1. Teacher Guide
This lesson is designed to teach kids to ask a critical thinking question that you can’t just put into a search box to solve. To do that, we encourage them with smaller questions that search can help them answer. Make sure that you read the notes for each slide: they not only give you teaching tips but also provide answers and hints so you can help the kids if they are having trouble.
Remember, you can always send feedback to the Bing in the Classroom team at You can learn more about the program at bing.com/classroom and follow the daily lessons on the Microsoft Educator Network.
Want to extend today’s lesson? Consider using Skype in the Classroom to arrange for your class to chat with another class in today’s location, take a Skype lesson on today’s topic, or invite a guest speaker to expand on today’s subject. And if you are using Windows 8, the panoramas in the MSN Travel App are great teaching tools. We have thousands of other education apps available on Windows here.
Ja'Dell Davis is a Los Angeles native who currently divides her time between New York City and Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, pursing a PhD in Sociology. Ja’Dell previously taught high school in Philadelphia public schools, and implemented college access and academic enrichment programming in Chester, Pennsylvania and New York City in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. Ja’Dell received her B.A. from Swarthmore College with a special major in History and Educational Studies, and a minor in Black Studies. She completed her M.S.Ed in Secondary School Education at the University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to her studies and work in the education field, Ja’Dell is a dancer, musician, avid people watcher, and Scrabble enthusiast.
This lesson is designed to teach the Common Core State Standard: Reading: Informational Text
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.1Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.2Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.3Analyze the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, or how individuals influence ideas or events).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

2. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”?
© Christopher Talbot Frank/Danita Delimont
Having this up as kids come in is a great settle down activity. You can start class by asking them for thoughts about the picture or about ideas on how they could solve the question of the day.

3. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”?
When it received national park status in 1994, the desert wilderness known as Joshua Tree had already been a national monument since Just three hours east of Los Angeles by car, where the high elevation Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert meet, this California park features two distinct environments.
It’s up in the hills of the Mojave that the park’s titular tree grows, sometimes in sparse stretches and in denser forests. Mormon settlers gave the tree its common name. They thought the heaven-reaching branches resembled the arms of Joshua, the biblical figure, which the Mormons took as a welcome sign from above. They would go on to use the sturdy branches for fence-making material.
Depending on time, you can either have students read this silently to themselves, have one of them read out loud, or read it out loud yourself.

4. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 1
Web Search
What is an omen? 2
Thinking
Does your family or culture hold beliefs about certain natural or supernatural signals with good or bad meanings (i.e. a “sign”)? 3
Find an example of a “lucky” omen. 4
Find an example of an “unlucky” omen. 5
Find an example of an omen that signals success.
There are a couple of ways to use this slide, depending on how much technology you have in your classroom. You can have students find answers on their own, divide them into teams to have them do all the questions competitively, or have each team find the answer to a different question and then come back together. If you’re doing teams, it is often wise to assign them roles (one person typing, one person who is in charge of sharing back the answer, etc.)

5. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 5
Minutes
You can adjust this based on how much time you want to give kids. If a group isn’t able to answer in 5 minutes, you can give them the opportunity to update at the end of class or extend time.

6. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 1
Web Search
What is an omen? 2
Thinking
Does your family or culture hold beliefs about certain natural or supernatural signals with good or bad meanings (i.e. a “sign”)? 3
Find an example of a “lucky” omen. 4
Find an example of an “unlucky” omen. 5
Find an example of an omen that signals success.
You can ask the students verbally or let one of them come up and insert the answer or show how they got it. This way, you also have a record that you can keep as a class and share with parents, others.

7. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 1
Web Search
What is an omen?
(Possible Search Queries: ”what is an omen” “define omen”)
From a Bing Search
A sign or event signifying a future event.

8. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 2
Thinking
Does your family or culture hold beliefs about certain natural or supernatural signals with good or bad meanings (i.e. a “sign”)?
Students should discuss and share family or cultural traditions of events or signs signifying something good, bad, or any other specific meaning.

9. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 3
Web Search
Find an example of a “lucky” omen.
(Possible Search Queries: ”lucky omens”)
From List of Five (
5 Common Good Luck Omens
1-Horseshoes
5 Common Good Luck Omens 004
Finding a horse shoe that a horse has lost is number one in the list of 5 common good luck omens since it is quite common. The horseshoe must be found with the open end towards you. It then must be hung with the open end up. One of the reasons why horseshoes are considered lucky is that horses were thought to be repulsive for witches. Thus, witches rode on brooms to avoid horses. Another reason is that horseshoes are made of iron, which has been considered to have magical properties since prehistoric times.
2-Four-Leaf Clovers
5 Common Good Luck Omens 001
The Irish particularly believe that finding a four-leaf clover brings good luck. It is believed that clovers protect people from harmful and evil spells. Four-leaf clovers are quite rare. There is one in 10,000 clovers. According to belief, when Adam and Eve were exiled from heaven, Eve took a four-leaf clover with her to remind her of the happiness experienced in heaven. Christians also link the four leaves of the clover to the four parts of the cross Jesus was crucified on.
3-Rabbit’s Foot
5 Common Good Luck Omens 003
Rabbit’s foot is good luck charm. It brings good luck as well as ward off bad luck. They have to be worn on a chain around one’s neck. The older the foot, the more good luck it provides. It is believed to be a good luck charm since a rabbit is born with its eyes open. It can thus, see-off evil, in the first few moments of its life. Rabbits’ feet are also thought to bring good luck since rabbits multiply rapidly despite living underground. People used to believe that witches and evil beings lived underground.
4-Wishbones
5 Common Good Luck Omens 005
Wishbones are also very lucky. Two people hold onto a breastbone of chicken or turkey and pull it apart until it breaks. While doing this, each of them makes a wish. The one who is able to get the longer part gets his or her wish. If both the parts are of the same of the same size, then both people get their wish. It is a custom to save the bone while carving a chicken or turkey and then dry it over fire. The phrase “have a lucky break” originated from this good luck charm.
5-Pennies
5 Common Good Luck Omens 002
Finding a penny is considered to be a sign of good luck. This is a new version of an old superstition due to which metal in any form was a gift from the Gods. From this belief, we get the new belief that finding pennies bring good luck. Money is also thought of as a source of power. That is why the rhyme goes “find a penny, pick it up, all day you will have good luck”. However, picking up a coin lying face down is not considered lucky.
These are just the 5 most common good luck omens. There are many good omens other than these top 5 like bird droppings landing on you, seeing a falling star and so on. Do you believe in any good luck omens? If yes, then share them with us through your comments.

10. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 4
Web Search
Find an example of an “unlucky” omen.
(Possible Search Queries: ”bad omen examples”)
From Guy Sports (
Bad Luck SuperstitionsBad Luck Superstitions
A Black Cat which crosses your path will bring bad luck. Traditionally linked with witches and Halloween they are thought, by some, to be the embodiment of evil.
Never kill a sparrow because in ancient times it was believed that they carried the souls of the dead and ending its life will bring bad luck.
The number 13. See more bad luck on Friday 13
Mirror: An ancient myth which our ancestors believed was that the image in a mirror is our actual soul. A broken mirror represented the soul being astray from your body. To break the spell of misfortune, you must wait seven hours [one for each year of bad luck] before picking up the broken pieces, and burying them outside in the moonlight.
Don't walk under a ladder. In the days before the gallows, criminals were hanged from the top rung of a ladder and their spirits were believed to linger underneath. Common folklore has it to be bad luck if you walk beneath an open ladder, and pass through the triangle of evil ghosts and spirits.
Salt has been a valuable commodity throughout history. It would bring misfortune if salt were to be spilled. To ward off bad luck throw a pinch over your left shoulder and all will be well. Make sure Mum is not watching!
Umbrellas, don't open them indoors
New shoes, putting them on a table will bring bad luck. Also, whether your wearing new shoes or old, it's bad luck to pass someone on the stairs.
Magpies Unlucky to see one *magpie, but lucky to see two:

11. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”? 5
Web Search
Find an example of an omen that signals success.
(Possible Search Queries: ”omen of success”)
From Astrobie (
Seeing an elephant in dream is always a good omen. It represent Good health, success, strength, prosperity and intelligence. A white Elephant denotes a true Good Omen and definitely led to the success.
In Vedic astrology or in Hindu mythology, Elephant also denoted with to the Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is one of the deities associated with wealth and wisdom. Hence this dream definitely brings a great good fortune.
Prediction as per the behavior of Elephant in dream
Elephant is friendly and happy - Change in your luck for the better.
Riding an elephant - Rise in social status.
A performing elephant – Success with new friends.
Working with elephant – A hints at success through your own efforts.

12. What types of omens exist within various cultures
What types of omens exist within various cultures? Do you believe in such “signs”?
This slide is a chance to summarize the information from the previous slides to build your final answer to the question.