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Children will evaluate the polar bear plunge, an unusual New Year’s tradition.
New Year's Traditions
key details, writing, vocabulary, opinion writing
read a chart
tradition, plunge, waded
RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, L.2.1, W.2.1, W.2.8, SL.2.3
L
540L
Provide students with some background on New Year’s traditions.
Build background knowledge (10 min.)
Watch our video “Happy New Year.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following questions:
Preview vocabulary (3 min.)
Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are tradition, plunge, and waded.
Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)
Read together (20 min.)
Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions.
Use the online game-show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point!
You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.
ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)
Editor’s Pick: Opinion Writing (15 min.)
ELA Focuses: Key Details, Map Skills (15 min.)
Assessment: Reading Checkpoint
Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on New Year's traditions:
You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here: