October 22, 2012
Great news! Most of our activity sheets are now writable PDFs. You can print and copy them or have students fill them out on their computers or tablets. Click here to see instructions for using writable PDFs.
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SUMMARY: From 1854 to 1929, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on “orphan trains” in search of new homes. We pair this fascinating story with a profile of Michaela DePrince, who was adopted from war-torn Sierra Leone. Skill focus: compare and contrast; symbolism Lexile Level: 930L
GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. Students use details from “The Orphan Train” and “Michaela, Triumphant” to compare and contrast Lee Nailling and Michaela DePrince. READ, THINK, EXPLAIN: IDENTIFYING NONFICTION ELEMENTS New and improved! Use our teacher-vetted, scaffolded reading activity to develop your students’ nonfiction reading skills and strategies and prepare them for higher-level thinking questions. Don’t miss the nifty glossary of terms we’ve added at the end of the activity! VOCABULARY A list of tricky words that appear in the article. Includes definitions and example sentences, as well as a practice activity to reinforce understanding. Read more about Scope Vocabulary here. INTERACTIVE READING-COMPRENSION QUIZ A test-prep essential! We formed these questions based on state tests. Need help with interactive PDFs? Visit our FAQ page. NONINTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A printable version of the quiz above. CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS Short-answer questions for independent completion (great for your above-level readers!) or group discussion. CONTEST ENTRY FORM Students write a paragraph comparing and contrasting Lee Nailling and Michaela DePrince. Read more about our contests here. EXTRA RESOURCES PRIMARY DOCUMENT: Orphan Train Advertisement This ad ran in the Tecumseh Chieftain, a Nebraska newspaper, on July 8, 1893. Project it for your students and ask them to analyze it: What is the tone of the ad? Based on this ad, do you think the newspaper editor mentioned in the article was right when he compared the selection process to “picking out cattle”? Why or why not? VIDEO: CNN Interview With Orphan-Train Rider This segment from CNN features clips from a 2008 interview with one of the last surviving orphan-train riders. Share this with your class for another perspective on the orphan-train era. Length: 2:41. VIDEO: ABC News Profile of Michaela DePrince This inspiring ABC News segment features Michaela discussing her adoption, her success as a young ballerina, and the challenges she still faces. Length: 5:36. NOTE: An ad appears before the video begins, so we recommend loading and previewing the video before your class starts. | |
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SUMMARY: Why has Justin Bieber been acting so strange lately? It might be because fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—at least according to our essay and Emily Dickinson’s classic poem “Nobody.” Skill focus: tone/author’s point of view CLICK HERE TO SEE WHY THIS IS OUR FAVORITE COMMON CORE ACTIVITY OF THE ISSUE! Lexile Level: 1230L
GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. This not-to-be-missed activity will help your students learn content-area vocabulary for the topic of fame, and understand how a writer’s word choice communicates his or her point of view. Great for whole-class and small-group work. Click here for an interactive Teacher’s Guide to using this activity. Read more about Scope Vocabulary here. AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW Students analyze the author’s point of view and the poet’s point of view, considering word choice, tone, and what information is included and excluded. Makes excellent preparation for the writing prompt on page 13. AUDIO: Reading of “Nobody” Play our dramatic reading of the poem for listening-comprehension practice. Tip: Before playing our reading, have several students each read the poem aloud. Compare how the tone and mood of the poem change depending on how it’s read. POETRY ANALYSIS: “Nobody” Multiple-choice and short-answer questions help students understand Emily Dickinson’s poem. Please note: This activity sheet is print-only. INTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A test-prep essential! We formed these questions based on state tests. Need help with interactive PDFs? Visit our FAQ page. NONINTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A printable version of the quiz above. CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS Short-answer questions for independent completion (great for your above-level readers!) or group discussion. CONTEST ENTRY FORM Students analyze the author of the article’s attitude toward fame and compare it to that of the speaker in Emily Dickinson’s “Nobody.” Read more about our contests here. EXTRA RESOURCE POET BIOGRAPHY: Emily Dickinson A biography of the beloved poet from the Emily Dickinson Museum’s website. | |
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SUMMARY: Our awesomely creepy adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel is a fun Halloween treat. The story of a scientist and his tragically misunderstood creature will prompt lively discussion in your classroom: Who is the REAL monster in this tale? Skill focus: text analysis
