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Technology Newsletter
Learners discuss impact and value of modern technological inventions on society, contemplate world without technology, skim magazines and newspapers for advertisements highlighting modern technologies, and work with partner to create...
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Writing a Historical Fiction Story
What is historical fiction? After explaining the difference to your learners, it's time to give each learner a try! With your support, encourage them to research, plan, and write their own historical fiction story. Don't forget to have a...
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The Iditarod Race Compared with the Movie, Iron Will
Feel the freezing rush of an Alaskan sled dog race in this reading lesson. Using research about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, seventh graders compare and contrast the depiction in the movie Iron Will. The lesson lasts for seven days...
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Plant Reproduction
Students plant seeds in order to investigate and explore the questions: "How do seed companies develop varieties of plants?" and "What is the ideal plant?" Students will study related vocabulary and sketch seeds as they emerge. Students...
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Harvesting Energy from Food: How do Plants Help Humans?
Beginning botanists view slides of plant vascular tissue. They watch Magic School Bus Gets Planted, which you can find online, and then write a summary of what they have learned about plants. This lesson could be used with upper...
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Understanding Flashback
Middle schoolers are introduced to the definition of "flashback" in that writers use it when they want to reveal to readers something that happened in the past.
Then Students write a short story using a flashback scene and then move...
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Great Expectations By Charles Dickens: A Classic, Or Just a Novel?
Seventh graders read the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. They consult Media Center and online sources as they conduct research needed to write an essay that answers the question, "Is Great Expectations a classic, or just a...
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Zulu King, Zulu King
Learners listen to story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, brainstorm everything they know about Mardi Gras, create pages relating to Mardi Gras for class book, type information on computer, play slide show, and take turns reading their books.
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Show! Don't Tell!
Students write a descriptive paragraph. In this writing instructional activity, students define elaboration and discuss the characteristics of an elaborate paragraph. Students write a paragraph that contains vivid adjectives, strong...
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Details, Details, Details
Students add details to their writing. In this language arts lesson, students use details to enhance their writing. Students view a picture and write a paragraph about what they see. Students conference with another student to edit their...
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Essay on Themes
Students read the book THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London and discuss the different elements in the book. They then write an essay on a theme providing examples backing up their main point of their essay.
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Writing Through Reading
Students are introduced to a new method of writing developed by Robert Gay. In groups, they practice retelling or rewriting one of their fellow classmates stories. They are also introduced to the technique of transcribing and write in...
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Setting Goals for Success
Students construct SMART goals. In this goal-setting lesson, students discover how to write a SMART goal for their student portfolios. Working in pairs students write short-term goals that will build towards a long-term goal.
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Up Close and Personal with Black Bayou Lake
Students get up close and personal with Black Bayou Lake. Visiting web sites and taking virtual tours, they write multi-paragraph essays using descriptive words and literary devices.
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Reference Materials
Young scholars discuss reasons to use reference materials, identify correct reference material to use for specific information, find answers to specific questions by locating information in encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, almanac,...
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"The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Learners read the novel, "The Giver", and test their comprehension through the game Jeopardy. Then students research individual rights of different cultures and write a summary of their findings. Learners develop a personal timeline of...
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Making a Family Newsletter: Using a Word Template
Students create a one-page family newsletter about a selected person in their family. They bring in a photo or use a digital camera to take a picture of their selected family member, and use a newsletter template to write and publish...
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Writing a Biography - Helen Keller
Students write a biography of Helen Keller. This lesson takes more than one class period. They may have to do the research during a class period, and then them write their paper at home or during class the following day.
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Picture This
Students create a descriptive paragraph about their past or their heritage and provide a picture to go along with it. In this past and heritage lesson plan, students share their paragraph with the class.
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Eight Lines about home
Students brainstorm positive things about their city and write an eight line poem about it.
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Identifying Clouds
Young scholars work in groups to research and prepare a report on cloud types. They present their findings to the class and take a group quiz competing for points. Students go outside and determine which type of clouds are visible on...
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Caddo Circle Book
Students are introduced to the Caddo Indians of Texas. Using a compass, they draw a circle given specific dimensions and cut them out. Using the text, they read one section abut the Indians and complete the task listed on one of their...
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Child Safety Brochure
Students explore child safety information and use this information to produce a child safety brochure. During this process, they will have a chance to gather, organize, summarize and write information about child safety.
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Introduction to Poetry
Students explore poetry. They investigate the poetry al around them. Students examine poetry in order to create a deeper understanding of poetry. They read and write a variety of poetry.