Looking for a way to bring prewriting into your informative writing unit? Use this lesson to reinforce writing skills in your eighth grade language arts class. Young writers use a web graphic organizer as a prewriting tool for expository...

Middle schoolers choose an appropriate subject for a research project.  In this choosing a research subject lesson, students discuss the purpose and process of writing a research paper and read a sample paper.  Middle schoolers...

First graders use the software program, Kidspiration, to create a web. They listen to the book, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever and discuss what they know about pumpkins. They use words that were listed on the board during the discussion to...

Young scholars design a biographical web for a famous American figure. They identify key research questions and organize information as a prewriting strategy. This can be done individually or as a class, depending on your needs and...

Students explore world geography by completing graphic organizers and researching the Internet. In this Kalahari desert lesson, students identify the geographic location, weather and creation of the Kalahari desert. Students define a...

Students identify and use the four types of brainstorming techniques used in essay prewriting. They select an appropriate attention getting statement to attract the essay reader. Students explore the purpose and methods of selecting...

Ninth graders select a mythical figure. They use the internet, school library or classroom resources to research their selection. Students construct an Inspiration concept web to organize their presentation and then tie in their...

Participate in authentic career research, and make effective and realistic career/academic choices entering high school. Develop communication skills, demonstrate English language arts proficiency, and share a group presentation with...

Eighth graders examine the parts of the Edgar Allan Poe poem, "Annabelle Lee." After listening to the poem, 8th graders utilize a study guide imbedded in this plan to help them diagram the poem. A great lesson on poetry!

How does one use a graphic organizer to plan writing? Introduce your writers to different types of graphic organizers by dividing the class into groups and assigning each group a particular organizer. Then, as they research chocolate...

Students create a visual organizer that describes different groups of vertebrates in this pre-writing activity. They view and discuss a video on descriptive writing and then form small groups to research vertebrate classes using the...

Students engage in the writing of a magazine article. They focus upon the reading of a children's fiction book and create an informative narrative. They create main ideas and supporting details for the article. The supporting of main...

Ninth graders reflect back on a favorite place they knew as a child. Using Inspiration software, 9th graders write phrases that remind them of their favorite place. Students simulate being a reporter and interview other classmates...