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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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Answering a Research Question
Students explore beginning research skills. In this nonfiction comprehension and research lesson, students generate possible research questions to answer when given the book title of Animals of the Sea and Shore by Ann O. Squire....
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Changing An Author's Purpose
Some write to inform, and others to persuade. Show your class the difference between these two purposes with the instructional activity and sample essays provided here. First, model how you might change a few words in order to present a...
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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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Identifying Plot Conflicts
Fifth graders read Katherine Paterson's book, Bridge to Terabithia, and find two plot conflicts in chapters 5 and 6. In this plot conflicts lesson plan, 5th graders identify the conflicts of character vs. character and character vs. self.
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Author's Purpose
Determining an author's purpose can help readers understand a text more deeply. Using a PIES chart (persuade, inform, entertain, share) and poems from Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems by Barbara Rogasky, class members organize lines that show...
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Author's Opinion
Fifth graders read a text about Amelia Earhart's father and use facts from the text to identify the author's opinion. For this author's opinion lesson plan, 5th graders complete a worksheet that is provided.
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Lesson 2: Retelling a Life
Show your class how to indicate which events in a persons life are more important by creating a timeline of Amelia Earhart's life based on the biography Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart. Class members will not only have to...
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Lesson 3: Events and Effects
Class members use the biography Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart, by Patricia Lauber, in order to strengthen their understanding of how events can change a person. While working through the story, pupils will have a chance to see...
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Identifying Plot Conflicts
Fifth graders determine plot conflicts. In this plot conflicts lesson plan students read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. Students search for 'Character vs. Character' and 'Character vs. Self' conflicts within the story.
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Lesson 1:Effects of a Character's Past
Fifth graders look at how a character's past affects their life. In this character activity, 5th graders read Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan. They look at the main characters and see how their past affects their feelings, thoughts, and...
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Predicting Events in Realistic Fiction
Predict what will happen next in The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. Class members can use their prior knowledge of the story and other experiences to determine what will happen next. Active readers make predictions as they...
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The Effects of Character Decisions
Fifth graders analyze the effect of character choices. In this lesson students read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Students explore the affect of decisions on the plot of the story.
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Drawing Conclusions from Historical Fiction
Students read historical fiction. In this drawing conclusions lesson, students learn how to draw conclusions from text, specifically historical fiction. Students read Molly's Pilgrim and complete a graphic organizer where they answer...
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Metaphors
Students identify metaphors. In this figurative language lesson, students learn about metaphors and listen to various examples. Students read a story and identify the metaphors present. Students complete a worksheet where they...
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Textual Analysis Lesson: Boys vs. Girls: It's Not Just in Your Head
The main characters in Bridge to Terabithia do no quite live up to their gender expectations. Explore this idea with a reading passage called "Boys vs. Girls: It's Not Just in Your Head." Included in the plan are detailed instructions...
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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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Historical Effects
Fifth graders examine how events affect characters in the text The Watson's Go to Birmingham--1963. In this historical effects lesson, 5th graders read from the book and complete a worksheet. Students discuss racism and segregation and...