Reading & Writing in the Content Areas
Aligned to RH.6-8 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Reading like a historian or scientist means finding the central idea of a source, citing evidence, and following steps in a procedure. You also write arguments and explanations using the subject's facts.
Worked examples
Example 1
Reading a passage on the Boston Tea Party, you state its central idea ('colonists protested a tax') and quote the line that proves it, just as a historian would.
Example 2
In science, the central idea of a lab write-up is the conclusion, and the evidence is the data table — the same skill, different furniture.
Example 3
Every subject quotes differently. History cites a source and a date; science cites a measurement; literature cites the line.
Practice questions
- State the central idea of a history source and cite a line.
- Summarize the steps in a science procedure in order.
- Write one evidence-based sentence about a science topic.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Lectura y escritura en las áreas de contenido
Leer como historiador o científico significa encontrar la idea central de una fuente, citar evidencia y seguir los pasos de un procedimiento. También escribes argumentos y explicaciones usando los datos de la materia.
Ejemplo 1: Al leer un texto sobre el Motín del Té de Boston, identificas su idea central ('los colonos protestaron contra un impuesto') y citas la línea que lo demuestra, igual que lo haría un historiador.
Ejemplo 2: En ciencias, la idea central de un reporte de laboratorio es la conclusión, y la evidencia es la tabla de datos — la misma habilidad, distinto mobiliario.
Ejemplo 3: Cada materia cita distinto. Historia cita una fuente y una fecha; ciencias cita una medición; literatura cita el verso.
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