Article
Courtesy of Katye Martens Brier
Short Read,

What I Really Want for My Birthday

This short nonfiction text explores a trend that has kids around the country saying no to birthday presents and asking friends to donate to charities instead.

By Mackenzie Carro
From the May 2018 Issue

Learning Objective: to support a claim with text evidence

Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    The article explores the current trend of kids giving up their birthday presents and asking friends to donate to charity instead.
  • Structure
    The text is informational and uses cause-and-effect structures.
  • Language Conventionality and Clarity
    Vocabulary: challenging academic vocabulary (e.g., burden, noble, waft) Figurative language: rhetorical questions
  • Knowledge Demands
    No specific background knowledge is required for comprehension.
Lexile: 1050L
Featured Skill: Argument Writing, Central Ideas and Supporting Details,
Other Key Skills: text evidence, supporting a claim
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.4, R.6, W.1, W.4, W.5, L.4, L.6
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.4, RI.6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.1, W.6.4, W.6.5, L.6.4, L.6.6
  • Grade 7
    RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.4, RI.7.6, RI.7.8, W.7.1, W.7.4, W.7.5, L.7.4, L.7.6
  • Grade 8
    RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.4, RI.8.6, RI.8.8, W.8.1, W.8.4, W.8.5, L.8.4, L.8.6
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 6
    6.1, 6.2b,e; 6.10a,c; 6.17c; 6.19
  • Grade 7
    7.1, 7.2b,e; 7.10a,b,c; 7.17c; 7.19
  • Grade 8
    8.1, 8.2b,e; 8.10a,c; 8.17c; 8.19

Presentation View
See Student View
Read the Story
Audio ()
Activities (4)
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes (2)
Quizzes (2)
Answer Key (1)
Audio ()
Activities (4) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Reference
Skill-Building Activities
Skills Activities
Quizzes (2)
Quizzes (2)
Answer Key (1)
Dig Deeper!
Are your students interested in joining in on this trend?

Share this list of organizations that make it easy to donate your birthday presents.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Close Reading, Critical Thinking, Skill Building

Download the Lesson Plan

Step 1: Preparing to Read

Project the Words and Definitions handout and preview the vocabulary. 

Step 2: Reading and Discussing

Read the article as a class. Alternatively, you can play the audio version while students follow along in their printed issues.

Step 3: Doing the Activity

Have students work in small groups to complete the activity at the end of the article. They will write a claim, find a piece of text evidence, and explain why that evidence supports their claim.

Step 4: Writing

Text-to-Speech