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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell

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Use Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell by Tom L. Matthews to turn your read aloud or small group work into a time to improve comprehension and talk about the text in purposeful ways.

Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell tells the story of Alexander Graham Bell's life - a life that goes far beyond his invention of the telephone. Rich with photographs, prototype sketches, and direct quotations, this text captures the attention of readers and is a perfect anchor text for students learning to comprehend biographies. By following the minilessons included in this Book Club resource set, you'll provide students with the opportunity to explore the ways in which features of nonfiction text contribute to the development of ideas in biographies.

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Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell in the drop down below.

Instructional Overview

The instructional overview includes instructional background for point of view along with a list of instructional objectives for each of the book club meetings and a list of the materials and preparation necessary to Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

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Management Resources

The management resources include a calendar, conversation prompts, student self-evaluation forms, reading response board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

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Meeting 1

The ability to name and notice nonfiction text features is an important skill for readers to have. In the first Book Club meeting for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell, students will be introduced to the reasons why authors use nonfiction text features. They will also begin to explore how features of nonfiction text are used in texts like this one.

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Meeting 2

Authors use a variety of nonfiction text features to develop ideas. In the second Book Club meeting for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell, you'll help your students understand how photographs, maps, and captions work to develop key ideas in the text.

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Meeting 3

In the third and final Book Club meeting for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell students will have the opportunity to explain how the features of nonfiction text can be used to effectively communicate ideas.

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Vocabulary Connections with Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell

This set of vocabulary development resources for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell highlights the words that are most important for students to know and understand while reading the book. Through engaging in fun word games, matching words to definitions, and practicing how to categorize words, students will develop the vocabulary necessary to comprehend this story and many others.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

6.2B,6.2A,6.2C

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Focus Assessment and Rubric

Use this six-question assessment to determine whether or not students understand the key concepts associated with Features of Nonfiction Text.

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Comprehension Assessment with Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell

This 9 question Common Core aligned assessment can be used to determine students' overall comprehension of Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell and their mastery of the Common Core State Standards.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

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Management Resources - Spanish

The management resources include a calendar, conversation prompts, student self-evaluation forms, reading response board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

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About the Book

The cover for the book Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell

Title: Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell

Author: Tom L. Matthews

Genre: Biography

Themes: History, Perseverance, STEAM / STEM, Family, Growth Mindset

ISBN: 9781426322174

Publisher's Summary:

Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell by Tom L. Matthews is an engaging nonfiction book that brings the life and work of one of history's most influential inventors to young readers. Through carefully selected photographs, family images, and sketches from Bell's original notebooks, the book paints a vivid picture of Bell's lifelong passion for problem-solving and creativity. Beginning with his first invention at age eleven—a simple tool to remove husks from wheat—the narrative follows Bell through his remarkable career, highlighting his deep compassion and his drive to make life better for others, especially the deaf community. The book explores how Bell's personal relationships and desire to help those close to him inspired many of his creations. Teachers will find this photobiography valuable for sparking student interest in science, invention, and history. Its visual storytelling and accessible language make complex achievements relatable, while the inclusion of direct quotes and rare images offers a personal glimpse into Bell's character. Always Inventing is a strong resource for lessons on perseverance, empathy, and the importance of curiosity, making it a favorite for classroom learning and independent reading.

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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Always Inventing: A Photobiography of Alexander Graham Bell