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Grammar-Mechanics Session #1/Parts of Speech
As part of a grammar lesson, use these sentences to identify parts of speech. There are no directions, but parts of speech are available. The resource contains ten sentences in all.
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Types of Irony: Examples & Definitions
Isn’t it ironic that many situations labeled ironic aren’t? Properly labeled examples of verbal, dramatic, and situation irony are defined and illustrated in a short, animated video that uses passages from literary works as models. The...
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Allusion and Illusion: Definitions and Examples
Illusions and allusions certainly sound similar but there is a world of difference in their meanings. The narrator of this short video distinguishes between these terms, defines them, and offers examples that are sure to engage viewers....
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Foreshadowing: A Definition
Define foreshadowing for your upper graders with this well designed resource. While there are only two slides, the definition and example provided are excellent and if coupled with additional literary devices could make for a great lesson.
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Grammar Workshop: Pronoun Case: I or Me?
Once and for all, discern when to use the pronoun "I" and when to use "me." Clear definitions and examples are given for each category of possessive, subjective, and objective pronouns. In easy-to-understand language, the most helpful...
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Jabberwocky Lesson Plan
Students complete a review of the parts of speech using a jabberwocky poem format. In this parts of speech and poetry lesson, students read a jabberwocky poem and identify parts of speech in the poem. Students list adjectives, verbs, and...
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The Legendary Raptors
How are raptors and airplanes alike? Combine science and language arts in this fun and interactive project. Young scientists research the animal in order to design their own aircraft, and compete in a contest for farthest, fastest, and...
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Writing Diagnostics and Introduction to Literary Terms
Assess your new learners' writing abilities and knowledge of literary terms with these diagnostic activities. Part of a back-to-school unit, this is meant to provide the teacher with information about the ability levels of their class....
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Abercrombie & Fitch Catalogue: Is it Pornographic?
Young scholars use their textbook to find a legal definition of the word pornography. Using the Abercrombie and Fitch catalog, they write a column about whether the pictures are borderline pornographic or not. They also may present their...
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Literary Response and Analysis
Learners analyze the archetype of 'the fall' in Shakespeare's Macbeth. In this literary analysis lesson, students work in tiered learning groups to analyze the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Learners use the book of Genesis as...
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The Parts of an Editorial
Students take notes as the teacher goes over the contents of an editorial and four types of an editorial. Students view an editorial and identify the structural elements in the sample as well as identify the type of editorial they are...
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Resource Language Arts
Give your resource class an overview of grammar. While these slides are not complicated, they are nonetheless geared toward middle and high-school learners, who understand some academic language. The presentation ends with a list of...
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Movie Genres
In this grammar instructional activity, learners match twelve movie genres with their appropriate definitions and examples from two answer banks and then translate the titles into Chinese. Students answer six questions regarding personal...
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What Is Courage?
Students brainstorm definitions of the word "courage." They work in cooperative groups to complete tasks related to critical lense statements. Students write an essay of critical analysis. They write a first draft, and peer edit . Essays...
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Eliminate Weak Verb-Adverb Combinations
Encourage your writers to use sob instead of cry loudly to trade in adverbs for strong verbs. Improve your middle and high schoolers' writing with this humorously written lesson which demonstrates how to remove excessive adverbs.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 4 James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act—Federal/State and Executive/Legislative
Who has the power? The founding fathers asked the same question when the United States was formed. Learners explore issues that arose during Madison’s presidency that raised constitutional questions. Through discovery, discussion, and...
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The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie: A Close Reading
Andrew Carnegie's "The Gospel of Wealth" provides high schoolers an opportunity to engage more complex text. After a close reading of the essay and an analysis of Carnegie's argument that the rich are superior because they earn money,...
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Figures of Speech Presentation
If used as part of an exploration of figures of speech, this short presentation defining similes, metaphors, and analogies could be used as a review tool in an English classroom. A teacher could augment this resource with more examples...
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Defining Character Traits
Students read and analyze an extended definition in preparation for writing an extended definition of a CHARACTER TRAIT. They use analogy as a definition strategy to tailor writing to a particular audience. Finally, students SHARE...
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Students complete vocabulary activities for Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Students review a list of vocabulary words from the text and rate the words. Students write each word and a definition. Students discuss the...
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Beginning Short Stories --
After reading a short story, learners answer 4 questions about a birthday party. This activity could be used for younger students, or with older learners as part of an ESL lesson.
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Fahrenheit 451
Students agree on a definition of censorship and then discuss incidents of censorship with which they are familiar. They might consider incidents in present-day America, elsewhere in the world, and in the past. Bradbury's novel serves as...
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Chapters 34, 35
Learners analyze Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in part of an analysis of imagery. In this Maya Angelou lesson, students read chapters 34 and 35 in the novel and define imager. Learners work in pairs to locate two...
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"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Students complete reading and vocabulary activities for Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias." In this literary analysis lesson, students review vocabulary and related definitions for the text. Students read the poem and discuss the meaning.