Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.4
Determining the meaning of a word based on context clues or marking how the meaning of a term evolves in the course of a document can be a challenge in more complex text. Give your pupils an opportunity to practice this skill with a...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension 2: Level 8
Need a quick assessment of your middle schoolers' reading comprehension skills? The four questions on this quiz ask readers to identify the likely source of the article, define words based on context, and identify the main idea of the...
Curated OER
Word of the Day
Students use Internet to research definition of an assigned vocabulary word, and brainstorm ideas for how to teach the new word to classmates in an innovative way using a digital format.
Curated OER
The Price of Happiness: On Advertising, Image, and Self Esteem
Are your young scholars aware of the effect advertising can have on their self-image, self-esteem, and happiness? This instructional activity from the Media Awareness Network is aimed at increasing that awareness and mitigating any...
Curated OER
Word Meanings From Context
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read 4 paragraphs and answer the word definition questions that go along with each reading.
Curated OER
Beyond Media Messages: Media Portrayal of Global Development
Students discuss global development and create a graphic representation of the discussion. In this media analysis lesson, students deconstruct disaster coverage by reading articles and identifying missing information. Students research...
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Building ELD Confidence Through Games
Fun ways to get your English Learner's involved in the classroom.
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To Whom It May Concern
An overview of when to use who or whom in spoken and written English.
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Choose Your Toy
In this decision-making instructional activity, students choose 1 out of 6 toys for a young boy. Students match 7 vocabulary terms to their proper definitions. Students fill in 3 blanks in 2 sentences. Students complete a variety of...
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Using Descriptive Language
Young scholars examine the use of adjectives in a product review, then write their own descriptive review. In this writing and word usage lesson, students first analyze the choice of adjectives in a New York Times article about the...
Curated OER
Parts of Speech identification
Help learners identify the parts of speech in a sentence. They take a pre-assessment on parts of speech and review the definitions of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, articles, adverbs, and prepositions. Then take a quiz on Flipchart...
Curated OER
Charity Begins at Home
Build stronger informational comprehension in your language arts class. Learners read a 7-paragraph article about charity, then respond to 6 short answer questions. Vocabulary words and definitions are included.
PBS
Facts vs. Opinions vs. Informed Opinions and their Role in Journalism
Do reporters write about what they see, or what they think? Examine the differences between investigative writing and opinion writing with a instructional activity from PBS. Learners look over different examples of each kind of...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Kate Chopin's The Awakening: Local Color in the Late 19th Century
Kate Chopin's The Awakening introduces readers not only to the lush Louisiana setting of Grand isle but also to the nuances of Creole culture. the second lesson in a three-part series examines how Chopin's use of literary realism and...
Wasatch County School District
Context Clues
Using context clues is an effective way to define unfamiliar words. Encourage elementary learners to look at the sentences around the word in question, with a short informative slideshow presentation.
Institute for the Professional Development of Adult Educators
Using Context Clues with Signal Words
When you come across an unfamiliar word in a text, do you skip it and move on? Practice using context clues to identify words you don't know with a thorough set of language arts lessons. The resource reinforces close reading and critical...
Curated OER
Understanding the News
Students work in small groups to identify the following categories of news articles: hard news, features, announcements, and opinion/personal reflection.
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Understanding Character
Students are introduced to literary elements and definitions in the worksheet Understanding Character but reading through each of the elements and definitions aloud. They read the story, "La Bamba" and identify examples of the literary...
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Talking with the Author
Encourage your class to interact with complex texts through dialectical journal writing.
Curated OER
Hamilton and Burr : Compare and Contrast
Who were Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton? High schoolers examine the character traits of these historical figures and watch the video, The Duel. Hamilton vs. Burr: An Event that Changed History (available from PBS), to gain...
Curated OER
Vocabulary Practice: Definitions
In this vocabulary instructional activity, students choose the correct definition from column B to complete sentences in column A, 10 sentences total.
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Articles
In this ESL worksheet, students focus on the usage of articles. Students complete 18 fill in the blank questions and use the interactive website to self check answers.
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It's Alive!
Students define the term artificial intelligence and list devises that use it. After reading an article, they discuss how advances in this field affect our lives. In groups, they brainstorm about a device that could improve the life of...
Curated OER
Elements of Satire
Students analyze satirical articles. In this elements of satire lesson, students read and analyze satirical articles from newspapers. They create Venn diagrams to compare and contrast articles. Students use calculators...