Product Description This resource is one of ten standalone products targeting Middle School Writing Skills. Each lesson focuses on a particular genre and highlights a particular textual feature. This product ***Problem and Solution Writing*** focuses on: • Intensifying adverbs & graded adjectives • Absolute adverbs and non-graded adjectives Every lesson contains: ★ Model Text ★ Structural Analysis ★ Transition Words or other useful textual feature focus ★ Planning Handouts/ Graphic Organizers ★ Writing Prompts ★ Grading Rubrics ★ Teacher's Notes Other resources/ genres in this series include: ✓ Describing a Process (Procedural Texts) ✓ Narrative Writing ✓ Describing Data (Change) ✓ Describing Data (Making Comparisons) ✓ Expressing an Opinion ✓ Cause and Effect Writing ✓ Problem and Solution Writing ✓ Persuasive/ Argument Writing (An Argument with Evidence) ✓ Informational/ Expository Writing ✓ Compare and Contrast Writing

Product Description This resource is one of ten standalone products targeting Middle School Writing Skills. Each lesson focuses on a particular genre and highlights a particular textual feature. This product ***Describing Data: Comparisons*** focuses on: • Adverbs/ adjectives of Intensity • Writing numbers in texts • Interpreting and explaining information from pie-charts Every lesson contains: ★ Model Text ★ Structural Analysis ★ Transition Words or other useful textual feature focus ★ Planning Handouts/ Graphic Organizers ★ Writing Prompts ★ Grading Rubrics ★ Teacher's Notes Other resources/ genres in this series include: ✓ Describing a Process (Procedural Texts) ✓ Narrative Writing ✓ Describing Data (Change) ✓ Describing Data (Making Comparisons) ✓ Expressing an Opinion ✓ Cause and Effect Writing ✓ Problem and Solution Writing ✓ Persuasive/ Argument Writing (An Argument with Evidence) ✓ Informational/ Expository Writing ✓ Compare and Contrast Writing

Product Description This resource is one of ten standalone products targeting Middle School Writing Skills. Each lesson focuses on a particular genre and highlights a particular textual feature. This product, argumentative/ persuasive writing, focuses on: • Transition words for adding information • Expressions for presenting evidence Every lesson contains: ★ Model Text ★ Structural Analysis ★ Transition Words or other useful textual feature focus ★ Planning Handouts/ Graphic Organizers ★ Writing Prompts ★ Grading Rubrics ★ Teacher's Notes Other resources/ genres in this series include: ✓ Describing a Process (Procedural Texts) ✓ Narrative Writing ✓ Describing Data (Change) ✓ Describing Data (Making Comparisons) ✓ Expressing an Opinion ✓ Cause and Effect Writing ✓ Problem and Solution Writing ✓ Persuasive/ Argument Writing (An Argument with Evidence) ✓ Informational/ Expository Writing ✓ Compare and Contrast Writing

Help your students improve their vocabulary! 4 categories covering the essential components of vocabulary building: word roots; words from other languages; prefixes and suffixes; and connotation and denotation Variety of activities: matching; fill in the blanks; short answers; create your own words! Suitable for grades 6 – 8 High-interest, real-world topics Common core aligned 14 tasks per category (56 tasks in total) Task recording document included Teachers’ Answer Key Included

HELP YOUR STUDENTS WRITE BETTER PARAGRAPHS! Methodical, step-by-step approach to paragraph writing 4 categories covering the essential components of paragraph writing: topic sentences, supporting details, concluding & linking sentences & writing prompts Variety of activities: multiple choice; write your own sentences; identify the supporting details and transition words Suitable for grades 6 – 8 High-interest, real-world topics Common core aligned Multiple text genres: opinion, definition, process, descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, and compare and contrast. 14 tasks per category (56 tasks in total) Task recording document included Teachers’ Answer Key Included

