A K-9 Inventory of grade-level math benchmarks, with 4 sample math equations for each grade level:

A K-9 Inventory of grade-level math benchmarks, with 4 sample math equations for each grade level:

Kindergarten

- 2 + 3 = ___

- 4 - 1 = ___  

- Circle, Square, Triangle

- Blue, Red, Green

First Grade  

- 5 + 2 = ___

- 8 - 3 = ___

- 3 + 4 = ___

- 6 - 2 = ___

Second Grade

- 15 + 29 = ___

- 63 - 18 = ___

- 9 x 2 = ___ 

- 12 ÷ 3 = ___

Third Grade

- 8 x 4 = ___

- 20 ÷ 5 = ___

- 105 - 71 = ___

- 679 + 78 = ___

Fourth Grade  

- 182 x 67 = ___

- 459 ÷ 9 = ___

- 453 - 176 = ___

- 3,794 + 1,982 = ___

Fifth Grade

- 274 x 195 = ___

- 728 ÷ 12 = ___  

- 1,086 - 579 = ___

- 2,983 + 5,874 = ___

Sixth Grade

- 4,883 ÷ 21 = ___ 

- 760.75 x 100 = ___

- 1.5 + 0.25 = ___

- 14.94 - 0.08 = ___

Seventh Grade

- 4x + 2 = 18

- 180/14 = ___

- a5 + b = 15

- c3 - d = 3  

Eighth Grade

- 5x - 3 = 17

- y = 3x + 2

- 2(x + 4) = 16

- 3(y - 1) = 21

Ninth Grade 

- x^2 + x - 12 = 0

- (x + 1)(x - 3) = 0

- 2x/5 + 3x/10 = 1 

- (a + 2)(a - 3) = 0

Kindergarten

- 5 + 2 = ___

- Triangle, Circle, Square


First Grade

- 9 + 5 = ___

- 10 - 3 = ___

Second Grade

- 34 + 56 = ___

- 72 - 18 = ___

Third Grade

- 4 x 6 = ___

- 12 ÷ 3 = ___

Fourth Grade

- 23 x 4 = ___

- 81 ÷ 9 = ___

Fifth Grade

- 43 x 68 = ___

- 96 ÷ 12 = ___

Sixth Grade

- 437 ÷ 13 = ___

- 0.25 x 100 = ___




Seventh Grade

- 3x + 5 = 17

- 4/5 + 3/10 = ___




Eighth Grade

- 3x - 2 = 7

- y = 2x + 4

Ninth Grade

- x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

- (x + 3)(x - 2) = 0

Genius Hour and Stanford Design Thinking for Students

Introduction:

Greetings students and teachers! My name is Claude and today I want to talk to you about two incredibly empowering educational frameworks - genius hour and Stanford design thinking. These approaches can truly transform your classroom into an exciting incubator of creativity, innovation and passion-driven learning. 

First, let's talk about genius hour. Genius hour is a movement in education that gives students an hour a week, or some set period of time, to explore their own passions and work on a project completely of their choosing. The idea came from Google, which allows its employees to spend 20% of their work time exploring their own ideas and innovations. 

Genius hour allows students to tap into their innate curiosity and creativity in a self-directed way. Students can work alone or collaborate with others to research a topic, build prototypes, create artwork, learn a new skill - anything that excites their imagination. The benefits are immense - students become self-motivated learners, they build confidence by pursuing their interests, and they develop vital skills like problem-solving, communication and time management. 

Let me tell you about how Ms. Smith's 8th grade class used genius hour. Diego was fascinated with robotics, so he used the time to build his own robot arm from Legos. Alicia loved fashion design, so she watched YouTube tutorials on sewing and designed her own dress. James was passionate about music, so he wrote and recorded his own song. 

The students were buzzing every Friday during genius hour. They couldn't wait to have time to explore their own interests, instead of just working from textbooks or following the usual curriculum. Ms. Smith said the students were more engaged in all their classes and took on a sense of responsibility for their own learning.

