A 15-minute center rotation focused on using context clues (synonyms, antonyms, examples, and definitions) to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words through a 'Word Detective' theme.

Students become 'Echo Agents' to master the TTQA (Turn The Question Around) technique, focusing on constructing strong oral responses by repurposing the wording of a question. This lesson emphasizes clear speaking, active listening, and the structural bridge between a question and its answer.

Students will explore the historical context of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, practice identifying central ideas and supporting details, and complete a STAAR-formatted assessment.

Students complete the 'Master Certification' post-assessment and celebrate their growth as investigators.

Comparing and contrasting different animal defense mechanisms across multiple short texts.

Synthesizing information to create concise summaries of animal defense strategies.

Using context clues to determine the meaning of domain-specific vocabulary words in complex texts.

Investigating the cause-and-effect relationship between predator actions and prey reactions.