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Word Structure- Prefix and Suffix
Identify common prefixes and suffixes used in the English language and categorize the different kinds of information provided in a dictionary entry. Learners will write at least five pieces of information that they learn about a word...
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Borrowing from the Greek Debt
Use political cartoons to help your class understand the European Debt Crisis and visual symbolism. This analysis handout includes two cartoons depicting the crisis and prompts learners to consider possible symbols and allusions to best...
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Language Arts: Creative Writing Devices
Eighth graders review sound and rhythm devices and apply them to their own writing exercises. Next, they interpret the poem, "Where I'm From," as an example of a personal narrative. Using their understanding of poetic devices, they...
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Persuasive Writing II
Help your young writers use logic in their persuasive writing. Discuss the characteristics of a persuasive paper, and have pupils work together to explore and solve a syllogism. They will write a short persuasive paper which includes a...
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Writing Author's Purpose
Write in all three authorial purposes (persuasive, informational, entertaining) with this instructional activity. Young writers consider a time when a friend of theirs helped them out and gave them advice on something. They write a short...
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Studying Mind Maps Created at Other Schools
Students explore Africa and mind maps created by students from other schools. They discuss Africa and the number of countries, diversity of language, cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles and in groups study a mind map from another...
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Language Arts: Quotation Marks Practice
After reviewing the eight rules for using quotation marks, class members complete worksheets as independent practice and review how these punctuation marks change the meaning of a sentence. Additional worksheets are provided for homework.
Teach-nology
Author’s Purpose: Inform
Why does an author write an informative article? Learners examine passages of a short reading on Spain and determine what the author wanted to inform the reader about.
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The Story of English
Explore the history and scope of the English language with this presentation. With discussion points on the roots of English, its various forms around the world, and its status as a global language, this slide show would be a good...
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An English-Speaking World
An overview of the development of English as a global language fills out these slides. Beginning with statistics regarding how much of the world speaks English and to what capacity, a brief history is then given mostly pertaining to WWII...
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Context Clues
Work on context clues with your ninth graders in this lesson, which focuses on identifying and analyzing clues to define unfamiliar words. They identify context clues in a passage to recognize words they haven't seen before, and then...
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Computer Language Laboratory First Lesson
Young scholars in the English Language Learners classroom utilize the computer for a variety of review activities. The teacher uses e-mail to send students D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language) sentences, a quote or passage of interest, or a...
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The Language of Algebra
Young scholars compare the language of algebra to a foreign language. They play the game "Pictionary" to emphasize that pictures can represent words. After writing definitions and discussing the meaning of variable expressions,...
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Reviewing Language
Eighth graders examine some of the basics of the writing process in order to improve long-term writing goals. They apply the concepts of using speech, prefixes, and suffixes. Students use and describe the different steps of the writing...
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Language Arts: Punctuation and Characterization
Students prepare for a test on punctuation and characterization by completing practice assignments. While completing the assignment, they note the difference between direct and indirect characterization and explain how punctuation...
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Language Arts: Introduction to Nouns
Ninth graders discover how to differentiate types of nouns through interactive group work by using packets of manipulatives and completing worksheets. After discussing the characteristics of common and proper nouns, they open the packets...
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Language Arts: Paraphrasing Research Material
Students visit the school media center to research their favorite historical figures. Following a discussion of paraphrasing, they find information in library materials about their figure. Once students compile their information, they...
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Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Lesson: Immigration
Many of your class members will have heard of Executive Order 9066 and the Japanese internment camps of World War II. Some may even recognize the terms “Issei” and “Nisei,” but few will have heard of Enemy Alien Hearing Boards, of the...
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Africa: Names and Nations of Note
Students explore Africa. In this global studies lesson, students research the history of African nations, noting the impact of European colonization and other historical events. Students design posters about the nations they research.
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Heeding Advice
Compare and contrast various foreign perspectives on the George W. Bush administration's plans for military action. Middle schoolers read the article "Blair and Chirac Head to U.S. to Talks and a Show of Unity." Then, they analyze...
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Hyperbole, Idiom, Oxymoron
Fourth graders identify the usage of idiom, hyperbole, and oxymoron in literary passages. They apply this knowledge of figurative language through a composition exercise. The writing of teacher generated examples is also helpful.
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Main Idea and Supporting Details
Eighth graders identify the main idea and supporting details in paragraphs. In this language arts activity, 8th graders review organizational patterns in paragraphs and determine which pattern is best for a given situation. ...
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Comparisons And You
Pupils examine the structure and language of sentences that are used for making comparisons. They drill through a series of sentences for a model and practice. Then students write sentences that make comparisons after brainstorming the...
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Word Structure-Prefix and Suffix
Students identify the common prefixes and suffixes used in the English language. They dissect a word into its various (root, prefix, suffix) parts and use a dictionary to determine the proper usage and derivation of each word part. ...