Nonfiction That’s Good for the Learning Environment

by Steve Peha

As many of us adjust to the Common Core and new standards in other states which mimic the Core in all but name, we know we’re going to be teaching a lot more nonfiction. In particular, we’re going to be teaching issue-oriented, analytic, short-form nonfiction of the kind we often find in newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet. I recently came across an incredible set of materials that seem perfect for this kind of work. Collected on the website of the Environmental Defense Fund, you’ll find nearly 500 concisely written articles about current environmental issues. These articles make great models for writing and excellent content for close reading. They’re also packed with good contemporary content for Social Studies and Science.