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A Walk Through the Past: A Grave Undertaking
Students explore how historians construct a story out of fragments of the past; a discussion of nineteenth century poetry and art leads students to connect art and literature to their place in time.
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Allen Ginsberg: Poetry and Politics
High schoolers explore the poetry of Allen Ginsberg. They read and analyze poems by Allen Ginsberg, conduct Internet research, collect examples of art of the 60s, and create a presentation.
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Poetry-The Essence of Life
Students analyze and appreciate various types of poetry. In this poetry unit, students read classic and contemporary works to discover ways in which poetry expresses strong feelings. Students identify key vocabulary used to analyze...
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The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 13 multiple choice questions based on The Things They Carried. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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Poetry Slams and Lesson Plans
Poetry slams can lead your students beyond a focus on rhyme and meter and into the emotional pull of poetry.
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Multimedia in the Language Arts Classroom
Multimedia lesson plans are a way for students to explore language arts in a creative way.
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Football: It's Not Just for Jocks!
Eighth graders complete a variety of football-themed activities. They develop creative writing projects with a football inspiration, research and interpret football statistics and practice football skills in P.E.
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PowerPoint Poetry Project
Seventh graders create PowerPoint poetry "books." They write five to seven autobiographical poems, select appropriate photos and music, and combine everything into a PowerPoint poetry presentation. They use many technological resources...
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A Panel of Survivors
Students role-play real-life survivors in a panel discussion. They read a mini-biography about a survivor.
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Landmine Poetry
Students create a variety of poems based on information they gather about the worldwide landmine crisis. They create shape poems, diamante poems and acrostic poems. This is a very nice lesson on poetry, with a strong tie-in to the issue...
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Eleventh graders discover the thematic connections between classical literary and popular song lyrics. In this English instructional activity, 11th graders research a specific topic to be presented to the class. Students analyze song...
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Japanese Poetry: Tanka? You're Welcome!
Students analyze Japanese tanka poetry. In this Japanese poetry lesson, students identify analyze the structure of tanka poetry. Students complete the activities at the given links for the lesson and compose two tanka poems.
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Slave's Dream"
Students examine Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's contribution to the anti-slavery movement. They read and analyze a poem, identify the poem's techniques, and write a critique of the poem, "The Slave's Dream."
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Students read and analyze the novel "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou. They discuss the poetry and prose of the book, the importance of role models, complete a worksheet, and write a narrative using figurative language.
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Lilting Limericks
Students discover the formula for writing limericks and use it to write their own poems.
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Where are your borders?
Students explore the meaning of borders, both real and symbolic. After viewing film footage and visiting poetry websites, they develop their own point of view. To express their perspective, they are to write a journalism poem, or...
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Restating Infinitive Phrases
In this infinitive phrases worksheet, students change the sentence around so that the infinitive phrase is now a gerund phrase. Students complete 10 sentences.
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Rap as Lyrical Poetry
Students investigate the history of rap as an analysis of lyrical poetry and hip hop culture. In this rap analysis instructional activity, students watch a PBS NewsHour clip about the difference between rap music and hip hop culture....
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Introduction to Poetry
Middle schoolers are introduced to poetry and music. They discuss what the two have in common. They identify a song as their favorite and explain why.
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Superb Sonnets
Students identify and compare the characteristics of both Italian and English sonnets. They read examples of each, then write an original sonnet in either the Italian or English style.
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Landscape Book
Pupils create a three-dimensional book about landscapes. They must show their understanding of shape, color and balance.
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The Great Gatsby
Eleventh graders investigate the concept of the American Dream. They use the novel "The Great Gatsby" as an example from literature. Students brainstorm in order to define the American Dream.
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Guided Reading with Two Sweet Peas
Second graders read the book, Two Sweet Peas. Working in guided reading groups, they discuss moving, making friends, and the differences between poems and stories. They read the book silently and discuss the importance of being kind and...
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Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits
Students compare and contrast historical and contemporary photographs of important figures in African American history. In this photography analysis lesson, students learn key photography vocabulary and use a Venn Diagram to explore...