Lesson Plan
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Formal Essay Process

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and use the four types of brainstorming techniques used in essay prewriting. They select an appropriate attention getting statement to attract the essay reader. Students explore the purpose and methods of selecting...
Lesson Plan
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Quick Writes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write on a variety of topics, maximize creative and expository writing skills, develop focused writing, organize ideas, incorporate detail in writing, and exhibit varied and precise word choice.
Lesson Plan
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What Really Happened?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students read about the settlers in one of the first American colonies. They brainstorm ideas about what they think happened to the settlers. They write their version of what happened at Roanoke Island Colony.
Lesson Plan
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Creative Autobiography

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students brainstorm and outline ideas for their autobiography. They begin composition of it as well. Students create a timeline of important events to help them get started and discuss the elements of a what makes a good story.
Lesson Plan
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Characterization

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students draw pictures to generate ideas about a character. They use prewriting skills to plan written work. They then dictate or write detailed descriptions of familiar person, places, objects, or experiences.
Lesson Plan
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Planning Your Essay

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars discover how to organize essays effectively. In this writing instructional activity, students construct a spider map to develop their ideas for an essay.
Lesson Plan
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Anne Frank Diorama

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students create a diorama of the Secret Annex in which Anne Frank and her family hid during the Holocaust.  In this Anne Frank diorama instructional activity, students brainstorm a list of ideas about the Secret Annex. ...
Lesson Plan
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Writing Myths II

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students complete a final draft of a myth.  In this writing myths lesson, students complete their rough drafts, have a one-on-one meeting with the teacher to enhance ideas, and peer edit.  Students use the comments and...
Lesson Plan
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Design Patterns in Everyday Life

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners find symbols and patterns in everyday life. In this patterns lesson plan, students break into groups and look for specific patterns and symbols. Learners record their findings. Students create a graphic organizer with the...
Lesson Plan
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The Mayflower Compact

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders discover the ideas of our government by reading the Mayflower Compact.  For this U.S. Government lesson, 12th graders identify the main ideas of the Mayflower Compact, how it came to be and who was affected the most...
Lesson Plan
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Kwanzaa

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore African American holiday of Kwanzaa, orally share ideas about whom they want to invite to classroom Kwanzaa celebration, create and print invitation to Kwanzaa using Publisher or Print Shop, and share completed...
Lesson Plan
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Vocabulary Builder- Using Inspiration to Generate Lists of Descriptive Words

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners discover how to engage all their senses and powers of observation to effectively communicate and idea or emotion. Using Inspiration Software, they create a vocabulary web and practice using descriptive language to clarify and...
Organizer
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Secret Student

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this writing worksheet, students fill out a brainstorming graphic organizer about a secret student of their choice. They are then prompted and guided through writing a first and final draft of a paragraph using their ideas.  
Lesson Plan
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Boundaries That Inspire: The Sestina

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students study the poetic term "enjambment". They use one word as more than one part of speech and let words (instead of ideas) inspire lines and non-sequential, dreamlike, compulsive narrative.
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Said Is Dead

For Teachers 3rd - 11th
Students revise writing to improve organization and word choice. They check for logic, order of ideas and precision of vocabulary. Students list different verbs for the word "said." They write dialogue in which the speakers tell a story...
Lesson Plan
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The Game of Persuasion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study vocabulary words and explore persuasive speaking. In groups, they support a given argument and generate ideas for a a persuasive speech. They discuss powerful words and strategies for persuasion. Students write a...
Organizer
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My School Rules! Your School Drools!

For Students 2nd - 5th
In this writing worksheet, students fill out a brainstorming graphic organizer about why they like their school. They are then prompted and guided through writing a first and final draft of a paragraph using their ideas.  
Organizer
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When I'm President

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this writing worksheet, students fill out a brainstorming graphic organizer about being president. They are then prompted and guided through writing a first and final draft of a paragraph using their ideas.  
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Folk Traditions and Folk Beliefs

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders work together to brainstorm an idea to focus on the similiarties and differences between various cultures. Individually, they interview family members using questions they created based on their topic. They use their...
Lesson Plan
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Create A Business and A Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers look through a phone book and pick a business they think they would enjoy. They brainstorm ideas about the needs of a business. They set their prices to payback their investment into the new business.
Lesson Plan
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On the Edge and Under the Gun

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students brainstorm ideas related to gun control and share with the class. in this gun control lesson, students research teacher approved websites related to gun control. Students write a paper in groups on a self selected topic related...
Lesson Plan
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World without Trees Composition

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write a composition on what they think the world would be like without trees. They brainstorm ideas of what they think the world would be like treeless, and creative a story. A rubric is distributed to the students which...
Lesson Plan
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"Let's Write a Song"

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders brainstorm ideas that answer the question, "What is a song?" They determine the parts of a song, read lyrics, and listen to a song while identifying the chorus. They repeat the procedure with a new song before working in...
Lesson Plan
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Wildcat Dumping Site

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research facts about illegal dumping sites and write an editorial exposing the effects of the site from their point of view and persuades readers to take action. Students brainstorm ideas that could be included in the editorial,...