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Figurative Language: Part Two
Help your young writers make their writing more descriptive and exciting in this figurative language lesson. Middle schoolers review their figurative language examples from Part One (linked to this lesson), and then write a paragraph for...
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A New Point of View
Analyze point of view and how it affects a literary work with this lesson. Middle schoolers create a written piece that focuses on point of view. They review the literary term "point of view," and explore examples of the term in text....
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Writing Formal Letters
Help your young writers recognize the importance of composing formal letters. Middle schoolers read letters written by Thomas Jefferson and analyze the components that make it a formal letter. They will then compose their own...
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Aztec Myths: Writing Editorials
Middle schoolers write an editorial giving an opinion of whether or not Quetzalcoatl has arrived and if so, what the Aztecs should do. They discuss whether or not they believe Quetzalcoatl is a god or a man, and use an Editorial...
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Plagiarism
Don't get caught plagiarizing! Before starting your research unit, use this lesson to help your young writers identify plagiarism. The truth is, many kids don't even realize when they're doing it! They practice citing sources when...
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Sequencing
Are you looking for a way to teach sequence of events in your narrative writing unit? Bring this lesson to your middle school class, as it prompts young writers to create a narrative sequence map of events that have happened at school...
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Writing Lesson Plan: Stop and Go: Capitals and Periods
Examine writing using a fun, interactive format. Young writers choose a piece of their own writing to proofread for initial capitals and final periods they left out. They work independently using green stickers to add capitals and red...
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Improving Descriptive Writing: Painting an Original Picture
Descriptive writing is rich in sensory appeals and paints pictures in the minds of readers. Show young writers how to use an on-line thesaurus and a cliché website to create fresh, descriptive writing. The presentation ends with an...
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How To Do an AHAP DBQ
How is an essay like a hamburger? Detailing the "meaty" parts of a well-written essay, this presentation takes students through the process of using a strong thesis statement to write a thorough and engaging response to a Document Based...
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Poetry Beyond Words
Participate in writing poetry as a group. Focused on a given theme, young writers compose a popcorn poem using sensing verbs and adverbs. They write popcorn poems, onomatopoeias, collective poems, and diamond poems. You could introduce...
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Thumbs Up For Movie Reviews
If your class loves movies, this lesson is sure to interest them. After discussing the purpose and structure of movie reviews, young writers compose a movie review and discuss why people may read a review before they go see a film. The...
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Using Commas Correctly
Commas can be complicated. Help learners achieve a greater understanding of comma usage with this handout, which includes two different comma activities. Following given directions, young writers punctuate provided sentences and combine...
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Unlocking the Secrets of a Persuasive Essay
Full of tips about structure, audience, and evidence in a persuasive essay, this presentation would be a great way to start a writing unit in your class. One slide advises young writers to make up quotes and statistics in their essays....
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Adding -ing to Words
If you are teaching your young writers about the rules involved when adding -ing to the end of a word, then this presentation is for you! Learners are shown the two most important rules when adding -ing to the end of a word, then...
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What's wrong with "could of," "should of," "would of?"
A common mistake in writing is using the words, "could of" instead of "could have." Additionally, many young writers make the mistake of following a contraction with the word "of." For example; He wouldn't of waited for you. This...
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Creating Complex Sentences
Here is an excellent presentation on creating complex sentences. Young writers discover that a complex sentence is a sentence that joins two or more sentences together. There are many ways for these types of sentences to be constructed,...
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The Setting
One of the most important elements of a story is the setting; when and where the story takes place. This presentation gives young writers excellent tips on how to create a setting by using visuals, time, description, and interesting...
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Missing: One Princess
Catalyze your classroom's creativity with this PowerPoint. It provides young writers with a general idea of a story about a missing princess, different characters, and step-by-step writing instructions from beginning to end. There are...
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Tracing Capital Letters I-P
Practice capital letters I-P in this printing drill worksheet, which has young writers examine arrows on sample letters to guide their pencils. A shaded letter gives them tracing practice, and then they try a few on their own in the...
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Tracing the Letter i
Young writers practice their letters in this tracing learning exercise focused on the lower-case i. They focus on how the "magic pencil" writes, and try a few on their own. Next, they trace letters to complete four CVC words, and add an...
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Moving to the Five Paragraph Narrative Essay: A Write On Activity
Ready to introduce your young writers to the multi-paragraph essay? Here’s an illustrated presentation that models how to use the pre-writing notes on a graphic organizer to craft a personal essay. Color codes help viewers identify the...
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Unleash Your Inner Editor
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a writing project for which participants write an entire novel in a single month. If you have decided to this in your class, this resource will be useful for you. This is an editing...
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Which vs. That in Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
Should you use which or that when using a restrictive clause? What about a non-restrictive clause? Young writers practice their grammar skills with this resource, which provides a straightforward guide to which vs. that, as well as ten...
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For the Love of Publication!
What is a ‘Zine? Although the referenced PBS video that launches this study of self-published magazines is not available, the activities detailed and the step-by-step directions for creating ‘Zines would engage young writers. This...