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Picking Up the Pieces and Putting them Back Together
Pupils examine how a breaking news story is constructed, first by predicting what facts and details must appear in what order, and then by assembling the story from cut-up pieces. They practice writing their own 'breaking news' lead...
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Just the Facts, Ma'am
Students use tables of content, chapter titles, and key words as a strategy for organizing non-fiction information. They write a paragraph with a partner using information from a graphic organizer.
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Notetaking Procedures
Sixth graders explore notetaking procedures. In this study skills instructional activity, 6th graders use text organizers to categorize information. Students select textbook sections and write headings, subheadings, and summary phrases...
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Youth Leading the Way
Students share opinions about groups or activities that give meaning to their lives. They read and discuss the article "Challenging Tradition, Young Jews Worship on Their Terms". Afterward, they investigate and write news articles about...
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Interjections
In these interjections worksheets, learners review examples of interjections and introductory words and phrases. Students then complete three pages of activities that help them understand and use interjections.
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Poem of Instruction
Students write a free-verse poem and utilize the skill of providing detailed instructions. identify opportunities to create poems from simple, everyday verbal or written instructions. They study everyday language that has merit as poetry.
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Primary and Secondary Documents for Colonial Times
Young scholars investigate the Colonial Era by completing a template on their computers. In this U.S. History lesson, students discuss the differences between primary and secondary sources and identify several different sources as one...
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Pathway to Mars
Sixth graders research the planet Mars using online and offline resources. They compile their information and write a short essay/story/report and post it online.
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Search Report of Information
Middle schoolers research and develop a Report of Information for a research paper. They select a topic, write 5-10 interesting questions, research and take notes, create an outline, and write paragraphs.
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Using New Vocabulary in Context
Sixth graders analyze new vocabulary from a narrative. In this vocabulary lesson, 6th graders read a narrative and create a paragraph as a group using words from the text. Students then create another paragraph using the vocabulary...
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The House that Dies Drear Built
Students write a descriptive paragraph, in the style of Virginia Hamilton, describing the landscape around their house.
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What's On Your Plate?
Students explore the use of sensory details in writing. In this journal writing instructional activity, students write four journal entries after group discussion about a variety of topics such as their weekend, poverty in the United...
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Reading: Ad For a Professional Job
In this reading advertisements activity, students read an ad for a job as Director of Outreach Programs at a College of Public Health. Students answer 8 true and false questions about the text.
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Teaching Summarization
Learning to differentiate major and minor textual events can help students learn how to summarize.
Curriculum Corner
ELA Common Core Checklists for K-6
In the hustle and bustle of life in the classroom, it's easy for teachers to lose track of the standards they have taught, and those that still need to be addressed. This Common Core checklist provides educators with an easy-to-use...
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Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Sixth graders discuss how people, society, and technology change over time through a unit of integrated lessons. In these changes in society lessons, 6th graders discuss the answers to many questions about how changes effect the...
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Study Skills- Fact and Opinion
Students engage in a variety of activities in order to achieve the objectives of a layered curriculum unit. They take notes on the differences between fact and opinion. Students also use a newspaper in order to recognize opinionated...
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The Voice of Voting: How do We Judge Design
Students examine various methods of judging popular culture and compare them to the judging of the People's Design Award. In this popular culture and design lesson, students research different ways of voting in popular culture, beginning...
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Show You Care
Students construct a four-line poem to be used on the inside of a Valentine's Day card. They use a digital camera to show themselves to their "buddies" (local nursing home patients) who receive the cards on Valentine's Day.
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African American Scientists
Students study several important African American scientists and explore their lives. They recreate scientists' experiences through journal entries.
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Collage
Sixth graders construct a unique collage that he or she believes represents his or her "SHAPE" (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences).