Three wonderful questions will help your middle schoolers better understand the Byzantine Empire. They construct short essay responses to each of the three prompts, discuss the schism between the Greek and Roman Catholic church, the...

Blogs can be a good way for learners to engage in writing, critical thinking, and social media in a formal way. The New York Times has provided learners age 13-18 with an article, background information, and several prompts to get them...

Shakespeare's Macbeth (Act II, Scenes I and II) lacks explicit details of the murder of King Duncan, yet the author creates an atmosphere that allows us to visualize the event. Readers interpret the "Dagger Speech" by writing stage...

Begin your persuasive writing with a helpful exercise on making points. With a list of ten points on transportation in a city, third graders map a logical order to their argument. They then write one or two paragraphs about the points...

High-interest content captures your most reluctant readers and class participants. Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, in collaboration with Harvard University, seeks to nurture a culture of kindness and reduce bullying. Excerpts from...

Who were the Victorians? They were people who lived and made public contributions during the Victorian Age. First the class learns a bit about several famous Victorians, then they complete a series of activities using their text. They...

Although it does not properly address how to use the Common Core standard, this resource does provide a decent writing prompt that explores how minor characters influence Hamlet's decisions throughout the play. The prompt can be used for...

Writing prompts are great because you can usually find one for any holiday or event. Have your class help the Lorax in his quest to spread the word about Earth Day and environmental awareness with a short printable prompt. The page...

A viewing of Disney’s 1993 film of The Adventures of Huck Finn launches an examination of the events in and themes of Mark Twain’s story. Viewers respond to prompts on a film story worksheet, engage in full-class discussions, and select...

More of a worksheet than a complete lesson plan, this resource includes several pre-reading and post-reading discussion prompts for The Bernstein Bears and Too Much Teasing. The prompts on this worksheet are designed to help...

Complete the steps of the writing process. Emerging writers present final drafts of essays that include thesis statements, appropriate paragraphing, elaboration, and style. They participate in a peer editing activity that requires them...

High schoolers complete the writing process. They present final drafts of essays that include thesis statements, appropriate paragraphing, elaboration, and style. They participate in a peer editing activity that requires them to use...

What type of music is best to listen to while learning? In a short writing prompt, learners must determine if a scenario involving listening to music while memorizing material is an experiment or an observational study. The prompt also...

How did the Mongol Empire become so impressive? Use this writing exercise to have your scholars examine Mongol culture... and write about it! Although there isn't much to it, the three writing prompts are clear, relevant, and open-ended....

Learners practice printing the word "on." They also write three sentences using the word on and the three writing prompts. Good, basic practice for young writers.

Young writers practice printing the word "under." They also write three sentences using the word under and the three  writing prompts. A good worksheet!

This contains a writing prompt about global warming that could be adapted in several ways. The resource provides information on global warming and its possible effects. Learners explore the enhanced greenhouse effect and the effects of...

Prepare your class for applying to scholarships with this lesson. Although very bare-bones, this plan provides a writing prompt for learners that will surely get them thinking about how to present themselves to the outside world. The...

Help your class develop the ability to determine a main idea with a packet of materials that you can introduce and use over a period of time. The packet includes some information for the teacher and rationale for the exercises. There are...

Review the principles of public choice economics using this resource. Learners read background information on the theory and theorists. Then they answer five writing prompts in which they are asked to propose a course of action and...

Dive deeper into the Montgomery Bus Boycott with this multi-stage lesson, centered on the essential question: Why did the boycott last so long? Historians investigate the Jim Crow south through a video clip (not included), then analyze...

Meant to be used with the Dealing With Feelings video from the You Can Choose series, this lesson can also be adapted for use without this resource. This plan is aimed at showing young learners how to appropriately deal with their...

Discuss the differences between rights and responsibilities with your class. Various topics are covered in relation to how each is a right or a responsibility, then several thinking questions are posed. Use to start a class discussion or...

There are many ethical and moral issues surrounding critically endangered species. Use these higher-level thinking questions to help high schoolers examine ecological, socioeconomic, and political scenarios about human impacts on...