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Dream of a Nation

Creating Awareness through Action Oriented Writing and Research

For Teachers 8th Standards
Middle schoolers aren't too young to feel strongly about politics, social issues, consumer rights, or environmental problems. Demonstrate the first steps toward social change with a project about action-oriented writing. Eighth graders...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The School Holiday Calendar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Various Muslim holidays and their meanings are researched and your young scholars will predict whether or not they should be recognized on the New York City school calendar.  An extension could be to write a letter to the Mayor about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Study History through Journal Keeping

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Journal writing can be a fun way to bring history to life. Upper graders read a series of journals from the time of the westward expansion, specifically the pioneer journey along the Oregon Trail. They compose an ongoing journal from the...
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Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Far From Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A timely and provocative lesson inspires high schoolers to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis. They analyze a compelling photo essay before discussing and writing about it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parody Hilarity

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Upper grade and middle school writers study the art of parody. In this language arts lesson, learners study the work of Lewis Carroll, read and discuss parodies from the book, Alice in Wonderland, and construct their own parody based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Circles of Strength: What Do You Stand For?" ~ A Reflection of Us~

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers determine how they are included in "Circles of Strength." In this character activity, learners reflect on how they are part of "Circles of Strength" in the "Circle of Life." They make an individual circle that includes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing About Art: Subjective vs. Objective

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Explore objective and subjective writing in this interdisciplinary lesson, which brings language arts and visual art together. Middle and high school students examine the sculpture Head with Horns by Paul Gauguin. They then analyze the...
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Curated OER

Summer Shorts

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Want to use sequence maps in your narrative writing unit? Young writers work to create personal narratives about their summer vacation. They write a narrative of their vacation and create a display using summer clothing shapes made from...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Dear Miss Breed

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
This compelling plan based on the letters in the book Dear Miss Breed engages readers in learning what it was like for Japanese Americans following the attacks at Pearl Harbor. After reading the letters, young scholars will partake in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Framing?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students practice framing issues. In this writing skills lesson, students participate in a classroom activity that requires them to look at specific topical issues by framing them. Students then create collages on current issues and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write a Harry Potter Script

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Examine the technique of writing a script and complete a worksheet in which young writers summarize a favorite chapter in a Harry Potter book. They practice public speaking by acting out the summarization scenes for classmates. Handouts...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eliminate Weak Verb-Adverb Combinations

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Encourage your writers to use sob instead of cry loudly to trade in adverbs for strong verbs. Improve your middle and high schoolers' writing with this humorously written lesson which demonstrates how to remove excessive adverbs. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Directed and Undirected Free-writing: An Activity in Brainstorming

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders practice pre-writing skills using brainstorming methods. Using music and meditation, they examine the difference between directed and undirected free-writing, as well as how and when to apply them to the pre-writing process.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Made Easy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Middle and high schoolers check their writing for pronoun-antecedent agreement. After identifying the pronouns in their writing, they then complete a table with the pronouns and corresponding antecedents, making revisions as necessary.
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Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Using Artifacts for Clues About Identity

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Learn about the ancient Near East through a close examination of ancient artifacts. Lead your class into analysis by first observing an artifact as a class. Pupils can then work in pairs to analyze the other artifacts and compile a list...
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PBS

Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Learning About Opioids

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Feeling high is not the only side effect of abusing prescription opioids. Middle and high schoolers learn more about specific painkillers, including Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Clonazepam, as well as their common brand names and extensive...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Truth Be Told

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Encourage your middle and high schoolers to share their memories of a recent event. After reading a New York Times article, they discuss Elie Wiesel's memoir, Night. They write their own memoir about a significant event that affected...
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Curated OER

Persuasion as Text: Organizational, Grammatical, and Lexical Moves in Barbara Jordan’s "All Together Now"

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
A thorough lesson on persuasive writing takes middle schoolers through several activities, including group discussion, collaborative posters, and independent writing. They compare historical speeches and analyze the persuasive techniques...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in Japan Japanese Writing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Study the three writing systems of Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Your middle schoolers will practice writing Kanji and write a mini story in English which uses at least 10 of the Kanji in the place of the English words....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Image as Metaphor

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A Dorothea Lange photograph launches this study of metaphors. Using the questions provided, the class examines the image and the title to consider how Lange uses her photo as a metaphor. Class members then select an object they can use...
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Curated OER

Persuasive Writers

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Use the power of the pen to persuade others to get involved in community issues! Individuals reflect on personal service learning activities and the writing process. They compose essays regarding service to others. While designed for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Venn Diagram for Compare/Contrast

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Use this lesson to focus on a compare and contrast writing structure in your middle school language arts class. Here, young writers compare and contrast two texts using graphic organizers. They use a double bubble format for their...
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Lesson Plan
Bully Free Systems

Bully Free Lesson Plans—Eighth Grade

For Teachers 8th Standards
Middle schoolers are likely very familiar with the concept of bullying and cliques. Discuss their experiences and brainstorm ways to handle peer conflict and feelings of exclusion with a poem that focuses on bullying, and a second lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing a Halloween Poem

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A delightful lesson on poetry is here for you and your middle schoolers. Learners are instructed to write a Halloween poem. They get to choose the age range for the audience of the poem. So, it may be scary (for older kids), or humorous...