Character Analysis Essay Graphic Organizer I created this product to use while writing character analysis essays in my 5th grade classroom. It could easily be used with younger students as well with additional teaching and support. This graphic organizer is to be used after students read a story and match character traits to the main events in a story. They will need explicit instruction in identifying character traits before completing this organizer. After learning about character traits, students can use this organizer to identify different character traits present in one character throughout a story. This organizer can then be used to model ways to turn their ideas into paragraphs, resulting in a complete character analysis essay. *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Fictional Story Map Graphic Organizer This fictional story map can be used to support students in retelling any story. For younger students, you can work with a basic retell to prepare students to writing a summary. For older students, I use the top half of the box to tell what happened and the lower half to analyze characteristics of the characters during certain events. The graphic organizer follows the "Somebody, Wanted, But, So" structure, lending itself to be used with the plot of many books. I use this resource with my character analysis essays after reading a picture book where the main character changes throughout the story. *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Independent Research & Opinion Writing: Drought & Water Conservation This is an independent activity that students can complete using computers. The students will read two articles about the drought in California and ways to conserve water. Then, the student will watch a video by National Geographic on Drought to learn more. The students will answer questions about the articles and write a summary of the video. The culminating project is an opinion piece on ways the importance of saving water, ways to save water, and the dangers of drought. This will provide students with the opportunity to write a review of multiple sources, which is very important for the smarter balanced assessments. Note: You will need an account at www.newsela.com. The process for setting this up is very quick and the website is very useful! *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Independent Research & Informative Writing: Great White Sharks This is an independent activity that students can complete using computers. This activity will also work well for small group or whole group instruction. In this packet, students read two articles about the comeback of Great White sharks. The students fill in a graphic organizer to cite the main idea and important details and answer comprehension questions about each article. The culminating project is an informative piece of writing on Great White sharks. Students edit at the end and publish their final copy. This will provide students with the opportunity to write a review of multiple sources, which is very important for the smarter balanced assessments. Note: You will need an account at www.newsela.com. The process for setting this up is very quick and the website is very useful! *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Independent Research & Informative Writing: Spacecraft Lands on Comet This is an independent activity that students can complete using computers. The students will read three articles about the spacecraft that recently landed on a comet. The students will use a graphic organizer to cite ideas from each article and then write a summary of each article. The culminating project is an informative piece of writing on the event. There are graphic organizers to help students build solid body paragraphs for their informative piece that can be used as well. This will provide students with the opportunity to write a review of multiple sources, which is very important for the smarter balanced assessments. Note: You will need an account at www.newsela.com. The process for setting this up is very quick and the website is very useful! *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Plants Reading Passage Set with Coordinating Activities This set features 9 different reading passages about plants. The passages are created in a half page format to save paper when copying. There is an activity to accompany each passage with comprehension questions or drawing activities to support understanding. The passages cover key vocabulary and will give students additional exposure to the parts of plants. *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Common Core Resource: Analyze Two Accounts of the Same Topic - Cell Phones This resource provides students with practice analyzing multiple accounts of the same topic. It also provides students with the opportunity to cite evidence from texts when writing their opinion. The students should read the two sources, complete the graphic organizer and then write an opinion essay on the topic. There are comprehension questions included for both articles as well as three choices for writing. This supports students at all levels to be successful with forming opinions and writing based off of an informative article. *********************************************************************** Copyright © 2015 Keep Calm and Teach 5th Grade All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, or department is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. The graphics used in this item(s) are copyrighted and may not be used for your own commercial projects or given away to anyone else. By purchasing this file(s), you agree to the Terms of Use. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Smarter Balanced Prep-Opinion Essay-What time should Black Friday sales start? Are you looking for additional practice for Smarter Balanced Assessments? This product supports students in integrating their learning from multiple sources to write a well-developed opinion essay! The students are taken step-by-step through the process! They begin with reading three sources on a common topic. The pages have space in the margins to write notes about their thoughts. Then, they answer constructed response questions to start forming their opinions. Finally, a set of graphic organizers walk them through setting up a strong opinion essay. Lined paper is included for them to publish their essays on! This resource meets multiple CCSS! Some standards addressed are: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.CCSS.ELA- LITERACY.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. This pack contains everything you need to develop critical thinking and create strong writers!

Smarter Balanced Prep-Opinion Essay-Should School Calendars be Longer? Are you looking for additional practice for Smarter Balanced Assessments? This product supports students in integrating their learning from multiple sources to write a well-developed opinion essay! The students are taken step-by-step through the process! They begin with reading three sources on a common topic. The pages have space in the margins to write notes about their thoughts. Then, they answer constructed response questions to start forming their opinions. Finally, a set of graphic organizers walk them through setting up a strong opinion essay. Lined paper is included for them to publish their essays on! This resource meets multiple CCSS! Some standards addressed are: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.CCSS.ELA- LITERACY.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. This pack contains everything you need to develop critical thinking and create strong writers! **********************************************************************

Smarter Balanced Prep-Opinion Essay-Should Reading and Math Be Taught in PE Class? Are you looking for additional practice for Smarter Balanced Assessments? This product supports students in integrating their learning from multiple sources to write a well-developed opinion essay! The students are taken step-by-step through the process! They begin with reading three sources on a common topic. The pages have space in the margins to write notes about their thoughts. Then, they answer constructed response questions to start forming their opinions. Finally, a set of graphic organizers walk them through setting up a strong opinion essay. Lined paper is included for them to publish their essays on! This resource meets multiple CCSS! Some standards addressed are: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.CCSS.ELA- LITERACY.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. This pack contains everything you need to develop critical thinking and create strong writers!

Are you looking for additional practice for Smarter Balanced Assessments? This product supports students in integrating their learning from multiple sources to write a well-developed opinion essay! The students are taken step-by-step through the process! They begin with reading three sources on a common topic. The pages have space in the margins to write notes about their thoughts. Then, they answer constructed response questions to start forming their opinions. Finally, a set of graphic organizers walk them through setting up a strong opinion essay. Lined paper is included for them to publish their essays on! This resource meets multiple CCSS! Some standards addressed are: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8 Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.CCSS.ELA- LITERACY.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.C Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. This pack contains everything you need to develop critical thinking and create strong writers!

Opinion Essay Bundle! This pack contains FOUR opinion essay writing sets! The sets include: -Teacher Directions -3 Non-fictions passages on a specific topic -3 Graphic Organizers to plan an essay -1 Constructed Response Sheet The topics included are: -What time should Black Friday sales start? -Should reading and writing be taught in gym class? -Should schools lengthen their calendar? -Should school lunches be healthier? These sets are sold individually but when you buy them in this set, it's like getting 4 for the price of 3!! These sets cover major CCSS for 4th and 5th grade related to writing and informational text while getting your students ready for state testing!