Subtopic: Critical Reading

Analogies - The Baka of Cameroon, West Africa
Students complete analogies and connect them to information about the Baka of Cameroon, West Africa.

Analyzing an Issue From Three Perspectives - Smoking in Public Places
Students note various perspectives on the debate about smoking in public places in NYC and create an interview to research the perspectives of peers and community members. They write a report to present their findings and opinion on the issue.

Ancestors Talk Through Drums
In this segment from EGG:the arts show, meet Camilo Gaetan who is becoming a master drummer.

The Book
In this video segment from Jakers! Abuelita describes her life as a migrant worker.

Cats
In this video segment from Nature, learn about cats and consider the possibility that the cat may become the number one choice of pet owners.  

Chalk Sculpture
In this video segment from Art in the 21st Century: Paradox, two artists create a public art piece using giant pieces of chalk.

City Horses Part I
Carolyne DeGrammont of the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens, NY talks about why she enjoys horses in this video segment from Wild TV.

City Pigeons
Learn about the history of pigeons in this video segment from WILD TV.  

Colony Collapse Disorder
In this video segment from Nature, scientists work to discover why bees are disappearing.

Compare and Contrast Information from Multiple Sources - Wolong's Pandas
Students compare and contrast information from three sources to determine the reasons that contributed to panda population decline.  They draw conclusions from these sources by writing their own paragraphs.

Comparing and Contrasting - Grassland, Desert, and Forest Elephants
Students use a T-chart to take notes on the similarities and differences among elephants. With partners, they organize their notes and construct a Venn diagram with illustrations.

Creating a Hypothesis - The Intelligent Robot
Students watch a video segment that discusses developing intelligent robots, and then write paragraphs that provide detailed hypotheses of results that could come from this endeavor.

Disappearance of the Bees - What's the Impact?
The disappearance of bees will have tremendous impact upon the way we live according to scientists in this segment from Nature. 

The Double V
In this video segment from Soldiers Without Swords, learn about the "Double V" campaign launched by the black press during World War II to empower African-Americans at home and abroad on the war front.

Drawing Conclusions - Is This a Map of the Underground Railroad?
After watching a video segment, students complete a graphic organizer to establish evidence regarding the authenticity of a map and whether it is or is not a map of the Underground Railroad.

Evaluating the Validity of Information - Did the Chinese Discover America in 1421?
Students evaluate evidence regarding the Chinese building a massive fleet for naval exploration then determine whether the evidence presented is valid.

Explorers of Yesterday and Today
Explorer Tom Murphy braves a ground blizzard during a winter night in Yellowstone as seen in this video segment from Nature.

Fire Cloud
Firefighters fight a raging fire on a wild horse range in Montana in this video segment from Nature.

The Healing Totem
In this video segment from New York Voices, Native-Americans make a gift of a commemorative totem pole for the September 11th tragedy.

Identifying Different Perspectives - Camilo's Drums
Students complete a graphic organizer that illustrates the multiple perspectives presented in the video segments.

Identifying Social, Cultural, and Historical Perspectives - Dogs That Changed the World
Students identify social, cultural, and historical perspectives regarding the importance of dogs in the past and present. They write and illustrate list poems that incorporate each perspective.

Interpreting Data, Facts and Ideas from Informational Texts - A Different Kind of Fuel
Students watch a video about the world’s need to find a replacement for fossil fuels and scientists' attempts to produce energy. Students then answer questions by using their understanding of the text and details from the segment to support their answers.

Jamaica Bay Introduction
In this video segment from WILD TV, learn about the field study of scientists observing raccoons and terrapins in Jamaica Bay.

A Look at a Kenyan Classroom
In this video segment from Wide Angle, learn about education in Kenya by visiting the first-grade classroom of Joab, a young Kenyan boy.

Making Predictions - The Injured Otter
Students watch a video segment that shows a young injured otter’s attempts to locate his missing family. Then they predict what happens next and then write a narrative account of these events from three possible points of view: the injured otter, the filmmaker or an animal behaviorist.

Neeraj
In this video segment from Wide Angle, learn about Neeraj's home and school in India. 

Persuasive Presentation - Pigeons and Gardens
Students assess a video segment using a rubric they construct that identifies the components of effective persuasive presentations.

Recurring Themes - The Lives of Nanavi and Neeraj
Students practice identifying themes using questions from varying perspectives (their own, the author’s and the main character’s).

Twelfth Night Act 1 Sc 1
In this video from Penn State's School of Theatre production of Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino is pining away for Lady Olivia, but refuses to do anything about it. In addition, Olivia is mourning for her dead brother and has vowed to be chaste for seven years, which only adds to Orsino’s morbid pleasure.

Twelfth Night Act 1 Sc 2
In this video from Penn State's School of Theatre production of Twelfth Night, Viola, the heroine, is rescued from a shipwreck. She finds she is in a land ruled by an eligible bachelor (Orsino) and disguises herself as a man to protect herself.

Twelfth Night Act 1 Sc 3
In this video from Penn State's School of Theatre production of Twelfth Night, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Maria are introduced and their roles in this play established. Sir Toby wishes for the forever-intoxicated Sir Andrew to woo Olivia.

Twelfth Night Act 1 Sc 4 Lesson Plan

In this lesson based on Act 1 Sc 4 of Twelfth Night, students characterize Orsino. They discuss vocabulary and literary devices (cliffhanger and mythology). Activities include journal entries, persuasive tactics, and an inquiry, about wooing a woman.

Twelfth Night Act 2 Sc 1 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 2 Sc 1 of Twelfth Night,students characterize Sebastian and Antonio. They discuss the potential for tragedy within a comedy and levels of love, personification, puns, and rhymes. Activities include journals and inquiries.

Twelfth Night Act 2 Sc 2 Lesson Plan
This lesson based on Act 2 Sc 2 of Twelfth Night focuses on gender roles and levels of love, and the literary devices of synecdoche and apostrophe. Students write about first impressions and stereotypes and critique the actor who plays Viola.

Twelfth Night Act 2 Sc 3 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 2 Sc 3 of Twelfth Night, students characterize Malvolio, Maria, Toby and Andrew. They examine the dichotomy of opposites, levels of love, and gender roles. Activities include journals, video, and inquiries about music.

Twelfth Night Act 2 Sc 4 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 2 Sc 4 of Twelfth Night, students examine Orsino's conversations with Olivia, Feste's song and riddles, and similes about love. They discuss gender roles and levels of love. Activities include a journal entry and a video.

Twelfth Night Act 2 Sc 5 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 2 Sc 5 of Twelfth Night, students examine Malvolio's reaction to Olivia's "letter". Themes are the ability to recognize one's own folly and levels of love. Activities include literary devices, journal, video, and insults.

Twelfth Night Act 3 Sc 1 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 3 Sc 1 of Twelfth Night, students discuss folly and false wit, the irony in Feste's character, and gender roles. Activities include acting practice, a video, and research and views of women's status in Shakespeare's time.

Twelfth Night Act 3 Sc 3 Lesson Plan
In this lesson based on Act 3 Sc 3 of Twelfth Night, students discuss Sebastian's presence in Illyria and relationships between characters Antonio, the Duke, and Sebastian. Activities include diagramming a web of characters and their relationships.