Curated OER
Summarizing the Good Stuff
Students summarize a selected piece of text nonfiction text. After reviewing the correct way to read silently, students read a nonfiction article. Working in groups, they write a summary paragraph using the five step process outlined by...
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Get the Facts
Learners summarize nonfiction text. After reviewing the highlight and cross out process for reading in order to summarize, students independently read a nonfiction article. They write a summary paragraph using the three step process...
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Author Cards
Eighth graders create an informational card for a selected author. They read and analyze a book by their chosen author, conduct research about the author, and create an author card that includes a written critical response to the...
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Understanding Genres
Young scholars identify genres of literature. In this literature instructional activity, students read definitions of the various genres. Young scholars choose books and list clues in the texts that help them identify the appropriate genre.
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I'm a Little Crab Pot
Third graders read Jacob Have I Loved and explore conflict/ resolution.
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Self-Monitoring Strategies and Vocabulary Games
Teachers model self-monitering strategies for their learners. They participate in games and artwork that help them increase their vocabulary. They also complete a crossword puzzle.
Prestwick House
Understanding Language: Slant, Spin, and Bias in the News
We live in a time of fake news, alternative realities, and media bias. What could be more timely than an activity that asks class members to research how different sources report the same topic in the news?
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Self-Monitoring Strategies and Vocabulary Games
Middle and high schoolers identify how to discover a word's meaning by exploring context clues and any pictures, diagrams, photographs, and charts that might be included. They continue this process with other examples and locate one on...
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Primary Sources and Protagonists: A Native American Literature Unit
Introduce your middle schoolers to the lives of past Native Americans. First, learners work together to put photographs in a sequence. Then, using their sequence, they create stories to share with the whole class. No matter how old your...
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America's Mighty Rivers
Learners examine the cultural importance of America's rivers. Using the Mississippi and Hudson Rivers, they examine a story that takes place on each river. They are introduced to the concepts of preservation and stewardship.
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Literature: Isabel Allende
Students watch and respond to a Bill Moyers Now video on the Chilean author, Isabel Allende. They brainstorm a list of recent events that might inspire writers and choose one to write about in poetic, diary, or short story form.
Curated OER
Organizing One’s Thoughts
Students take a closer look at the organization of written pieces. In this writing skills lesson, students examine transitions, repetition, parallelism, and other organizational patterns in writing.
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Consumerism
Seventh graders explain the concept of needs verses wants, influences on consumers, and advertising and relate those to making positive consumer choices. They break into small groups and plan a two-week day camp involving games and...
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Cooperative Jigsaw Expert Report of Fables
Students research literary elements of fables. In this literature lesson, students analyze literary elements of fables. Students work collaboratively using a jigsaw strategy to analyze literary elements.
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Going on a Bear Hunt
Students discover the value of Internet safety. Through various traditional and multimedia presentations and stories, students explore the ways in which they can gather information on the Internet with an emphasis on safe searching and...
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Nutrition and Fitness
Sixth graders investigate the food guide pyramid. They conduct Internet research, and plan a three day nutritional menu appropriate for teenagers. Students include three meals per day and a snack for each day on their menu, and...
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The Grouchy Ladybug
Students complete a Cirlce Map about time. They recall times during the grouchy ladybugs travels, and add dots on ladybugs using turn-around facts. Pupils correctly sequence the events of The Grouchy Ladybug. Students compose new...
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There Was an Old Lady. . .
Students alter a familiar short poem or song with synonyms and antonyms. In this synonym and antonym lesson, students replace the synonyms or antonyms in the text and discuss the changes in meaning. Students share their words.
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Crazy Critters are Figuratively Fantastic
Eighth graders use creatures created from their imaginations to practice hyperbole, simile, metaphor, and alliteration in association with creative writing. They utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan to guide their writing.
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911 As History
Learners recognize persuasive techniques, think criticaly about the messages contained in various media, and discuss controversial issues in constructive ways. They analyze the deeper messages contained in children's literature, and...
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Kinder-Pictionary
Students create their own dictionary. In this spelling lesson, students make a dictionary with just words and pictures. They use these dictionaries when they are writing to remember how to spell words.
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How does it feel? Why is the Civil Rights Movement so Important?
Fifth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 5th graders simulate what life was like during the Civil War by having two groups with one group given more materials than the other group. Students then draw a portrait of...
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Give Credit to Sources
Third graders practice referencing material. In this giving credit to sources lesson, 3rd graders explore ownership of words and images by drawing and labeling a picture then problem solving how to identify the author.