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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment, Part 2: Drafting Introduction and Conclusion of a Narrative

For Teachers 6th Standards
First and last impressions matter. Scholars compose the introductory and concluding sections of their narrative writing assignments. Also, to prepare for an upcoming performance task, pupils watch a modern-day monologue from the movie...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment, Part 1: Drafting the Experience or Event of the Narrative

For Teachers 6th Standards
Don't be tone deaf. Scholars study two photographs to better understand the concept of tone, so they can incorporate the literary device into their writing. Additionally, they draft the experience or event portion of their personal...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing and Sharing: A Narrative of Adversity Plan

For Teachers 6th Standards
When life brings you lemons .. write about it! Scholars work with partners to complete graphic organizers analyzing two narratives. Next, they develop an outline for their narrative writing assignment about a personal experience with...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Introduction: Writing a Narrative of Adversity

For Teachers 6th Standards
A little adversity is good for writing. Scholars review narrative-based monologues and concrete poems and choose which genre to use to express their own theme of adversity. Pupils also consider how to structure their narratives by...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Final Performance Task: Final Draft of Essay to Inform

For Teachers 6th Standards
Sometimes, it's fun to follow the rules. Using their drafts of an evidence-based essay from previous lessons, scholars write their final informative essays about rules to live by. Next, they choose and share quotes from their essays that...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment, Part 2: Drafting Introduction and Conclusion of an Essay to Inform

For Teachers 6th Standards
A powerful introduction and conclusion can really pack a punch. Using the resource, scholars first read and discuss a model essay. Then, as part of the end of unit assessment, they draft the introductory and concluding paragraphs of...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment, Part 1: Drafting Body Paragraphs of an Essay to Inform

For Teachers 6th Standards
Anybody can write a body paragraph! Pupils analyze the development of ideas in a body paragraph from a model essay. Next, using what they've learned, they draft the body paragraphs of their My Rule to Live By informative essay. 
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing the Structure and Content of an Essay to Inform

For Teachers 6th Standards
Outlines are a great asset to essay planning. Scholars read and analyze a model essay about the importance of daily reading and consider how it would look in an outline format. Next, they outline their own informative essays about rules...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching Part 2: Reading for Gist and Gathering Evidence Using the Researcher’s Notebook

For Teachers 6th Standards
The gist should be short and sweet! Pupils practice finding the gist of an informational text and then write a summary of the text. Next, they gather with their research teams to discuss a focus question based on the novel Bud, Not Buddy...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit Assessment: Final Draft of Hero’s Journey Narrative

For Teachers 6th Standards
All journeys must come to an end. Using the final lesson in the series, pupils analyze a model narrative for use of transitional words and phrases. Next, they apply their learning to their final drafts of their hero's journey narrative. 
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing: Analyzing the Conclusion of “The Golden Key” and Drafting a Compelling Conclusion for the Hero’s Journey Narrative

For Teachers 6th Standards
There's something different here. Using a note-catcher, scholars determine the differences between the conclusion of a piece of analytical writing and the conclusion of a narrative. Next, they begin drafting their own narrative...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing to Show, Not Tell: Dialogue, Sensory Words, and Strong Action Verbs

For Teachers 6th Standards
Consume, gobble, devour ... serving up strong verbs! Writers focus on using dialogue, strong action verbs, and sensory details in their writing. After analyzing a model narrative, they apply their learning to their own hero's journey...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Writing: Getting Feedback, Setting Goals, and Drafting

For Teachers 6th Standards
Why is it important to set goals as a writer? Scholars process feedback from their mid-unit assessments, writing down their strengths and weaknesses on index cards. Next, pupils use the feedback to begin drafting their hero's journey...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Mid-Unit Assessment and Establishing a Context for My Hero’s Journey Narrative

For Teachers 6th Standards
How do writers engage their readers in a story? Pupils consider the question and use the informational text, "The Hero's Journey" to justify their plan for their own fictional narrative. To that end, scholars write an explanatory...
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Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

Digital Activism Remixed: Hashtags for Voice, Visibility and Visions of Social Justice

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
It's time to discover hashtag activism! Using an engaging resource, learners explore viral hashtag campaigns relating to diversity, identity, and justice. Next, they either design their own hashtag campaigns or respond to existing ones.
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Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

Civic Engagement and Communication as Digital Community Members

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Don't feed the Internet trolls! Using a thought-provoking resource, pupils brainstorm a whole-class list of the possible kinds of bias young people may experience online. Next, in small groups, scholars create posters illustrating how to...
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Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

Thanksgiving Mourning

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Two primary sources, a speech, and an article provide tweens and teens with different perspectives of the American Thanksgiving holiday. After analyzing Wamsutta James' suppressed speech and Jacqueline Keeler's article, class members use...
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Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

Why Local Elections Matter

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Uncle Sam wants everyone to vote in local elections! Geared toward middle and high school scholars, the resource explores voter turnout and the importance of local elections. Academics participate in group discussion, complete...
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Lesson Plan
Teaching Tolerance

Understanding and Evaluating Online Searches

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
With billions of options to choose from, how can people determine which online sources are reliable? Using an informative resource, pupils first discuss and evaluate a sample search result handout. Next, partners create a checklist for...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

“From Time to Time”: Presidents and Communicating with the Public

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
While the Constitution requires a "State of the Union" address, it doesn't give many details. In fact, it wasn't until Woodrow Wilson that the periodic update to Congress was given in-person. Using primary sources, recordings and...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Gratitude and the Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
A class discussion begins a two-part lesson about gratitude and the environment. In part one, learners watch a video then share their feelings about its most memorable moment. Delving deep into the meaning of gratitude, scholars create...
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Activity
National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Local Heroes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
The cover of The New Yorker magazine sparks a conversation about September 11th and the invaluable sacrifices the first responders made to rescue those in danger. Scholars discuss their observations, thoughts, and feelings then take pen...
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Lesson Plan
Learning to Give

Deliver Gratitude Day

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Gratitude is the focus of a discussion that sets the stage for pupils to take part in a service-learning project in which they deliver notes of kindness by way of social media or mail. A reflection closes the learning experience.
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Writing Letters of Gratitude

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
A lesson begins with a discussion on gratitude—what does it mean, and for who are learners thankful? Scholars share their thoughts and feelings then choose a community worker to which they wish to share their gratitude. Writers compose a...