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How to Write A+ Essays!
This instructional activity, which promises to improve the essays of your middle schoolers, contains a list of characteristics an essay should include. It breaks it down into the introduction, thesis statement, body, etc. There's also a...
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The Crucible
Students create a movie of a scene from The Crucible upon completion of reading the book. They assume a variety of roles in the film production.
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Be a Celebrity and Share Your Life with Us
Sixth graders discuss their likes, dislikes, hobbies, goals, and special events in their lives. They write a five paragraph autobiography focusing on style, transitions, and details. This is well-suited for either explanatory or...
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Using Each Trait to Improve Student Writing
Students examine examples of the qualities of good writing skills and discuss how each of the traits add to the process of good writing. A variety of excerpts from literature provide samples for the exploration.
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Writing letters to Abraham Lincoln
Learners examine a sample letter written by Abraham Lincoln. They review the different parts of a letter and participate in writing their own letter while reflecting on feelings of Abraham Lincoln during a trip he had taken.
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Voice - 6 + 1 Traits of Writing
Fourth graders combine listening and writing skills in this lesson. After listening to Up North at the Cabin, Students are asked to write a piece from a specific viewpoint about a place that they like to visit.
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Breaking Down Books
Learners practice their reading comprehension by analyzing and discussing books with their classmates. They record their responses to comprehension, evaluation, and interpretation questions provided on a worksheet that is referenced but...
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Biopoem
Reinforce the actions, emotions, and characteristics that determine what a character is like by having your middle schoolers create a biopoem using the model presented here. You could engage them first by having them write a poem about...
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Oral Presentation
Practice public speaking in this oral presentation lesson plan. Middle schoolers list the characteristics of a powerful speaker. They watch a video of two speakers, compare them and discuss the qualities of a good speech. Afterwards,...
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Civil War Essay
Upper graders explore equality by writing an essay. They read the story Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco, and discuss the meaning of the story and its relevance to Civil War events. Learners investigate the five writing process steps and...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Strange Fruit: Lynching in America
To continue their study of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the beginning of the civil rights movement, class members watch the YouTube video of Billie Holiday singing "Strange Fruit" as an introduction to an examination of...
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All About Money
Few topics engage young mathematicians as much as learning about money. Through a series of shared readings and hands-on activities, children explore the US currency system, learning how to count money and calculate change as they create...
PBS
Master of the Airwaves: How FDR Used Radio to Ease the Public’s Fears
The political and economic climate during the 1930's was uncertain and tumultuous. But Americans' minds and hearts were eased with the reassuring words of their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and addresses over the radio. High...
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Comparing Languages: News Clips
Students analyze newspaper articles. They review their assessment task and rubric and read newspaper articles to compare languages. They answer questions related to their articles using dictionaries as needed. They compare word usage...
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Musical Moments
Students listen to a song in popular culture. Using the lyrics, they identify the theme and share their conclusions with the class. While listening to the song again, they complete a worksheet along with defining new vocabulary words. ...
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Reading Reader's Digest
Students practice reading a Reader's Digest in French. In groups, they identify new vocabulary and practice prouncing the words. They complete a worksheet in which they practice writing complete sentences. They are graded on a rubric...
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Pathways to the Future
Students draw a pathway and create a movement phrase along that same path using specific movement vocabulary. The phrases are performed in class and rubrics are used for assessment. Meets State standards for the arts.
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Forget Us Not
Students read a literary selection about the Holocaust. They examine a website with art and poems created by students regarding this topic. Then they create poetry that demonstrates their understanding of the literary selection on the...
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Description Of Family
Students describe four people in their family. They create a visual organizer to introduce their family members. Using a multimedia presentation, students introduce their family to others. A rubric is used to evaluate each presentation.
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Theme Personalization Oral Project - Romeo and Juliet
High schoolers choose a creative medium for expressing personalization of one of the themes from the play. They share their projects orally. Instructions, rubric, and suggested theme choices are included.
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Keep The Ball Rolling
High schoolers are introduced to new vocabulary associated with a topic of their choice. In partners, they are to keep the conversation going by using the new vocabulary and proper tenses. They are graded based on a rubric given to them...
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Authoring Stories for Guided Reading
Students in a teacher education program write their own children's book. Using books already written, they review age appropriate for their grade level placement. They write their own story and illustrate it using various software...
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Introduction to Melodic Notation: Sol-Mi
Second graders sing melodic sol-mi songs for teacher and student assessment. Emphasis is placed on drill and practice while developing melodic singing skills. Students evaluate performances and activities using pre-determined rubric...
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World without Trees Composition
Fourth graders write a composition on what they think the world would be like without trees. They brainstorm ideas of what they think the world would be like treeless, and creative a story. A rubric is distributed to the students which...