Upper elementary schoolers investigate philanthropy and selflessness by reading a children's book. In this ethics lesson, they read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and research Mahatma Gandhi's troublesome, yet inspiring, life....

Students brainstorm a list of potential uses for micro-video technologies. After reading an article, they analyze the development of a new pill-sized camera. In groups, they create a children's book that shows them the various systems of...

Your learners will be eager to delve into the writing process when their journals are adorned with these beautifully designed covers and blank pages.

Looking for interesting journal prompts? How about a series of photos? Or are you making up a story about a stranger encountered on the street? Or making up the story behind a song? This assignment sheet details five fresh ideas for...

Keeping a journal can be one of the most enjoyable writing tasks that children engage in. They get to write about what they want to write about - not what the teacher tells them to write about! Here, young writers pretend they are a...

A reading of Gail Gibbons’ Deadline! leads to a discussion of the differences between newspapers and newsletters. Class members then choose a favorite topic and create the front page for their own newsletter.

Begin writing personal narratives in this writing lesson. Junior high writers start by writing a journal about their favorite holiday. They read a book at their skill level and use graphic organizers to record their ideas for writing....

A great source of nonfiction reading material, this resource consists of a series of five short reading passages about modern music, composition principles, and various composers. Accompanying each reading is a different activity for...

An introductory lesson shows learners how pervasive and influential advertising is in our culture; particularly, how teenagers are actively targeted by advertisers. As teenagers, your students already have all the information they need...

A cross-curricular lesson plan for middle schoolers that covers language arts, social studies, geography, and math, this is a great extension activity if your class is reading The Diary of Anne Frank or learning about the Holocaust....

Discuss nonfiction books, and the benefits of reading nonfiction literature, with your student. They read the book, Creatures of the Night over a two day span and answer questions from their reading. Students also write in their journal...

Integrate journal writing into your curriculum. Introduce your young writers to the process with a 45-minute activity that explains the techniques, the various types, and the typical routines for journaling. The detailed plan includes a...

Students create an online "community journal". In this communities lesson, students use a writing template to send e-mail to various people to learn more about their community. The journal is passed from person to person.

In this journal writing worksheet, students brainstorm about violence they have seen on TV and in video games. Students write about the harmful effects this violence can have on society.

Discuss and generate blogs in this technology lesson. Middle and high schoolers explore examples of blogs and create their own blogs. Use this lesson throughout the year to reinforce concepts from your language arts class (or any class)....

A great resource that can be used every year during the month of April. This handout includes over 30 writing prompts, one or two for every day in the month of April. Each writing prompt is tailored to its specific day, as they are...

Need some possible writing topics for your class? Look no further, this resource consists of a list of 24 writing prompts. Perfect for journal writing or quick writes, all 24 prompts ask about pupils' personal experiences and thus elicit...

Students write their thoughts about political cartoons, photographs, and articles in their journal and then discuss them in class.

Middle schoolers answer discussion question about Hamlet. For this Hamlet lesson, students engage in class discussions throughout the reading of Hamlet. Middle schoolers also answer these questions as journal entries.

Students research and learn about the Underground Railroad. In this Underground Railroad lesson plan, students take 2 weeks to research an individual, complete journal writings, read passages in small groups, list major events, and more.

Fifth graders explore folktales. In this folktales lesson, 5th graders discuss culture and why we support what's right. Students write about a time they were brave and give examples of bravery. Students read folktales and answer...

Students make a parachute. In this air resistance lesson, students create a parachute using materials they think will work the best. Students try out their parachutes, noting which one worked the best. Students discuss how the size,...

Learners explore their five senses. In this five senses lesson, students use their five senses to investigate objects. Learners compare and contrast which senses they used for each object and record their findings on a recording sheet.

Sixth graders explore journal writing. In this writing lesson, 6th graders use the published diaries of Anne Frank and discuss the entries in her journal. Students write in their own journal for a week and create a one page summary on...