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Persuasive Writing
Eighth graders study persuasive writing. They analzye an editorial for introductory,body, and concluding sentences. They develop arguments for and against various topics in small groups.
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Window of Words
Young scholars imagine that they are looking out (or in) a window with four panes and write about what they see using a variety of sentence structures. They create a paragraph about what they see looking through their window on...
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Writing
Fourth graders complete a writing project and tutorial using word processing on a computer. They focus on voice, word choice, details, sentence variety, staying on topic, supporting details and connecting sentences. They edit, save and...
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Author! Author!
Beverly Cleary is the fabulous author focused on, in this author study. Students conduct Internet Research in order to find out as much as they can about Ms. Cleary. They then use their findings and the Garageband program to create a...
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Julian Secret Agent: Commas
Your class participates in a variety of shared reading and writing activities related to the book Julian Secret Agent. They complete a class story chart, examine how to use punctuation for dialogue, write an alternative...
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Developing a Topic for Writing Using an Idea Web
Teach your upper graders how to use an idea web to develop a topic for writing. After reading a variety of stories about friendship (a list of stories with the theme of friendship is included), model using an idea web. Class members...
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What Are the Issues?
Investigate and report on three issues related to a current election. Elementary aged learners research information about specific issues, develop an opinion, and write a persuasive essay using supporting details and evidence to support...
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Using Short Stories to Teach Vocabulary and Literary Terms
Learners apply vocabulary activities to two short stories in order to increase their comprehension skills. They complete three lessons in which they examine irony, examine how it is used in text, and design an ironic skit. Also, the look...
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ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.1
Despite English grammar rules, in the e-world the plural of mouse is mouses. lol. Standard American English is constantly evolving. Introduce your class members to a variety of terms that describe different usage changes (economy,...
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Critical Thinking Strategies
Teach your readers to be critical thinkers. A strategy is outlined that can be used to compare and contrast entities. An example lists four states. The learner removes one state that "does not belong" in the list for some reason, and...
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Reading the Movies: Another Approach To Teaching Critical Thinking Skills And Writing
Students explore the elements of film to analyze character, action, and the themes in the movie, "Quiz Show." The lesson encourages students to make personal connections and real life applications as they view the movie, critically.
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Build a Tasty Sandwich
The subject doesn't sound to interesting, but with a child's imagination even a trip to the store can be an adventure. The class writes a narrative story about a trip to the store. They organize their stories to include an introductory...
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Animal Riddles
Students write animal riddles. They write three or more sentences describing a selected animal, and draw a picture to go with their descriptive sentences. Students then create a three slide slideshow using Kid Pix 3 computer software.
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KINDERGARTEN PEACE UNIT
Students learn the meaning of peace, the value of world peace and the individual commitment it requires through discussion and a variety of hands-on activities
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"Postcard From Bear"
Students complete various activities related to the book "Postcard From Bear." They participate in a shared reading activity, identify the locations in the book on a map, and write a postcard to the bear in the story.
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A Vocabulary Word a Day
Students research one assigned vocabulary word and prepare a short teaching activity and memory aid to present with the word to the class. They take notes on all the new vocabulary words presented to them by other classmates then they...
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"The Tiger Who Came to Tea"
Students complete various activities related to the book "The Tiger Who Came to Tea" by Judith Kerr Collins. They participate in a shared reading activity, list the foods from the story, write and read sentences in speech bubbles, and...
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Understanding Adjectives
Students examine adjectives. They discover how adjectives make writing more interesting. Through various activities, students describe objects using different adjectives. Students write sentences on given topics using adjectives.
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La Mochila (The Backpack)
Students examine objects, labeled in Spanish, that are common items found in a backpack. They write simple sentences in Spanish listing the items from the backpack.
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More Choices
Fourth graders create onomatopoeia for a variety of things such as a mean dog, a crying baby or a doorbell ringing after exploring word choice as used by authors in selected books. They complete a Word Choice worksheet that is attached.
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"The Minister's Black Veil"
High schoolers participate in a layered curriculum unit for a novel. The novel study allows for a variety of activities for assessment and differentiation. The difficulty of the assignments is chosen by the student.
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Say It with Meaning: Applying Sayings and Phrases
Students complete a unit of lessons on well known sayings and phrases. They create a journal, write paragraphs, sequence events, and analyze key vocabulary for various sayings and phrases throughout the school year.
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Using Cartoons and Comic Strips
Students explore cartoons and comic strips to practice a variety of language and discussion activities. They explore the themes of humor, culture, and issues in cartoons and comic strips. They draw pictures to represent the last frame...
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Using Alliteration in The Z was Zapped
Students discuss alliteration and how it is used in the book The Z Was Zapped. Students choose a letter and create alliterative sentences and illustrate the letter.