Curated OER
Pretty Plants Point of View
Young poets use Kidspiration to draw a flower, personify the flower, and write a poem from the flower's point of view. Sharing these poems in small groups will reinforce learners' knowledge of personification.
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Come To Your Senses
Write narratives that include ideas, observations, or memories of an event or experience, and be sure to use concrete sensory details! Groups utilize a few of the famous I Spy books in order to create narratives that utilize sensory...
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Fairy Tale Alliterations
Fairy tales are the perfect way to focus on alliteration. Learners complete activities relating to alliteration and similes using a fairy tale theme. Then, they complete an acrostic poem using the words fairy tale.
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Similes and Metaphors
What is a simile? What is a metaphor? How are both of these different? First, discuss the difference between the two terms, and then have your emerging writers practice identifying sentences that use either literary device. They are also...
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Fairy Tale Similes
Discuss similes in fairy tales using a simple worksheet. Learners take a look at the fairy tales they have read, talk about the definition of a simile, and list examples. Then, they create an illustration for one of the similes they have...
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Using a Dictionary-Sounds
Figuring out how to pronounce unfamiliar words can be tricky. Learners use the dictionary to determine the beginning and ending sounds of words and then answer four multiple choice questions that test their understanding of these sounds.
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Inferences (2)
Encourage young readers to use their prior knowledge, as well as text clues, to draw inferences from text. Provide them with this learning exercise that asks them to record a passage, the background information they already have, the...
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Personification Lesson Plans and Resources
This resource on personification provides three different approaches aimed at different levels. The first, appropriate for upper elementary, provides examples of personification, followed by an exercise that requires replacing a word in...
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My Monster
Explore descriptive language. Learners read a series of similes describing the eyes, teeth, skin, and other features of a monster. Then, they describe their own imaginary monster using similes and adjectives. Very creative!
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Writing a Character Description
Invoke creativity by using this resource on writing techniques. Learners create a description of a character they could use in their writing, focusing on the proper use of adjectives, similes, and metaphors. It's a great presentation for...
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Dressing Pets
Students compare and contrast different careers and life choices. They associate activities with uniforms or other clothing, and apply those associations to the creative personification of their pets. They then use their imaginations to...
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The Personal Narrative - Part Two
Does your langauge arts class journal frequently? Extend one of your journaling activities by having your writers choose a journal entry and take it through the five stages of writing. They will use the attached graphic organizer to...
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Dear Diary
Work on narrative writing with this lesson, in which middle schoolers analyze the characters from a selected piece of literature and write narrative diary pieces as the character. They work to understand the point of view of the...
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Using Onomatopoeia to Tell the Story of an Imaginary Field Trip
Young scholars explore language arts by utilizing word choice to compose a paragraph. In this phonetics instructional activity, students discuss the importance of a "voice" in their writing as they read the book Rattletrap Car. Young...
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Language Arts: Awesome Authors Website
Learners examine the writing techniques of professional authors and apply them to their own work. In pairs, they email authors to discover the tricks of the trade. Students create their own Website for their work.
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Geo Jammin' By Design - Day 7, Lesson 38: Kool Cups
Create geometric cups by interpreting directions, informational text, and mathematical concepts. Critical thinkers apply geometric theory (congruent shapes, patterns, symmetry) to actual directions to create a cup that holds Kool Aid....
Reed Novel Studies
How To Train Your Dragon: Novel Study
Heroes appear in unexpected places. This is true about Hiccup, a character in How to Train Your Dragon. Scholars use a novel study to learn how a useless and weak dragon reveals his brilliance. The resource includes 10 new vocabulary...
Reed Novel Studies
Shiloh: Novel Study
Marty is faced with a tough choice in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Shiloh. Scholars read to find out how Marty deals with his situation before completing worksheet activities to help readers gain a better understanding of the story....
Reed Novel Studies
Stuart Little: Novel Study
Author E.B. White once had a dream about a small boy who acted like a rat, and that is how he conceived of his classic children's novel, Stuart Little. Using the novel study, scholars answer some questions based on their reading....
Reed Novel Studies
The Mouse and The Motorcycle: Novel Study
A mouse on a motorcycle—what could possibly go wrong? Using the novel study that accompanies Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle, pupils complete a brief vocabulary activity and then answer questions about the text. Next,...
Reed Novel Studies
Mr. Stink: Novel Study
Some literary characters are interesting, some are helpful, and some are ... well, stinky. Using the novel study in conjunction with reading Mr. Stink, scholars meet a smelly but kind person named Mr. Stink. Pupils illustrate the plot,...
Reed Novel Studies
Nim's Island: Novel Study
A deserted island, a sea lion, and a volcanic eruption ... adventure awaits! Using a helpful novel study, scholars complete a brief vocabulary exercise and answer 10 reading comprehension questions about Nim's Island. Next, they write...
Reed Novel Studies
Superfudge: Novel Study
Has everyone heard the news about the herd of antelope? Scholars explore homonyms with the novel study for Superfudge by beloved children's author Judy Blume. Additionally, they answer text questions and engage in language activities....
Reed Novel Studies
Little House On The Prairie: Novel Study
Laura Ingalls Wilder memorialized life in the American West with her Little House on the Prairie series. Readers explore the first book in the series using a novel study guide. Along with standard text-based questions, scholars...