Accessible Reading and Writing Activities: Park Rangers, School Shortages and Life Passions

Each Wednesday we shine a spotlight on five student activities that support a broad range of learners. In this week’s roundup of accessible activities, we invite students to reflect on their relationship with their pets, learn about how National Park Service rangers who are Black are bringing history to life, make connections between national shortages in schools and their own schools, watch a short film about rock ’n’ roll dancing in Japan, and analyze a graph about food budgets.

Note: To learn more about this new weekly feature, read our introductory post. Please share your thoughts in the comments section or by emailing us at [email protected].

1. Share what your pets mean to you.

This Picture Prompt asks students to reflect on their experiences with pet ownership and share memories about a pet they own, or owned. Then, in the comments section, they can share their reflections with other students around the world.

2. Learn about how National Park Service rangers are bringing Black history to the parks.

This Lesson of the Day uses photographs and first-person stories to teach about how six rangers who are Black are bringing history to life. Then, students imagine they are the curator of a gallery exhibit as they create their own visual summary and reflection of the article.

3. Reflect on pandemic shortages in schools.

In recent months, many schools have experienced shortages of bus drivers, teachers and even food for school lunches. This Student Opinion asks students if they’ve noticed shortages in their school. Then, in the comments section, or in a class discussion, students can share what they’ve noticed and how they think these shortages — particularly of lunches — might be affecting young people around the country.

4. Watch a short film and reflect on your passions.

In this Film Club, students will watch a four-minute film about self-expression, dance and community in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. They will closely watch the film and reflect on the question: What special interests and passions do you share with others?

5. Make observations about a graph.

In our What’s Going On in This Graph feature, we ask students to look closely at a graph and share what they notice and wonder about the graph, and how it might relate to their own community. If they want, they can create a catchy title for the graph. They can share their observations in the comments section and check back on Thursday afternoon for a reveal with more information.