Young scholars explore, examine and analyze how to apply deductive thinking to evaluate evidence and draw conclusions. They view and critique a handout called "Who Made the Mess?"and a facts sheet on the handout. They divide up into...

Students read, analyze, critique and study the novels, "The Name You Once Gave Me," by Mike Phillips and "The Dying Wish," by Courttia Newland. They evaluate an extract from each novel and consider how a theme can provide a framework for...

Young scholars use descriptive and imaginative words and images in poetry.  In this poetry lesson plan, students choose a picture to describe to the class.  As the student gives the description, the classmates choose the words...

Fourth graders create sentences in a quiz form that have a blank in it for their vocabulary word. In this vocabulary lesson plan, the other students in the class try to figure out which word goes in the sentences.

Students design tiles that represent their community. They discuss ideas with another class through email. They then create the tiles, fire them, and attach them to a masonite board to create a community mural.

Students discover how setting, props, and character-action communicate information about the characters and the story. Access to videos and a video camera are important to make this lesson a success.

Students, after viewing the video "Tell About the South," critique the section on the Fugitive Poets. They brainstorm why this unique group of poets might have formed and became so influential in the south. In addition, they focus on how...

In this ESL book review learning exercise, students fill in the form to report on and critique a book that they read. They write the title of the book, how long it took to read the book, retell the story, and tell whether they found the...

High schoolers pick a poet to conduct research from. They read and recite one of the works of poetry. Then using critical analysis find methods of construction in order to create a similar personal poem. The poem is then posted on the...

Students use the works of William H. Johnson as the basis for a project. The objective is to use his works as a demonstration of communication to the community. The sculpture is supposed to be made out of clay.

A unit on persuasive writing guides elementary learners through the writing process. The first part examines the elements of persuasive writing, including expressing an opinion, connecting ideas, using supporting facts, and writing...

Students explore Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical theatre in the context of the dramatic cultural shift that occurred in American life in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

Introduce middle schoolers to playwriting and the elements of drama with a six-session storytelling unit that encourages kids to expand their acting and writing skills. The 12-page packet includes overviews of the lessons,...

What was the relationship like between George and Martha Washington? To protect their privacy, Martha Washington destroyed all her husband’s letters after his death so historians have little evidence of their lives together. Two letters...

Both the writer and the reviewer contribute to this editing instructional activity. Before handing the paper to a partner, the writer lists specific areas of concern for the reader to address. The editor addresses these concerns and...

Chapter II of John Milton's Paradise Lost provides the text for a series of comprehension questions crafted using Bloom's Taxonomy.

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, can seem strangely prophetic when compared to modern news events and politics. Readers of Orwell's dystopian classic sharpen their critical thinking skills by engaging in...

Have your learners play around with Shakespeare's language. In this plan, small groups examine and rearrange soliloquies from Othello, noting how the language changes and morphs. All groups have a chance to change each soliloquy, making...

In this first of four lessons on book design, students are introduced to the vocabulary of book design through the use of bookwalks and a non-linear PowerPoint presentation in game-show (Jeopardy!) format.

Students create a poem on about spring. They read final version of their poem chorally. They write reflections of their experience in creating the poem.

Drafting a strong first sentence for a summary is an important step. Writers can use the formula presented on this handout to get started. The resource lists three steps to put together a strong topic sentence, as well as tips and hints...

Have new or soon-to-be voters examine different political parties and their platforms as they figure out which one aligns most with their beliefs. After taking a few online quizzes, young scholars split into pairs to discuss...

Fourth graders view Theibaud's work in order to form opinions and share in class discussions. They also critique some of the artists work using the Linderman method and recreate the artist's style of work with their own paintings.

Students analyze and critique various artists and their work. They write research papers on artists and create reproductions of their works, reflecting their earlier critiques of the works.