Curated OER
Conversation Lesson: News
In this conversation lesson worksheet, 7th graders use context clues to get the meaning of 8 words, then select 6 news stories from a list of 12 and explain why they would choose those for an evening TV news broadcast.
Tech Coach Corner
Understanding Sentences
Go over how to read complex sentences. Learners work on identifying key ideas, examining sentence structure, looking up new vocabulary, and paraphrasing. An overview of methods to help class members read difficult texts, half of the...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Charades
Students explore new vocabulary words by participating in a group activity. In this vocabulary role-playing instructional activity, students collaborate in groups to play a game of charades with new vocabulary words. Students are given...
Curated OER
Talking about Advertising
Middle schoolers examine tools and techniques of advertising. In this advertising activity, students view ads, disvuss common terms used, and analyze techniques. Middle schoolers are presented with situations and must design and...
Curated OER
The Glorious Whitewasher
Young readers can be exposed to the literary works of Mark Twain as they interact with challenging text and gain experience by reading the complex passages of chapter two "The Glorious Whitewasher" from his famous book, The Adventures of...
Curated OER
Writer's Notebook and Haiku
Students, after viewing various examples from students around the world, as well as writing in their Writer's Notebook, create, compose and revise a Haiku poem that sketches a "snapshot" or image in time. They incorporate the theme or...
Curated OER
Flight of the Future/Space Flight
Young scholars explore space science by viewing videos on YouTube. In this moon landing lesson, students view clips of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on the moon and discuss the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Young...
Curated OER
Making Connections: I Know Why Caged Birds Sing
Students discuss equality and fairness by reading a Maya Angelo poem. In this U.S. history lesson, students read the poem I Know Why Caged Birds Sing, and discuss how the era it was written in affected the words. Students identify the...
Curated OER
Ivan the Fool
Students read a classic folk tale, Ivan the Fool, and complete shared reading activities. In this reading activities lesson, students complete a shared reading of the folk tale and write a summary for the story.
Curated OER
Photography Narratives
Students write a narrative corresponding to a photo. They create a background story based on the person in their picture and share it with the class.
Curated OER
Rollin’ on the River: Identifying Jargon
Pupils identify jargon in poetry, prose and fiction. In this literature activity, students will read selections from Mark Twain and identify figurative langauge, focusing on jargon.
Curated OER
Exploring Descriptive Language With Different Parts of Speech
Learners practice experiencing writing with appropriate language and incorporating the eight parts of speech. They assess that many words have multiple functions when used in different contexts. Each student free writes in response to a...
Curated OER
Correlative Conjunctions
Students identify correlative conjunctions in sentences and then rewrite pairs of sentences as a single sentence with correlative conjunctions. They practice diagramming sentences of various sentence patterns and then write a personal...
Curated OER
Case of the Missing Cookies
Students imagine they are a detective who has been asked to solve the theft of cookies from a jar in the student cafeteria. Students practice using the steps of the scientific method to solve the crime. Finally, students write a detailed...
Curated OER
Media Literacy Unit - Part 4
Seventh graders study how advertisers use techniques to sell their products. In this persuasive media lesson, 7th graders analyze media messages to find the advertiser's purpose. They examine different advertising techniques and their...
Curated OER
Designing Animal Masks
Learners explore cultural traditions. In this lesson plan, about culture, students understand beliefs and traditions of different civilizations. Learners analyze the meaning of animals to represent meaning to a culture. Students create a...
Aspen Institute
The Voice That Challenged a Nation
Included here are step-by-step instructions for conducting a close reading of The Voice That Challenged a Nation by Russell Freedman. After an individual and class reading, class members read carefully through the text excerpt,...