In this assignment, students write an Informational Paragraph about an invention that has impacted their lives. Students write a well-organized Paragraph that includes a clear focus statement or main idea about the topic. Students support their main ideas with facts, examples, and details.

Duration: 20-30 minutes

In this assignment, students write an Informational Paragraph explaining the concept of climate change. Students write a well-organized Paragraph that includes a clear focus statement or main idea about the topic. Students support their main ideas with facts, examples, and details.

Duration: 20-30 minutes

In this assignment, students watch a video about supervolcanoes and write a brief Informational Report. Students state a topic sentence or main idea and support it with facts and details from the source video. Use this assignment as quick practice or an informal assessment opportunity.

Duration: 20-40 minutes

In this assignment, students view a slide show and write a Report on the topic of Biomimicry. Students state a topic sentence or main idea and support it with facts and details from sources, or from their own ideas.

Duration: 20-40 minutes

In this assignment, students watch a video about the Ingenuity helicopter's first flight on Mars and write an Informational Report. Students state a topic sentence or main idea and support it with facts and details from sources, or from their own ideas.

Duration: 20-40 minutes

In this assignment, students watch a National Geographic video about Mercury and then write a Brief Report. Students state a topic sentence or main idea and support it with facts and details from sources, or from their own ideas.

Duration: 20-40 minutes

Students write a Lab Report. They include an explanation of the assignment, a hypothesis, materials and procedures, and data. They conclude the lab with a summary and insight into what they were not able to control and what they might do differently next time. This template is based on National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) requirements and helps students include all steps necessary for writing a Scientific Lab Report.

In this assignment, students read the article "Inventing the Perfect Umbrella." Then they write a Problem-Solution Essay describing a problem with another everyday object and a new design idea that solves the problem. Students practice key skills in the Information genre such as developing main ideas with significant concrete details and relevant examples, organizing ideas using a clear structure, and using topic-specific vocabulary.

In this assignment, students read two articles about restoring ecosystems. Students answer reading comprehension questions and then write an Informational Essay about how saving endangered species can help restore ecosystems. Students gain practice in close reading, gathering evidence from more than one source, and writing in the Information genre.

In this assignment, students read the article "Coming Soon: Helmets Made from Carrots," which tells about an invention that reuses food waste, specifically carrot fibers, to make things like motorcycle helmets. Then they write a Persuasive Letter to the NFL (National Football League) arguing why the league should replace all of their helmets with this new material. Students practice key skills in the Argument genre, such as selecting relevant details from the article to support their claim, explaining topic-specific vocabulary that might be unfamiliar to their audience, and addressing opposing claims fairly and thoroughly.

In this assignment, students read the article "We Thought We'd Be Living in Space (or Under Giant Domes) by Now." Then they write an Informational Summary focusing on the sequence of events described in the article. Students practice key skills in the Information genre such as introducing a topic, clearly stating main ideas, selecting relevant details and examples from the text, and using transitions to convey sequence.

In this assignment, students watch a 13-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about the meat and dairy industries. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Would you give up any meat or dairy in your diet?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video along with viewing guide questions and both a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video in both English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch an eight-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about climate change. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Has climate change reached the point of no return?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video, in English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch a five-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about the ethics of keeping animals in zoos. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Should Zoos Exist?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video, in English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch an eight-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about the use of controlled fires to combat wildfires. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Should we set more 'good' fires to help fight 'bad' ones?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video, in English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch a six-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about endangered species. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Should we care if a species goes extinct?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch a seven-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about the effects of plastic bottles on the environment. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "Do the costs of banning plastic bottles outweigh the benefits?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video, in English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.

In this assignment, students watch a six-minute video from KQED's Above the Noise about microfiber pollution. Then students write two or more paragraphs answering the question "What should we do to address these tiny strands of synthetic fibers that can enter our water systems, our air, and even our food?" In addition to the writing prompt, students can access the video, viewing guide questions, a Glossary of key terms, and a Transcript of the video, in English and Spanish, in the reading area on the left side of the screen.

Extend the lesson on KQED Learn, a free platform to build media literacy skills. Students start with discussion prompts like Above the Noise videos, then practice arguing from evidence in a discussion forum accessible only to students. Teachers will find lesson plans, student viewing guides, and curricular supports. Learn how to get started here.