Polk Bros Foundation
Organize an Argument
Prepare your pupils for a debate or argumentative writing assignment. Students can use the two columns here to take notes on two different arguments about the same topics. They then note down their own positions and briefly explain their...
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Two Books
Help your middle school readers recognize the elements of fiction in two books. After reading and taking notes on the details of the books, they write an essay comparing and contrasting the two books. Use this lesson to emphasize...
Curated OER
Connotation, Denotation, Explanation
Middle schoolers use this connotation and denotation worksheet to develop vocabulary skills. They take notes on the terms, study examples, and choose from pairs of words to find the more positive or negative word choice, as directed....
Curated OER
A Letter to the Reviewer: Reflective Writing
Folded into a writing portfolio unit, this set of instructions for a Letter to the Reviewer guides learners through a written reflection of their work so far. Several slides clarify what a letter to the reviewer is, and what it is not,...
Curated OER
"Whispering Wires": Public Law vs. Individual Civil Liberties
High school student love discussing controversial issues like those brought up in this fourth amendment case study. They examine the 1928 Olmstead vs. U.S. prohibition court case, applying the fourth amendment to determine whether...
Curated OER
Six Traits of Writing
What are the six traits of writing? This cute presentation will show you and your pupils exactly that! For each trait of writing, the creators of this PowerPoint included a quote and bullet points describing the trait. Play this and have...
Curated OER
Literature Genres
Generate interest in genre by presenting a PowerPoint about different genres in literature. For each genre, there is a definition and several examples. Some examples are from popular or modern films. Ask pupils to take notes or...
Tech Coach Corner
The Hook
A fishing hook inspires this presentation about different methods for starting a composition. Have class members take notes or edit current drafts while viewing the slide show. The animation is entertaining, but gets repetitive by the...
Do2Learn
Sequencing Chart
Take note of events in a story with this organizer. Learners write down the who, what, where, and when, writing down four events in the order that they occur.
Curated OER
Alphabet Organizer
Students practice organizing their vocabulary words in an online organizer tool. In this vocabulary lesson, students read a text and take notes. Additionally, students organize their vocabulary words into an online "Alphabet Organizer"...
Polk Bros Foundation
I Can Classify Facts and Opinions
Telling fact from opinion can be tricky. Direct your class to practice their reading and comprehension skills by taking notes on the facts and opinions in a text. Pupils fill out a two-column chart and write down how they know a...
Dream of a Nation
Big6 Research Project
Do research projects at your school look like a class of eighth graders staring at a blank screen? Use the Big 6 research method to guide middle schoolers through the process of finding a topic, searching for and evaluating sources,...
Poetry4kids
Onomatopoeia Poetry Lesson Plan
Two exercises boost scholars' knowledge of a onomatopoeia with excerpts from famous poems. In exercise one, participants circle onomatopoeia words. Exercise two challenges writers to choose three words to use in an...
Curated OER
How to Take Notes
Students practice taking notes while reading their textbooks. In this note taking lesson, students read a text and use the given procedure to take notes for the text.
EngageNY
Planning Writing: Bullfrog Information Paragraph
Lesson ten in this unit for the book Bullfrogs at Magnolia Circle, prepares third graders to begin writing an informational paragraph about the adaptations of bullfrogs. First, young writers work either independently or in pairs to...
Curated OER
Lesson: Paul Chan: 1st Light and 5th Light
Paul Chan's latest exhibit includes seven manifestations of light. Today, kids analyze the pieces 1st Light and 5th Light. They consider the concept of opposed or dualistic realities found in literature, society, and Chan's work....
EngageNY
Mid-Unit 2 Assessment: On-Demand Informational Writing
Lesson 7 focuses on building academic vocabulary and writing an explanatory letter with supported textual evidence. For the first five minutes of the instructional activity, the educator reminds the class of how to read and refer to the...
Curated OER
Writer's Toolbox
Present the class with a slide show that will give them a great head start in writing expository and narrative texts. The information is highlighted for easy note taking, well organized, and presented in a kid-friendly manner. It...
Everett Public Schools
High School Writing: Student Guide
Here's an amazing writing guide that deserves a place in your curriculum library. The 136-page packet provides focus lessons on the writing process, expository, persuasive, and timed writing, the Cornell system of note taking, and...
Curated OER
Comprehension-Note Taking Skills to Supprt Opinions and Panel Discussion
Fifth graders examine note taking skills in order to support opinions. In this language arts lesson, 5th graders read several newpaper articles and discuss a current issue. Students explore how to paraphrase so as not to commit plagiarism.
Curated OER
Note taking on Sources Other Than Text
Students examine different sources of information. They evaluate and take notes from a variety of sources.
Curated OER
Investigate a New Word from "Notes from the Trail"
Learners read and take notes from Notes from the Trail. For this reading fluency lesson, students read back and share their notes finding 7-10 new words. Learners define, write an unrelated sentence and present.
Curated OER
Note Taking Worksheet--Vancouver
In this note taking worksheet, 4th graders research Vancouver and fill in facts on the graphic organizer. Students complete a map outline as well.
Curated OER
Research: Note Taking
In this note taking worksheet, students fill in a graphic organizer on topics, pages, sources, and notes. Students complete 9 places to take down notes.