General music students learn about the history of popular American music by creating and performing a one-act musical. After researching and creating an American Musical timeline, class members write a song with lyrics using Jam Studio,...

Eighth graders explore figurative language through the study of picture books. For this figurative language lesson, 8th graders listen to books and chart the figurative language that they hear.  Students discuss examples in groups.

Fifth graders chart the elements of drama. In this performing arts lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the role of a playwrite, practice doing some Reader's Theatre scripts, write a paragraph about a problem between two people,...

Use drama to study and practice dialogue. Creative minds discuss what dialogue tells about a character, and how it can be used to advance the plot. They read a play, think about what they gleaned from dialogue, and record their...

How can you tell if something is living or nonliving? Introduce a set of criteria which can be used to determine which things are alive and which are not. The class discusses the basic needs of all living organisms, checks out an...

An empowering lesson explores the causes and complaints that led to the American Revolution. Young scholars, starting in fourth grade, complete hands-on activities, role play, and create cartoons to understand the American Revolution and...

Household materials can be used for more than cleaning! In this collaborative experiment, emerging chemists use products such as vinegar and liquid antacid to explore chemical reactions that commonly occur in the human body.

Fifth graders discuss when a comma is necessary in a sentence. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders understand that commas are used as a pause and help the reader understand ideas better. Students find an example of each example...

Fifth graders discuss interjections reviewing them to be words or phrases that express excitement or strong emotion. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders understand that commas or exclamation marks are used to separate interjections...

Fifth graders study verbs. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders access the web site known as www.wideworldofverbs.com reviewing the verbs in each sentence and write five sentences using the correct usage of verbs.

Fifth graders discuss what narrative writing represents. In this language arts lesson plan, 5th graders review the ten strategies for engaging reader. Students listen to and read good examples of each strategyand write engaging...

Fifth graders study narrative writing. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders review how an author uses vivid verbs, imagery, and adjectives to capture reader's attention. Students explore literary devices of foreshadowing, flashback...

Fifth graders discuss characterization as well as to define antagonist and protagonist. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders write questions for an interview of a character in the book "The Three Little Pigs" and then answer them....

Fifth graders determine the difference between indirect and direct quotations. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders recognize that direct quotations have quotation marks and understand what the rules are for using quotation marks.

Fifth graders review the characteristics of a nonfiction text. In this language arts instructional activity, 5th graders understand that one can use a specific graphic organizer to help them in understanding an organizational structure....

Fifth graders study how to form paragraphs. In this writing lesson, 5th graders discuss why it is important to have paragraphs in their writing. Students also explore the rules writers use to know where to begin a new paragraph and then...

Young scholars review what author's purpose is by understanding that authors either persuade, inform, describe, or entertain with their story. In this language arts lesson, students bring in junk mail and in small groups discuss what the...

Fifth graders study prepositions in poetry. In this language arts activity, 5th graders create a personal preposition poem. Students underline the prepositions and share the prepositions they underlined with the rest of the class.

Fifth graders study pronouns. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders discuss what a pronoun is and write what they did last night using pronouns.

Fifth graders observe video of poem recitations of a person reciting a poem. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders discuss rhythm and rhyme of poetry as well as pauses within poems. Students choose a poem, in a small group, and...

Fifth graders study conventions in writing. In this grammar lesson, 5th graders listen to samples with appropriate conventions and samples without appropriate grammar and determine which are appropriate. Students self-assess their...

Fifth graders use a list of transitional words and hooks in order to write a good introduction. In this writing lesson plan, 5th graders view and discuss a PowerPoint presentation on introductions.

Fifth graders understand what the definition is for context clues as the words, phrases, and sentences around the word one does not know. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders review the different kinds of context clues. Students...

Fifth graders discuss hyperbole. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders understand that hyperbole enables writers to make a point by describing something in an overly dramatic way. Students create a list of objects that can be used to...