“I use Byrdseed TV to differentiate for my clustered students. I LOVE all the ideas!” ~ a teacher in Washington

CCSS ELA Standard: 7.W.7

Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.

Holiday Worksheets
Holiday Worksheets
Writing prompts, non-fiction analysis, and science topics related to Christmas and Hanukkah.
Gr 1-8
Halloween Worksheets
Halloween Worksheets
Crosswords, image analysis, and writing prompts for Halloween!
Gr 1-8
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Who has more power: the Queen Bee or the Hive?
Sometimes power is concentrated in one place. Other times it is spread out.
Gr 1-8
Power – Blue Whale vs Krill
Power – Blue Whale vs Krill
Sure, a Blue Whale is huge. But does a tiny krill have more power?
Gr 1-8
Founding The Colonies
Founding The Colonies
13 colonies activities including a word search and task cards packed with facts. Plus, students will create their own colony with a name, story, and map!
Gr 1-8
Hero or Not A Hero?
Hero or Not A Hero?
Students will determine what makes a hero a hero.
Gr 1-8
Two Animals Switch Biomes
Two Animals Switch Biomes
What if a capybara and a kangaroo rat switched homes? Would their adaptations be helpful at all?
Gr 1-8
Tournament of Mythological Creatures
Tournament of Mythological Creatures
Who will win the tournament of mythological creatures!?
Gr 2-8
Tournament of Not-So-Famous Inventors
Tournament of Not-So-Famous Inventors
Which inventor and invention will win the tournament?
Gr 3-8
Not Like The Others: Rivers
Not Like The Others: Rivers
Four rivers. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Cephalopods
Not Like The Others: Cephalopods
Four cephalopods. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Flowers
Not Like The Others: Flowers
Four flowers. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: 19th Century Presidents
Not Like The Others: 19th Century Presidents
Four 19th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group B
Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group A
Not Like The Others: 20th Century Presidents – Group A
Four 20th century presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Domesticated Animals Tournament
Domesticated Animals Tournament
Which domesticated animal will win the tournament?
Gr 3-8
Types of Energy Tournament
Types of Energy Tournament
Which type of energy will win the tournament!?
Gr 3-8
Natural Disasters Tournament
Natural Disasters Tournament
Earthquake vs. hurricane. Tsunami vs. wildfire. Students set the criteria, argue their case, and crown a champion. Warning: it gets heated.
Gr 3-8
Van Gogh Self-Portrait Tournament
Van Gogh Self-Portrait Tournament
Who will win the tournament of Van Gogh self-portraits!?
Gr 3-8
Create A Civ: Capital City
Create A Civ: Capital City
Every great capital is part geography, part human design. Research real ones, then build your own from scratch.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: African Nations
Not Like The Others: African Nations
Four African nations. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: US National Parks
Not Like The Others: US National Parks
Four US national parks. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Famous Structures
Famous Structures
The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House — group them, pick the best from each group, then design your own.
Gr 3-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases
Not Like The Others: Types of Diseases
Four diseases. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Desert
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Desert
Four desert birds. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Penguins
Not Like The Others: Penguins
Four penguins. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Microstates of Europe
Not Like The Others: Microstates of Europe
Four of the tiniest countries in Europe. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Microorganisms
Not Like The Others: Microorganisms
Four microorganisms. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Plant Adaptation Tournament
Plant Adaptation Tournament
Who will win in a tournament of eight plants with Interesting adaptations!?
Gr 2-8
Tournament: 8 Wonders of the Solar System
Tournament: 8 Wonders of the Solar System
Which location is the most wondrous place in the solar system?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Ants of the World!
Not Like The Others: Ants of the World!
Four ants from around the world. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
The 8th Wonder of the World Tournament
The 8th Wonder of the World Tournament
Which of these eight wonders deserves to become the Eighth Wonder of the World!?
Gr 3-8
Exploration Technology Tournament
Exploration Technology Tournament
Which of these pieces of exploration technology is most important? Most underrated? Most long-lasting?
Gr 3-8
Precipitation Tournament
Precipitation Tournament
Eight types of precipitation battle it out in this tournament.
Gr 3-8
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Tournament of Ancient Inventions
