Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Drafting Body Paragraphs

For Teachers 6th Standards
That's just the style. Learners begin with a mini-lesson about formal writing style. They then use what they learned about formal writing to begin the body paragraphs for their End of Unit 1 Assessment Prompt: Adversity in the Middle...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Drafting Introduction and Conclusion

For Teachers 6th Standards
In conclusion ... Scholars analyze the model essay Adversity Faced by Townspeople in the Middle Ages to gain a better understanding of introductory and concluding paragraphs. After studying the author's strategies, learners begin...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Gist: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 1

For Teachers 6th Standards
Dig deep. Scholars dig deep for meaning while reading Middle Ages Excerpt 1. They begin by finding unfamiliar words and adding them to a word catcher. Pupils then take a close look at adversity in the text and complete an...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Introducing “Comprehending the Calamity”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Some things are beyond comprehension. Scholars read an excerpt from "Comprehending the Calamity," a primary source text about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. After identifying the gist, pupils complete anchor charts to analyze how the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Reading for Gist and Analyzing Point of View: Moon Shadow

For Teachers 6th Standards
Character analysis isn't always earth-shattering. Using a graphic organizer, pupils analyze Moon Shadow's point of view following the earthquake in Laurence Yep's Dragonwings. Also, scholars co-create an anchor chart showing the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing the Purpose of a Newspaper Article

For Teachers 6th Standards
Shh! No talking during the discussion! Using the resource, scholars engage in a silent discussion called a Chalk Talk activity to analyze the purpose of a newspaper article. Additionally, they read a model newspaper article and try to...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Claim, Reasons, and Evidence: Planning the Body Paragraphs

For Teachers 6th Standards
Planning is the key to success. Scholars continue planning their essays by adding reasons to their Planning My Argument graphic organizers. Additionally, pupils analyze a body paragraph from a model position paper, identifying the...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Finishing Poster and Preparing for Gallery Walk

For Teachers 6th Standards
Practice makes progress! Using their drafts and resources from the previous lesson, pupils complete scientific posters for an upcoming gallery walk. Next, they practice presenting their posters to assigned partners. 
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Completing Reflection: Preparing a Poster for Presentation

For Teachers 6th Standards
Prewrite, plan, draft, revise, edit, share. Scholars complete a worksheet to reflect on how they used the writing process to improve their writing. They also draft plans for their scientific posters that they will display in an upcoming...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Peer Critique and Revising: Formal English

For Teachers 6th Standards
Dear Sir or Madam: What's the difference between formal and informal language? Scholars focus on using formal English and transitions in their position papers. After revising their rough drafts, they engage in the peer editing process...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Annotating the Text and Identifying Argument, Claims, and Evidence: “Double Whammy” Excerpt from “The Exterminator"

For Teachers 6th Standards
That's a double whammy! Scholars read the excerpt Double Whammy from The Exterminator. After identifying the gist of the text, they annotate by marking the author's claim. The group discusses what is meant by double whammy and...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Tracing a Speaker’s Argument: John Stossel DDT Video

For Teachers 6th Standards
Which side are you on? Scholars watch a video of John Stossel discussing the use of DDT pesticide. Learners talk about the purpose of the video and the speaker's argument and then complete a Tracing an Argument graphic organizer while...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Launching Frightful’s Mountain: Building Background Knowledge and Establishing Reading Routines

For Teachers 6th Standards
Welcome to Frightful's Mountain. The teacher introduces scholars to the text Frightful’s Mountain by reading the first chapter aloud. Learners then talk with a partner about the text. The instructor models answering focus questions...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Performance Task: Hosted Gallery Walk of Scientific Posters

For Teachers 6th Standards
The guests have arrived. Scholars participate in a hosted gallery walk, using their scientific posters to share their research about DDT with their classmates. Then, using sticky notes, individuals leave positive feedback on their peers'...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pet Pellets

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students create and design advertising for a tempting new pet food! They create an imaginary pet food, analyze and identify types of propaganda and design packaging and advertising for the pet food.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment: Tracing and Evaluating Arguments

For Teachers 7th Standards
Give water the attention it deserves. Scholars watch Corporations Need to Pay More Attention to Water and respond to questions as part of their end of the unit assessment. They then complete the assessment by reading and responding to...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment, Part 2: Drafting Introduction and Conclusion of an Essay to Inform

For Teachers 6th Standards
A powerful introduction and conclusion can really pack a punch. Using the resource, scholars first read and discuss a model essay. Then, as part of the end of unit assessment, they draft the introductory and concluding paragraphs of...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing a Summary: “Middle Ages” Excerpt 2

For Teachers 6th Standards
What is the big idea? Scholars use Middle Ages Excerpt 2 to complete a summary graphic organizer. They then use the information from the organizer to write a summary of the text on lined paper. Learners share summaries with the class.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Finding the Gist of the Immediate Aftermath: Excerpt of “Comprehending the Calamity”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Brace for the aftershocks! Scholars read an excerpt from a primary source document about the immediate aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. Next, pupils complete an anchor chart, analyzing how the author introduces,...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing Author’s Point of View: Immediate Aftermath Excerpt of “Comprehending the Calamity"

For Teachers 6th Standards
Analyze that! Scholars continue reading and analyzing a primary source about the immediate aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. Then, individuals use graphic organizers to identify the author's point of view.
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Forming a Research-Based Claim: Creating Stakeholders Charts

For Teachers 6th Standards
Present the facts. Scholars create presentations of their research on DDT using their Cascading Consequences chart and a Stakeholders Impacts chart as visuals. They discuss the term stakeholders and create a Stakeholders Impacts chart...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Presentation of Events: Comparing Two Authors

For Teachers 6th Standards
Give a little clue! Readers learn how context clues can help them determine the meaning of words by viewing a Context Clues Resource sheet then completing a Context Clues practice sheet. They then compare events presented by two...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Applying Research Skills: “Rachel Carson: Environmentalist and Writer”

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's important to cite sources! Scholars take a closer look at their research about DDT by examining how to cite sources. Learners take turns sharing information that would be used to cite sources to complement Rachel Carson:...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Getting the Gist and Paraphrasing: “Rachel Carson: Environmentalist and Writer”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Don't copy me. Scholars prepare to dig in with an introduction to their research folder and a discussion about plagiarism. They then review the meanings of harmful and beneficial and how the words apply to the use of DDT. They finish the...