S T U D E N T G U I D E
A Prophet Of Soil Gets His Moment Of Fame
Does Rattan Lal’s research make a convincing argument that regenerative agriculture is a promising solution to climate change?
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Table of Contents
Vocabulary Building
Direct Instruction Guide
STEP 1: Connect
STEP 2: Read
STEP 3: Engage with the Text
STEP 4: Summarize
STEP 5: Build an Argument
STEP 6: Create your CERCA
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Optional Extensions
Definition | Facts and Characteristics___ |
Examples | Non-examples___ |
Vocabulary Word:�
REGENERATE
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V O C A B U L A R Y B U I L D I N G
Frayer Model �
The Frayer Model helps you learn vocabulary from different angles.�
Frayer Model
Read the Overview and click “Vocabulary” for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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D I R E C T I N S T R U C T I O N G U I D E
Cornell Notes: Analyzing Text Features
Why do authors use text features? | Text features are used to... |
What text features can help readers find information? | Text features that can help readers find �information include…. |
What are some examples of visual text features, and why would an author include them in a piece of writing? | Visual text features include... |
Take notes on the lesson using the organizer below:
Watch the Direct Instruction lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com
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D I R E C T I N S T R U C T I O N G U I D E
Cornell Notes: Analyzing Text Features (continued)
Summarize and Reflect
In your own words and in complete sentences, write a 3–4 sentence summary of this skills lesson. An accurate summary will cover the lesson's central ideas and include important details to support those ideas.
Record your summary here:
S T E P 1 : C O N N E C T
Finding Your Purpose for Learning
When you've finished reading the overview, answer the following questions in the space below:
What more would you like to learn about the carbon cycle? What would you like to find out about the carbon emissions and their impact on the health of the planet? What do you want to know about strategies for rebalancing the carbon cycle?
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S T E P 1 : C O N N E C T
Think-Pair-Share
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S T E P 2 : R E A D
Pause and Reflect
When you’ve finished reading, go back and find the questions in the text marked “Pause and Reflect.” These questions will help you connect the text to yourself, to other texts, or to the world around you.
Use the space on the left below to answer the reflection questions. Then, discuss your answers, noting how they were similar or different.
Record “Pause and Reflect” answers here:
Record discussion reflections here:
Read the text for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com
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S T E P 2 : R E A D
Test Prep Strategy: Rephrasing Multiple Choice Questions (Optional)
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Multiple choice questions can be tricky! But, there are some tips that you can use to avoid falling for test-maker traps.
Take your time and carefully read each multiple choice question and each response. Ask yourself, “What is the question actually asking?” Then, rephrase the question and responses in your own words.
Practice rephrasing the questions that go with your reading below:
Question on ThinkCERCA | What is the question asking you to do? |
Example: Based on this passage, what action is the author MOST likely to take the next time he sees someone who needs help? | Inference: What did the author learn from this experience? |
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Refer to the multiple choice questions for this lesson at learn.thinkcerca.com.
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S T E P 3 : E N G A G E W I T H T H E T E X T
Highlight and Annotate
In this step, you will analyze the text closely, then discuss your findings to begin developing reasoning for your argument.
The highlighting prompts will help you with the final writing task. You will find evidence to support your own argument or informational piece, as well as models of excellence that will help you better understand a writer’s craft in narratives. The evidence you highlight will be available when you begin building your draft in the next step.
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Step 3: Engage with the Text.
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S T E P 4 : S U M M A R I Z E
Write a Summary
Summaries help you process your thinking about a text and are often a great way to start off an argumentative or informational essay. A good summary shows you have knowledge about a topic.
Practicing summarizing also helps you prepare for the main idea questions posed on many standardized assessments. In addition, summarizing is a helpful skill for working with others, such as when you need to confirm your understanding of what someone else has said. That's a useful skill for all parts of life.
Your summary should:
Return to learn.thinkcerca.com to complete Step 4: Summarize.
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S T E P 5 : B U I L D A N A R G U M E N T
Collaborate: Share your Argument Builder
When you’ve completed the argument building step, share your results with others, and listen to how they responded to the same question. Ask questions and give feedback to help strengthen your partners’ reasons and evidence.
Share | Listen |
Does Rattan Lal’s research make a convincing argument that regenerative agriculture is a promising solution to climate change? | Does Rattan Lal’s research make a convincing argument that regenerative agriculture is a promising solution to climate change? |
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Complete Step 5 to begin building your argument at learn.thinkcerca.com
S T E P 6 : C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Peer Editing Activity
Complete Step 6 to create your CERCA at learn.thinkcerca.com
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S T E P 6 : C R E A T E Y O U R C E R C A
Writing Reflection
Before you submit your final CERCA, write a brief reflection describing your experience.
An area for growth for me on this piece or in my writing in general is…
The strongest areas of this piece of writing are…
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Through self-assessment and/or peer editing, I learned…
Optional Extensions
The following activities can be used as optional extensions to this lesson.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Asking Questions of the Texts
As you engage with texts in any subject, you can actively ask questions about the author’s purpose, intended audience, and occasion to understand the message. The table below provides examples.
Approaches | Example |
Questions about the author | Who authored this piece, and why? |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | Where and when was this piece published? |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | What led to the dawn of climate science as a field? |
Questions about concepts and ideas | Why is it important for scientists to communicate their findings with non-scientists? |
Questions about self and community reflections | What solutions to climate change can be adopted in my community? |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
Asking Questions of the Texts (continued)
Use the table below to record questions about the text you read.
Approaches | Questions |
Questions about the author | |
Questions about the audience, purpose, and occasion of the text | |
Questions about civics, economics, geography, and history | |
Questions about concepts and ideas | |
Self and Community Reflections | |
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : I N Q U I R Y T O R E S E A R C H
The Carbon Cycle: Can We Lessen Our Impact on the Planet?
Background
With this activity, learn more about the carbon cycle and the threats posed by excess carbon emissions. What can we as humans do to lessen our carbon footprints?
Research
Search reputable, online sources to better understand the carbon cycle and how excess emissions can affect the atmosphere. Investigate ways scientists are battling this problem.
Work independently to complete your research. Choose questions to explore from the list below.
Questions and research:
With your team of 2–4 people, share your findings.
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : R O U N D T A B L E D I S C U S S I O N
Sharing Additional Research Findings, Learnings, and Experiences
Roundtable discussions offer you the opportunity to share what you’ve learned, as well as to ask questions and learn from others. Come to the discussion prepared to share your key findings. Use the organizer on the next page.
How the discussion works:
Remember, it’s important to value dialogue and appreciate different perspectives. Learning from and understanding people who think differently or have different experiences is part of the process of growth! You don’t have to agree to learn from another perspective!
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O P T I O N A L E X T E N S I O N : R O U N D T A B L E D I S C U S S I O N
Discussion Notes
Your Key Findings | |
What interested you about the topic in the first place? | |
What was your most striking finding? | |
What questions were raised by your experience? |
Presenter | Questions and Learnings from Peers |
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