In this assignment, students choose from a variety of different fictional readings. They first read their selected story and then write a description or explanation of the story, following the directions in the writing prompt. Students review the rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as introducing character and plot, supporting a clear main idea with descriptions and details from the story, and using precise language and descriptive words to express themselves. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The texts in this assignment have Lexile Levels of: 960 (Sweet as Sugar); 900 (Pond Water); 910 (Sky Walkers); 1000 (Swimming with Sharks); 1005 (The Last Bicycle).

In this assignment, students read the Short Story "Sweet as Sugar," by Pam Bailes and write a Setting Study in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and write about the story's main settings. They use details and examples from the story to describe the settings and discuss how setting drives plot and influences characters. Students begin by stating a main idea about the different story settings, develop their ideas with details and examples from the story, and end by restating their thinking about how the settings drive the story forward. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for narrative elements, citing details in the text, and describing narrative elements clearly and logically, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 960.

In this assignment, students read a Historical Fiction text in the format of a Play entitled, "Sky Walkers," by Charles F. Baker, which tells how members of the Mohawk tribe participated in building some of the tallest buildings and some of the biggest, most iconic structures in the United States. Students write a Story Summary, summarizing the characters and setting of the story, as well as providing information on what the story is about. They describe how the characters view themselves and their actions as "sky walkers." Practicing skills such as analyzing the narrative elements of a story, summarizing a story, and describing a story using facts and details from the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile level of 910.

In this assignment, students read the modern Fairytale "Pond Water," by Teresa Bateman and write a Character Analysis in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and write about the main character's actions, behavior, and personality. They state a main idea about the character and support their main idea(s) with details and descriptions from the text. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for narrative elements, focusing on a character, and finding details in the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 900.

In this assignment, students read the fictional Story "Swimming with Sharks" by Darienne Oaks and write a Character Sketch in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and write about the main character's actions, behavior, and interactions with the story narrator. They state a main idea about the character and support their main idea(s) with details and descriptions from the text. Students analyze the main character's inner feelings based on the character's dialogue and interaction with the narrator. Practicing skills such as analyzing a fictional text, focusing on a character, and supporting ideas with details in the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1000.

In this assignment, students read the Short Story "The Last Bicycle," by Betty X. Davis, and write a Literary Analysis in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and find an example of several literary devices that the author uses to draw in readers. They begin by stating a main idea about the author's use of literary devices, develop their ideas with examples from the text, and restate their analysis in their conclusions. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for narrative elements, considering author's craft, and citing examples from the text to support their ideas, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1005.

In this assignment, students read the Historical Fiction Story "The Holding-On Night" by Sheila Kelly Welch and write a Story Description about the story. Students follow the prompt and begin by writing a brief summary of the key events of the story. They develop their descriptions by including details and information from the story. Students restate the key events of the story in the conclusion and leave readers thinking about, and wanting to read, the story. Practicing skills such as analyzing a story for plot, using descriptive language, and developing a strong conclusion, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 870.

In this assignment, students choose from a variety of different fictional readings. They first read their selected story and then write a description or explanation of the story, following the directions in the writing prompt. Students review the rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as introducing character and plot, supporting a clear main idea with descriptions and details from the story, and using precise language and descriptive words to express themselves. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The texts in this assignment have Lexile Levels of: 990 (Standing Up...); 1040 (...Honeyguide); 1050 (Greyfriars Bobby...); 1070 (Maria...Time); and 1060 (Holoball).

In this assignment, students read a historical fiction Play, "Standing Up by Sitting In," by Ruth Spencer Johnson, which focuses on the lunch-counter protests that happened during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. In this story, a group of African American and one Caucasian student discusses their plan to sit at the "all-white" lunch counter and order lunch. They talk about the need for their protest to remain nonviolent, even if customers or the police taunt, attack, or arrest them. The situation is described by a narrator who explains the problem these young people are trying to bring attention to. Students write a Story Summary, summarizing the characters, plot, and setting of the story. They explore the historical context surrounding the story and identify facts and details in the text to support their summaries. Practicing skills such as analyzing the narrative elements of a story, summarizing a story's events and context, and describing a story using facts and details from the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of: 990.

In this assignment, students read an excerpt from the Science Fiction Book, "Holoball," by Hillary Grey Fleenor, and write a Literary Analysis about the story excerpt. Students review the sci fi excerpt and describe the characters, plot, and setting. They write about the way the characters interact and how the author uses narrative techniques such as using a unique setting, sensory language, and detailed descriptions to build readers' interest. Practicing skills such as analyzing the narrative elements of a story, considering author's craft, and demonstrating comprehension by citing evidence from the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1060.

