Curated OER
Picture This
A unique writing lesson, this plan begins with learners talking about multiculturalism in small groups. Each learner will choose a picture from a newspaper, describe it to their small group, and think about how it relates to...
BBC
Code Calling - Working Out New Words
Young readers practice deciphering new words by using context clues and grammatical rules. The online activity embedded in the plan is especially engaging, and should be enjoyable for all pupils who work through it. A good printable...
Curated OER
Holidays in Lands Far Away - Boxing Day
A lesson on the holiday known as Boxing Day is here for you. In it, middle schoolers read a passage about the history of the holiday, then complete some reading comprehension worksheets embedded in the plan to reinforce what they have...
Curated OER
Is That Movie OK?
Discuss movies and movie enjoyment with your middle school language arts class. They interpret movie review information, determine appropriate movies, and then write film reviews to share with the class. Focus on using context clues to...
Curated OER
Introducing Synonyms to Early Writers
Upper elementary schoolers examine the concept of synonyms and how using a variety of vocabulary through synonyms can expand their writing skills. They revise a paragraph using synonyms located on the Visual Thesaurus and participate in...
Facing History and Ourselves
Tactics of Nonviolence
Students analyze the direct action tactics of nonviolence. As a class, they distinguish between a strategy and a tactic and identify tactics used during the civil rights movement. They relate these tactics and how they might be used to...
Curated OER
Define Geometry Terms
The Common Core is intended to help all children meet high academic standards. Here is a Common Core designed lesson that is intended for learners with communication or language difficulties. The lesson is written in a narrative style...
EngageNY
Normal Distributions (part 1)
Don't allow your pupils to become outliers! As learners examine normal distributions by calculating z-scores, they compare outcomes by analyzing the z-scores for each.
California Academy of Science
The Heat is On: Cause and Effect and Climate
The higher the number of letters in the final word for the National Spelling Bee, the higher the number of people killed by venomous spiders. Obviously, those two facts correlate, but no causation exists. Scholars view data based on...
Curated OER
Freedom by the Fireside: The Legacy of FDR's "Four Freedoms" Speech
Students read and analyze Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address. They listen to recordings of speeches by F.D.R., answer discussion questions, and participate in a debate.
Curated OER
Goldie Girl and There, Their, and They're: Homophones and Homographs
Instruct your class on homonyms and homophones. Learners take a pre-test and examine a list of homophones. They also play online word games to practice spelling and usage and write a fairy tale in which they use at least 10 homophones....
Curated OER
Using the News in Class
Students listen to international news stories. Students use context clues to determine the meaning of vocabulary words from context, then complete a matching exercise to see if their vocabulary definitions were correct. Students...
Curated OER
Somewhere Under the Rainbow--The Romantic Period in British Literature
Learners create 2-3 poems, a children's story, or a two or three dimensional piece of art. In this Romantic Period lesson, students discuss the historical background of the Romantic Period and relevant literary terms. ...
Curated OER
Word Wonders
Young scholars read passages and use phonics and context clues to self correct themselves while reading. For this reading lesson, students complete a worksheet which is embedded in the plan which has them choose the correct word to...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Julius, the Baby of the World
Students discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students read Julius, Baby of the World, listening for 3 pre-selected, tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the teacher and students...
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Students discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students read The Tale of Peter Rabbit, listening for 3 pre-select tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the teacher and students practice...
Curated OER
Communicating My Ideas; Developing Self-Expression in Writing
Fifth graders identify new vocabulary. In this vocabulary activity, 5th graders predict the meaning of unfamiliar words. Next they find them in a dictionary and use them in a sentence.
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Julius, the Baby of the World
Learners are read Julius, the Baby of the World, by Kevin Henkes. In this vocabulary focused lesson, students discover the definitions of seven new words. They discuss the meanings of the words, as a group, before and after the story is...
Curated OER
Salinger and the Vocabulary of the Vernacular
Young scholars discuss the use of slang expressions in literature. In this literary analysis instructional activity, students examine the use of slang words and expressions in the popular novel Catcher in the Rye. Young...
Curated OER
The Pledge of Allegiance
Young scholars explore the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. In this civics lesson, students examine the document, define related vocabulary words, and rewrite it in their words.
Curated OER
Exploring Descriptive Language With Different Parts of Speech
Students practice experiencing writing with appropriate language and incorporating the eight parts of speech. They assess that many words have multiple functions when used in different contexts. Each student free writes in response to a...
Curated OER
Phineas Gage: Notecard Vocabulary Strategy
Understanding the vocabulary in a text, especially a text like Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science that includes quite a few technical terms, can be the key to understanding the text as a whole. Learners focus on...
Read Write Think
Poetry Portfolios: Using Poetry to Teach Reading
Over the course of five periods, scholars create a poetry portfolio. They begin with a reading of the poem, Firefly. With a focus on vocabulary, learners reread the poem then look for sight words and other skills.
EngageNY
Inferring About Characters Based on How They Respond to Challenges (Chapter 3: "Las Papayas/Papayas")
Start off your day with a quick reading comprehension quiz about chapter three of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. After they complete the quiz, pupils participate in a discussion and look closely at the text. A strong Common Core...