Non-fiction lessons for middle school students can be a fantastic tool in the middle school classroom.
Teachers know how critical student engagement is in the classroom. When students are interested in the material they learn and actively take part in the lesson, it can make things so much more enjoyable and productive for everyone involved.
While there are fixed lessons around subjects like math, history, or geography, teachers can also look for opportunities to bring new material into the classroom.
By seeking out and introducing material that students have a high interest in, teachers can look to boost student engagement while still practicing crucial skills such as reading, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Non-fiction lessons for middle school can be a fantastic way to bring new topics into the classroom and find ways to interest students with material they can connect with.
Why Use Non-Fiction Lessons for Middle School
Non-fiction lessons for middle school are a great tool to have on hand in the classroom. Just like most of us, students may be more willing and able to connect with topics they are highly interested in and want to learn more about.
These high-interest topics could include historical issues they find interesting, such as The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, or something about a more current topic, such as Electric Cars.
All 2 Peas and Dog non-fiction lessons for middle school have student interest and skill development in mind. Non-fiction articles that offer a reading lesson and multiple follow-up activities are a great tool to teach your students about topics that interest them, while still focusing on core skills such as writing and comprehension.
Non-fiction lessons for middle school are also a fantastic resource for generating discussion in the classroom, as students will likely have opinions on what they have learned, and that can be shared and debated with classmates.
Connecting With The Class
Many of us may remember that feeling we had when we were students – wondering why we needed to learn about a specific topic or do a particular activity.
It was always nice if there was material brought into the classroom that you were genuinely interested in, or, even better, when your teacher sought out current topics and material to balance more traditional instruction topics.
As adults, we seek out material on subjects that interest us and look for more information about those topics, which could also have the benefit of leading us to a hobby, a new skill set, or just greater knowledge in a particular field.
Students can also benefit from engaging with material, such as high-interest non-fiction articles, that capture their attention. When students are interested in a topic in the classroom, it may encourage them to explore a subject more, seek extra information, or do additional research on that topic.
Non-fiction lessons for middle school provide a great way to give students a snapshot of new material. They are great for no-prep lessons that can create a pause between more traditional topics, giving teachers and students time to spend a few moments together learning about something new.
Non-Fiction Skill Development
Students do not need to develop their entire skill set from learning in traditional ways about traditional material.
For example, when it comes to practicing reading skills, students are generally more likely to read something they are interested in. Students can hone their reading skills while reading about the famous Alcatraz prison or The Mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.
The important part is that students are reading and engaged with the material. Through topics they find to be of high interest, they can practice their reading, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.
Non-fiction lessons for middle school can also be a fantastic starting point for class and group discussions. While each 2 Peas and a Dog lesson contains a complete no-prep lesson plan, teachers may want to have students practice their discussion or oral presentation skills.
These non-fiction lesson topics allow for flexibility in classroom instruction and provide teachers with a plan they can follow – or build upon – depending on what works best for their students.
Similar to reading, students will be able to practice their comprehension skills through non-fiction articles, summarizing and processing the material they have learned.
They will have to think critically about the topic to complete follow-up activities, which provides a great way to help build student skill sets through the material they engage with.
7 High-Interest Non-Fiction Lessons for Middle School
Students are sure to love these non-fiction articles built around current topics and meant to engage various levels of learners. For example, no matter what level a student is working at, they likely have an opinion about homework or Twitch.TV and video gaming streaming.
All 2 Peas and a Dog non-fiction article lessons include an MP3 file of the student reading, modified and regular readings, and print and digital versions so teachers can use whichever one works best for them.
The History of Television Non-Fiction Article
In this non-fiction lesson, students will learn a brief history of television through a reading and three post-reading activities that allow students to practice their reading comprehension skills. This unit works as a great add-on to any media or media literacy unit.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“My students found this resource easy to understand and the activities were engaging and most importantly fun.” – Mar’s Teaching Nook
You can find the History of Television Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Smartphone Addiction Non-Fiction Article
Help students learn about smartphone addiction and how to break this habit with this non-fiction article lesson. This exceptional resource engages and educates students about the signs of smartphone addiction, while providing valuable suggestions for fostering healthy smartphone habits.
