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Science Fiction
Do your sixth graders like science fiction? Learn to identify elements of the science fiction genre with a literature lesson. They read from Only You Can Save Mankind and identify the objects, words, and characters from the scenarios....
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Predicting Events-Realistic Fiction
Start out with a general scenario to get your class warmed up. Have individuals guess what will happen next and then apply that skill to Maniac Magee. Provide guided practice and then break your class off into partners to fill out a...
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Mystery Plot Problems
Learners recognize that mysteries contain a problem that needs solving at the beginning of the book. In this mystery plot lesson, students become the detectives finding the problems and minor problems in a mystery story. Learners view...
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Red Herrings
Young scholars follow clues and find a hidden object that is really in plain sight. In this red herrings lesson plan, students recognize that some reading clues are misleading. Young scholars read Chasing Vermeer and search for...
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Lesson 3: Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
In this reading comprehension lesson, 6th graders read the novel, The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. Students practice exploring the process of drawing conclusions from details to solve a mystery. Students interact with a Clue Tracker...
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Using Plot Elements to Retell a Story
Sixth graders chart a story. In this plot elements activity students chart and then retell a story from the rising action until the resolution. Students use stories from the book America Street.
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Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
Sixth graders find clues. In this mystery lesson students search for clues within Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett to solve the mystery in the story. Students record the details they find.
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Picture Talk
Students explain a picture or caption using events from a story. In this literacy instructional activity, students analyze a picture and make a connection to the text. Additionally, students share ideas about how pictures can form a...
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Character's Motive
Sixth graders determine a character's motive while reading a text. In this motive lesson, 6th graders discuss motivation and how that can impact a character's actions. Students read passages about suspects and try to solve a crime while...
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Compare and Contrast Passages
Combine two skills with the activities included here. Pupils not only practice determining the main idea of short passages, they also use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the main ideas of the different passages. Start out...
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Determine the Meaning of Unknown Words
Sixth graders explore the meanings of unknown words in science fiction. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders participate in a game of Balderdash and guess the meanings of given words. Students discuss how to use context clues to...
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Lesson 5: Red Herrings
A red herring isn't just a fish! Identify the clues that an author makes in a book to mislead the reader and make predictions accordingly. Have your class discuss how it feels to be tricked as a reader and about making wrong predictions....
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Character's Motive: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy
Sixth graders explore language arts by completing a reading comprehension worksheet. In this character study lesson, 6th graders read a crime story and investigate which character they belive committed the crime. Students complete a...
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Textual Analysis Lesson: Who Was Vermeer?
Apply the Textual Analysis process and answer questions about a text. Learners read Chasing Vermeer and "Who Was Vermeer?" They then use the textual analysis process to answer questions regarding what they read.
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Multiple Perspectives
Sixth graders watch and listen as teacher models how to contrast and compare perspectives in a story. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders engage in guided practice to compare and contrast perspectives in a selection titled "No...
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Narrative Poetry
Sixth graders explore narrative poetry. For this language arts lesson, 6th graders create a group story. Students discuss the characteristics of narrative poetry and use a story elements checklist to determine which poems are narrative...
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Interpreting Perspective
Sixth graders analyze how a character's perspective is influenced by cultural backgrounds. In this language arts lesson plan, 6th graders discuss traditions and celebrations they participate in. Students read a story and discuss how the...
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Interpreting a Symbol
Analyze the symbols in the book, Only You Can Save Mankind in a fun science fiction activity. After investigating the symbols from the book, middle schoolers jot down any details they recall about objects or idea. Next, they brainstorm...
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Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Sixth graders explore the genre of mystery. In this language arts instructional activity, 6th graders predict the solution to a mystery based on the text. Students read a text and predict the solution.
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Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
Students investigate clues in mystery novels. In this genre study lesson, students read the book Sammy Keyes and The Hotel Thief and use the 5 W's to answer questions about the mystery. Students draw conclusions using the details from...
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Textual Analysis: Forensic Science Files: Handwriting Analysis
Learn to analyze handwriting samples in a textual analysis instructional activity. Middle schoolers complete a textual analysis procedure based on the text Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. They also provide supporting evidence for their...
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Lesson 3: Voice
Examine the "voice" of Ganwar, a character in "Ganwar Speaks!" from Home of the Brave. Middle schoolers identify and discuss dialect, description, and tone. They then work independently to analyze voice and complete worksheets. An...
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What are the Main Ideas?
Prior to beginning Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks, model for your class members how to determine the main idea of a text. Exercepts from another story are provided to use for the demonstration. The focus then shifts to Rosa Parks'...
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Genre Lesson: Short Story
Stories from Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street provide sixth graders with an opporltunity to identify the elements of a short story. After several modeling exercises, readers use the provided worksheet to recording information...