First graders explore language arts by undergoing a writing assignment. In this descriptive writing activity, 1st graders identify the skills necessary to write in depth about a subject which they must do based upon a specific topic....

Reading, writing, and rings! A lesson from NASA combines space science with authentic reading and writing tasks. Included in this lesson are pre-reading activities, four mini informational booklets on Saturn, a structured...

Twelfth graders hone descriptive writing skills by making a J. Peterman Catalogue. They bring to class a favorite piece of clothing or jewelry item and create their own description of it. They accompany each description with a hand-drawn...

Magnifying glasses and cameras often use converging lenses, but how do they alter an image? Pupils discover a lens, axis, and object arrow before identifying four characteristics of the resulting image. They label the location,...

We see curved mirrors every day in spoons, rear-view mirrors, stores as a safety measure, make-up mirrors, and in novelty stores. Scholars explore the changes to an image based on the curve of the mirror, the location of the image, and...

Students develop "Fear Factor" stunts using descriptive language. In this writing instructional activity, students watch clips from the show "Fear Factor" and develop their own stunts. Students write and explain the stunts in vivid...

The opening of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit provides a model of how to use rich details to create a setting. After reading the description of Bilbo Baggins’ abode, young writers create their own magical home for a fantasy creature. The...

Students explore using descriptive words by playing a What Do You See? game, describing items in a Mystery Bag, and using Eye-Spy binoculars on an on-campus field trip. They read the book, I Went Walking, and write descriptions of a...

Fifth graders practice creative writing  by describing events from the Colonial era.  In this U.S. History lesson, 5th graders identify King George III and George Washington, the roles they played, and the differences between...

Scientific method, linear measurements, friction, inertia. Imagine learning scientific vocabulary in an ELA class. Before researching and developing a presentation about simple machines, class members build a common, but decidedly...

Learners write a descriptive letter about life in ancient Mesopotamia. Through video streaming, students discover the history of Mesopotamia. They assume the role of a scribe and compose a three paragraph essay using main ideas and...

Learners construct descriptive sentences. For this cross curricular music and descriptive writing lesson, students listen to classical music and pantomime actions that correspond to the music. Learners write descriptive sentences...

Fourth graders practice descriptive writing by describing a fictitious monster they created.  In this language arts lesson, 4th graders illustrate an image of a monster character they imagine and practice using their vocabulary to...

Students practice using clothing related vocabulary in a class game.  In this descriptive words lesson, students utilize newly learned vocabulary words to describe what a classmate is wearing.  Students participate in a game...

This interesting role-playing activity helps your class understand some of the qualities of totalitarianism by assigning each one as a spy or comrade citizen for a duration of five days. Students should find this highly engaging and...

Connect literature to narrative writing by researching descriptive writing techniques. Elementary and middle schoolers identify the importance of a narrator and voice in the storytelling process. They read writing samples and identify...

Students imagine they are taking a trip around Ireland. They create a nature journal for their trip including the description of the landscape, climate, animals and plants. They are to give details to make it seem real. Students may use...

Students complete acting exercises as a part of a precise language activity to help them build vocabulary and improve their descriptive writing skills. In this theatre and writing lesson, students create and act out a sentence with two...

Students discover writing strategies authors use to enhance characters.  In this character writing lesson, students are read the Knuffle Bunny books by Mo Willems and analyze the story, characters and settings as they listen....

Students explore bartering. In this bartering lesson, students study everyday life in the Jamestown colony. Students discover how bartering was used as a way to acquire necessary supplies.

Students explore human anatomy by creating an oral report in class. For this five senses lesson, students read several real life situations and identify which of the five senses help in certain situations. Students create an oral...

Students create meteorite models using candy bars. In this earth science lesson, students describe the physical features of a meteorite. They sketch it and write a short description about it.

Students consider what makes a movie, television show, musical talent, or artist a cult classic and create descriptive lists of items from these phenomena that may be sold at auction.

Young scholars make a list of personal pronouns and their purposes. They use pronouns appropriately to enhance their writing and present their pieces of descriptive writings in front of the class. In addition, they utilize a variety of...