Who Was Agent 711? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will study how George Washington worked as a spy before he became our first president.

 

Social Studies Focus:

Presidents’ Day, American history

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, main idea and details

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a code

 

Vocabulary:

president, code, chemical

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.2, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level: 

560L

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Provide students with some background on George Washington.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “The Life of George Washington.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing you learned about George Washington?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are president, code, and chemical.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. What kinds of things do spies do?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how George’s spies helped win the war.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

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. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

The “Hello, George!” game gives kids a great capitalization review. Each time they choose the correct answer, George rides his horse closer!

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work skill sheet to deepen students’ understanding of the words president, code, and chemical.

Editor’s Pick: Make Your Move! (15 min.)

  • The Write a Secret Message! skill sheet gives children a coded symbol for each letter of the alphabet. They can write a message and have a friend try to figure it out!

ELA Focus: Read a Diagram (15 min.)

  • The Main Idea and Details skill sheet provides children with the main idea and then asks them to fill in three details from the article.

Here are past issues you can use to extend your Presidents' Day lesson:

  • “George’s Secret Trip,” February 2020. This issue tells the dramatic story of Washington’s trip across the Delaware.
  • “All Aboard, Abe!” February 2021. This issue describes Abe Lincoln’s railroad trip to the White House after he was elected.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 700L
  • Lower Lexile level: 480L