Tune in to hear about newly-published biographies, memoirs, and essay collections as well as titles that explore history, science, and social issues.
New and Noteworthy Nonfiction
Grades
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Life's Journeys: Help Along the Way
6 - 12
Tap into teen and preteen readers' interest in adolescent-mentor relationships with these recommendations!
Grades
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Today is Leap Day!
3 - 7
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Our solar year is 365.24219 days. Since our calendar does not deal in partial days, every four years, we add an additional day to February.
Grades
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On this day in 1907, Rachel Carson was born.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students learn about Rachel Carson, explore different environmental websites, and write a Diamante Poem about a particular habitat.
Grades
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On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.
K - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
A KWL chart is used to organize information about lions. Persuasive letters are written lobbying for programs and resources to protect these animals.
Grades
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Jane Yolen was born in 1939.
1 - 5
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read one of Jane Yolen's books, retell the story in the form of a puppet show, research animals in the book, and document their findings with the Animal Study interactive tool.
Grades
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Dr. Christian Barnard performed the first human heart transplant.
K - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students talk about the causes of heart disease and the role that diet and exercise play. Then, students find healthy dessert recipes and vote on one dessert to make in class.
Grades
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The Crystal Palace hosted the first display of life-size dinosaur replicas in 1854.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
After learning about Hawkins' dinosaur replicas, students work individually or in small groups to investigate a dinosaur of their choice, comparing their findings to Hawkins'.
Grades
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Sally Ride, first American woman in space, was born in 1951.
3 - 8
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
After exploring information about Sally Ride on the StarKids Who's Who site, students write a letter using the Letter Generator to Dr. Ride's foundation, Sally Ride Science.
Grades
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Black Beauty author Anna Sewell was born in 1820.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Through Sewell's novel, students explore the cruelty to animals and extend the discussion to current events, eventually presenting the information.
Grades
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Celebrate Kate DiCamillo's birthday today.
3 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
After examining the characters in one of DiCamillo's stories, students write original short stories featuring animals as central characters.
Grades
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Science-fiction author Ray Bradbury was born in 1920.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students do a Bradbury author study and then create flyers to advertise their favorite story using the ReadWriteThink Printing Press.
Grades
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Science writer Seymour Simon was born in 1931.
3 - 8
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students select and explore a scientific topic in detail using Simon's nonfiction science books and then use what they learn to write original poetry on the topic.
Grades
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Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born today.
4 - 8
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students research a constellation and share their learning using an interactive or mobile app.
Grades
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Snowflake Bentley illustrator Mary Azarian was born in 1940.
K - 4
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students catch snowflakes outdoors and sketch some of the structures, or grow their own snow crystals and examine them using magnifying glasses or microscopes.
Grades
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Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817.
1 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students make mental "snapshots" of a natural setting, then capture the details of their setting by writing and then creating a class booklet of the nature walk.
Grades
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The Scopes Trial began today in 1925.
5 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students brainstorm a list of objects and processes that have changed over time and use the Timeline tool to sketch out the evolution of the item they have chosen. A giant class timeline can be created to show the evolution of the items students have investigated.
Grades
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The first U.S. zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874.
1 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students consider how zoos have changed over the past century and design their own zoo of the future using drawings, posters, dioramas, or other displays.
Grades
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Author E.B. White was born on this day in 1899.
K - 5
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Author E.B. White, most well-known for his famous children's book, Charlotte's Web, received high acclaim and awards for many of his works of fiction.
Grades
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Writing Acrostic Poems with Thematically Related Texts in the Content Areas
2 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students read thematically related texts, scaffolded from simple to complex, to help them gather necessary concept vocabulary and background knowledge in a content area. They then write acrostic poems to organize and present their learning in a creative way.