Alabama Learning Exchange
Systems Every "Body" Needs to Know
Through an informative WebQuest and group work, learners explore the human body and cell structure. They create a cell diagram, research a disease, write a letter explaining the causes of human disease, and work in small groups to create...
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Parody Hilarity
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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Analyzing the Use of Irony in a Short Story
Ninth graders examine how literature connects to real-life and see how irony aids in the development of theme. They read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and discuss elements of foreshadowing and situational irony. Then learners will write...
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Chapter Tableaux: Visualizing The Call of the Wild
Do your young readers have difficulty visualizing what they read? Although the activity described here is for The Call of the Wild, the strategy could be used with any narrative. At the conclusion of each chapter of Jack London’s novel,...
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The Call of the Wild: Activities
“There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life” and an excitement that comes with finding a good teaching resource. Included in a richly detailed packet designed to accompany The Call of the Wild, are a tableaux exercise, a...
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Stories
Students read and write a short story. In this short story lesson plan, students read a short story and answer comprehension questions on it that teaches them about the world around them. Then they write a short story to teach...
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Understanding Fair Trade
Students write a ballad from a farmer's point of view on trade. In this farmer's lesson plan, students listen to a farmer speak about fair trade, have a dialogue about it, and write a ballad to interpret their point of view.
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Picture Prompt: Penguins and Christmas Tree
What happens when penguins put up a Christmas tree? Only your students know for sure, since they're the ones writing the story! A picture of penguins around a Christmas tree is sure to inspire even your most reluctant writers to begin,...
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Cross-Cultural Dialogue Lesson
Students view situations from more than their own point of view. They use the incidents in the author's story to explore the concept of crossing cultures and reflect on what it is like to feel like an outsider (in the way that the author...
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Punctuating Dialogue
Sixth graders use narrative strategies (e.g., dialogue and action) to develop characters, plot and setting and maintain a consistent point of view. They create and accurately punctuate dialogue necessary to help the plot progress,...
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Narrative Strategies
Sixth graders explore strategies authors use to make characters and setting seem real to readers. They develop characters and describe setting in original narratives. Students read myths and determine common themes found in myths from...
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Writer's Workshop Writing Dialogue: Night of the Twisters
In this writing worksheet, students learn proper punctuation and sentence variety as they write a dialogue pertaining to events in Night of the Twisters. Students read the information about how to use quotation marks, then write their...
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From Memoir to Expository Writing with Advanced English Language Learners
Young scholars create a memoir. They compare writing with story telling and personal experience. They analyze how they learn, so they can begin to look critically at their own learning.
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Acoustic Poems
Students explore acrostic poems. In this interactive poetry lesson, students visit the ReadWriteThink.org website to view characteristics and samples of acrostic poems. Students develop acrostic poems by using the interactive site.
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Reading Fiction - Character
The goal of this lesson plan is to have learners understand how character is created through a combination of what they say and do, and what others say about them. In pairs, learners construct a short dialogue between a parent and child...
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A Fairy Tale: Italian Folklore
Young scholars work in groups to write an original fairy tale in Italian. They research the components of a fairy tale, compare and contrast fairy tales with myths and follow an outline to write a complete, 15-20 page fairy tale.
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-How Dogs Really Work!
Students read How Dogs Really Work! by Alan Snow. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of dogs as pets. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library connections.
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Creating a Graphic Novelette and Peer Critique: Section 1
Help the class put a plan in place. With the detailed resource, pupils plan the first section of their graphic novelettes about an invention, creating and labeling their pages. Next, they work with partners to give and receive feedback...
Curriculum Corner
8th Grade ELA "I Can" Statement Posters
Eighth grades can master the ELA Common Core standards! Show your learners the connection between classroom activities and assignments and the standards with this set of "I Can" statement posters. Each standard has been rewritten as an...
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Author's Day
Have your learners choose an author to study. One resource link gives a list of approved authors. Scholars read at least three works produced by that author and produce three separate book reports as well as a two-page author report....
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The Story Tree
Students create dialogue that relates to a Florida Archives silent film clip. They research the Florida Memory Project and view a film clip. They record their dialogue on index cards and review and revise the dialogue as needed. They...
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Picture Prompt: Squirrel and Skunk
This story starter provides students with a picture of a skunk and a squirrel, which they can use to write a story. The title, beginning, middle, and ending is up to the student. Additionally, the worksheet includes a text box for...
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Picture Prompt: Squirrel
In this story starter, a picture of a squirrel surrounded by falling leaves prompts students to think of a story idea. Students can then write the story, practicing a beginning, middle, and ending. The worksheet includes a word box area...
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Picture Prompt: Bunnies
An excellent Easter or springtime activity, this prompt includes a picture of bunnies by a meadow, inspiring students to write a story based on the picture. Teachers can includes words from a spelling or vocabulary list in the text box...