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Lesson Plan
Prestwick House

Introducing Symbols–The Beach

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Looking for a way to introduce class members to the concept of symbolism and multiple levels of meaning? Readers examine two different passages about the beach and consider how the writers use concrete objects, and places to represent...
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Lesson Plan
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Dream of a Nation

Congressional Debate

For Teachers 10th Standards
Should junk food be banned in schools? Should the US open its borders to all immigrants? Should the US impose term limits for the House of Representatives and for the Senate? Using Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Choosing Between Affect and Effect

For Students 7th - 11th
After reading a review of the meaning and usage of affect and effect, pupils complete a practice exercise to demonstrate their understanding of this tricky pair. An answer key is provided.
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Lesson Plan
Maine Content Literacy Project

Introduction to The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a great story to share with your class, and this lesson focuses on just that story! The eighth in a fourteen-lesson series on short stories, the plan has learners study some vocabulary, read the story,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature Circles

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Literature circles let kids interact with each other and hear different perspectives. explore literature circles. Group your class into small reading groups, and then assign each class member a specific role to keep them focused. After...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Final Word

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Although this lesson is based on “Final Word,” Craig Wilson’s USA Today column, the strategies could be adapted to any local columnist. After reading three articles independently, groups share observations about content and style used by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Families Eat Rice - Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 1st
Students participate in a shared writing experience about rice. In this writing lesson, students listen to  Norah Dooley's, Everybody Cooks Rice. They write about, and discuss different ways their families and those in the book use rice....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary Building

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Use primary text documents to learn word roots. Learners listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence and highlight words they don't know. They compile these words and guess their meanings. They discuss roots, prefixes,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Compassionate Communities

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Have you ever lost someone? Middle and high school learners journal about a time they experienced the loss of someone through death, divorce, moving, or another type of change. They share their responses and discuss an article relating...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ain't Gonna Rain No More

For Teachers K - 3rd
In this creative writing lesson, pupils listen to the song "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More", read the book adaptation titled I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!, and pay close attention to the rhyming scheme, punctuation and illustrations.  They...
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Activity
Curated OER

Lesson Plan 18: Art Project! Design Your Own Book Cover

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Finished your novel? What’s next? Designing the book cover, of course. But how to begin? After examining the covers of published books and noting the common elements of these jackets, young novelists design a front and back cover for...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Picture This - Stars Over Hoke

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
The classroom becomes a safe and inclusive place for your ELLs as they create documents about their lives. Learners create, read, and present story books based on their own personal experiences. They use digital cameras to take...
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Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

A Mock Town Meeting on a Proposed Tank Farm

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Intended as a follow up to the Protecting Your Drinking Water activity, young environmentalists use their assessment of the a hypothetical town's water supply to debate the installation of underground chemical storage tanks. With the...
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Website
University of North Carolina

Should I Use “I”?

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Despite the formal nature of academic writing, personal pronouns frequently appear in high school and college papers. While your first instinct may be to cross them out, sometimes it's okay to use them, an idea covered in a handout that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Writing Portfolio

For Teachers K - 3rd
Emerging writers create a portfolio showcasing various writing formats. They discuss Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. They observe the key features of picture books and then create their own book to add to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking Action! Educating as a Form of Service

For Teachers 4th - Higher Ed
Learners read the story Happy Hearts in Manabí by Peace Corps Volunteer Kristen Mallory to consider how educating others can be a form of service. In this health education and service lesson, students read the book and then prioritize...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imagine That! Analyzing Imagery

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Poems by O. Henry, Marion Dane Bauer, Monty Roberts, and Langston Hughes provide the text for a study of symbolism, hyperbole, and imagery. Employing the “think-pair-share” strategy learners generate definitions of these terms and locate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magic Pencil Story Starters

For Teachers 2nd - Higher Ed
While mentioning adult learners in the description, this lesson could be used at any grade level. This activity gives a list of procedures and writing prompts to help unlock the writer in everyone. Learners of all ages could benefit from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing an Autobiography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use their Life Map to write a strong introduction for an autobiography. They apply the Life Map to a written sequence, use guided imagery to visualize the writing process and experience peer editing.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Grammar Without the Hammer: Five Fun Activities

For Teachers K - 2nd
There are five lessons on teaching grammar here for you to peruse. Two of them work well for kindergartners; one on teaching synonyms and one on teaching parts of speech by reading Tall Tales. These lessons are especially engaging and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Confronting Two Challenges--One Physical, One Intellectual

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the challenges of a new language and culture. In this cultural lesson, student read Running by Peter Hessler and discuss obstacles faced, including the language barrier. Students write an essay about a time they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everyone Has Interesting Stuff: Talking Objects Teaching with Objects in the Classroom

For Teachers 7th - 9th
What fun! Have your class compose a narrative piece from an object's point of view. They research the object, its origin, and its history, then write their story. Stories can be shared with the class or read to children in a younger grade.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Koala Has A Stumpy Tail

For Teachers K
Students examine Australian folktales. In this folktales lesson, students read the Australian folktale, Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tale. Students list characteristics of the characters from the book. Students act out these characteristics...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walk a day in my moccasins

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
Students create videos about students in their classroom. In this self-expression lesson, students use videos to give voice to students who are reluctant or can't participate. Students listen to several books and generate questions about...