Lesson Plan - Good News About Your Generation!

About the Article

Learning Objective

Students will integrate information from an article, images, graphs, and infographics to learn about generations in the U.S.

Curriculum Connections

• U.S. Generations

• Data Analysis

• Social, Economic, and Technological Shifts

• Diversity

• Civic Activism

Key Skills

Social Studies:

• Explore how culture, groups, and lived experiences shape personal identity

• Identify continuities over time and changes that result in the development of new ideas, values, and ways of life

• Analyze similarities and differences among cultural groups

English Language Arts:

• Integrate information presented in multiple formats

• Learn and use domain-specific vocabulary

Key CCSS Standards

RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

Essential Questions

  • How can being part of a particular generation shape someone’s identity?
  • How is Generation Z changing the world?
  • How do graphs and statistics convey information?

1. Preparing to Read

Engage and Build Vocabulary

Ask students to respond to this prompt: You’re part of Generation Z, which includes people between the ages of 8 and 24. What do you think people should know about your generation? What do you think makes your generation special? Have students write responses or record videos with a platform like Flipgrid. Invite them to share and discuss responses. Then use Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms in the article.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or jot down any words whose meaning they’re unsure of. Have students discuss the words with a partner and then share as a class.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• What is Generation Z? How is it different from other generations? (Central Ideas)
Generation Z includes people who were born between 1997 and 2012 and are now 8 to 24. About 20 percent of Americans are part of Gen Z. It’s the most diverse generation ever, with about half of its members identifying as people of color. Many Gen Z’ers are creative, tech savvy, and passionate about causes like combating climate change and racial injustice. Gen Z is also on track to be the most educated generation yet.

• How does the sidebar “Meet the Other U.S. Generations!” support the article? (Text Features)
The sidebar provides information about the three generations that came before Gen Z: Millennials (born 1981-1996), Generation X (born 1965-1980), and Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964). It supports the idea that major events and shifts shape how a generation views the world. For example, Baby Boomers experienced a strong economy following World War II, Generation X were among the first young people to use computers, and Millennials have been affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Great Recession.

• Which statistic or piece of numerical information in the article is most surprising to you? Why? (Data Analysis)
Responses will vary.

3. Skill Building

Analyze Graphs

Assign the Skill Builder Graph Reading: Generations by the Numbers to have students answer 10 questions about the bar and circle graphs in the article.

Assess Comprehension

Use Quiz Wizard to assess students’ comprehension of this article and three others from the issue.

Differentiate and Customize

For Struggling Readers: Support students by having them listen to the article. On the article’s webpage, click “Text-to-Speech” in the toolbar on the left. Two reading speeds are available, and highlighted text helps students follow along.

For Social and Emotional Learning: End the lesson with reflection. Ask students to jot down something they appreciated about the lesson, like a classmate’s contribution or something they learned. Then invite students to share.

Printable Lesson Plan

Text-to-Speech