Digital Writing and Research Lab's – Lesson Plans
Teaching Close Reading through Short Composition/Revision
This activity may have writers evaluate short compositions, but their subjects are quite tall: great Americans. Pupils read one another's compositions and closely examine how specific phrases and diction contribute to shaping American...
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Personalities of the Renaissance
Have the class interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. They examine sources regarding architecture, art, exploration, government, literature, religion, and technology of the era. Then they use their...
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Presenting Your Case
Students write letter from historical figure's point of view using proper letter writing conventions, write about two props/artifacts that are representative of their subject's life, and use Internet resources to gather images to use in...
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Honoring Neighborhood Heroes
Read biographies and use the internet to research stories of courage.Young writers compare and contrast characteristics that societies value. They write reports about their family and community's heroes.
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And You Were (Almost) There
Learners explore the genre of biography in both its traditional and nontraditional forms. They examine Edmund Morris's unorthodox biography of Ronald Reagan. They conduct research on an historic American and write their own biographies.
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Dr. Seuss Author Study
Students listen to a story, then use the same format to write a class book.
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And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street Writing Activity
Students are read a Dr. Suess book. They use the same format found in the book to create a class book about what they see on the way home from school. They practice writing sentences and illustrate them for the book.
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Jane Addams -- Philanthropist in Action
Young scholars examine the philanthropic actions of Jane Addams and discuss why she is seemed as a role model of being a responsible citizen. They organize different types of volunteer opportunities and create ways to serve the common...
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The Miracle Worker
Eighth graders participate in a layered curriculum novel study on "The Miracle Worker". The students can choose from a variety of studies and assessments. This make the lesson more differentiated for multiple levels.
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The Mier Expedition
Seventh graders explore the significance of the Mier Expedition to the Republic of Texas. They discuss the suffering Texans endured during their escape attempt and incarceration. Using first hand interviews and recollections, 7th graders...
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Portrait Detectives
Pupils distinguish portraits from other forms of art and develop their own criteria for analyzing portraits. They discuss what is unique about a portrait, why artists create portraits, and the style of portraits.
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A Panel of Survivors
Students role-play real-life survivors in a panel discussion. They read a mini-biography about a survivor.
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The Biography of Robert Boyle
Students research and chronologically sort written information about Boyle's life. They create a time line of importand events in Boyle's life and write a biography on Robert Boyle.