Lesson Plan Suggestions for Common Core Standards

Reading and Critical Thinking Skills

Ask students to summarize the central idea using examples from the article.
Pick an article that talks about a radical new invention or idea and initiate a class debate by dividing the students in two groups – Encourage them to argue about the pros and cons of the invention.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
Determine an author’s point of view or purpose of the article and explain how it is conveyed.

Vocabulary

Identify unfamiliar and challenging words from the Vocab list at the end of the article and discuss meanings with the class.
Create spelling lists and tests around the Vocab words.
Ask students to seek out the synonyms and antonyms of the Vocab words.

Speaking and Listening

Assign the article for homework and ask students to research other materials on the same topic for a class presentation and in depth collaborative discussion.
Encourage use of visual tools like Powerpoint or Prezi.
Initiate a debate about the positives and negatives of the situation where appropriate.