Writing
Breaking News English

The World Is 0.28% More Peaceful Than a Year Ago

For Students 6th - 12th
Some days, the world seems like it is becoming darker, but research suggests that the world might actually be becoming a more peaceful place. An informational reading passage accompanied by a series of activities builds English language...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modern Day Pen Pals, Connecting Our Art Room to the Rest of the World!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Initiate an international pen pal program! After establishing communication with an art class in another country, groups share pod casts and video streams of their work. The scripted resource details how to prepare for the pod casts, but...
Activity
Poetry4kids

How to Write a Free Verse Poem

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Budding poets compose an original free verse poem. Encouraged to use personification and alliteration, scholars read over three tips and examples then try their hand at drafting a poem of their own style.  
Unit Plan
Water

Global Water Supply Middle School Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
We take a steady shower stream and clean drinking water for granted, but in many countries around the world, the lack of water or a clean water supply is responsible for higher sickness and death rates. Taking a closer look at the water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Television CensorChip

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Explore the current television rating system, its content descriptors, and the new V-chip technology that more readily allow parents to control their child's television viewing. Help learners develop a survey that will determine the pros...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The World Around Me

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Combining visual and language arts, here is a resource that prompts middle schoolers to write stories based on pictures of their surroundings. They use digital cameras to take pictures of favorite areas in the school. Next, they choose...
Lesson Plan
Novelinks

The House of the Scorpion: Problematic Situations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What should Matt do? Readers of The House of the Scorpion are offered several possible actions Matt could take when he first sees the children outside the house. They rate the options and then meet in groups to discuss the reasons for...
Activity
Orlando Shakes

Pericles: Study Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Everyone loves a great riddle, right? Everyone except for the characters in Shakespeare's Pericles, who will be killed unless they answer the king's riddle correctly. With the study guide, scholars use words coined by Shakespeare to play...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Around the World in 180 Days

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Where did I come from? How did I come to be in this classroom? Using curriculum from Kidspiration, class members research the homelands of their ancestors, as well as the journeys that began from many parts of the world and ended with...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Me Test

For Students 5th - 8th
Get to know your scholars with this in-depth survey that asks learners to rate, answer true or false, write short answers, and draw abstract visuals about their academic and personal preferences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parrot in the Oven: Problematic Situation

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Prior to reading Victor Martinez's Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida, class members are presented with a problematic situation and to rate their responses as well as predict the responses of a character from the novel.
Organizer
Curated OER

8-Sentence Accordion Paragraph Practice

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Organization can take a paragraph from mundane to first-rate. Try out a graphic organizer for an accordion-style paragraph, which includes a topic sentence, three reasons with details and transitions, three explanations, and a concluding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Knowledge Rating Scale Vocabulary Activity #2 Bud, Not Buddy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
As your kids read chapters nine through eleven, present them with this vocabulary chart. Nine vocabulary words are shown, and pupils must decide if they know it well, have heard it, or have no clue what it means. Consider re-creating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Master Production

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students create an "art garment" incoporating personal writings and found quotes with images of life and dreams on a disposable or recycled garment. This lesson includes scoring rubric.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blogging to Create a Community of Writers #6: Writing a Review

For Teachers 6th
Looking for a good social media lesson for your class? Then, this lesson is for you! They study various written reviews, then must choose an item to review of their choice. They can choose from: a book, restaurant, CD/musical...
Unit Plan
The New York Times

The Careful Reader: Teaching Critical Reading Skills with the New York Times

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
The 11 lessons in this educators' guide focus on using newspapers to develop critical reading skills in the content areas.
PPT
Power Show

Out of the Dust: Book Introduction

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Introduce young readers to historical fiction with Karen Hesse's novel, Out of the Dust. They'll view photos taken during the Dust Bowl years, meet the author, and even hear an excerpt from the book. A plot summary and three book talks...
Lesson Plan
Novelinks

The Dark Is Rising: Problematic Situation Strategy

For Students 5th - 9th
What items would you need to save the world from an evil wizard? Prior to reading Susan Cooper's young adult contemporary fantasy The Dark is Rising, and to generate interest in the tale, class groups must reach consensus on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tangerine: Anticipation Guide

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Encourage your readers to make predictions about Edward Bloor's young adult novel, Tangerine, with an anticipation guide that presents statements that introduce key issues in the novel.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Untying the Knot

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What are the current trends in divorce? What contributes to this? Examine celebrity relationship trends and how they relate to the general public with this discussion lesson. Middle schoolers analyze the results of a Census Bureau study...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thumbs Up For Movie Reviews

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
If your class loves movies, this lesson is sure to interest them. After discussing the purpose and structure of movie reviews, young writers compose a movie review and discuss why people may read a review before they go see a film. The...
Interactive
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Luxury Goods

For Students 5th - 10th
In this luxury goods worksheet, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion questions, write, and...
Interactive
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Japan's Finance Minister Resigning

For Students 5th - 10th
In this Japan's finance minister resigning worksheet, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion...
Interactive
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Mobile Phone Charges for Ringtones

For Students 5th - 10th
In this mobile phone charges for ringtones instructional activity, learners read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions,...