Virginia Department of Education
Deciding the Mode
Are your young writers having difficulty distinguishing between expository and persuasive writing? Discuss the difference between the two, and how some prompts can be responded to in either fashion. Included here is a simple lesson plan...
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Persona
Students write three fictitious letters each on the same topic but to three different persons. They compare letters to decide how the voice of the writing changes depending on the person who is receiving the letter. They apply this...
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Immigration Project
Students visit Ellis Island Immigration Museum (as a field trip or a virtual visit) and pretend to be Italian immigrants to the United States. They write a journal entry detailing their first week in the United States. They interview an...
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Comma Practice Worksheet
Start by introducing your class to basic comma rules, and then give them this practice sheet. First, learners add commas where necessary, and then they write down which comma rule (or rules) used in each sentence. Great practice!
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Worksheet 2: Demonstratives
Sometimes it's difficult to identify the idea that demonstrative pronouns refer to. Polish the use of this, that, those, and these in your class's writing. Several sentences are given, and your pupil must rewrite the sentence to clarify...
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Geography Postcard Podcasting
Pupils complete a geography postcard activity using Podcasting. In this geography lesson, students research landforms and climates of various U.S. and Canadian regions. Pupils write a description of their travles in the form of a...
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A South African Storm
Students explore racial prejudice in South Africa through the reading of "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard. In this cultural and geography lesson, students discuss ethnicity and prejudices and cite examples from the letter....
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All About Me
Learners examine their own personality traits and preferences. They use this information to write an autobiography.
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Christmas-Tree-Shaped Poems
Students create poems in the shape of a Christmas tree. They write an original poem detailing how a person can spread joy during the holiday season. The poem is formatted in the shape of a Christmas tree.
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Chinese Pictograms
In this Chinese writing worksheet, learners identify what and how to write Chinese pictograms. They explain in what ways each pictogram represents and how the combinations of symbols create a word or idea represented. Then students...
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'P' Is for Poetry
Young scholars write rhymes for each letter of the alphabet. In this rhyming lesson plan, students come up with various words that could rhyme for each letter. Once they come up with rhymes for each, they publish them in a book along...
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The Aleut Evacuation: An Overlooked Injustice
Students read and complete activities about the Aleut tribe and Russian impact on the people. In this Aleut and Russian history instructional activity, students read a passage about the history between the Russians and the Aleut tribe....
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Diplomatic Duties
Tenth graders research and illustrate the diplomatic policies of American presidents, and write letters critiquing the policies of specific presidents. March 17, 2003)
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Anne Frank Newspaper
Pupils individually research different aspects of the Holocaust. They create newspaper articles and editorials based on a specific aspect of the Holocaust. Students come together as a whole class and create a newspaper based on their...
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Teen Drivers With Passengers
Students research the current driving laws. They investigate what has happened in states that do have tougher laws to restrict passengers with teen drivers. Students discuss the pros and cons of making a change in their state.
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Poem in Your Pocket Day: Ideas for Celebrating
First instituted in New York City in 2002 and recognized nationwide in 2009, "Poem in Your Pocket Day" is part of National Poetry Month (April) and celebrates poetry in everyday life. A brief news story includes 9 ideas about how to...
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Drill - Sentences with 'do'
In this grammar worksheet, students rewrite fifteen sentences using the action verb be. Students study the example given for each category of sentences.
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Anne Frank: Newspaper
Students research information about the Holocaust or a current example of prejudice. They create a newspaper to be used by future classes as a learning tool.
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Plain English
Learners take an educational game/quiz on using plain English. Students examine the three C's of reporting--clear, concise and correct. Learners study the importance of using plain English in journalism.