Transition:

So genius hour allows students to tap into their passions. Next I want to tell you about Stanford design thinking, which provides a creative framework students can use during genius hour or any project.

Main points:

Stanford design thinking is a step-by-step, human-centered method for innovation. It has five key phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test. 

In the Empathize phase, you gather information about the people you are designing for through observation and interviews. Really try to understand their needs and perspective.

Next in the Define phase, you analyze all that information to pinpoint the core problems that need solving. 

Then, in the Ideate phase, you and your team brainstorm as many creative solutions as possible. Think outside the box and build on each other's ideas.

You take those solutions and build Prototypes - simple experimental models to start testing if your ideas work in reality. 

Finally, in the Test phase, you gather user feedback, see what worked and what didn't, and use those learnings to refine your solutions. 

The design thinking process is highly iterative - you may loop back through the phases multiple times as you refine your ideas. And it's designed to be fast-paced - prototype and test quickly without getting too attached to any one solution. 

Design thinking provides an actionable path for creating human-centered innovations. And the skills it builds - empathy, collaboration, iteration - are invaluable.

Let me give an example of middle schoolers using design thinking. Mr. Johnson's class was participating in a statewide competition to address childhood obesity. Their challenge was to design something new that would encourage kids to lead more active lifestyles.

The class started by empathizing - they interviewed other students about their health habits and attitudes. They found most kids knew they should be more active, but felt too busy with schoolwork. Sports didn't appeal to those less athletic.

In the Define phase, they realized sedentary lifestyles were the core issue. So for Ideate, they brainstormed ways to gamify fitness. Maybe a smartphone app with fitness adventures and challenges. Or a VR world where you gain points for real world movement.

They storyboarded an app prototype and tested it with other students. It got positive reactions, so they continued refining it through several more feedback loops. They ended up submitting Journey Trekkers, a smartphone fitness adventure app, and won the competition!

Through human-centered design thinking, the class created an innovative solution that spoke directly to their peers’ needs and interests.

Conclusion:

In closing, genius hour and Stanford design thinking are two educational frameworks that empower students’ creativity and passions. Genius hour provides dedicated time for self-driven exploration, while design thinking gives a process for developing impactful innovations. Imagine how transformed our classrooms could be if we dedicated time for genius hour, and taught our students human-centered design. Students would tackle projects and problems with creativity, empathy and a bias toward action. So I encourage you - try genius hour and design thinking in your classroom. Foster that spirit of innovation! Your students will amaze you with what they accomplish. Thank you for listening!

Stanford Design Thinking: A Creative Problem-Solving Process

Design thinking is a human-centered, creative problem solving methodology pioneered at Stanford University. It provides a solution-based approach for tackling ill-defined or unknown problems. Design thinking utilizes divergent thinking to ideate many possible solutions before converging on the optimal resolution. This innovative process eschews traditional linear thought in favor of a cyclical, iterative approach.




The Stanford design thinking model consists of five key stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.




Empathize Stage

The initial step focuses on understanding users and stakeholders through observation and engagement. Design thinkers immerse themselves in subjects’ experiences to identify needs and gain insights from different perspectives. Data collection methods include ethnographic research, interviews, surveys, and studying behaviors and environments. The goal is to feel what users think and experience to frame problems from their vantage points. For example, an office furniture company might shadow office workers to note how they interact with current designs. These observations would uncover pain points to address.




Define Stage

Next, collected data is synthesized to pinpoint core problems to solve. Insights are translated into meaningful problem statements beginning with “How might we...” to create opportunities for solutions. If office workers were frustrated by distracting noise, the problem statement might be “How might we create private spaces within open offices?” Defining the right problem is essential for creating value through design thinking.




Ideate Stage

During this phase, designers generate numerous ideas without judging initial concepts. Building on others’ ideas is encouraged to harness the synergy of the design team. Brainstorming sessions utilize creative techniques like worst possible idea, mixing disparate concepts, and imagining no constraints. The aim is to diverge before converging on solutions. For office privacy, concepts could include movable walls, elevated cubicles, or private conference rooms.




