Activity
Into Films

Filmmaking Guide

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney Studios. Prepare your primary graders to become the next generation of film makers with a guide that encourages kids to explore the possibilities of script writing, lighting, sound, editing, and post...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Magical Creatures Talk

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Invite your young writers to take the reins with writing dialogue. Using two characters of their own creation, kids work with partners and then individually to write short conversations.
Unit Plan
1
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Scholastic

The Flight of Amelia Earhart Teaching Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Amelia Earhart's accomplishments and strength of character extend beyond her status as one of the first female aviators in America. Elementary and middle schoolers learn about Earhart's early life and the historical context surrounding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parrot in the Oven: Anticipation Guide

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Get readers thinking about the major themes in Victor Martinez's award-winning novel, Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by asking them to agree or disagree with the prompts on an anticipation guide and to discuss...
Activity
PBS

Writing a Historical Poem

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students conduct field research of a historical site in order to discover a more complete understanding of a time period. They choose one particular historical figure and write a short poem about the site from the historical person's...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Big Bang Theory: An Evidence-Based Argument

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
What evidence supports the big bang theory? Individuals analyze scholarly resources about the the theory and develop arguments backed by evidence. They brainstorm, share ideas, watch a video, and read articles to complete a graphic...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing an Analysis Essay: Planning the Essay

For Teachers 7th Standards
Writers work on creating a plan for their end-of-unit essay of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass using a Frederick Douglass Essay Planner to help guide their thought process. They then regroup as a class to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Borrowing Narrative Skills from Mr. Fletcher: Using a "Prompts in Reverse" Technique to Inspire Your Writers

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Help your class find their writing voices with this lesson which uses the work of Ralph Fletcher to guide a "Prompt in Reverse" activity. Using the chapter "First Pen" from Fletcher's Marshfield Dreams, learners decipher what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

English Lesson Plans for Grade 12

For Teachers 12th
HIgh schoolers respond to a persuasive article on using animal research. In this english lesson, writers listen to a conversation, and discuss the point of arguments. They write a critique on a certain film and share it with their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children's Books

For Teachers 5th
A challenging lesson on writing a book for children awaits your fifth-graders. They must use laptops, document cameras, and a projector to create and present an original piece of writing. A checklist that has all of the requirements for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magazine Production

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Analyze magazines as a class, looking carefully for the target audience, advertisements, and topics presented. Small groups then work as a publication team and receive a magazine that they have to "sell." Each individual has a different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fast Food and Daily Nutrition Choices

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore food. In this nutrition lesson, students investigate multiple facets of healthy eating and how the fast food industry impacts our society. They will participate in class discussions, read from their text-book, and watch...
Writing
Curated OER

Protest Letter

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
What a fantastic resource to guide youngsters in persuasive letter writing. They read a brief letter to the editor and answer question about the author's purpose, word choice, and structure. Next, scholars draft their own letter by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Here Ye! Here Ye! Read All About It!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the internet to find articles to read. In this reading comprehension lesson, 4th graders take notes on articles found on the internet. Students use the writing process to summarize the selected articles. 
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Language Arts: Putting Together a Position Paper

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to identify the target audience for their writing. They are able to create an appropriate format for their papers. Students are able to focus on the developing clear arguments and supporting all key points with facts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Autumn Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students review and brainstorm the signs of autumn through a PowerPoint presentation/ lesson with embedded video clips. After brainstorming ideas as a group, Students use Kidspiration to develop a graphic organizer and follow the writing...
Activity
Ideas From Suzi

Responding to Literature

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Important Thing About Reading

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Third through fifth graders discover the importance of reading and plan a service project to provide books to children. First, they read the book The Important Book and then they brainstorm about the importance of reading. Afterward,...
Activity
Teaching Tolerance

Picture Books

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Aspiring artists and budding writers combine their skills in an interactive lesson. Young scholars become authors when they create their own picture books focused on social justice. The resource guides learners through the writing and...
Lesson Plan
Turabian Teacher Collaborative

Outline Workshop: Responding to Friendly and Skeptical Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Answering questions is the best way to hone and revise your argument. Foster receptive writers with a workshop activity that promotes peer editing and argumentative writing skills. Given lists of both friendly and skeptical...
Lesson Plan
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Turabian Teacher Collaborative

Parts of Argument II: Article Critique

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Break down the parts of argumentative writing with a critical thinking activity. High schoolers read an article of your (or their choice), and use a graphic organizer to delineate the ways the author structures his or her arguments.
Unit Plan
EngageNY

Grade 12 ELA Module 3

For Teachers 12th Standards
Gun, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond is a seminal work of historical nonfiction from the late 20th century. Use the author's claims and supporting evidence to guide your high school seniors through their research project, culminating...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Peer Critique and Revision: Editorial Essay

For Teachers 5th Standards
Get those red pens ready! Using the Peer Critique protocol, scholars provide and receive feedback on their editorial essay drafts. They then use class time to work on revisions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Block Buster

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Here is a unique and innovative game which will help your charges learn the important skill of proofreading and editing their own writing. The class is divided up into groups, and each group uses actual samples of writing from students...