Middle schoolers watch NEW YORK VOICES special "New York Sports: Big Shots and Bad Guys," read excerpts from famous novels/essays in hopes of understanding the feelings that sports stadiums inspire, and create a tourist brochure that...

In this comprehension check activity, learners respond to 11 short answer questions covering chapters 28-29 of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech to help them better understand those chapters.

Sixth graders research the history of rice consumption. In this rice consumption lesson, 6th graders read a study guide and answer comprehension questions about two rice dishes and rice cultivation.

Pupils observe a Botanical Gardens. Upon returning to the classroom, students write their own Haiku based on their observations.

In this Anglo-Saxon stories worksheet, students choose one or more of the 4 possible extension activities pertaining to the storytelling and pastimes of the Anglo-Saxon period.

Pupils access a variety of Halloween and Day of the Dead themed websites. They locate information on the history of America's Halloween celebration and Mexico's Day of the Dead. They compare and contrast the two holidays and read scary...

Students discuss the composer Aaron Copland and the lyricist Ira Gershwin and their significance in/contributions to American music of their time while singing the song "Younger Generation" in the choir setting. Emphasis is placed on...

Sixth graders demonstrate an understanding of a narrative story by listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. They create two visual products that reflect the understanding of events, vocabulary, and characters.

Students view and analyze "Still Life," by Cornelis de Heem. They answer discussion questions about the painting, write similes, discuss symbolism, create a still life sketch, and create a paint box poem.

Pupils read, analyze and discuss a newspaper article about the American singer Britney Spears and the courts giving her permission to see her children three times a week. They assess key vocabulary terms found in the article and then...

Students explore the concept of visualization as a means of comprehending what they read. Through modeling, they discover how to create mental pictures of what they read from both poems and books. As a class, they create a story quilt...

Young scholars read the story of the Children of Agape. They read excerpts from Hallie Geier's journal, Fierce Wonderings and consider what "we are together" means to them. In addition, they assemble a puzzle.

Students choose a theme for a song. They compose a poem, and write music to go along with their poem. The instructor plays the musical accompaniment, and the class votes on the most appropriate rhythmic pattern.

Young scholars read and retell a story form out of the newspaper. They write to communicate ideas, stories, letters, simple explanations, and short reports. They edit and perfect their projects for homework, and they share their work...

Students listen as the teacher reads a story. Pictures are displayed as the teacher reads the story. Students jot down ideas for the story ending, and create an illustration to compliment their story. Student story endings and...

Students read Blubber by Judy Blume. In this Blubber discussion lesson, students answer pre-, during, and post- reading of the novel to assist them with comprehension. Themes addressed are problem solving, perspectives, leadership, and...

Students listen to excerpts from an autobiography about the first blind man to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. They discuss Erik Weihenmayer's life, and write a bio-poem using a bio-poem formula.

Research the lives of famous women in this social studies lesson. Middle schoolers use various sources to research a famous woman and create a presentation about the accomplishments of the woman. They can find the central idea throughout...

Search a variety of sources to create a multimedia or book project about Japan. Learners use the independent investigation method to plan and conduct research about Japan. They use the information they discover to create a computer book...

Take a trip to the Grand Canyon! Lesson one explores how Ferde Grofe painted a musical landscape of America when he wrote the Grand Canyon Suite. Learners then examine art that shows the Grand Canyon in lesson two. Finally, lesson three...

Developed specifically for AVID students, this packet of materials that includes an explanation of the Socratic seminar, the preparation materials, and tips and protocols, is a must-have resource for any class. 

Thor, Loki, Iron Man, and Captain America. As part of their study of Greek and Roman gods and heroes, middle schoolers compare the characters in The Avengers to Greek counterparts. Individuals then create their own superhero,...

Learning to craft quality questions is a skill that can be taught. Class members use the Question Formulation Technique to learn how to create and refine both closed-ended and open-ended questions. They then view West of the West's...

Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...