Dream of a Nation
Writing an Analytic Essay
After researching an issue introduced in Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America, writers develop an original thesis statement and craft an analytic essay using evidence collected in their research.
K12 Reader
An Interesting Animal
"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" Primary graders write about an animal that interests them, describing what it looks like, where it lives, and what it eats.
K12 Reader
Something I'd Like to Learn
It's no secret, writing is a lot more enjoyable when it's about something we care about. This simple exercise engages children in producing original writing, while allowing them to share their personal interest with others.
Curated OER
Terrific Topic Sentences
Capture the interest of your reader with terrific topic sentences. To practice hooking the reader, your class will be given writing prompts, and they must create topic sentences for each prompt provided. Encourage them to use different...
Curated OER
Vivid Verbs
Spice up your writing! Your amateur writers will benefit from concentrating on understanding and improving verb use in writing. An introductory activity addresses weak verbs. A second exercise helps them see the importance of strong...
Teach Hub
New Year’s Resolution Classroom Activity
Create a sense of accountability among scholars with a lesson that focuses on making and keeping New Year's resolutions. Writers compose a five paragraph essay focused on three resolutions—promises to self improvement, to...
College Board
2016 AP® Human Geography Free-Response Questions
Do your learners have the test-day jitters? Questions from the 2016 administration of the AP Human Geography exam allow for extra practice on topics such as economic activity, national identity and language, and agricultural practices....
Curated OER
Be a Celebrity and Share Your Life with Us
Sixth graders discuss their likes, dislikes, hobbies, goals, and special events in their lives. They write a five paragraph autobiography focusing on style, transitions, and details. This is well-suited for either explanatory or...
EngageNY
Grade 9 ELA Module 3, Unit 3, Lesson 1
The opening exercise in this instructional unit introduces class members to the writing process they will follow to craft an informative, expository research paper that addresses their research question. To begin, writers are asked to...
Syracuse City School District
Summary of Fiction and Non-Fiction Text
Somebody Wanted But So Then (SWBST)? Yes! Here's a great strategy for teaching young readers how to summarize narrative text. In addition, the packet includes exercises that show kids how to summarize nonfiction text using the classic...
Curated OER
Sentence Completion 15: Low-Advanced SAT Level
Do your pupils need extra practice with sentence completion? Learners will have to employ a variety of strategies to answer correctly the six multiple-choice prompts on the worksheet. A richly detailed answer/explanation key is included....
Curated OER
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Dou
Ninth graders explore the concept that education is related to freedom. In this human rights lesson, 9th graders read The Narrative of Frederick Douglass. Students dialogue about their readings and education as it relates to human...
Curated OER
Classifying Information About Main Idea
In this reading for understanding lesson, students underline information in a text that is important in identifying the main idea. This lesson provides good practice for students who usually have difficulty in finding the main idea in...
Curated OER
Voting and the U.S. Constitution (Past, Present, and Future)
High schoolers discuss the 26th Amendment, then write letters to a future guest speaker. Students listen to the guest speaker and ask them questions about voting and voter turnout. High schoolers then create handbills urging citizens to...
Curated OER
Kansas Symbols Bingo
Pupils play Kansas Symbols Bingo. In this Kansas history lesson, students review the 8 state symbols: buffalo, wheat, cottonwood tree, honeybee, meadowlark, salamander, sunflower, and turtle. Pupils then participate in a game of...
Other
Writing world.com: Writing Dialogue for Children
A good site for teachers and writers looking to write for children, or teach children how to write dialogue. Includes tips and guidelines.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Rhetorical Devices and Transitions
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, you will learn about two rhetorical devices that are writing performance enhancers, analogy and antithesis. You will also learn about transitional words and...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Commentary on Quotations From Text in an Interpretive Response
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, you will learn how to include quotations from a text and commentary on those quotations. It includes a variety of practice exercises.