This resource offers three enriching reading activities that accompany the article and will enhance reading comprehension, boost standardized test readiness, and promote cross-curricular learning opportunities. Empower your students to become responsible digital citizens!
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“Thanks for this great resource. It made planning so much easier. This helped my students see why we ask they don’t have their phones at school.” – Marie S.
You can find the Smartphone Addiction Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Popular Desserts Non-Fiction Article
With this non-fiction lesson, students will learn about various popular desserts from all around the world. This resource contains one non-fiction article and three reading activities to assist with reading comprehension, standardized test prep, and cross-curricular learning.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“I love all of these articles and activities, and so do my students. This one about desserts was perfect to be left with my supply when I was in meetings most of the day – easy activity to follow and accessible for my class which was hybrid and had a wide variety of needs.” – KEC
You can find the Popular Desserts Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
The Homework Debate Non-Fiction Article
Students will surely enjoy this one! Through this non-fiction lesson, your class will learn about the positive and negative reasons associated with homework, an excellent topic for engaging students on a subject that directly affects their lives.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“This is always a favorite with my both my US History and ELA students! I usually assign the article and questions for homework and then have students compose their short response paragraphs in class. Then, I have them read them out loud and it always allows for great discussion/debate.” – Nemos Nook
You can find the Homework Debate Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
eSports Non-Fiction Article
Students will learn about various eSports and the reasons for their popularity in this non-fiction article. This resource contains one non-fiction article and three reading activities to assist with reading comprehension, standardized test prep and cross-curricular learning. This non-fiction lesson is sure to be a welcome read for all of the sports lovers in the classroom!
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“My students loved this resource! They were engaged and wanted to continue learning even after the bell had rang for our next subject!” – Stephanie C.
You can find the eSports Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Twitch.TV Video Game Streaming Non-Fiction Article
With this non-fiction lesson, students will learn about the extremely popular video game streaming service, Twitch.TV. Your student gamers are sure to love this non-fiction article – and no doubt they will have thoughts to share as well.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this non-fiction lesson:
“This topic is of high interest to my students! They enjoyed learning more about it! Very engaging resource!” – Miss Jackson
You can find the Twitch.TV Video Game Streaming Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
The History of Radio Non-Fiction Article
As streaming has taken over, help students take a look back at where it all started by learning about the evolution of the radio. This resource contains one non-fiction article and three reading activities to assist with reading comprehension, standardized test prep, and cross-curricular learning. This non-fiction lesson would be a great add-on to any media unit.
You can find the History of Radio Non-Fiction Article on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Bundle and Save!
If you want more non-fiction lessons for middle school, why not try a bundle?
This Article of the Week Full Year Mega Bundle contains 49 high-interest articles your students will enjoy reading.
This resource includes a full year of 49 engaging middle school non-fiction articles covering high-interest topics that spark curiosity and discussion! Each article is accompanied by differentiated versions, comprehension activities, grammar practice, journal prompts, and audio files, making it the perfect resource for diverse learners in grades 6-8.
Here’s what teachers have said about this bundle:
“Incredible Resource! My students loved these articles and looked forward to it weekly! They are always engaged and usually ask to do more research on many of the topics!” – Katie A.
“My students absolutely loved these reading opportunities. The Article of the Week bundle offered weekly reading opportunities and a variety of ways to demonstrate comprehension. I particularly loved the modified readings and questions included so that students could all read the same content even when they struggled with reading. I cannot recommend these enough!” – Jennifer R.
You can find the Article of the Week Full Year Mega Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Additional Resources:
- 7 Best Strategies To Teach Non-Fiction
- 3 Ways to Make Teaching Non-Fiction Interesting
- Why Teach Non-Fiction in Middle School?
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