Prototype Stage

The most promising solutions are translated from abstract ideas into inexpensive and scaled down prototypes. This represents preliminary concepts visually through storyboards, role playing, simple apps, rough product models, etc. Prototypes allow users to experience and interact with solutions for meaningful feedback. Movable walls could be simulated with tape outlines and curtains on office floors.




Test Stage

Prototypes are then shared with users to identify issues and areas for improvement. Observing interactions, gathering feedback, and examining environments helps design thinkers refine concepts. The process repeats as testing reveals new insights to inspire additional ideation and prototyping. Testing cycles persist until solutions effectively satisfy user needs. Adjustable walls may have issues around storage when not in use that require rethinking the design.




Benefits

The design thinking methodology yields many benefits:




- Promotes user-focused solutions based on empathy and insight

- Encourages experimentation and creativity through rapid prototyping

- Fosters collaboration by valuing diverse perspectives in brainstorming

- Provides frameworks to apply creative processes to business challenges

- Yields innovative solutions not bounded by standard practices

- Facilitates cost-efficient development of concepts through iterative testing




Examples

Successful design thinking case studies span many industries:




- GE applied design methodologies to healthcare, using ethnography and observation to develop more senior-friendly hospital equipment like walkers.




- Bank of America created digital centers where specialists support remote video banking with tablets to provide personal assistance in underserved neighborhoods.




- SAP built attractive web design prototyping templates that facilitate user testing with interactive clickable models representing software in development.




- Samsung investigated family routines through in-home visits to uncover needs and design products like refrigerators with adjustable shelving and built-in whiteboards.




- IBM transformed their culture through design thinking, resulting in new strategies like their Enterprise Design Thinking program to spread methodologies internally.




Design thinking provides frameworks for human-centered innovation that can elevate experiences for users and organizations across sectors. Stanford's approach to creative problem solving continues to evolve and scale its impact across the world.

Finnish Vs, U.S. School Model: Trust Vs. No Trust

Article 1: The Finnish Model of Education

Finland's education system has become renowned for its innovative approaches and consistently high performance on international assessments. A key aspect of the "Finnish way" described by Pasi Sahlberg is the high level of trust and autonomy given to teachers.[1] Teachers in Finland are required to hold master's degrees and are given significant discretion in developing curricula and assessments.[2] The system focuses on collaboration rather than competition, with no national standardized tests apart from one exam at the end of high school.[3] Equity is also a major focus, with free meals provided for all students and extra tutoring support offered to struggling students.[4] Classrooms have low student-to-teacher ratios, and children receive little homework until they are teenagers.[5] While critics argue the Finnish system is difficult to replicate elsewhere, it provides an inspirational model for fostering student engagement through well-trained, autonomous teachers.

Notes:

[1] Highlights teacher autonomy  

[2] Notes teacher qualifications and curriculum role

[3] Points out lack of standardized testing 

[4] Discusses equity measures  

[5] Mentions small classes and light homework load

Article 2: The US Model of Education

In contrast to Finland, the US education system is highly decentralized, with curricula, assessments and funding varying enormously between states, districts, and schools.[1] Critics argue this has led to glaring inequality, with socioeconomic status being a major predictor of student success.[2] Funding disparities between schools are often stark, and poorer districts struggle to retain good teachers.[3] While efforts have been made to introduce national standards via the Common Core and improve teacher quality, adoption has been mixed.[4] Standardized testing is widespread, with students taking high-stakes state and federal exams from elementary school onwards.[5] Yet the US continues to lag behind top-performing nations on international assessments.[6] Persistent achievement gaps for minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged students remain major issues.[7] More equitable resourcing, higher national standards, and increased support for teachers could help improve the US education system.  

