Curated OER
Candide: Word Squares
Readers of Voltaire’s satire create a word square for vocabulary drawn from Candide. The first box contains the word, the second a picture or illustration of the word. The definition is written in the third box, and learners write a...
Curated OER
Schools of the Past and Present
First graders take a look at schools of the past and present, and try to conjure an idea of what schools of the future will look like. After taking a walk around their own school and taking note of the buildings and the things that are...
Curated OER
Gone to the Dogs
Approach vocabulary through decoding and chunking. Your class breaks up words into basic syllables or chunks then engages in a decoding activity. Useful for a variety of language levels and grades, just modify to fit your class.
Curated OER
Express Yourself Lesson Seed 8: Character
Characters often change over the course of a story or novel. Use the sample graphic organizer provided here to track how the narrator has responded to the sequence of events in chapter four through six of The Cay. In addition to this...
Curated OER
Animal Kingdom Game
Young scholars build their vocabulary and communication skills by describing animals found in nature. In this ESL instructional activity, students play a board game to compare and contrast animals. Young scholars respond to icons,...
Curated OER
New to School Student Booklets
Students complete a booklet that describes their experiences in school. They read books about going to school and complete pages about themselves, their teachers and the types of activities they most enjoy.
Curated OER
Irregular Verbs
Given the present tense form and either the simple past or the past participle, learners must choose from a drop-down menu the correct remaining form of the verb to complete each set. Only five verbs are included, so it's a quick dabble...
Curated OER
Creating a Picture Dictionary
Second graders create a reading, vocabulary,picture dictionary on the computer. They participate in becoming familiar with some basic capabilities of a word processor. They build vocabulary, spelling, and dictionary skills, reinforce...
Curated OER
Riddles
Riddles can be a fun way to practice word decoding. Scholars read two riddles to determine the word each is referencing. These riddles are based on word analysis to build letters one at a time rather than big-picture idea concepts....
Prestwick House
Vocabulary Lesson
Vocabulary instruction works best when taught within a larger context. A vocabulary activity builds connections by using synonyms to help learn the meaning of new words. This helps connect the words to prior knowledge and give them context.
Curated OER
Stop Signs, Musical Notes, Letters & Logos: Designing Symbols
Students develop an awareness of environmental print, such as signs, logos, brand names, and other print and non-print items that the children see and read in their neighborhood each day. They then engage in active problem solving as...
Curated OER
Total English Upper Intermediate: Crime Issues
In order to build discussion skills, English language learners use a worksheet with several questions regarding crime and punishment in the justice system. They interview fellow classmates, noting how each feels about a given topic. They...
Amateur Athletic Foundation
Olympic Lingo
Instead of bingo, why not play some Lingo? This vocabulary game is just like bingo, but it's all about words and focuses on building vocabulary. The resource provides a blank Lingo card, a filled-in sample, and a vocabulary list. All of...
Curated OER
Close Reading
Eleventh graders read and study Hamlet. Then they are introduced to close reading as a means of understanding what is being read--not only understanding the printed word, but also the nuances and connotations of language as it is used by...
Curated OER
Conversation Lesson: The Necessity of Grammar
Start a conversation to convey proper English grammar. In groups pupils voice their opinion, have well supported disagreements, and explain why they feel as they do. This lesson builds academic discussion skills and fosters a command of...
Curated OER
Research Projects for Regional History
Young writers of any grade level research a historical topic of their choice about their local community. Using primary sources, they examine the historical significance of their area. They participate in activities such as going on a...
Curated OER
Sand Castle: Lesson 29
The story Sand Castle is the basis for each of the four learning activities found on this worksheet. Learners will write spelling words, fill in the blanks, compose sentences, and answer comprehension questions relating to the story....
Curated OER
Words in the News Solar Sail
Bring current events into your classroom! Middle schoolers complete word work activities before reading and discussing an online article. They complete worksheets and an online quiz. They discuss the Solar Sail as radical new idea and...
Curated OER
What is a Noun? & When To Capitalize Nouns
Nouns are the focus of this language arts PowerPoint. Pupils will see that there are five categories of nouns: person, place, thing, idea, quality. The last two are not usually taught, but they are legitimate categories. When to...
Curated OER
Latin Roots cern, jur, leg: Intermediate Matching Quiz
Young etymologists match intermediate-level words containing the Latin roots cern, jur, and leg with their definitions. They can email their results to you, print out the list for further study, and undertake an array of other related...
Beacon Learning Center
What Goes Up Must Come Down
After your class has completed The Cay by Theodore Taylor, assess understanding of the plot. First, model how to fill out a plot line for your class. Next, have class members fill in the plot of The Cay on the provided story map. Invite...
Curated OER
Third Grade Fluency Lesson
Looking for an activity to increase fluency? Third graders will practice reading comprehension by expanding their reading level. They will demonstrate for their teacher their current reading level and then decide on a goal to be reached...
Little, Brown and Company
The Catcher in the Rye: Vocabulary Bingo
After finishing The Catcher in the Rye, review new vocabulary with an individualized bingo game. Class members develop a list of new vocabulary drawn from the novel or literary devices studied during the unit. Individuals then place...
Curated OER
Classroom Fun with Flat Stanley
Complete a series of activities based on the Flat Stanley books in this literature study instructional activity. Introduce the book with a discussion of supernatural qualities, then learnerscan create character webs, write news articles,...