Curated OER
We and Thee
Students examine class structure. In this diversity education lesson, students discuss stereotypes within their school as an introduction to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. After students have read the play and discussed social class...
University of North Carolina
Audience
Challenging pupils' perspectives by having them walk in the shoes of the reader. An informative resource discusses how to identify an audience and anticipate their needs before writing an upcoming argumentative essay.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Making a Patriot Inquiry: Are Independence, Freedom, and Liberty the Same Thing?
As part of a study of the American Revolution, class members engage in an inquiry-based lesson that has them watch a scene from the play Slave Spy, examine multiple primary source documents, and then discuss the similarities and...
Turabian Teacher Collaborative
Introductions: Formulating Problem Statements
Describing a problem efficiently doesn't solve it, but a well-crafted argument can move readers to action. High schoolers focus on structuring problem statements by reading examples of strong essays and working in groups to create their...
Curated OER
Paragraph Building
Build the skills your budding authors need to develop to compose well-structured paragraphs. Give them the topic sheet (included here), and have them write a cohesive paragraph using the ideas listed. Consider having them include two...
Curated OER
Varied Beginnings: Research Process / Narrative Writing Techniques
What's the best way to start a story? Learners write a memoir using effective openings. They research the process and work through a list of hooks to use in their writing. They use at least two hooks to begin their personal memoir. A...
Curated OER
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Here is an online interactive reading comprehension worksheet where pupils respond to 11 short-answer and essay questions based on War and Peace. They may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the bottom of the...
Ohio Literacy Resource Center
Arguing with Aristotle Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Introduce your classes to the Art of Rhetoric with a lesson that focuses on Aristotle's persuasive appeals and how they have been used, both ethically and unethically, to influence opinion.
Curated OER
Macbeth Essay
In this Macbeth essay worksheet, students read the first two acts of Macbeth and then write a comparison essay of the acts. Students follow the given structure to complete the assignment.
Curated OER
Language Arts: Revision and Peer Editing
Young scholars are able to evaluate their peers' essays to determine clarity, completeness, and persuasiveness. They are able to revise their own essays for greater clarity and fluency, adding explanation where needed and cutting...
Curated OER
How to Combine Sentences
Learners practice combining sentences. In this writing lesson, students view essays and discuss how it can be revised, using sentence combining. Learners practice this skill in their own essays.
Curated OER
Who Are We? An Introduction to the Life Within Our Bodies
Students examine cell structure, cell division, and the basic structure of DNA. They read and discuss a case study of DNA research, answer discussion questions, role-play the process of mitosis, and complete a DNA Fact or Fiction worksheet.
Curated OER
Ralph Ellison
Students read and analyze the novel, "The Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison. They participate in class discussions, write an essay, and in small groups create a multimedia essay on a group that they consider socially "invisible."
Curated OER
Where is the Trail? The Journey of Lewis and Clark
Students explore the trail followed by Lewis and Clark on their journey across the United States. For this United States History lesson, students complete several activities to establish the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including a class...
Curated OER
Readers Theatre: Presenting Historical Events Through Theatre
Learners examine historical events. In this lesson on the US Constitution, students engage in a theatrical exploration of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They also engage in an extensive discussion, complete worksheets and draft...
Heritage Foundation
Courts and Judges
If the Supreme Court is so supreme, why do all cases not just start there? High schoolers learn why every case does not start at the Supreme Court as well as the importance of hierarchy in the US judicial system in the 11th installment...
Curated OER
Organizing Paragraphs
Students brainstorm transition words, and utilize word list to order paragraphs and multi-paragraph essays.
Curated OER
The Way of the World by William Congreve
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 9 short answer and essay questions based on The Way of the World. Students may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the bottom of...
Curated OER
The Old Man and the Sea: Guided Imagery
What do you imagine when you think of the sea? Put on some ocean sounds, close your eyes, and listen to a guided meditation based on the imagery from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. After class members listen to the...
Beacon Learning Center
Challenging the Human Spirit
High schoolers select a theme-related essay topic from Night, by Elie Wiesel, or The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, and develop an essay that relates the theme to modern-day personal experiences. The essay follows a preset rubric...
Curated OER
Asia: Tradition And Culture
Middle schoolers discover Sky City. For this Asian culture and traditions lesson, students watch "Asia: Culture and Tradition," and then discuss the practicality of building Sky City. Middle schoolers visit a Discovery Education Web site...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Impact of a Poem's Line Breaks: Enjambment and Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool"
Students analyze the Gwendolyn Brooks use of enjambment in her poem "We Real Cool." In this poetry analysis activity, students define common poetic devices and the examples of enjambment in the poem. Students discuss the poem and write...
Curated OER
Beginning With Writing; Convey Ideas in Writing
Walk young writers through the process of creating an initial writing sample for their portfolio. They determine their purpose, organize their ideas, and then create a draft. The lesson includes worksheets and online resources to aid in...
Annenberg Foundation
Spirit of Nationalism
What were the virtues and values that helped form America? Pupils watch and discuss a video, read biographies of early Americans, chart the differences between early American religious movements, write journals and letters, draw, and...