Notes:

[1] Discusses decentralization of US system

[2] Notes links between socioeconomic status and achievement  

[3] Discusses funding and teacher retention issues  

[4] Mentions Common Core standards adoption patterns  

[5] Points out extent of standardized testing

[6] Notes US lag in international assessments

[7] Discusses achievement gaps as ongoing issues

Article 1: The Finnish Model of Education

Finland's education system places a strong emphasis on investing in highly trained teachers, giving them the autonomy to craft engaging, individualized learning plans. For example, Finnish teachers are required to complete masters degrees focused on pedagogical training, unlike the US where no nationwide standards exist for teacher education. They are given significant flexibility in developing curriculum and assessments tailored to their students, rather than needing to "teach to the test" like US teachers facing high-stakes standardized exams. 

This approach stems from the Finnish philosophy that children learn best when the joy of discovery is nurtured, not under top-down mandates. While some argue this lack of accountability enables inconsistent quality, advocates counter that Finland's high-performing scores on international assessments prove students thrive under this model. Equity is also integral to the Finnish model. This includes free school meals for all children and special needs resources like individual tutoring to help struggling students excel. Critics contend this level of public spending on services like healthcare and education would be difficult to replicate in countries like the US. However, Finland provides an inspirational case study in the power of trusting teachers' expertise and focusing on the whole child.

Article 2: The US Model of Education 

In contrast to Finland's centralized national system, the US has an enormously complex decentralized education model with authority divided between federal, state and local governments. This allows for diversity of approach and curriculum, with school districts and individual states having significant autonomy. However, critics argue it has also led to glaring inequality, as poorer districts often have much lower funding per student compared to affluent areas. Hiring and retaining good teachers is also more difficult in these environments.

Efforts have been made to introduce common national standards, like the Common Core, to ensure students receive adequate preparation. But adoption has been mixed, with only 36 states using the Common Core today. Standardized testing is also widespread, with students taking high-pressure exams like the SAT from elementary school onwards. Proponents argue this provides accountability and helps identify struggling students. Critics counter that "teaching to the test" reduces classroom innovation and harms disadvantaged students who lack test preparation resources.

While local control has benefits, lack of common standards and funding disparities appear to hamper the US system. Persistent achievement gaps for minority and low-income students remain major issues. However, others caution against overhauling a decentralized model that allows diversity and innovation to flourish in wealthier districts with ample resources. More study of the Finnish model could help determine if aspects like teacher training and support can be translated to the US context.

Here are comprehensive librarian-style notes highlighting the key points in each article:

Article 1 Notes:

- Teacher expertise valued and supported [1]

- Mandatory masters degrees for teachers [2] 

- Pedagogical training emphasized [3]

- Teachers given autonomy over curriculum and assessments [4]

- Individualized learning plans tailored to students [5]

- Focus on sparking joy of discovery rather than top-down mandates [6]

- Lack of standardized testing apart from one high school exam [7] 

- Critics argue model enables inconsistent quality [8]  

- Advocates point to high international scores as proof it works [9]

- Free school meals provided for all students [10]

- Extra tutoring and support for struggling students [11] 

- Equity and whole child development prioritized [12]

- Critics say public spending level hard to replicate [13]

- Provides inspirational example of teacher trust and focus on whole child [14]

Article 2 Notes:

- Highly decentralized education model [1] 

- Authority divided between federal, state and local governments [2]

- Allows for diversity of approach and curricula [3]

- But led to glaring funding inequality between districts [4]

- Poorer districts have lower funding per student [5] 

- Harder to attract and retain teachers in poorer districts [6]

- Efforts to introduce national standards like Common Core [7]  

- But adoption has been mixed, with only 36 states participating [8]

- Widespread standardized testing from elementary school [9]

- Tests like SAT seen as promoting accountability [10]

- But critics say leads to "teaching to the test" [11]

- Persistent achievement gaps for minority and low-income students [12]

- Lack of common standards and funding disparities seen as issues [13]

- But local control also allows innovation and diversity in wealthier districts [14]

- Aspects like teacher support from Finland may help US [15]

Here is a comprehensive lesson plan on teaching students to use librarian-style notes to identify main ideas, with sample materials:

Lesson Objective: Students will be able to use librarian-style notes to summarize the main ideas of a text.

Introductory Activity:

- Show students examples of librarian-style notes, pointing out how they use brackets with numbers to tag key points. 

