Use this presentation to introduce a class or lecture about writing organization. The slide show is the first part in a five-part series, titled "What is an Essay?" The slideshow is short and could use more detail, but functions as a...

Many words have suffixes, and knowing them can help scholars with vocabulary and spelling. They read a brief introduction explaining suffixes and giving two examples: -ly and -ful. Then, learners add these suffix examples to...

If you need an introduction to skill W.9-10.1 for writing, then you’re off to a good start here. Included is a funny script that introduces what the students need to know to conquer the skill. It also provides an introduction activity...

Reinforce main idea and supporting details with your seventh graders in this language arts instructional activity. Using a SMART board presentation and handouts (all attachments are provided), they review and practice finding main idea...

A great source of high-interest reading for the language arts classroom! Meant to be used with an article also available on the New York Times website, this worksheet provides 10 comprehension questions about the reading as well as one...

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Middle schoolers categorize statements as either facts or opinions before writing a persuasive essay to support a thesis statement they create. This is a great introduction to...

You might not be able to put a girdle around the earth in forty minutes but you can generate interest in A Midsummer’s Night Dream in that length of time. As an introduction to Shakespeare’s comedy, pairs of students assume the roles of...

Have your kiddos work together to discuss different types of interviews. As learners brainstorm different kinds of interviews, record them in a web! This is a great introduction to conducting interviews. 

How much do your readers know about Prometheus? After reading Aeschylus' famous play Prometheus Bound, quiz your class with these ten multiple-choice questions. This basic quiz works well for an introduction to Greek mythology.

Do your class members know where the phrase "raining cats and dogs" come from? They will after viewing a presentation about metaphors. The concise definitions and clear examples make for a strong introduction to this element of...

Can you say it 10 times fast? Tongue twisters are a fun way to practice reading fluency. Learners read five common twisters, then make up one of their own! Discuss why some words and phrases are difficult to say quickly, and be sure to...

Betsy Ross - fact and myth. As an introduction to American Literature, class members become detectives and search web sites to find information about the flag, prominent places it has been displayed (on the moon, at ground zero, in...

Key concepts, major writers, and historical events related to Transcendentalism are explored in a student-produced PowerPoint about this movement. The presentation could be used as an introduction to a unit or as a model that class...

Did you know that Green Eggs and Ham is written in iambic pentameter? Model the rhythm of language using Dr. Seuss’s tale. Direct class members to march about the room tapping their right foot on the first syllable and stomping their...

Preparing a paper for Law Review Competition? Here's everything you ever wanted to know about how to format footnotes and citations according to the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD) Manual. Since all the information in the...

Learners create a painting that clearly exemplifies the use of primary pigments to make secondary pigments. They demonstrate the distinction between value and saturation. They explain the affect of adjacent colors on each other and...

Young scholars study the literature and literary techniques of the early Middle Ages, thus preparing students to read Beowulf with an appreciation for its artistry and beauty. Young scholars solve online riddles, write riddles and study...

Students take notes on how to teach art. They determine if they are right or left brained and experience the frustration of teacher-directed art and trying to stay in the lines of a coloring book. They experience different art...

Sixth graders examine the use of slavery in the United States. Using a map, they draw the route of the Tecora and Amistad voyages. Individually, they write an essay describing their opinions on whether the Africans on the ships should be...

Second graders study vocabulary to describe their community. In this meaning of words lesson, 2nd graders acquire new vocabulary words to label pictures and objects. They use these words in speaking and writing.

The format of the introduction and conclusion paragraphs in an expository essay are the focus of short presentation that details how to craft these all-important sections of a paper. No specific examples are included.

Twelfth graders, as an introduction to a unit on The Lord of the Flies, participate in an activity in which they demonstrate how good people can do things that they know are wrong. They discuss peer pressure and "why good people do bad...

For this presentation worksheet, students fill in the blanks for the presentation outline with spots for an introduction and main points. Students fill in 1 introduction and 3 main points.

Students use an atlas online to gather information about the state of Washington. Individually, they practice using the database and researching specific items in the Pacific Northwest. They complete a quiz to end the activity.