Curated OER
Visualization
Students practice visualization as a strategy to increase reading comprehension. They practice while the teacher reads a poem to them before reading a poem silently to themselves. Next, they practice making mental images while reading a...
Curated OER
My Colorful Food Chain
Students explore biology by participating in a dietary habit activity. In this food chain lesson, students discuss their own diets and the animals we feed upon daily. Students create a poster demonstrating the animals that we feed upon...
Curated OER
American Revolution
While just an outline for an exploration of the American Revolution, this lesson could be augmented to provide a richer experience. The activity calls for learners to discuss the Declaration of Independence, study Paul Revere's midnight...
Curated OER
Hawaii
Third graders explore how to do research on the Internet. After they have completed looking up information they create a haiku.
Curated OER
The Cinquain
Students explore writing a cinquain. Students engage in a pantomime experience. They observe and describe bubbles. Students compose a cinquain and illustrate their work with bubble art.
Curated OER
Book Report Haiku
Students study another method for writing a book report using a Haiku poem. For this book report lesson, students use the Haiku poem format to write a book report.
Curated OER
Can You Haiku?
Everyone loves haikus! They're short, quick, and fun to write! Analyze the rules and conventions of haiku. Readers interpret examples of haiku and develop a vocabulary for writing haiku. Then they compose a haiku based on a personal...
Curated OER
Sonnet Worksheet
Are your middle schoolers writing a sonnet? Here's a worksheet to help them craft their first sonnet! Make edits as you see necessary.
Curated OER
Writing Limericks
Eighth graders compose or create works of communication for specific audiences and purposes. They locate, access, and select relevant information from a variety of sources. They revise and edit their work to improve content, organization...
Curated OER
Synecdoche vs. Metonymy: Definitions
Ask your class to lend their ears, and eyes, to a short video that defines and offers examples of synecdoche and metonymy. Whether it be brand names like Kleenex® and Band-aids® that have come to stand for all the products in a category,...
Curated OER
Why did the Aztec and Inca civilizations disappear?
Middle schoolers can analyze primary source documents to answer the question, "Why did the Aztec and Inca civilizations disappear?" They will read the provided excerpts then answer 11 different questions to uncover the ultimate answer.
National Park Service
The Power of Remembrance
On every July 4th, we watch fireworks and celebrate our independence, but how is the history of the American Revolution preserved? Four social studies instructional activity guide learners through different memorials, commemorative...
Scholastic
Minibeasts
Lead young scientists to discover insects outdoors. After investigating, students will record observations, learn about these fascinating creatures, craft, and role play.
Curated OER
The Old Man and the Sea: Guided Imagery
What do you imagine when you think of the sea? Put on some ocean sounds, close your eyes, and listen to a guided meditation based on the imagery from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. After class members listen to...
Tayasui.com
Drawing with Carl
Who is Carl? Carl is a little monster that will help your learners draw and create in any way imaginable. Get those kids to activate creative and imaginative thinking skills with a really fun app. There are endless options that can...
Prestwick House
The House on Mango Street Activity Pack
Enrich a unit on The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with a selection of related activities. The packet contains nine activities that go from pre-reading through wrapping up the novel. Young readers work on studying...
College Board
Choices and Consequences
Paul Fisher, the main character in Tangerine, comes to see that it's the choices in life that lead to the consequences that make all the difference. A unit study of Bloor's young adult novel leads readers down this same path.
Institute for Humane Education
In Your Face: Reclaiming Billboards
Ads here, ads there, ads everywhere—but what do they communicate? Pupils discuss this topic and develop a list of personal values. They then work as creative directors at an advertising firm to create billboards that reflect community...
Curated OER
Solar Flip Book
Students view and discuss various images of solar events. They research and create a flip book demonstrating the progression of two solar events, and write a poem describing their chosen solar event.
Curated OER
"Ode to a Nightingale" Theme of Transience
In this "Ode to a Nightingale" worksheet, learners explore the theme of the fleeting nature of youth and happiness. Students discuss the meaning of the symbols and the speaker's state of mind.
Curated OER
Writing Original Literary Texts - The Cuban Crab Migration
Middle schoolers explore figurative language through poetry. In this poetry lesson, students view a video segment regarding the Cuban crab migration. Middle schoolers use similes and metaphors in poetry they create based on the journey...
Curated OER
Journeys
Learners write a story using their journey to school as the setting. In groups, they discuss their experiences and browse through books to get ideas for their story. They practice using a thesaurus to find new verbs or adjectives they...
Curated OER
The Emperor and the Kite
Fourth graders explore storytelling by reading a classic story. In this vocabulary identification lesson, 4th graders read the story The Emperor and the Kite and define the different vocabulary terms that appear in the story. Students...
Curated OER
Author's Voice in Passage
Learners explore author's voice. In this literary elements and reading comprehension lesson, students listen to two poems about snakes (included) and identify adjectives and other descriptive words and phrases that help them determine...