Did you know that we include a “do-now“ activity into many lesson plans? We designed these to be quick (5 minutes!) and effective ways to introduce complex stories. These activities may challenge students to consider a big idea or question they will explore in an article, activate prior knowledge on a particular subject, or build empathy for a person they will be “meeting“ in a story. Our goal is for each do-now activity to spark your students’ curiosity and make them excited to read—from the moment they step into your classroom.