Exploros is an open-educational resource (OER) that provides comprehensive products that support instruction in the social studies and English language arts/reading (ELAR) core content areas. Exploros is available at no cost. Content is available online and facilitates instruction in teacher-led, technology-based learning environments, such as 1:1 programs and flipped classrooms. This review is of ELAR resources for grades 4-8.
At each grade level, Exploros organizes content in seven units that address: (1) foundational skills, (2) literary genres, (3) non-fiction texts, (4) author’s craft, (5) personal narrative, (6) the writing process, and (7) inquiry and research. Each unit is made up of a set of “experiences” or lessons that are organized using the 5E model (i.e., engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate). A “scene” or a set of online page(s) is provided for each “E” in the model. Scenes are activities related to the E of the 5E model. For example, the first scene in each lesson/experience is an engagement activity that clarifies the lesson’s learning objectives. [Read more…]
At each grade level, Exploros includes a unit titled “The Writing Process” that provides explicit instruction in the writing process, including punctuation, drafting, editing, and revising. Students evaluate their writing using a rubric. The final lesson in the unit is titled “Writing for Assessments.” Students learn to write in response to assessment prompts using the “PAST” strategy (i.e., Purpose, Audience, Subject, Type of Writing) and related graphic organizers.
About Exploros*
Exploros drives student engagement and transitions classrooms to student-centered learning. Teachers can focus on guiding instruction, and personalizing the classroom learning experience.
Students collaborate as a class, work in small groups, and individually, developing graphic organizers, writing essays, investigating primary sources, creating drawings, tables, word clouds, and much more.
*Information in this section is provided by or adapted from Exploros.