20 well-known Bible Stories: The Story of Jesus, The Babe of Bethlehem The Story of the Star and the Wise Men The Story of Cane and Abel The Story of Noah and the Ark The Story of Moses The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors The Story of David and Goliath The Story of Jonah and the Whale The Story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den The Story of Samson, The Strong Man The Story of the Water That Was Turned Into Wine The Story of the Sermon on the Mount The Story of the Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan The Story of Solomon and his Temple The Story of Elijah the Prophet The Story of Ruth the Gleaner The Story of the Fishermen The Story of the Palm Branches The Story of the Betrayal The Story of the Empty Tomb Perfect for religious education or general reading comprehension Literal, inferential and real-world connection questions for each story CCSS aligned Vocabulary work for every story Suggested difficulty levels provided Great for homework, emergency sub plans, bell-ringers or exit slips

Help your students write better, more varied sentences! These exercises help students identify the key components of great sentences, and, in turn, develop their own competency in writing strong, varied, fluent sentences. Suitable for grades 6 – 8 High-interest, real-world topics Common core aligned Teacher’s Answer Key 4 categories covering the essential components of sentence writing: clauses, phrases, sentence types (simple, compound, and compound-complex), and varying sentence openings Variety of activities: identifying, fill in the blanks, combining, prompts, and more 7 worksheets per category (56 tasks in total) Task card recording document included

A multiple-choice quiz for the book, 'A Single Shard' by Linda Sue Park. Each Chapter has about five questions to test students' recall and basic comprehension. This resource is comprised of four parts: 1) The test questions, listed by chapter, with about five questions per chapter, and three possible answers for each (a, b, or c). 2) A student answer sheet (fill in the blanks) 3) A teacher answer key (blanks filled in) 4) A regular teacher answer key The questions and answers are (hopefully!) unambiguous, i.e. no trick questions. You may also wish to divide the test into two parts (Chapters 1 - 7; 8 - 13) if you think it is too much for students to recall in one sitting. You know your students; use your judgement.

1. The Pre-reading Survey: This is a fun way to orient and introduce students to some of the themes and topics in the novel. Have students complete it individually, or by interviewing a friend. 2. Comprehension Questions: These literal, inferential, and analytical comprehension questions are perfect for homework or classwork. They can form the basis of class discussions or reading journals. The number of questions ranges from 3 to 12 per chapter, depending on the breadth and depth of the content of the chapter. 3. The Story Tracking Worksheets: Three story tracking worksheets are provided (characters, places, and customs). They help students keep track of important concepts and information in the story. Have them write brief notes about the characters, places, and customs mentioned in the story as they come across them. 4. The Post-reading Questions. * A thorough answer key is provided.*

20 HISTORY Close Reading Passages and Worksheets NOW WITH GOOGLE DRIVE LINKS!!! Diverse range of high-interest extracts from authentic texts including fiction (short story) Designed for close reading Each excerpt stands alone as a close reading text suitable for scrutiny, critique, reflection, and evaluation. Texts may be used as bell-ringers, as homework or vacation assignments, one-to-one tutoring, no-prep substitute plans, or any other use Includes 3 levels of multi-modal questions: main ideas and detail, language and literary devices, author’s purpose, and evaluation and personal-connection Vocabulary rich Includes questions on text structure, word-choice, and author’s bias Common Core Aligned Answer key included Sample Difficulty Levels included Topics Included: Ancient Egypt Archaeology The Rosetta Stone Buddhism Confucius The Crusades The Feudal System The French Revolution Genghis Kahn World War One Hiroshima The Library and Museum at Alexandria The Opium Wars Queen Elizabeth 1 Henry VIII Pompeii Cleopatra

These fun task cards help students identify the key components of great sentences, and, in turn, develop their own competency in writing strong, varied, fluent sentences. Suitable for grades 6 – 8 High-interest, real-world topics Common core aligned Fun, playing card theme 4 categories covering the essential components of sentence writing: clauses, phrases, sentence types (simple, compound, and compound-complex), and varying sentence openings Variety of activities: identifying, fill in the blanks, combining, prompts, and more 14 cards per category (56 tasks in total) Task card recording document included Teachers’ Answer Key Included Card backs & divider cards included