In this assignment, students read the historical fiction Short Story "Greyfriars Bobby: Scotland's Most Faithful Dog," by Cathy Marks and write a Character Analysis in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and write about Bobby - the Skye terrier pup who is the story's main character. Students state a main idea about the character based on his actions and behavior, and support their main idea with details and descriptions from the text. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for narrative elements, focusing on a character, and finding details in the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Folk Tale, "Nsue and the Honeyguide" by Sharon Howard, and write a Story Description about the story's main events and characters. Students follow the prompt and begin by writing a high-level overview of the key events of the story. They develop their descriptions by including details and information from the story, including information about the characters, plot, and setting. Students restate the key events of the story in the conclusion and leave readers thinking about, and wanting to read, the story. Practicing skills such as analyzing a story for plot, using descriptive language to describe the characters, setting, and story events, and developing a strong conclusion, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1040.

In this assignment, students read the Short Story "Maria: The Woman Who Sold Time," by Lorna Elliott and write a Plot Summary about the story. Students follow the prompt and begin by writing a one- to two-sentence, high-level summary about the information in the story. They develop their Plot Summaries by including details and descriptions from the story to summarize the information and explain who Maria is, what she does, and why. Students restate the summary in the conclusion and leave readers thinking about, and wanting to read, the story. Practicing skills such as analyzing a story for information, summarizing story elements, and developing a strong conclusion, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1070.

In this assignment, students choose from a variety of different fictional readings. They first read their selected story and then write a description or explanation of the story, following the directions in the writing prompt. Students review the rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as introducing character and plot, supporting a clear main idea with descriptions and details from the story, and using precise language and descriptive words to express themselves. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The texts in this assignment have Lexile Levels of: 1060 (Charlie..Mate); 1080 (...Steam?); 1120 (Arion...); 1070 (Salt of the Earth); and 1120 (...Three Cats).

In this assignment, students read the Myth, "Arion: The Greatest Musician in Greece," by James Lloyd, and write a Story Description about the story's main events and characters. Students follow the prompt and begin by writing a high-level overview of the key events of the story. They develop their descriptions by including details and information from the story, including information about the characters, plot, and setting. Students restate the key events of the story in the conclusion and leave readers thinking about and wanting to read the story. Practicing skills such as analyzing a story for plot, using descriptive language to describe the characters, setting, and story events, and developing a strong conclusion, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1120.

In this assignment, students read the Short Story "Charlie Noble and Mate" by Louis Arthur Norton and write a Story Summary in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and describe the story events in detail. They begin by introducing the characters and the problems they face (including the main character, Mate, Captain Charlie's dog). Then students consider the story events and describe how the characters develop as the story events progress. Students describe the story's ending, how conflicts were resolved, and how the characters grew. Practicing skills such as analyzing the literary elements of plot, characters, and setting, describing a story's progression of events in a logical order, and describing a story's action using clear, descriptive language, will help prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1060.

In this assignment, students read a Historical Fiction Story, "Salt of the Earth," by Janet J. Kosky, which focuses on the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland, which ended mining in 2007 after 700 years of continuous operation. In this story, a young boy, Staszek, begins working in the salt mine to support his family after a mining accident resulted in his father's death. Students write a Story Summary, summarizing the characters, plot, and setting of the story. They explore the historical context surrounding the story and identify facts and details in the text to support their summaries. Practicing skills such as analyzing the narrative elements of a story, summarizing a story's events and context, and describing a story using facts and details from the text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of: 1070.

In this assignment, students read "How Much Does Steam Cost?," a Persian Folk Tale retold by Kelly Morrow, and write a Character Comparison in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and compare and contrast Mullah Nasreddin, the wise old man, to Masud, the teahouse owner. They begin by stating a main idea about how the old man's character is different from or similar to, the teahouse owner's. Then they write a point-by-point comparison, considering several points and comparing and contrasting the two men based on each point. Students develop their point-by-point comparisons with dialogue, details, and actions from the story. Practicing skills such as comparing and contrasting characters in a story, using details and dialogue from a story to support their ideas, and communicating their analysis in a clear and logical order, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1080.

In this assignment, students read the Fable, "The Fable of the Three Cats," by J.W. Liotta, and write a Fable Study in response to the story. Students follow the prompt and write about the moral of the story. They describe the two main characters, the great samurai warrior and the cat. Students consider the main characters' behavior and consider how their behavior influences the plot and story events. Students consider the story's conclusion and what the author meant to communicate by ending the story in this way. Practicing skills such as analyzing a story for narrative elements, focusing on characters and plot, and determining the moral of the story, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1120.

