different passages to analyze with conversation cards to discuss how the text in the passage contributes meaning to the text, or changes the text. The passages are leveled from a DRA 30 to a DRA 50. Great for the gradual release of independent learning!

Have fun with prefixes by making up new words while using the prefix rules/definitions. Making up new words is always fun! This resource can be used as an engagement activity in a small-group station. Students will have a blast sharing their new words they have created for the town. I can also create a similar activity for suffixes, just let me know if you are interested.