Curated OER
Genetic Engineering
Students will apply their knowledge acquired from two guest speakers to writing a three hundred-word essay on either the pros or cons of genetic engineering. They will try to persuade the reader of their essays to agree with their stance...
Curated OER
We're On A Mission!
Students examine the Mars Exploration Rover mission. In groups, they design their own mission while participating in a webquest. They write an essay using the information they gathered to propose their mission to the President. They...
Curated OER
In The Eye Of The Beholder
Learners, in groups, research Rembrandt's life and works. They find critiques of his work, as well. Each group reports their findings back to the rest of the class. Finally, they create abstract drawings and write interpretations about...
Curated OER
Houses or Walaloos
Investigate the legal history and application of the Fifth Amendment. Write an essay in favor of a person keeping land that has been in his/her family for decades.
Curated OER
Reporting Live From...
Young scholars examine the many disasters in West Virginia. In this US history lesson, students write about and give an oral presentation of one of the disasters as if they were reporters.
Curated OER
Inner Circle/Outer Circle Debate Strategy
Arranged in facing concentric circles, half the class discusses an issue. The other half of the class takes notes which are then used to fuel a class discussion and to prepare editorial opinions on the topic at hand. So much emphasis is...
Curated OER
How to Deal With Class Size Increases
While class size increases make it more challenging for teachers to meet students' needs, there are ways to make things a little easier.
Curated OER
Sectionalism and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Students define and discuss sectionalism and popular sovereignty, analyze impact of popular sovereignty in creation of state of Kansas, compare issues in territorial Kansas to current politically divisive topic, and evaluate primary...
Museum of Tolerance
Artifact Research Activity
Artifacts give us the privilege of learning about the past, may it be family, culture, or traditions. Here, class members learn about their family's past with the help of an artifact, or family heirloom. Once an artifact is discovered,...
Curated OER
Nutrition and Fitness
Sixth graders investigate the food guide pyramid. They conduct Internet research, and plan a three day nutritional menu appropriate for teenagers. Students include three meals per day and a snack for each day on their menu, and...
Curated OER
For Pete's Sake
Students investigate the proposed Gazprom City in St. Petersburg, Russia. They review proposals from international architects and consider the pros and cons of the Gazprom City development. Students conduct a mock public hearing to...
Curated OER
Transformations
Students identify the types of transformations in their lives. As a class, they determine the ones they have control over and which ones they do not. They practice solving problems in math and oral communication that they are faced with...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Writing Workshop: Persuasive Writing
This site has a great unit that leads students all the way through the writing process while composing a persuasive paper. Includes a teacher guide, mini-lessons, assessment rubric, and worksheets to help out at each step of the way.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Persuasive Essay Example 2
This four-page essay provides an example of a persuasive essay. Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations on the essay.
Other
Oakland Writes: Student Exemplars: Seventh Grade: Persuasive Essay [Pdf]
A persuasive essay written by a seventh-grader with notes calling attention to important writing concepts evident in the essay including a well-written title, opening sentence, opinion statement, supporting details, call to action, and...
TES Global
Blendspace: Space Exploration 5 Paragraph Persuasive Essay
Learn to write a five-paragraph persuasive essay by working through six links to videos, graphic organizers, and activities on space exploration.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Writer's Model: Persuasive Letter Example
This persuasive letter example is three pages long and includes points on the left hand column. Clicking on the "Writer's Guide" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page enables the user to get tips, directions, and explanations...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Respond to Student Writing: Cell Phones
Use an interactive rubric to evaluate areas of strengths and weaknesses in a student's essay on cell phone use in schools. Then compare your responses to another teacher's.
TES Global
Blendspace: Argument Writing: Homework
A learning module with links to eight websites to use while writing an argumentative essay on how beneficial homework is.
TES Global
Blendspace: 2014, Term1 Writing Expositions Week 3
A four-part learning module with links to images, a website, and a video explaining how to write an argumentative piece.
TES Global
Blendspace: Argumentative Writing
A five-part learning module with links to websites, videos, and a text about writing an argumentative text.
TES Global
Tes: Schemes of Work: Speaking and Listening
[Free Registration/Login Required] This series of lessons will engage students in analyzing the pros and cons of hunting. Students will also develop their own persuasive speeches about corporal punishment.