1. The Pre-reading Survey: This is a fun way to orient and introduce students to some of the themes and topics in the novel. Have students complete it individually, or by interviewing a friend. Some vocabulary and concepts may need to be explained. 2. Chapter-by-chapter Comprehension Questions: These literal, inferential, and analytical comprehension questions are perfect for homework or classwork. They can form the basis of class discussions or reading journals. The number of questions ranges from 10 to 30 per chapter, depending on the breadth and depth of the content of the chapter. 3. The Comprehension Tracking Worksheets: FOUR comprehension tracking worksheets are provided (characters, places, concepts & things; Newspeak). They help students keep track of important concepts and information in the story. They are cloze exercises with the answers provided in a textbox. 4. The Teacher Answer Key: A thorough teacher answer key is provided.

This is a fun reading activity comparing the similar though distinct celebrations of Lunar New Year in four countries: China, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Students read about these celebrations in small groups before returning to their "home-groups" to consolidate information, and then finally coming together as a class check their findings. Resource contains: 1. Four reading comprehension passages (each a brief overview of the way LNY is celebrated in Mongolia, Vietnam, China, and Tibet - information is sourced from Wikipedia, then edited and adapted to fit one A4 page and be comprehensible to students). 2. A “jigsaw” worksheet where students can record their answers. 3. A list of key vocabulary used in the passages – may be used for games (e.g. password) or spelling or vocab tests (ONE VOCAB WORKSHEET INCLUDED) 4. A PowerPoint presentation displaying sample answers to the information required in the jigsaw reading worksheet (in ppt, pptx and pdf formats) 5. Detailed instructions

This resource is comprised of three parts: 1. Middle School Writing Prompt Task Cards for Argument, Narrative & Informative Writing + Research and Writing Skills 2. Self-Peer-Teacher Editing Checklists for Argument, Narrative & Informative Writing (CCSS Aligned) 3. Task Card List and Teacher Checklist (CCSS Aligned) ABOUT THE TASK CARDS: - Suitable for grades 6 - 8 - Literal, inferential, real-world and personal connection, language, collaborative, and creative questions - Common core aligned - Fun, playing card theme - 4 categories: argument writing, informative writing; narrative writing; character; research & skills - 14 cards per category (56 questions in total) - JOKER card for each topic offers a creative task - Task-recording document included - Self-Peer-Teacher Editing Checklists included for each writing genre - Card backs and divider cards included

Suitable for grades 6 - 8 - Literal, inferential, real-world and personal connection, literary, language, and creative questions - Collaborative activities - Multi-modal tasks, including graphic organizers - Common core aligned - Fun, playing card theme - 4 categories: author’s purpose, key ideas and details; language & structure; extension activities - 14 cards per category (56 questions in total) - JOKER card for each topic offers a creative task - Task-recording document included - Card backs and divider cards included

- Suitable for grades 6 – 8 - High-interest, real-world topics - Common core aligned - Fun, playing card theme - Multiple text genres: opinion, definition, process, descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, and compare and contrast. - 4 categories covering the essential components of paragraph writing: topic sentences, supporting details, concluding & linking sentences & writing prompts - Variety of activities: multiple choice; write your own sentences; identify the supporting details and transition words - 14 cards per category (56 tasks in total) - Task card recording document included - Teachers’ Answer Key Included - Card backs & divider cards included

- Suitable for grades 6 - 8 - Literal, inferential, real-world and personal connection, literary, language, and creative questions - Common core aligned - Fun, playing card theme - 4 categories: author’s purpose, style, & theme; plot & setting; character; writing & language - 14 cards per category (56 questions in total) - JOKER card for each topic offers a creative task - Task-recording document included - Card backs and divider cards included