- Explain that this helps break down a text into main ideas and supporting details.

- Have students practice taking sample notes for a short text in pairs. 

Direct Instruction:

- Explain the purpose of librarian notes - they allow readers to quickly locate the main points and ideas in a text for review.

- Demonstrate how to take notes while reading an article, tagging key points and facts.

- Create a cheat sheet with tips like: bracket main ideas, skip unimportant details, be concise.

Guided Practice:

- Provide students with Article 1 and 2 from the previous exercise.

- Read Article 1 together, modeling taking librarian-style notes on the board.

- Have students work in small groups to take notes on Article 2, then share out.

Independent Practice:

- Give students a new text related to the previous articles. 

- Have them independently read and take librarian-style notes identifying main ideas.

- Students can peer review each other's work using a provided rubric.

Lesson Materials:

- "How to Take Librarian Notes" Cheat Sheet

- Glossary with terms like "main idea" "supporting details" 

- Rubric for self/peer review of librarian notes

- Sample articles for guided/independent practice

Closure: Have students reflect on how librarian-style note taking helps them identify the key ideas in complex texts.

Assessment: Evaluate librarian-style notes from independent practice using provided rubric.

Librarian Style Note Taking with Examples

Librarian style note taking refers to a method of taking notes that aims to capture information in an organized and retrievable way, similar to how a librarian would catalog information. Some key aspects of librarian-style note-taking include:

• Using headings and subheadings to organize topics and subtopics in a hierarchical structure. This allows related content to be grouped together.
• Including metadata like titles, authors, dates, and sources for any information referenced. This aids in citation and fact-checking.
• Writing concise summaries and bullet points rather than long sentences. This distills content down to key facts.
• Employing notation methods like numbered lists, highlighting, underlining, asterisks, etc. to call attention to important points.
• Indexing and numbering pages to create a table of contents and allow for quick lookup of notes.
• Cross-referencing related notes by page number to connect concepts from different sections.
• Supplementing written notes with visuals like charts, graphs, diagrams, and illustrations to aid memory.
• Storing notes organized by topic in a reference system for easy retrieval later. This could be file folders, notebooks, index cards, or apps.

The librarian style values thoroughness, accuracy, organization and efficiency. The goal is to capture information in a standardized way that makes the notes as accessible and functional as possible for referencing in the future.

Here's an example of how a middle school student could take librarian-style notes on the topic of Stanford University's design thinking process:

Stanford Design Thinking

Overview

• Design thinking is a problem-solving framework developed at Stanford.
• It uses creative and analytical approaches to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions.

The 5-Step Design Thinking Process

Empathize

• Observe and interview users to understand their needs.
• Immersion - immerse yourself in the users' environment. Go where they are.
• Take notes on user behaviors, pain points, and emotions.
• Develop empathy and insights into why users act in certain ways.

Define

• Analyze notes from the empathy stage to define the core problems users face.
• Restate problems as questions beginning with "How might we...?"
• Prioritize which problem to tackle first.

Ideate

• Brainstorm solutions to the problem statement.
• Encourage wild ideas and defer judgement.
• Build on others' ideas.
• Use techniques like brainwriting and worst possible idea.
• Generate a wide range of creative solutions.

Prototype

• Translate ideas into inexpensive prototypes to start testing.
• Make simplified versions such as role playing, storyboards, physical models, etc.
• Determine what solutions to prototype based on factors like feasibility, cost, time, and user impact.

Test

• Gather user feedback on prototypes through demonstration, observation, and interview.
• Identify which prototype elements work and don't work.
• Refine prototypes and solutions based on insights gained.
• Repeat testing and refinement until satisfied with solution.

So in summary, the design thinking process involves empathizing with users, clearly defining problems, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing with end users. This human-centric methodology helps create innovative products, services, and experiences.

