Groups examine a series of examples, identify the common elements, and work together to discover "the causative" grammar rule represented.

We are all capable of changing the world for the better; all it takes is a spark. Read about a group of seventh grade students in Chicago, IL who took it upon themselves to improve their community by turning a vacant lot into a garden....

Guide your class through a text with resources for before and after reading. Learners ask questions, discuss characters and plot points, point out elements of the reading that stood out, and compose brief summaries.

Park/park, spring/spring. do your class members need extra practice with homonyms? The first exercise on this worksheeet asks learners to identify the homonym, while the second asks kids to identify at least two meanings of the...

Get to know your learners on a deeper level or invite them to step into someone else's shoes by introducing them to a bio poem. With this type of poetry, scholars will answer questions such as self-description, hopes for the future, and...

Considering using The Sun Also Rises as a whole-class or book circle choice? Check out this overview and interesting interpretation of Hemingway's tale.

Listening is a skill, and with the help of the communication activities in this packet, class members improve their active listening skills. 

The Wednesday Wars is the focus of this resource designed for first-time teachers of Gary Schmidt's Newbery Award winning novel. 

What do you know about the Vietnam War? What do you want to find out? How to do you plan on finding this information? To gain an understanding of the backdrop of The Wednesday Wars, class members create a KWHL chart and then begin...

Second graders discuss nouns. In this language arts lesson, 2nd graders discuss nouns and pronouns. Students identify various types of nouns on a worksheet. Students play "Popcorn" Nouns.

Sixth graders engage in a project to persuade classmates to read a certain novel. They create a poster using persuasive advertising language. Media can be included in the form of pictures and other graphics to make the visual...

Ninth graders explore the differences in language for referring to people:  disabled, handicapped or challenged.  In this people with disabilities lesson plan, 9th graders define the words and discuss common usage. ...

First graders use a pen pal template to correspond to a pen pal at another school site using appropriate communication skills.

Young scholars use their imagination and language skills to create and describe their own sporting event. In this sporting event lesson, students brainstorm sports related vocabulary and identify their parts of speech. Young scholars...

This resource provides the beginning ideas for a lesson on writing a narrative. Learners watch a video, identify story elements, including plot and setting, and then write their own stories. If augmented, this lesson could provide a...

Youngsters write and construct their own autobiographies based on The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis. They engage in pre-writing steps, narrative writing, and peer editing. This is the second part of a two-part project lesson.

Writer's workshop is an idea that's been around for years. Students write, read, and comment on each others writing in an authentic and thoughtful way. Here is a 21st century twist, 6th graders will use the class blog to create a...

Which animal is best for you—a dog or cat? Why? Engage third graders in an opinion writing assessment that prompts them to read facts about both pets, and then write and decide which pet is best for them.

Even if you've never picked up a musical instrument, chances are that music has directly impacted your mental and emotional development. Sixth graders engage in a reading activity in which they read two articles on the impact of music on...

Kindergartners practice identifying the sight and sounds of vowels and consonants. They identify beginning consonants in single-syllable words and print the letters of the alphabet. This outstanding resource has many excellent...

Explore positive and negative character traits and universal themes in the story of Cinderella with primary learners. Story elements are reviewed and discussion questions are listed. Learners practice retelling the story and begin a...

How does background and experience influence one's point of view? Dwight Okita's famous poem about the Japanese internment is the text used to explore this essential question. Class members study primary documents to gain the necessary...

Relate literary works and authors to the major themes of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the 20th century. Working in groups, high schoolers will evaluate period philosophy, religion, and politics that influenced...

What is a media baby? Discuss at what age children should be exposed to electronic media. After reading an article, they identify the types of media products for infants and toddlers. Learners will predict the effects of media on the...