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...
Novelinks
Lord of the Flies: Outlining and Begin Drafting
Help young writers with the daunting prospect of a five-paragraph essay. Using William Golding's Lord of the Flies, learners work through a short process to shore up their brainstorming and prepare to write a longer essay.
The New York Times
Literary Pilgrimages: Exploring the Role of Place in Writers’ Lives and Work
Do the places you have lived influence what you write? Class members research the lives of writers and look for how places these writers have lived might have influenced their writings.
K20 LEARN
Whose Manifest Destiny? Westward Expansion
Your land is my land! Young historians investigate the concept of Manifest Destiny used by the United States government to justify western expansion. Jigsaw groups read primary source documents to gain an understanding of the movement...
Curated OER
Let's Cook
Learners practice converting measurements into metrics. In groups, they translate a recipe from English into German and convert all measurements into metrics for the recipe. They examine the difference between United States and metric...
Curated OER
Hello, How Do You Do?
Students role play proper greetings and etiquette in formal and informal work and social situations. Students compare and contrast introductions and conversational conventions in their native country and in the United States by writing...
Curated OER
What About Us? Women in the Civil War
Students research the role of women in the Civil War. In this Civil War unit, students research the role women played during the war. This unit includes eight different activities including vocabulary, writing prompts and a literature...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Poetry Unit
Middle schoolers explore, analyze and interpret one form of poetry writing called Poetry Slam. They hear several examples of unexpected poetry and view a video of "Slam Nation." The books, "Hey You! C'mere: A Poetry Slam," by Elizabeth...
EngageNY
Close Reading of Thank You, Mr. Falker: Identifying the Superpowers of Reading
Third graders read excepts from the story, Thank You, Mr. Falker in order to gain practice in understanding an unfamiliar story by focusing on the details. They use a worksheet, embedded in the plan, which directs them to certain...
Curated OER
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
While this instructional activity focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The instructional activity includes vocabulary and...
Curated OER
Emotions and Social Skills
Kindergarteners discuss emotions and social skills as the start to this lesson. Then they demonstrate what emotions they feel while participating in a role play. This lesson plan also calls for group work in which learners show...
Curated OER
Civil War Slang
Students explore the language of the Civil War time period. In this Civil War lesson, students work in groups to research the meanings of Civil War slang.
EngageNY
Making Inferences About Informational Text: Science Talk on How My Insect Contributes to the Rainforest Ecosystem
We need to talk. Learners participate in a science talk by discussing the idea of how insects are important to the rainforest. They record notes about their conversations as they talk. For homework, pupils add to their field journals.
Stanford University
Ruby Bridges
A two-part lesson features Civil Rights hero, Ruby Bridges. Part one focuses on the heroic actions of Ruby Bridges then challenges scholars to complete a Venn diagram in order to compare themselves to her. Part two begins with a...
Curated OER
Properties of Materials
Students describe how objects in the universe range from smaller than atoms to larger than galaxies. they explain how the metric system works and compare it to the English system of measurement.
Curated OER
Spanish Drama: Latin America
Learners explore Hispanic countries. In this Hispanic culture and language lesson, students choose an Hispanic country to research. Learners explore given websites and prepare a dramatization incorporating the facts they...
Curated OER
I Just Want to Say
Eighth graders study poetic devices included in conversation poems and explore their eloquent messages. They read and discuss poems by Langston Hughes and Don Marquis.
Curated OER
Ancient Egyptian History/African Literature Activity
Learners gain a conversant knowledge of some aspect of ancient African literature of the eighteenth dynasty (1572-1315 B.C.) in Egypt. They choose either to make a crossword puzzle or a word search with at least 20 key words from their...
Curated OER
Working Together to Improve Our Community
Students from the fourth grade research a solution to a community problem and converse with eighth graders via email. Eighth graders study the political process and work with the fourth graders to present information to the public to...
Curated OER
Interactive Crossword
Students complete a crossword puzzle to revise a set of vocabulary terms studied. They converse with each other as they complete their crossword puzzles in order to share and use each of the vocabulary terms in context and reinforcement.
Curated OER
Novel Study Unit of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Ninth graders will speak and listen to explore, clarify, extend, and reflect on their thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences. They will be able to communicate information and ideas effectively and clearly, and to respond personally...
Curated OER
Volumw Measurement, English System
Eighth graders biew each volume container and discuss where they have seen them in their home, and how they have seen them used. They explore the different names of volume sizes and their equivalents towards one another. Students...
EngageNY
Informative Paragraph Pre-Assessment: What Is One Reason You Want the Power of Reading?
This writing pre-assessment has minimal instruction but maximum support and encouragement. It begins with a review of the book, Rain School, through a think-pair-share and small group discussion. The discussion...
Curated OER
Talking Heads
Students create an imaginary conversation. In this perseverance lesson, students complete a t-chart about words that describe perseverance and words that describe the opposite of perseverance. Students sketch a "talking heads"...