Here is a 985 word article providing an overview of Stanford's design thinking process with multiple examples: Stanford Design Thinking: A Creative Problem-Solving Process Design thinking is a human-centered, creative problem solving methodology pioneered at Stanford University. It provides a solution-based approach for tackling ill-defined or unknown problems. Design thinking utilizes divergent thinking to ideate many possible solutions before converging on the optimal resolution. This innovative process eschews traditional linear thought in favor of a cyclical, iterative approach. The Stanford design thinking model consists of five key stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Empathize Stage The initial step focuses on understanding users and stakeholders through observation and engagement. Design thinkers immerse themselves in subjects’ experiences to identify needs and gain insights from different perspectives. Data collection methods include ethnographic research, interviews, surveys, and studying behaviors and environments. The goal is to feel what users think and experience to frame problems from their vantage points. For example, an office furniture company might shadow office workers to note how they interact with current designs. These observations would uncover pain points to address. Define Stage Next, collected data is synthesized to pinpoint core problems to solve. Insights are translated into meaningful problem statements beginning with “How might we...” to create opportunities for solutions. If office workers were frustrated by distracting noise, the problem statement might be “How might we create private spaces within open offices?” Defining the right problem is essential for creating value through design thinking. Ideate Stage During this phase, designers generate numerous ideas without judging initial concepts. Building on others’ ideas is encouraged to harness the synergy of the design team. Brainstorming sessions utilize creative techniques like worst possible idea, mixing disparate concepts, and imagining no constraints. The aim is to diverge before converging on solutions. For office privacy, concepts could include movable walls, elevated cubicles, or private conference rooms. Prototype Stage The most promising solutions are translated from abstract ideas into inexpensive and scaled down prototypes. This represents preliminary concepts visually through storyboards, role playing, simple apps, rough product models, etc. Prototypes allow users to experience and interact with solutions for meaningful feedback. Movable walls could be simulated with tape outlines and curtains on office floors. Test Stage Prototypes are then shared with users to identify issues and areas for improvement. Observing interactions, gathering feedback, and examining environments helps design thinkers refine concepts. The process repeats as testing reveals new insights to inspire additional ideation and prototyping. Testing cycles persist until solutions effectively satisfy user needs. Adjustable walls may have issues around storage when not in use that require rethinking the design. Benefits The design thinking methodology yields many benefits: - Promotes user-focused solutions based on empathy and insight - Encourages experimentation and creativity through rapid prototyping - Fosters collaboration by valuing diverse perspectives in brainstorming - Provides frameworks to apply creative processes to business challenges - Yields innovative solutions not bounded by standard practices - Facilitates cost-efficient development of concepts through iterative testing Examples Successful design thinking case studies span many industries: - GE applied design methodologies to healthcare, using ethnography and observation to develop more senior-friendly hospital equipment like walkers. - Bank of America created digital centers where specialists support remote video banking with tablets to provide personal assistance in underserved neighborhoods. - SAP built attractive web design prototyping templates that facilitate user testing with interactive clickable models representing software in development. - Samsung investigated family routines through in-home visits to uncover needs and design products like refrigerators with adjustable shelving and built-in whiteboards. - IBM transformed their culture through design thinking, resulting in new strategies like their Enterprise Design Thinking program to spread methodologies internally. Design thinking provides frameworks for human-centered innovation that can elevate experiences for users and organizations across sectors. Stanford's approach to creative problem solving continues to evolve and scale its impact across the world.

Here is a comparison of the three types of note-takers - architects, gardeners, and librarians:

Architects:

- Take very structured and organized notes, like drawing up blueprints.

- Tend to outline and categorize information in a logical format.

- Focus on the big picture concepts and how details fit within.

- May use tools like mind maps, charts, and diagrams.

- Benefit is very tidy and easy to review notes. Drawback is can miss nuances.

Gardeners: 

- Take free-flowing, unstructured notes that spiral outward.

- Record information as it comes to them without much filtering or organization. 

- Get down details, tangents, questions - whatever captures their interest.

- Benefit is they collect a wide breadth. Drawback is notes can be chaotic.

Librarians:

- Seek to carefully catalog and index information as they take notes.

- Focus on concise summaries and clear highlights of key ideas/terms.