In this assignment, students choose from a variety of nonfiction readings about different topics. They first read their selected article and then write a description, summary, or report based on the reading, or use the reading as a model for their own writing. Students follow the directions in the writing prompts and review each set of rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as analyzing a text for information, summarizing key concepts, developing ideas with facts and details, and organizing information logically and/or sequentially. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The articles in this collection have Lexile levels ranging from 950 (Inspired by Slime); 900 (PIzza's Past); and 970 (...Mesopotamia); 980 (The Pedestrians); and 1010 (Terror in New York).

In this assignment, students read the Science Article, "Inspired by Slime," by Mary Bates and write an Informational Report about the topic. Students follow the prompt and write about different aspects of slime. They divide their Informational Reports into paragraphs, each paragraph beginning with a topic sentence and followed by facts and information from their reading. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, organizing nonfiction writing into paragraphs of related ideas, and developing a topic with facts and details from a source, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 950.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction Article, "Pizza's Past," by Devorah Gurwitz, and write a Topic Description in response to the article. Students follow the prompt and begin by describing an interesting fact about pizza to engage readers. Then students write paragraphs, each describing different information about the history of pizza. Students support each topic with interesting facts and details from the article. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, organizing text into paragraphs, and finding facts and details from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile level of 900.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "From Agriculture to Ziggurats: The Many Inventions of the Mesopotamians," by Ann Jordan, and write a Research Report about one invention that the Mesopotamians brought to the world. Students follow the prompt and research using the book and other sources. They cite information from the text and include details and information from their reading into their reports. Students develop a strong conclusion that asks readers to join them in imagining a world without the invention. Practicing skills such as researching a text for information, citing facts and details from a text, and using multiple sources, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 970.

In this assignment, students read the nonfiction Narrative Account, "Terror in New York," by Lois Miner Huey, and write an Informative Paragraph about the book. Students read the book which tells about the plot designed to terrorize the people of New York City, started by Confederate soldiers, during the Civil War. This plot involved setting fire to hotels and other buildings around the city, in an effort to force the Union Army to give in to demands. Students begin with a fascinating fact that grabs readers' attention and develop their paragraphs by providing facts, details, and information from the book. Students use sensory language and descriptive words to help readers imagine what happened. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, focusing on specific information to develop, and identifying details and information from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1010.

In this assignment, students read the Biography, "The Pedestrians," by Timothy Tocher and write a Summary of Events in response to the account. Students follow the prompt and write about the sequence of events that happened from the time the women decided to set out walking, to the women's return home, to the recent discovery and publication of the story. Students provide facts and information from the text and end their plot summaries by stating their opinion about how the women were treated. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for plot and details, citing details and information from the text, and writing a story summary, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 980.

In this assignment, students choose from a variety of nonfiction readings about different topics. They first read their selected article and then write a description, summary, or report based on the reading, or use the reading as a model for their own writing. Students follow the directions in the writing prompts and review each set of rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as analyzing a text for information, summarizing key concepts, developing ideas with facts and details, and organizing information into paragraphs. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The articles in this collection have Lexile levels ranging from 1050 (The Protectors); 1050 (Boogers at Work); 1050 (...Grasshopper Mystery); 1050 (Dragonfly Wings); and 1060 (Emma Edmonds).