GET A PDF OF THIS PLAY TO PROJECT. Use our step-by-step multimedia teaching package for a showstopping lesson that connects Frankenstein with this issue’s debate, “Should We Bring Back the Woolly Mammoth?” SCOPE VIDEO: The Electrifying Age of Frankenstein Our video will give your students a snapshot of the thrilling (and slightly terrifying) scientific advancements that were happening in Mary Shelley’s day. For an iPad/iPhone compatible version of this video, please click here. FINDING TEXT EVIDENCE: “Who’s the Monster?” Students identify evidence from the play supporting arguments about who is responsible for the creature’s crimes. IDENTIFYING LITERARY ELEMENTS AND DEVICES Students explore character, elements of plot, and more, in this self-guided activity. Includes higher-level-thinking questions. Use this activity with our Glossary of Literary Terms—a terrific resource your students can use all year! VOCABULARY A list of tricky words that appear in the play. Includes definitions and example sentences, as well as a practice activity to reinforce understanding. Read more about Scope Vocabulary here. INTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A test-prep essential! We formed these questions based on state tests. Need help with interactive PDFs? Visit our FAQ page. NONINTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A printable version of the quiz above. CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS Short-answer questions for independent completion (great for your above-level readers!) or group discussion. CONTEST ENTRY FORM Who is ultimately at fault for the creature’s murders in Frankenstein? Is it the creature? Dr. Frankenstein? Society? Students take a position and support their argument using evidence from the play. Read more about our contests here. EXTRA RESOURCE ORIGINAL TEXT: Frankenstein The full text of Mary Shelley’s classic novel is available for free online. Share it with your above-level students and challenge them to think about how our adaptation is different from the original. | |
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SUMMARY: Scientists are trying to clone a woolly mammoth, an extinct species. Is this a good idea? Students read arguments on both sides of the debate, then take a stand. Skill focus: supporting an argument; identifying main ideas and details Lexile Level: 990L
GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. Use our step-by-step multimedia teaching package to teach a showstopping lesson connecting this debate to our Readers Theater Play Frankenstein. GUIDED WRITING: The Argument Essay Our self-guided worksheet makes essay writing a painless process. Great for homework! GREAT TRANSITIONS HANDOUT Using transition words is a key writing skill. Our handout gives students ideas on how to choose the perfect transition word. ARGUMENT-ESSAY CHECKLIST Have students use our nifty list to check their argument essays before handing them in. Great for peer review too! DIY VOCABULARY This activity helps students keep track of unfamiliar words they encounter in any Scope article. They will use context clues, look up definitions, and use each new word in a sentence. Read more about Scope Vocabulary here. | |
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SUMMARY: Students correct grammatical errors and revise sloppy writing in a nonfiction article about “freegans,” people who reduce waste by scouring dumpsters for edible food. Skill focus: conventions of standard English; revision GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. Students identify and revise sentences containing misplaced modifiers. SENTENCE-STRUCTURE VARIATION PRACTICE Tips—plus an activity for practice in varying sentence structures. WORD-VARIATION PRACTICE This activity helps students use a wider vocabulary in their writing. COMMA USE Students review the rules, then practice. Please note: This activity sheet is print-only. AVOIDING REDUNDANCY Redundant words and phrases are common in writing. Help students recognize and avoid them! | |
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SUMMARY: While on a family vacation in Florida, Nate meets Boo, a mysterious dog with a strange secret. We pair Bobbie Pyron’s poignant story about life and death with a short informational text about the legend of the Fountain of Youth. Skill focus: analyzing theme Lexile Level: 840L GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. This self-guided activity helps students explore character, elements of plot, and more. Includes higher-level-thinking questions. Use this activity with our Glossary of Literary Terms —a terrific resource your students can use all year! INTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A test-prep essential! We formed these questions based on state tests. Visit our FAQ page. NONINTERACTIVE READING-COMPREHENSION QUIZ A printable version of the quiz above. CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS Short-answer questions for independent completion (great for your above-level readers!) or group discussion. DIY VOCABULARY This activity is a great way for students to keep track of unfamiliar words they encounter in any Scope article. They will use context clues, look up definitions, and use each new word in a sentence. Read more about Scope Vocabulary here. EXTRA RESOURCE MEET THE AUTHOR: Bobbie Pyron Learn more about Bobbie Pyron, the wonderful author of “Following Boo.” | |
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SUMMARY: Kolbey Watford, 17, is a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Andrews, South Carolina. In this activity, students use our interview with Kolbey to write a short article about him. Skill focus: identifying main idea and details; summarizing GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT. Our self-guided worksheet walks students through the process of crafting an article. “YOU WRITE IT” MODEL TEXT Model the activity with an annotated example of a completed “You Write It” article. PUNCTUATING QUOTATIONS Use this activity sheet for extra practice with direct quotes. Please note: this activity sheet is print-only. CONTEST ENTRY FORM Use our handy form to enter students’ work in the “You Write It” contest. Read more about our contests here. | |
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SUMMARY: Students practice the correct use of affect and effect while learning about three scary-looking but perfectly harmless creatures. Skill focus: affect and effect
GET A PDF OF THIS ARTICLE TO PROJECT More practice with these commonly confused words. | |
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| READING-COMPREHENSION CROSSWORD PUZZLE This is a fun way to test students’ understanding of the whole issue. Please note: This activity is print-only. | |
SKILLS AND GRAPHIC-ORGANIZERS LIBRARY Visit our library for a list of basic skills activities for just about any Scope article or story. ANSWER KEY Looking for answers? Visit our top-secret website for answers to all quizzes and activities. The URL can be found on page T-3 of your printed Teacher’s Edition. DOWNLOAD ALL ACTIVITY SHEETS FROM THIS ISSUE MORE HELPFUL LINKS & DOWNLOADS COMMON CORE, NCTE, AND IRA STANDARDS FAQs ABOUT INTERACTIVE PDFS Having a problem downloading our materials? Try using a different browser. |
