Curated OER
Planet Pluto and Personification
In this writing prompt worksheet students are asked to use personification in discussing the redefinition of "planet Pluto" to "dwarf planet." Students are asked to communicate the feelings of the planet as it pertains to its...
Curated OER
Using Apostrophes
In this apostrophes instructional activity, 6th graders fill in a crossword puzzle as they figure out the answers to fourteen clues associated with spelling words with apostrophes.
Curated OER
J'ai mal à la tête! (I have a headache!) -- Health Expressions in French
Oh, no! Everyone is getting sick! Young French speakers use French expressions regarding physical health, some of which are idioms. With the use of health expressions provided in the lesson plan, pairs work together to write stories that...
Curated OER
Idiom Workout
Teach your students that identifying a phrase as an idiom isn't an insult! Providing an ample definition of the term "idiom," as well as three categories of popular idioms ("get the..." "in a..." and "on the..."), the activity prompts...
Curated OER
Idiom Exercise
Don't let your pupils bite off more than they can chew! Comprehending idiomatic speech can be very perplexing to language learners. Readers must use context clues, common sense, and knowledge of the connotative and denotative meanings to...
Curated OER
People Alliteration
Young readers discover alliteration as they read about it and fill in the blanks in 12 questions using alliterative words.
Curated OER
Animal Alliteration
Second graders discover alliteration as they read about it and fill in the blanks in 12 questions using alliterative words.
Curated OER
To Kill a Mockingbird
Provided here are activities and questions for Part I of To Kill a Mockingbird (although one activity is also included for Part II). Readers study the novel's plot, characters, and setting. I wouldn't recommend using this as the sole...
Curated OER
Studying Idioms and Word Meaning
Idioms are really confusing, but learning them will help your readers deepen their understanding of a variety of texts. This 11-slide presentation offers several examples (like "break a leg" and "mind your manners") to help readers use...
Curated OER
Idioms
It's often confusing which word should be used to complete a sentence. Although this learning exercise's title insinuates that idioms will be discussed, the practice section is just about using words like to, who, with, as, and that...
Curated OER
Semantics
Use this PowerPoint in your college linguistics, English, psychology, or communications studies course. Not flashy, this presentation is still full of high-level concepts and vocabulary regarding semantics and verbal ambiguities, irony...
Curated OER
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Who would you love to see at your table? Groups research a decade, ranging from the 1840s to the 1960s, read a short story associated with that decade, and plan a dinner party, complete with table set-up and menu. After researching...
Curated OER
Mapping Your Identity: A Back-To-School Ice Breaker
Identify the unique personal attributes of your class members. Begin by viewing the Visual Thesaurus and discussing displayed attributes associated with famous American leaders. Using these identity maps as models, pupils generate nouns...
Curated OER
Understanding Questions in Spanish
How can you discover what a question is asking in Spanish? Use this scaffolded worksheet to help your learners understand how questions are formed in Spanish.
Curated OER
Journeying to Create
Show a video clip that descripes how taking a journey can change a person's outlook on life. Learners write a paragraph about a place that uses imagery and tone to create a specfic effect. They evaluate their journal entries as well.
New Vista Middle School
Hyperboles
Turn hyper bowls into hyperboles that will take away the breath of your principal and learners with the knowledge available in this presentation. The PowerPoint provides very clear and accurate information that breaks down how hyperboles...
PBS
Does Art Imitate Life?
Write what you know, sound advice for any writer and something many famous authors are known to have done. Use these materials to explore how Shakespeare's life influenced his plays. This resource is packed with readings, video segments,...
Curated OER
Analyzing Folklore: Redwall
Brian Jacques’ novel Redwall provides the focus for a series of lessons involving the analysis of folklore. Adopting the persona of a character, groups write letters in the voice of their character, assemble a collage using Microsoft...
EngageNY
Introducing Close Reading: Finding the Main Message and Taking Notes About Rain School
This second lesson in a larger unit is perfect for the beginning of the year because it explicitly teaches 3rd graders how to use close reading skills by identifying unfamiliar words, figuring out the gist, and defining important...
EngageNY
Science Talk: How do Bullfrogs Survive
Following the reading of the book Bullfrog at Magnolia Circle, the ninth instructional activity in this unit involves emerging experts in a science talk about how bullfrogs survive. Looking back through the text, young scholars...
Curated OER
Hamilton and Burr : Compare and Contrast
Who were Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton? High schoolers examine the character traits of these historical figures and watch the video, The Duel. Hamilton vs. Burr: An Event that Changed History (available from PBS), to gain...
Illustrative Mathematics
Make Your Own Puzzle
Puzzling over what geometry lesson to teach next? Look no further. This simple activity teaches young mathematicians how shapes can be decomposed into smaller figures, and how smaller figures can be assembled into larger shapes. To learn...
Curated OER
Connotation and Denotation: How Word Choice Affects a Paragraph
Review the terms denotation, connotation, diction, and mood in paragraph writing. After defining the terms, middle schoolers practice writing examples of both connotation and denotation. They complete a connotation and denotation...
Curated OER
My Secret War: Lesson 1
Fifth graders explore historical fiction. In this genre study lesson plan, 5th graders go on a text feature scavenger hunt to identify the parts of a historical fiction text. Additionally, students read the book, My Secret War and...