The History of Ice-Skating Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will track the history of ice skates.

 

Social Studies Focus:

history, innovation

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing, using a diagram

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

blades, rink

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.7, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

L

 

Lexile level: 

580L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on ice.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “When Water Freezes.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is something that happens when water freezes?
  •  

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are blades and rink.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have children ever been iceskating?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how ice skates have changed over time.” 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.

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 get a point.

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

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words blades and rink.

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

  • The Rule the Rink skill sheet encourages children to create three different figure-skating moves—an aerial, a spin move, and a pose. Then they name the move and draw what it looks like. Not only is it creative and fun, but it’s a good excuse to get kids moving!

ELA Focus: Read a Diagram (15 min.)

  • With the Figure Skate Diagram skill sheet, children practice getting information from visuals, as well as answering multiple-choice questions.

Here are past issues you can use to extend your lesson on ice:

  • “Frozen in Ice,” January 2021. This issue illustrates how wild winter weather can have amazing effects.
  • “Frozen Hotel,” January 2020. This issue introduces children to a very cool place to stay—an ice hotel!

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 600L
  • Lower Lexile level: 490L