- Index and organize notes for easy lookup later.

- Benefit is can quickly reference back. Drawback is don't get the context.

In summary, architects are structured, gardeners are free-flowing, and librarians seek to catalog and condense information in their notes. The style depends on personal preference and learning/studying needs. A combination approach is often most effective.

Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals with Main Idea Questions

1. One‐Part Hot Text
2. Multiple Choice
3. Open Response
4. Multi‐Select
5. Evidence‐Based Selected Response
6. Two‐Part Hot Text
7. Editing Task Questions
8. Technology Enhanced Constructed Response (TECR) Grid Select
9. Prose Constructed Response (PCR)

Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals

Our planet is getting warmer. This is called global warming. It is caused by gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat from the sun. Where does this carbon dioxide come from? A lot of it comes from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. We burn them to power our cars, heat our homes, and make electricity.

As the planet warms, ice melts at the North and South Poles. Glaciers melt too. Sea levels rise as more water enters the oceans. Weather gets more extreme with bigger storms. Some places become hotter and drier. Other places see more rain and flooding.

Global warming puts many plants and animals in danger. It changes their habitats - the areas where they live. Some species may go extinct. That means every single animal of that type dies out.

Polar bears live on sea ice in the Arctic. As ice shrinks, it's harder for them to hunt seals. Koalas in Australia are suffering from heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. Warming oceans threaten coral reefs. Reefs are home to 25% of all ocean life. As reefs die, the fish leave to find new homes.

So what can we do? Using less fossil fuel energy would help slow global warming. We can turn lights off when we leave a room. Walk or bike for short trips instead of driving. Tell your family to set the thermostat a few degrees lower in winter and higher in summer. Small acts by many people add up!

We can also speak up about climate change. Let leaders know we want clean energy solutions. Together, our actions and voices can make a difference. We all share this warming planet. It's up to all of us to protect it.

Main Idea Questions:

1. Multiple Choice: What is the main idea of the article?

A. Kids should bike instead of driving. B. Global warming is causing problems for polar bears.
C. Burning fossil fuels causes global warming leading to habitat loss. D. Coral reefs are home to many fish.

2. Open Response: According to the article, how does global warming affect polar bears and koalas?
3. Multi-Select: Which of the following are effects of global warming described in the article? Select all that apply.

A. Melting glaciers B. Rising sea levels C. More extreme weather D. Loss of coral reefs E. Fewer fossil fuels

4. Evidence-Based Selected Response: Which sentence from the article best supports the idea that global warming is putting animals in danger?

A. "As ice shrinks, it's harder for them to hunt seals." B. "Koalas in Australia are suffering from heat waves, droughts, and wildfires." C. "Warming oceans threaten coral reefs." D. "Reefs are home to 25% of all ocean life."

5. Two-Part Hot Text: Select the sentence from the article that gives two examples of fossil fuels. Then, explain why burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming.
6. Editing Task: The article states: "As reefs day, the fish leave to find new homes." Choose the correct word to replace "day" to fix this sentence.

A. live B. shrink C. die D. stay

7. TECR Grid Select: Complete the grid by placing an X in the box that matches each cause from the article with its effect on global warming and species.

Causes	Melting Ice and Glaciers	Extreme Weather	Habitat Loss
Burning Fossil Fuels
Rising Temperatures

8. PCR: Explain two ways kids and families can help slow global warming described in the article. Use details from the article in your response.

Here is an expanded article with more details, new questions, and a glossary:

Our Warming Planet and Disappearing Animals

Our planet is heating up. This global warming happens when gases like carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Where does all this carbon dioxide come from? A lot of it is from burning fossil fuels including oil, coal, and natural gas. We use these fuels to power cars, heat buildings, and generate electricity.

Burning fossil fuels releases billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. Methane is another potent greenhouse gas. It comes from rotting food waste in landfills, belches of cattle, and leaks in natural gas pipelines. Growing forests take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. But we are cutting down huge areas of forest for agriculture and development. This means there are fewer trees to absorb the carbon dioxide.

As greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere, more heat gets trapped. This causes global temperatures to rise steadily. The early 1900s were colder than today. Since then, the average global temperature has increased by 1.4°F (0.8°C). That may not sound like much, but it's speeding up changes to the climate.

What happens as the planet warms? Polar ice sheets and glaciers start melting faster. There is less snow cover and sea ice, too. Melting ice flows into the oceans, causing sea levels to rise around the world. Warming also leads to extreme weather like hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. Some regions get much drier, while others see increased rainfall. Plants and animals across the globe are affected.

Let's look at a few examples. Polar bears in the Arctic hunt mostly on sea ice. They wait by holes and catch seals when they surface. But sea ice cover has declined over 30% in the last 30 years. As ice shrinks and thins, it's harder for bears to find food. They have to swim longer distances between ice patches. Cubs and young bears struggle to survive. As a result, polar bear numbers are decreasing.

Koalas in Australia are experiencing more days over 100°F due to climate change. Extended high heat stresses koalas and leads to dehydration. Droughts in koala habitats are killing eucalyptus trees that koalas rely on for food and shelter. Devastating bushfires in recent years

have wiped out millions of acres of koala habitat. Koala populations are in crisis.

Warming ocean waters threaten the world's coral reefs. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with colorful algae that live inside them. But when water gets too warm, corals expel the algae causing them to turn white. This "coral bleaching" leaves corals weak and prone to disease. Over 75% of Earth's reefs were affected by bleaching during 2015-2018. Australia's Great Barrier Reef lost over 50% of its corals. As reefs die, the 25% of ocean species that depend on them lose their homes and shelter.

So what can we do to help? Burning less coal, oil, and gas will help limit emissions. We can switch our home and school electricity to wind or solar. Unplug devices when not in use to save energy. Walk, bike, or carpool for transportation. Eat more plant foods since meat production releases greenhouse gases. Protect forests by buying sustainable wood and paper.

Let your family and leaders know you care about our planet's future. Support laws to expand public transit and renewable energy. Learn how climate change may affect water supplies, wildfires, or storms in your area. Our individual choices add up. Together, we can take action so all life on Earth will thrive for generations to come.

Glossary

Carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels Fossil fuels - fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas that formed underground from dead plants and animals over millions of years Greenhouse gas - gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere Global warming - the steady heating of Earth's climate due to greenhouse gases Habitat - the natural area where a plant or animal lives

Main Idea Questions:

1. Multiple Choice: What is the main topic of the article?

A. Effects of global warming B. How koalas are affected by climate change C. Why glaciers are melting D. Problems caused by greenhouse gases

2. Open Response: Describe how warming oceans affect coral reefs, according to the article.
3. Multi-Select: Which of the following are evidence that Earth's temperature is increasing? Select all that apply.

A. More hurricanes B. Melting glaciers C. Higher sea levels D. Loss of sea ice E. Hotter ocean temperatures

4. Evidence-Based Selected Response: Which fact from the article best supports the idea that koalas are threatened by climate change?

A. "Koalas in Australia are experiencing more days over 100°F due to climate change." B. "Extended high heat stresses koalas and leads to dehydration." C. "Droughts in koala habitats are killing eucalyptus trees." D. "Koala populations are in crisis."

5. Two-Part Hot Text: Select two sentences from the article that explain what coral bleaching is. Then explain why coral bleaching threatens reef ecosystems.
6. Editing Task: The article states: "Earth's average temperature has increased by 1.4°C since the early 1900s." Choose the correct measurement to replace "1.4°C" to fix this sentence.

A. 1.4°F B. 0.8°F
C. 1.8°F D. 0.8°C

7. TECR Grid Select: Complete the grid by placing an X in the box that matches each cause from the article with its effect on species and habitats.

Causes	Sea Ice Loss	Habitat Destruction	Extreme Heat
Burning Fossil Fuels
Rising Temperatures
Droughts

8. PCR: Explain why the article recommends using less fossil fuel energy. Use two details from the article to support your explanation.