Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Letter to a Friend

For Teachers 1st
First graders practice their letter writing skills by writing to a fictional character.  For this formal writing lesson, 1st graders read the books The Jolly Postman and Frog and Toad are Friends to examine the different parts of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: A Bird's Tale

For Teachers K - 5th
Who wouldn't love to get a letter from a blue bird? Elementary art enthusiasts analyze the social and historical context of Ason Yellowhair's Navajo piece, Bird and Cornstalk Rug. They examine the construction and images on the rug...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Developing a Topic for Writing Using an Idea Web

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Teach your upper graders how to use an idea web to develop a topic for writing. After reading a variety of stories about friendship (a list of stories with the theme of friendship is included), model using an idea web. Class members...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letter to the President

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders practice letter writing by writing an e-mail to the President.  In this U.S. Government lesson, 3rd graders express their concerns about issues taking place at public schools by writing an e-mail to the President of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Message in a Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students acquire a pen pal in a foreign country and write letters at least twice a month throughout the year to exchange with them. At the end of the year, they write an essay that compares one important difference and one important...
Lesson Plan
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Swing Your Partner!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This was written for ESOL learners, but could work for any elementary class. Learners read about the American dance style known as Square Dancing. They explore its use in literature, write a friendly letter about it, and then use their...
Handout
Aurora City School District

Do Not Try to Kid a Kidder: The Art of Persuasion

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The power to convince others of your argument lies in your knowledge of rhetoric! A thorough packet covers the basics of persuasion, including logical appeals and fallacies, and applies strategies to letters to the editor,...
Lesson Plan
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Write Me a Story

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders use the writing process and submit a story to www.kids.com.  In this story writing lesson, 2nd graders choose a topic for a story contest.  Students develop their stories.  Students complete a  her...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How can we write a silly story?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders use the writing process and create a silly story.  In this silly story lesson, 2nd graders will review person, event and setting and complete a chart for each.  Students will put a person, event and setting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letter to Self: A Personal Time Capsule

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify the parts of a friendly letter and write a letter to themselves as a part of a time capsule. In this letter writing lesson, 7th graders identify the five parts of a letter and write a friendly letter to...
Lesson Plan
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Opinion through the Ages: Exploring 40 Years of New York Times Op-Eds

For Teachers 10th - 12th
What is the role of a newspaper's Op-Ed page? High schoolers explore the New York Times' "Op-Ed at 40," an interactive feature that lets them browse through 40 years worth of op-ed features, and consider the purpose and value of this...
Lesson Plan
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Where in the World is Flat Stanley?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders analyze the proper form of a friendly letter and send flat Stanley letters all over the United States. In this letter writing lesson, 2nd graders read the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown and create their own Flat...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing to a Specific Topic

For Teachers K - 2nd
After a class discussion where learners make predictions about what will happen in a book based on its cover illustration, pupils are asked to compose a written response about an aspect of the story and include some of their own...
Lesson Plan
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Lesson: Paul Chan: Alternumeric Fonts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learning to analyze language, symbols, and codes is part of becoming a deep and critical thinker. Young analysts consider their ability to see hidden messages as they analyze the work of Paul Chan. There are two fully developed...
Lesson Plan
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My Own Backyard

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore and react to the painting The Road to Santa Fe. In this interacting with art lesson, students locate various objects in the painting.  Students copy the angle of objects by using their bodies.  Students discuss...
Lesson Plan
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Key Pals

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders analyze the proper form of friendly letters and write emails to a key pal. In this friendly letters and email lesson, 2nd graders discuss sending friendly letters and view examples of the letter format. Students then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dear Peter Rabbit

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Write dear old Peter Rabbit a letter with this lesson plan. First, youngsters listen to the story Peter Rabbit and analyze the story elements. Then they complete a story map graphic organizer in order to write a letter to...
Unit Plan
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All About Me

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students write a paragraph, make lists, draw, and brainstorm things about themselves, their goals, and their past. In this all about me lesson plan, students recall information about themselves, and interview others in order to write...
Lesson Plan
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A Multigenerational Pen Pal Program

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the benefits of writing letters to multigenerational pen pals.  In this pen pal activity, students identify a need for communication among the generations.  Students begin a pen pal program with the elders in...
Lesson Plan
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Write a Myth

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explore myths in ancient times.  In this mythology lesson plan, students read or view a video production of a myth to determine specific characteristics of myths. Students work in groups to write a myth that explains an...
Lesson Plan
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Appeal for the Meal

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate advertising. In this advertising lesson plan, students read the book Good Lemonade by Frank Asch and identify the advertising practices from the story. Students create ads for snacks using advertising techniques.
Lesson Plan
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NASA

Einstein and His Times

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
Scholars research and present on the historical happenings of 1919. After sharing their findings, pupils debate about how Congress dealt with the moral issues of the time. The evaluation asks learners to write a persuasive...
Lesson Plan
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Why Are Thinning Trees Important?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate thinning trees and why they are important to the forest.  In this sustainable environment lesson, students role-play as if they are trees in the forest and simulate the overcrowding and inability to move spaces,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ABC Grammar Book

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Elementary learners create an ABC grammar book. The project begins with class members taking digital pictures of items that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Depending on level, they then add a word or a complete sentence to...