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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
Middle schoolers 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...
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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.
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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
Students 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 ...
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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. ...
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Summarizing Details in Sequence
Seventh graders write a few sentences explaining the most important events of their lives during the past year. As a class, they discuss why they chose the elements they did for their sentences. To end the lesson, they read a variety of...
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The Ballad Of Captain Super
Engaging and fun, this lesson plan is a good way to reinforce context clues with this lesson plan, in which middle schoolers investigate literary puzzles. They apply critical thinking skills to codes in order to solve them. They use a...
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Comparatives Superlatives
Review comparatives and superlatives. Middle schoolers are introduced to modifiers such as Adjectives and Adverbs. They will talk about comparatives and superlatives such as: What makes them different, fo over rules for each type of...
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Commas vs Semicolons
Middle schoolers arrange sentences to create correct punctuation use with commas and semicolons. Using FANBOYS, they define and recognize subordinate (dependent) vs. independent clauses, and other necessary parts of a sentence. They...
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Hyperbole and Idiom
Seventh graders use context clues to determine the figurative meaning of idioms and hyperboles. They practice writing idioms and hyperboles in sentences about real life situations around them. This lesson is a good way to improve variety...
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Intro to Pronouns
Sixth graders are able to identify personal pronouns and understand their function. They are able to use personal pronouns correctly as subjects and objects in sentences. Then they look at sentences given by the teacher, and they list...
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Review and Quiz on Punctuation CS
Explore indirect and direct characterization and review rules of punctuation. After a review, middle schoolers complete a short worksheet, labeling sentences as an example of a direct or indirect characterization. In groups, they play a...