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "The Protectors," by Kathiann M. Kowalski, and write an Informative Paragraph about the book. Students read the book which provides information about three important people who helped fight for and protect the planet: Rachel Carson; David Brower; and Gaylord Nelson. Each of these people spent their lives doing important work on behalf of the planet and the plants and animals who call it home. Students develop their topic by providing facts, details, and information from the book. Students use sensory language and descriptive words to help readers visualize the topic and end by developing a question they would ask one of these heroes. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, focusing on specific information to develop, and identifying details and information from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "Dragonfly Wings," by Ken Tapp and write a Topic Description in response to the book. Students follow the prompt and begin by describing an interesting fact about dragonflies to engage readers. Then students write paragraphs, each describing different information about dragonflies. Students support each topic with interesting details and information from the book. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for facts and information, organizing text into paragraphs each focusing on a different topic, and finding details and information from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Science Book, "Boogers at Work," by Laura White and write an Informational Report about the topic. Students follow the prompt and write different facts about mucus. They divide their Informational Reports into paragraphs, each paragraph beginning with a topic sentence and followed by facts and information from their reading. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, organizing nonfiction writing into paragraphs of related ideas, and developing a topic with facts and details from a source, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction Article "The Great Grasshopper Mystery," by Sally Lee and write a Summary of Events in response to the account. Students follow the prompt and write about the sequence of events that happened from the great swarms of locusts in the1870s, to the disappearance of the locusts, to the discovery of why these giant swarms disappeared. Students provide facts and information from the text and summarize the events that resulted in the locusts' disappearance. Students include a side note about the problems that Monarch butterflies are currently encountering. Though the disappearance of the locusts were a welcomed surprise for people living on the prairie, the extinction of the Monarch butterfly is a real problem that students should be aware of. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for plot and details, citing details and information from the text, and writing a story summary, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the narrative Nonfiction Article "Emma Edmonds: Master of Disguise," by Charnan Simon and write a Plot Summary about this amazing woman who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. Students follow the prompt and begin by writing a high-level summary of the story events. They develop their Plot Summaries by including details and descriptions from the article to summarize the plot. Practicing skills such as analyzing the information in a nonfiction narrative, summarizing plot elements, and developing an analysis with details and descriptions from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

**This text has a Lexile Level of 1060. **

In this assignment, students choose from a variety of nonfiction readings about different topics. They first read their selected article and then write a description, summary, or report based on the reading, or use the reading as a model for their own writing. Students follow the directions in the writing prompts and review each set of rubrics to check that they are practicing writing skills from the Information genre such as analyzing a text for information, summarizing key concepts, developing ideas with facts and details, and organizing information into paragraphs. Practicing these skills will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

The articles in this collection have Lexile levels ranging from 1050 (Geoffrey Pyke...); 1130 (Ancient Games...); 1100 (The Trailblazers); 1100 (Telegraph to Telephone); to 1080 (West Coast Stories).

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "Geoffrey Pyke's Cool Idea," by Louise Grippen, and write a Topic Description in response to the book. Students follow the prompt and begin by stating an interesting fact about Geoffrey Pyke's invention to engage readers. Then students write paragraphs, each describing different information about Pyke's idea. Students support each topic with interesting details and information from the book. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for facts and information, organizing text into paragraphs each focusing on a different topic, and finding details and information from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "Going Global: Ancient Games," by Marcia Amidon Lusted, and write Topic Summary of the book. Students read the book which provides a variety of fascinating information about ancient games and the origin of modern games. Students follow the prompt and summarize the key points about the ancient games that are covered in the book. Students then develop their summaries by providing facts, details, and information from the book and from their own knowledge of the modern games described in the book. Students consider descriptive word choice and use sensory language and descriptive words to help readers visualize these fun and engaging games. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, developing a single topic, summarizing key points, and considering word choice, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1130.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction Book, "Telegraph to Telephone: Hello, World," by Nancy Galloway & Kirk W. House, and write an Informational Report about the topic. Students follow the prompt and describe the amazing inventions of the early telegraph and telephone. Students divide their Informational Reports into paragraphs, each paragraph beginning with a topic sentence and followed by facts and information from their reading. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, organizing nonfiction writing into paragraphs of related ideas, and developing a topic with facts and details from a source, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1050.

In this assignment, students read the Nonfiction eBook, "The Trailblazers," by Kathiann M. Kowalski, and write an Informative Paragraph about the book. Students read the book which provides information about five important people who helped fight for and protect the Earth and its inhabitants: William T. Hornaday ; Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.; Benton MacKaye; Aldo Leopold; and Margaret “Mardy” Murie. Each of these people spent their lives doing important work on behalf of the planet and the plants and animals who call it home. Students develop their topic by providing facts, details, and information from the book. Students use sensory language and descriptive words to help readers visualize the topic and end by developing a question they would ask one of these heroes. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, focusing on specific information to develop, and identifying details and information from a source text, will prepare students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1100.

In this assignment, students read the nonfiction History Book, "Going Global: West Coast Stories," by Marcia Amidon Lusted, and write a 5-Paragraph Essay about the topic of immigration. Students follow the prompt and write a strong introduction. They create three body paragraphs by dividing the information from the book into three topics; each topic covered by one body paragraph. Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence, followed by facts and information from the book. Practicing skills such as analyzing a text for information, organizing nonfiction writing into paragraphs of related ideas, and developing a topic with facts and details from a source, prepares students for writing in the Information genre.

This text has a Lexile Level of 1080.