Why Are School Buses Yellow? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will analyze how school buses have changed throughout history.

 

Social Studies Focus:

long ago and today

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, sequencing, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a map

 

Vocabulary:

invention

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Lexile Measure: 

460L

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Provide students with some background on how things can change over time.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "What Changes Over Time?” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is something that is different today than it was long ago?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Do students have any predictions for the reason school buses are yellow?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about how school buses 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. 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured word is invention.

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

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

This is the Way We Go to School by Edith Baer (20 min.)

This rhyming book features the many ways children across the U.S. and around the world get to school. To further extend the learning, have students research countries and create a class book featuring a way kids in each one get to school!

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 word invention.

Editor’s Pick: Sequencing (15 min.)

  • Students will organize what they have learned about how school buses have changed over time with the School Bus Sequencing skill sheet.

ELA Focus: Writing (15 min.)

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on how things can change over time:

  • “School Long Ago,” September 2019. Students will compare and contrast school 100 years ago with school today.
  • “Time to Climb!,” September 2023. This issue analyzes how playgrounds have changed over time.

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

  • Higher-Lexile level: 530L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 430L