Curated OER
Make a Solar Oven
Students build a solar oven. In this Science activity, students construct a functional solar oven. Students design the oven and explain the energy concepts involved.
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APA Format and Citation
What is APA format, and how is it different from MLA format? Dive into the world of APA, investigate how to properly cite resources in-text, and look at a reference list of sources. Intended for higher education, not all of the...
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How to Write a Biography
Looking for a great instructional activity on how to write a biography? Here, middle schoolers draw from magazine articles, novels, historical figures, and current events to choose a person, or character to write about in a biography....
Novelinks
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Writing Assignment
Ask learners to focus on one scene in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in order to write an analytical essay about Twain's ideas surrounding childhood. The final assignment in a unit, this writing prompt requires learners to use...
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Author's Day
Have your learners choose an author to study. One resource link gives a list of approved authors. Scholars read at least three works produced by that author and produce three separate book reports as well as a two-page author report....
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On the Scene: Analyzing Scenes in Film and Literature
Young scholars examine how a scene in a movie or in literature is constructed. In this film and literature activity students answer questions based on film clips then create storyboards depicting a scene from their life.
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"Knot" the Whole Truth: Writing a Modern-Day Story with a Tall Tale's Voice
Beyond Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, tall tales can be a great way to teach young writers about word choice and voice in their writing. Using Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee and the Six-Trait Writing process, they begin to write their own...
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Mosetsana
Young scholars read and discuss a poem about the issues of gender, education, and family written by a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in South Africa. In this poetry lesson, students read the poem 'Moetsana' and discuss the issues South...
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Elements of a Mystery
Students write mystery stories. In this writing lesson, students review the definition and components of a mystery. They look at a photo and write a mystery to explain the picture.
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Story Element Lesson Ideas Keeps Learning Interesting
There are some fun and interesting ways to make sure that students understand story elements.
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Picture the Process
Students read Chasing Vermeer and relate the book to the author . In this writing process lesson plan, students view Blue's Photo Album and see how the author writes and revises her work. Students discuss the process that all good...
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Characterization Lessons for Middle School Students
Students learn characterization by writing about a special person in their life.
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Movie Music
Students discover film making by participating in a music performance. In this performance arts lesson, students perform music and physical acting to convey an already written script for their peers. Students collaborate with their...
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Payment Parliament
Students investigate how the economy works by role playing in their class. In this money management activity, students read parts from a script for use in a role playing activity simulating the Federal Reserve and their payment...
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Window Mural
Middle schoolers analyze visual arts by creating a presentation in their schoolyard. In this mural lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the web. Middle schoolers utilize construction paper, markers and paper...
McGraw Hill
Proofreading a Paragraph
In this proofreading instructional activity, learners rewrite a paragraph to correct for errors. Each paragraph may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and usage.
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How To Identify Figurative Language
Students investigate writing techniques by analyzing a chart. In this figurative language lesson, students define similes, metaphors and identify the difference between them and personification. Students demonstrate their understanding...