Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing Interview Questions

For Teachers 6th Standards
And now for the star witness! Scholars take a look at a model newspaper article and discuss the importance of eyewitness accounts. In groups of three, they take turns underlining text from eyewitnesses. They then regroup to talk about...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing a Model Informative Consumer Guide

For Teachers 6th Standards
What do consumers need to know about overfishing before buying fish? Scholars consider the question as they prepare for their performance task, which is to create a consumer guide for people about purchasing fish responsibly. After...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyze Model Position Paper with Rubric

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's time to choose a position! Scholars read a model position paper about fracking to practice identifying the topic and argument. Then, working with a partner, they use a rubric to assess the essay. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Annotating the Text and Identifying Argument, Claims, and Evidence: “Double Whammy” Excerpt from “The Exterminator"

For Teachers 6th Standards
That's a double whammy! Scholars read the excerpt Double Whammy from The Exterminator. After identifying the gist of the text, they annotate by marking the author's claim. The group discusses what is meant by double whammy and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Citing Evidence and Building Vocabulary: “The Exterminator”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It is an out-of-body experience. Scholars take a look at the sidebars outside the body of the text in The Exterminator. They discuss the purpose of this type of text feature and work to determine the gist. Learners write unfamiliar...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Comparing an Author’s Presentation of Ideas: “Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's all in the presentation. Readers take a look at author's presentation in the article Rachel Carson: Sounding the Alarm on Pollution. Scholars work together to complete a Comparing and Contrasting Authors’ Presentation graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visual Aural Impressions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view a piece of impressionist art, listen to a piece of jazz music and then write a piece about the picture in the style of beat poets. They compare their writing and look for differences in their perceptions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Plagiarism?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
What is plagiarism? Middle schoolers create a class definition of plagiarism and examine the importance of crediting people for their ideas. They review official school policy on plagiarism and study the consequences of presenting the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Welcome To Middle School Video

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create questions to pose to adults working in Middle School. In groups, students create a video interviewing the Middle School staff. They edit the video and format present it as an introduction to Middle School for perspective...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Training Students for Literature Circles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Role sheets clearly define expectations of all group members in this introduction to literature circles. By using a variety of picture books or short texts, readers can practice roles while the teacher circulates to each group observing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reader's Theater: Presenting Asian Folktales

For Teachers K - 12th
Students, working in groups, rewrite Asian folktales as Reader's Theater scripts. Depending on grade level, they visit Websites and copy assigned stories. Students then perform their versions for classmates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All About Me Books

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young authors write books about themselves using one of the identified types of literature and the writing process. They identify the common characteristics among the books in each group, edit, and gift their books to a younger student.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Secret War: Lesson 5

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders determine how freedom comes with rights and responsibilities through literature and poetry about World War II. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders use the letters in the word "infamy" to write an acrostic poem. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

M.C. Bard: Hip-Hop and Shakespeare

For Teachers 11th - 12th
What is poetry? Does hip-hop qualify as poetry? Do Shakespeare's monologues qualify as poetry? Class members grapple with these questions as they examine the poetic elements and themes presented in different texts. Groups of four study...
Lesson Plan
BW Walch

“Outsider” Poet Kay Ryan Goes from Poetry Club Reject to Poet Laureate

For Teachers 6th - 11th Standards
The cat might have got your tongue, but you can’t avoid the elephant in the room while you wait for the other shoe to drop. After all, the early bird gets the worm and the chickens are circling. After researching Poet Laureate Kay Ryan...
Lesson Plan
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EngageNY

Informative Paragraph Pre-Assessment: What Is One Reason You Want the Power of Reading?

For Teachers 3rd Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
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Virginia Department of Education

Analyzing and Planning Persuasive Writing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young writers work backward to analyze persuasive techniques. As a class, work through the provided persuasive letter: a plea to an imaginary city council to lift a city-wide ban on fast food restaurants and discount stores. Start by...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing a Summary: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 1

For Teachers 6th Standards
What's this all about? Scholars learn the importance of summarizing skills using a summary writing graphic organizer. They work with an elbow partner to discuss summaries and complete the organizer using Middle Ages Excerpt 1. Learners...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Interpreting and Connecting Information: Creating a Cascading Consequence Chart Using Frightful’s Mountain

For Teachers 6th Standards
Decisions, decisions. Scholars take a close look at making decisions by discussing the character Sam in chapters one through eight of Frightful’s Mountain. Partners discuss whether Sam should interact with Frightful and then...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Getting the Gist and Tracing an Argument: “Public Fear” Excerpt from “The Exterminator”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Only fear fear itself. Scholars read Public Fear from The Exterminator. Triads work together to annotate and determine the gist of the text. They then complete a Tracing an Argument graphic organizer to identify arguments, claims,...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading and Gathering Evidence from Frightful’s Mountain and “Welcome Back”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Where did the falcons go? Scholars read the article Welcome Back which describes the disappearance of falcons due to the use of pesticides. During a second read, learners annotate the text by marking unfamiliar words and facts about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's Magic: Understanding the Roles, Responsibilities, and Requirements of Workers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions. Then they break into groups to complete the training and education for two careers selected from a listing in the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Using a Dictionary: Root Words

For Students 3rd
A dictionary is a very helpful tool. Teach your third graders how to locate words, define them, and understand what root words are. They look up 12 words, write their definitions, then determine the root word that helps categorize each...
Organizer
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Super Teacher Worksheets

Literature Circle Packet

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Looking to set up literature circles in your class? Use these materials to support pupils when they meet in groups. Pupils take on various roles over the course of reading and meet with their groups to share the work they have done on...