Literacy Design Collaborative
Exploring Character Development in The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
How did the Civil Rights Movement affect young people in the United States? Scholars read Christopher Paul Curtis' novel, The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963. Next, they write compare and contrast essays showing how the main...
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Pen Pals
Fifth graders become pen pals from other countries and research their countries for information that help with their writing. This information is then sent to another student who is also portraying someone from another country.
US National Archives
Eastern Europe 1939-45 — Camps
Britain's decision not to bomb German death camps in World War II has provided many questions for historians, but with a primary source analysis lesson, high school students may be a step closer to finding out the truth. Learners read...
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Rock Swap
Students collect rocks found locally and write a brief description which includes the name of the rock, whether the rock is sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous, and what uses the rock has. They exchange rocks with another class in...
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What a Difference a Year Makes: Billy's Letter
Seventh graders read, "Where the Red Fern Grows" and write a RAFT letter from the point of view of the character Billy to his grandpa reflecting on the death of his dog and his adjustment to life in town.
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But We Need More, Where Will It Come From?
Students write a persuasive letter and create a poster about pollution and conservation. In this pollution and conservation lesson plan, students learn how humans are the number 1 cause of pollution.
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Asking for Information
In this asking for information worksheet, students correct mistakes, join phrases, and write an email, all having to do with information. Students correct 8 sentences, connect 10 phrases to make 5 sentences, and write 1 email.
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The Mail Race
Students create friendly letters and surveys to other schools. In this letter writing lesson, students format friendly letters to other school and request a reply. Students chart the replies on a map and share information from the...
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In 'Other words' Writing Gently Humorous Essays About Stereotypes
Define and understand what stereotypes are by reading an article with stereotyping in it. Students will locate how it shows stereotyping and answer questions about the stereotypes. Finally, they will write their own pieces of original work.
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Letter Writing Basics
Students construct a letter about a classroom issue as a class. They then write a letter individually that requests information, file a complaint or complement, or write a letter to the editor/legislator.
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Cows That Type Friendly Letters
Students engage in a instructional activity that introduces the parts of a letter. The instructional activity is taught using a powerpoint presentation with the purpose of integrating technology into instruction. Students create a letter...
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Big Bubble Letter Poster
In this getting to know you worksheet, students follow the directions to create bubble letters for their names and then fill each letter with information about themselves.
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Put That in Writing
Students identify life situations which require various writing responses, use the power of the written word to obtain results, practice writing responses to real-world events, and demonstrate the skills needed to recognize and create...
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Social Letter
Students write social letter to friend or penpal in target foreign language to demonstrate knowledge of vocabulary and complex language structures, write with understanding and facility, and use appropriate presentational strategies to...
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Advocacy Through Letter Writing
Students develop an advocacy plan to address a health-related need for a local, national or global health problem. Students write a detailed letter as part of their advocacy plan.
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Amelia Bedelia (Persuasive Writing)
Young scholars read and discuss the book "Amelia Bedelia". They brainstorm all of the options certain characters in the book could have done instead of what they chose to do. They decide if the decision was a good or bad. They write a...
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Activity 5: Creative Writing/Expression About Child Labor
Middle schoolers research child labor using Internet resources. They present the information in a creative writing piece and post it on Chalkboard.
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A Letter Home
Second graders brainstorm a list of jobs that a crew member of the HMS Victory would perform. They participate in a guided reading of the "Sea and Learn" notes about working at sea by writing notes as the listen to text. Next, they write...
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Business Writing Lesson Plan:
Students learn the importance of business writing, including content and presentation. They improve their usage of punctuation and commas.
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Shortened Words
Shorten names and words with different activities. Nicknames, acronyms, and shortened words (fridge instead of refrigerator, for example) are ways for third graders to build their vocabulary and differentiate between formal and informal...
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Using a Dictionary: Root Words
A dictionary is a very helpful tool. Teach your third graders how to locate words, define them, and understand what root words are. They look up 12 words, write their definitions, then determine the root word that helps categorize each...
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Vocabulary Building Activity
Four weeks of vocabulary words are provided here! Each week has between six and seven vocabulary words for your young learners to master. First they hear each word, and then they get a short definition for each word. The second activity...
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Developing an Outline
A lot of writers don't like creating an outline before writing the first draft of their paper. Introduce them to what an effective and organized outline looks like with this presentation. Designed for higher education, you could easily...
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Vocabulary Building Activity
The four worksheets here are provided to introduce your learners to new vocabulary on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Each list contains seven vocabulary words focused on a specfic vowel pair. First the learner hears the word,...