Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Has the Power?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write persuasive letters expressing opinions about the purchase of 25 acres adjacent to Wakulla Springs proposed to include a convenience store/gas station. They submit the letter to the Florida Department of Environmental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

English and Literacy: Children's Rights - Expanded Paragraphs

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students write expanded paragraphs about children's rights. In this writing and children's rights lesson plan, students listen to Caroline Castle's, For Every Child, noting the points about children's rights on each page. They discuss...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Taking a Stand

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, students analyze political cartoons that feature the use of persuasion and propaganda. Students respond to 2 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Peer Editing Worksheet

For Students 10th - 12th
The strength of this peer editing activity is that it addresses all the elements that should appear in a well-written essay. In addition, editors are encouraged to avoid one-word responses and instead, to make specific suggestions for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Team Apollo

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders brainstorm about problems with a school track. They research different possibilities for a solution. They test different track materials with erosion, durability, abrasiveness and resiliency. They determine the area,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Water & Air

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The introduction to the lesson mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map activity to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Persuasive Letter about Smoking

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students write a persuasive letter to someone they care about who smokes. They must use both logical and emotional appeals in their letter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a How-To Paper

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover that when writing a how-to paper, they are telling readers how to do something such as cook a particular recipe. They then choose one of the provided topics and write their own how-to paper.
Organizer
Curated OER

Promotional Leaflet for a European Country

For Students 6th - 8th
In this European Union studies worksheet, students follow guidelines to create a brochure to promote tourism to a European country of their choice.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Shooting An Elephant": George Orwell's Essay on his Life in Burma

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read an essay by George Orwell's life in Burma and place it in its cultural and historical context. They identify the main points of the essay and Orwell's use of symbolism in the essay. They explain how each persuasive tool...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sato and the Elephants

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a persuasive letter to the government of an African country that has elephants as a resource. Students research and debate the pros and cons of ivory use. Students identify the value of ivory products versus the lives of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Main Idea in Informational Text

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Readers identify main ideas and supporting details using informational texts. In this literacy instructional activity, they make predictions and read the text to find the main ideas. They use a table diagram to define the main idea and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gathering and Analysis of Data

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Young mathematicians gather data on a topic, graph it in various forms, interpret the information, and write a summary of the data. They present their data and graphs to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts: GloFish - Illuminating Essays

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research the genetically-engineered GloFish and write essays expressing their views about the subject. They evaluate the pros and cons of genetic engineering.Students may also hold a debate about genetic engineering.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why I Like ________?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students write a persuasive essay on why they would like to visit a particular place in the United States and why they think others should see that particular place. In their essay, they should use the title I have for this lesson and...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Power of Persuasion

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Teaching students about persuasion can be a fun experience that involves writing, PowerPoint presentations, and vocabulary building.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Disease Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the bubonic plague including disease facts, the time frame of outbreaks and the impact it had on society. They examine the work of Edgar Allen Poe and write an essay explaining why the plague was a subject of interest...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

How to Deal With Class Size Increases

For Teachers 1st - 6th
While class size increases make it more challenging for teachers to meet students' needs, there are ways to make things a little easier.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Substance Abuse Prevention at Hollywood High

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars research alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs using cd-roms, Internet websites, and media center materials. In small groups they write a script and create a computer animated movie using the "Hollywood High" computer software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sectionalism and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students define and discuss sectionalism and popular sovereignty, analyze impact of popular sovereignty in creation of state of Kansas, compare issues in territorial Kansas to current politically divisive topic, and evaluate primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880. In this History instructional activity, students explore the issues of immigration and exclusion surrounding the Chinese Expulsion Act. Students will use a variety of primary sources to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The President's Day Has Arrived

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students state and defend their opinions regarding all aspects of the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton after completing a survey and researching the topic. They also consider opinion polls, media bias and global politics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Runaway Indentured Servants

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students compare and contrast indentured servants and slaves. In this US history slavery lesson, students discuss the owners' perceptions of indentured servants and slaves, then view ads for runaway slaves to support their opinions....