Mr. Nussbaum
French and Indian War
Scholars read a short information text about the French and Indian War, then answer 10 multiple-choice questions. A score sheet appears when all the questions have been answered.
Mr. Nussbaum
Christopher Columbus
A short informative text features the European explorer, Christopher Columbus. Scholars read or listen to the text then answer ten fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions.
Perkins School for the Blind
Please Call Me Names!
Teaching students who are blind means teaching them skills a sighted person may take for granted. To practice calling people and objects by name, learners engage in a cueing activity. The child calls for an adult by name, and then uses a...
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Genre Lesson: Historical Fiction
Take a trip through history with a lesson on historical fiction. With instructions for games, reading activities, and literary analysis assignments, this resource would be a great addition to any reading unit with a historical fiction...
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Mysterious Plot Problems
Your readers explore plot patterns in mysteries by identifying problems first in Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol and then in The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. To gain access to the worksheets, graphic organizers and riddles...
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Thinking about Theme
Sixth graders explore theme in science fiction texts by examining how plot conflicts are resolved. This resource focuses on Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, but the approach and guiding questions could apply to a variety of texts.
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Events and Effects
Explore the plot structure in biographies. First, read the biography The Story of Jackie Robinson, Bravest Man in Baseball and identify specific events that possibly changed the life of Jackie Robinson. As you guide your listeners, they...
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A Poem's Theme
Show young poets how to use the main idea and voice to determine the theme of a poem. Model the steps using Listen Children. Lucille Clifton’s This Morning provides guided practice. Finally, class members use Nikki Giovanni’s Legacies...
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Using Plot Elements to Retell a Story
The stories in Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street form the basis for a lesson plan on plot elements. The class examines introduction, sequence, problem, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution and identifies these...
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Lesson 5: Theme Matters
Young scholars explore themes in fiction with this literacy comprehension lesson. They generate ideas for possible themes developed in the fairy tale of The Ant and the Cricket. Next, they examine the plot of The Great Gilly Hopkins and...
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Multiple Perspectives
Analyze multiple perspectives in short stories. Sixth graders examine the point of view of each major character in three different short stories. After reading the stories, they role-play characters and hypothesize about the character's...
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Genre Lesson: Science Fiction
Sixth graders explore the components of science fiction in a science and literacy activity. As they define and record definitions of the term on the board, learners identify a text as science fiction using the terms they have listed to...
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Genre Lesson: What is a Mystery?
Examine the elements in a mystery with The Westing Game. Learners unscramble words as if they had to put clues together. Additionally, they discuss terms used in mysteries. They practice the word using the context of the story, as well...
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Identifying Symbols
Sixth graders explore the meanings of symbols. After creating a symbolism match game, they work on analyzing symbolism in their reading. Next, they read text and record concepts that are being repeated through the story, and use their...
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Author's Opinion
Learners complete a worksheet. In this author's opinion instructional activity, students learn how to determine an author's opinion when it is not explicitly stated in the text. Learners answer fact and opinion questions and use them...
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The Similarities and Differences of Setting
Sixth graders compare science fiction to reality. In this setting lesson students use Chapter 6 of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Students record detailed descriptions from the text that are different of similar to real life.
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Lesson 4: Fact and Opinion - Rosa Parks: My Story
Sixth graders examine implicit and explicit opinions in a text about Rosa Parks. In this explicit and implicit opinions lesson, 6th graders participate in direct teaching, guided practice, and independent practice while reading an...
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Genre Lesson: Narrative Poetry
Sixth graders complete a worksheet. For this poetry lesson, 6th graders learn about the differences between narrative poetry and lyric poetry. Students read poems and determine which form of poetry they are as well as identify...
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Interpreting a Symbol
Sixth graders discuss symbols from the story, A Wrinkle in Time. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders discuss meanings and symbols of different characters. Additionally, students create a class list with details about the characters...
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Experience and Perspective
Sixth graders consider how one's prior experiences influence perspective. For this experience and perspective lesson, 6th graders discuss their personal experiences and examine those of a character in the text Home of the Brave. Students...
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The Similarities and Differences of Setting
Sixth graders identify components of the setting in science fiction text. In this compare and contrast settings lesson, 6th graders read Only You Can Save Mankind and identify similarities and differences between science fiction text and...
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Mysterious Plot Problems
Students explore the plot of mystery books. In this genre study lesson, students read the book, Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy and listen to a read aloud of a chapter from the text. Students fill in a graphic organizer that helps...
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Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
Sixth graders identify clues to solve a mystery. In this details lesson plan, 6th graders read from Sammy Keyes and The Hollywood Mummy and consider key details or items that would provide a clue to solve the mystery. Students write...
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Genre Lesson: Autobiography
Have your middle schoolers write a short story about themselves with an autobiography unit about Rosa Parks. They learn the difference between biographies and autobiographies, define the different types of autobiographies and determine...