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Context Clues Nonfiction Reading Unit With Centers

This reading unit includes a PowerPoint, two interactive notebook activities, centers and three passages that can be used in reading groups or as assessments. The resources will help students to use clues in nonfiction text to determine the meanings of unknown words.

More about this resource

Description:

This reading unit includes a PowerPoint, two interactive notebook activities, centers and three passages that can be used in reading groups or as assessments. The resources will help students to use clues in nonfiction text to determine the meanings of unknown words.

The unit is intended to be used over a two-week time frame, but this can easily be adjusted to meet your needs.

This unit does not correlate with one particular reading curriculum, but it has been designed to supplement any materials or routines that you already have in place.

The resource was designed for third graders. It may be appropriate for some second or fourth grade classes.

Included:

Teacher Directions & Tips
PowerPoint Mini Lesson
2 Interactive Notebook Activities
5 Centers (Including reading response)
3 Passages/Assessments (with answer keys)
Teacher Binder Cover
Student Notebook Cover

PowerPoint

The PowerPoint slide show is designed to be used as an introduction to the skill. It is short enough to be used as a mini lesson prior to your reading groups. The slides get students to participate and discuss the skill.

Interactive Notebook Activities

This unit includes two interactive notebook activities. You might choose to do one of these each week as a whole group activity, or you might choose to use them in small groups or centers.

NOTE: The first activity is the same as an activity in the fiction context clues lesson. Have students complete it a second time for review. This time they should use nonfiction examples which will make the activity more challenging.

The activities have very simple cuts so that precious time is not wasted in class.

The first activity is designed to be a reference and review from the PowerPoint mini lesson. The second activity is more challenging and asks students to use the skills they have learned to demonstrate understanding.

Students will need a notebook (spiral or composition), scissors and glue.

BONUS: If you also use my grammar units, one notebook will easily fit all of the grammar and reading notebook activities. I included a cover and dividers for this.

Centers

The unit includes FIVE centers and one student recording book. The answers to all five centers can be written into the one recording book. The recording book takes two sheets of paper.

Three of the centers are matching and sorting type centers. These types of centers are somewhat self-checking since each card can only be used once.

One of the centers includes eight task cards. This center is more challenging because it is not multiple choice.

The final center is a reading response activity. Students will need access to some nonfiction books, passages or articles. The center will require that they read two different texts and respond to a question relating to the unit skill. You can allow them to use read alouds, choose books from your classroom library or choose from a basket of books that you have preselected. You could even have them use a story from your basal.

The centers include student friendly directions and were intended to be clear enough for students to complete independently while still providing adequate practice of the reading skill.

I highly recommend putting all five centers out and allowing your students to complete the center activities in any order that they wish.

There are color and blackline versions included. Labels for the centers are also included.

The centers take seven sheets of paper. I do recommend cardstock and lamination for durability. Depending on the size of your groups, you might want to print more than one copy of each center.

I made the centers with the plan that students would complete them in two weeks. This will somewhat depend on how much center time you have scheduled. If students finish early, I would recommend having them choose a book and read to themselves.

Assessments/Passages

This unit includes THREE different passages with 3-4 questions on each passage. The questions focus specifically on this reading skill.

The passages can be used in a variety of ways. You can use them as a pre-test, post-test and a re-test. You could use 1-2 of them in your reading groups and then use the last one as an assessment at the end of the two-week unit. They can be done as a whole group lesson.

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