The interactive Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers. Teachers and students can choose from several templates to publish class newspapers, informational brochures, and flyers announcing class events. Text added to the templates can be modified using a simple WYSIWYG editor, which allows students to choose text features, such as font size and color. Documentation for the Printing Press includes instructions for using the tool. Customized versions of the tool, which include additional instructions and more focused choices, are included with some lessons. A basic planning sheet is available to help students gather ideas before working on this interactive tool.

Students plant a garden and study its growth using the inquiry process of questioning and exploring. As they research and study, students record their observations in a field journal.

Students and the teacher produce a class book through a group-writing activity, focusing on a basic before-during-after sequence of events.

Students draw a series of pictures that tell a story, including character action, problem and solution. They read' their story to others, transcribe it into writing, and create an accordion book.

Grades 3 – 12 | Student Interactive | Writing & Publishing Prose

Flip Book

The Flip Book is designed to allow users to type and illustrate tabbed flip books up to ten pages long. Students and teachers can use the flip book for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating question and answer booklets.

Grades K – 12 | Student Interactive | Writing & Publishing Prose

Stapleless Book

The Stapleless Book can be used for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating vocabulary booklets . . . the possibilities are endless!



Grades 9 – 12 | Calendar Activity | December 3

Frederick Douglass began publication of The North Star today in 1847.

Students read and discuss an editorial written by Frederick Douglass and then write the opening editorial for a contemporary publication devoted to a social cause important to them.

Grades 7 – 12 | Calendar Activity | February 10

The New York Times used the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print."

After discussing newspapers and their different points of view, students choose a current event, read editorials on the event, and share them with the class to identify the editor's point of view.

Grades 5 – 10 | Calendar Activity | June 15

Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, was born in 1939.

After students have read one of Brian Jacques' Redwall stories, a class newspaper is created based on the story.

Grades 3 – 8 | Calendar Activity | August 13

The first English printer, William Caxton, was born on this day in 1422.

Students consider how the printing press affects their world by completing a printing inventory, comparing lists, and developing a "super" list of all printed materials that they interact with.

Grades 1 – 12 | Calendar Activity | October 1

Get ready for National Bullying Prevention Month!

Students create a poster to enter into a poster contest that educates others about issues surrounding bullying.

Grades K – 12 | Strategy Guide

Shared Writing

This strategy guide explains how to use shared writing to teach students effective strategies that will improve their own independent writing ability.

Grades K – 3 | Strategy Guide

Guided Writing

This strategy guide explains how to use small-group, guided writing instruction to teach students effective strategies and improve their ability to produce text independently.