The students are studying the Civil War in Social Studies class. The literacy coach has encouraged English teachers to align their historical fiction unit with this social studies unit. The students involved in the lesson are part of an academic intervention program and are working in book clubs in their English language arts class. Each group of 3 students has chosen to read a different historical fiction novel that takes place during the Civil War. The students read to conduct book talks in their groups on ideas they note while reading. They highlight the text that gave them ideas by using post-its. They use conversational lead-ins to help focus their ideas during the book talks. They work in their groups to create a collaborative poster that captures the essence of their book talk. They take a gallery walk and evaluate their finished products.

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Michelle Petrie and Maria O'Donnell