Which of these inventions of the ancient world is most influential? Least useful today? Most taken-for-granted?
Gr 3-8
Animal Adaptation Tournament
Animal Adaptation Tournament
Which animal has the most interesting, most valuable, or strangest adaptations?
Gr 1-8
Habitable Planets and Moons Tournament
Habitable Planets and Moons Tournament
Which object in the solar system is most habitable?
Gr 3-8
Parts of Speech Tournament
Parts of Speech Tournament
Which part of speech is most useful? Interesting? Strange?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes
Not Like The Others: Types of Volcanoes
Which of these types of volcanoes is not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Types of Rocks
Not Like The Others: Types of Rocks
Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic — and one that doesn’t fit. But which one? Depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest
Not Like The Others: Snakes of the Rainforest
Four rainforest snakes. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Deserts
Not Like The Others: Deserts
Which of these deserts is not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Rainforests
Not Like The Others: Rainforests
Which of these rainforests is not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Stars
Not Like The Others: Stars
How is each of these stars not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: US States
Not Like The Others: US States
How is each of these states not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Mountains
Not Like The Others: Mountains
Which of these mountains is not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Tropical Rainforest
Not Like The Others: Birds of the Tropical Rainforest
Which of these four birds is not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Branches of the US Government
Not Like The Others: Branches of the US Government
How is each part of the United States Government not like the other parts?
Gr 1-8
Create A Civilization: Design A Flag
Create A Civilization: Design A Flag
What makes for a good flag? What makes a bad flag?
Gr 3-8
Tournament of Presidents
Tournament of Presidents
So who was the strangest of these eight presidents?
Gr 3-8
The Pros and Cons of Producers and Consumers
The Pros and Cons of Producers and Consumers
Sure, students might know the difference between a producer and a consumer… but have they considered how they feel about each other? What, in a producer’s opinion, are the pros and cons of a consumer?
Gr 3-8
Not Like The Others: Natural Disasters
Not Like The Others: Natural Disasters
Four natural disasters. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: States of Matter
Not Like The Others: States of Matter
How is each of the states of matter not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Countries
Not Like The Others: Countries
How is each of these four countries not like the others?
Gr 1-8
Generalization: Systems Are Made up of Other Systems
Generalization: Systems Are Made up of Other Systems
A clock is a system. So is a rainforest. So is your school. Once you see systems inside systems, you can’t unsee it.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Creatures of the Tundra
Not Like The Others: Creatures of the Tundra
Four tundra creatures. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: US Presidents
Not Like The Others: US Presidents
Four US presidents. One doesn’t belong. But which one? That depends on your argument.
Gr 1-8
Not Like The Others: Planets
Not Like The Others: Planets
Which of these planets is not like others? Well, it sure looks simple at first. But each option could be the one that doesn’t fit in.
Gr 1-8
The Tournament of Biomes
The Tournament of Biomes
Want to move beyond memorizing the characteristics of biomes? In this lesson, students work through a Tournament of Biomes, explaining which biome wins in each round (based on criteria you choose). In the end, they crown a 👑 Champion Biome!
Gr 3-8
Upgrade Research Questions With Depth and Complexity
Upgrade Research Questions With Depth and Complexity
Ever ask students to create research questions? Were their ideas a bit… blah? My own students had a very hard time writing questions they didn’t already know the answer to! This video is how I solved that problem: upgrade research questions with depth and complexity.
Gr 1-8
Create A Civilization: Calendars
Create A Civilization: Calendars
Why 12 months? Why 30ish days? Why 7 days in a week? Your civilization could organize a year in any way you want!
Gr 3-8
Creating A Realistic Flower and Pollinator
Creating A Realistic Flower and Pollinator
Your students will create a new flower, designed to attract a specific pollinator.
Gr 3-8
Historic Social Media
Historic Social Media
How would people from history have interacted online? Students will develop a conversation online between people involved in the same event from history.
Gr 3-8
Create A Creature
Create A Creature
Create a new creature based on the adaptations of existing creatures from the same biome.
Gr 3-8