University of Chicago
Using Artifacts for Clues About Identity
Learn about the ancient Near East through a close examination of ancient artifacts. Lead your class into analysis by first observing an artifact as a class. Pupils can then work in pairs to analyze the other artifacts and compile a list...
Curated OER
Macbeth News Broadcast
Here is an authentic assessment task for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Young literature scholars prepare, perform, and record a news broadcast about the major events in the play. For example, groups may choose to report on the death of Lady...
Curated OER
Writing Fables
Students write their own fables. In this writing fables lesson, students use handheld computers to write a fable. The class designs a spreadsheet to organize common elements of fables. Students also edit each others' work.
Curated OER
Pay to Play?
Lead your class in a discussion about how they believe money influences politics. After reading "Go Ahead, Try to Stop K Street" from the New York Times, they evaluate the claims in the article about the current lobbyist scandal in...
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Digital Parts of Speech
Students investigate different parts of speech by creating digital skits. In this digital education instructional activity, students collaborate in groups to research the Internet for clips and music that represent the different parts of...
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Video Game Violence: Explore Possible Impacts
Introduce middle schoolers to the issue of video game violence with a multifaceted approach. Learners complete a gaming survey, as well as read and discuss a news feature about violent video game sales and a handout on stimulus...
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Is Perception Reality? Writing Paradoxes in Poetry
Explore the paradox of the universe - or, at least, of popular music - with this lesson. Using the songs "Inaudible Melodies" by Jack Johnson and "She" by Green Day, your class will complete a graphic organizer to help them understand...
Rio Salado College
Prewriting Strategies Worksheet
Prepare for any writing assignment with a series of prewriting activities. The resource includes instruction sheets, graphic organizers for brainstormng, and sample writing prompts.
Curated OER
A Monster of a Metaphor
What do Jeep advertisements and Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath have in common? They both employ the art of the extended metaphor! Using the Six-Trait Writing model, learners begin to work on their own extended metaphors. Development...
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Writing a News Story
Students practice using their target language by writing a news article. In this foreign language writing lesson, students create a fictional "hero" in their city which they write a fictional news article about in their new language....
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Comparing Countries
Students use a graphic organizer to research, compare and contrast two countries. They write a brief (or detailed - depending on age) report of their findings.
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Relative History
Students explore theories about how the Olmec civilization influenced other Mesoamerican societies. They research the Olmecs to create a museum exhibit of their findings and reflect on how an Olmec person might have understood the...
Curated OER
Devil May Care?
Students study about a deadly disease decimating the Tasmanian devil population. They research diseases that affect animals and write a fictional story about the animals they researched.
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Unit 10: Going Shopping Day 1: Buying School Supplies
Students, who are second language learners, develop a story about shopping. In this language development activity, students brainstorm in their native language about the items they purchase at the beginning of the school year. They work...
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Unit 13: Fashion Show - Day Four: Gallery Walk
Students practice the vocabulary associated with clothing that is worn to special events. In this clothing vocabulary lesson, students, who are ESL learners, practice using works that describe clothing items that are worn for a concert,...
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Connecting Poetry with Philanthropy
Students use their knowledge of philanthropy and poetic conventions to write original poetry about philanthropic giving. In this philanthropy activity, students write poetry based on philanthropy using poetic conventions. Students...
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All Quiet on the Western Front
Learners use unitedstreaming and Google Earth to investigate World War II and All Quiet on the Western Front. In this novel and technology lesson, students view a video about the novel using unitedstreaming video, visit the given...
Curated OER
Telephone Game
Young scholars practice their listening comprehension by playing the "telephone" game. In this foreign language lesson, students listen to a story read by a teacher in their target language and try to remember the details by writing 5...
Curated OER
Transportation Lesson
Students practice using transportation vocabulary in a foreign language. In this language arts lesson plan, students utilize the vocabulary terms for locations in order to give directions and find a specific place. Students answer a...
Curated OER
Cite Right
What do you need to cite, and how can you avoid plagiarizing? This presentation is aimed at beginning writers, and it details some of the ways people plagiarize (even accidentally) and what sort of information needs to be cited. The best...
Curated OER
Global Warming: Writing and Editing a Research Report
Bring environmental issues into your classroom! Practice writing and peer editing research reports on global warming and the greenhouse effect. Middle schoolers can work on their research skills, their writing skills, and how to...
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Organizing Writing/Composing a First Draft
Does your language arts class have a hard time with writing transitions? Use this organizational writing lesson to create three effective transition sentences that middle schoolers will use in their research of renewable resources.
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Gatsby and the American Twenties Newspaper
Students research 1920's US History. In this historical literature lesson, students use the novel The Great Gatsby as a tool to examine the era. They work in individually to create newspaper articles based on different historical and...
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Prized Photos
Students study World Press Photo prize-winning photos in small groups and compare them with memorable personal photos.