Curated OER
Determine the Meaning of Unknown Words
Sixth graders explore the meanings of unknown words in science fiction. In this language arts instructional activity, 6th graders participate in a game of Balderdash and guess the meanings of given words. Students discuss how to use...
Curated OER
Interpreting a Symbol
Analyze the symbols in the book, Only You Can Save Mankind in a fun science fiction lesson. After investigating the symbols from the book, middle schoolers jot down any details they recall about objects or idea. Next, they...
Curated OER
What are the Main Ideas?
Prior to beginning Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks, model for your class members how to determine the main idea of a text. Exercepts from another story are provided to use for the demonstration. The focus then shifts to Rosa...
Curated OER
Character's Motive: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy
Sixth graders explore language arts by completing a reading comprehension worksheet. In this character study instructional activity, 6th graders read a crime story and investigate which character they belive committed the crime. Students...
Curated OER
Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Sixth graders explore the genre of mystery. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders predict the solution to a mystery based on the text. Students read a text and predict the solution.
Curated OER
Lesson 5: Red Herrings
A red herring isn't just a fish! Identify the clues that an author makes in a book to mislead the reader and make predictions accordingly. Have your class discuss how it feels to be tricked as a reader and about making wrong predictions....
Curated OER
Mysterious Plot Problems
Young scholars solve 3 riddles given by the teacher and discuss how solving a mystery is like solving a riddle. In this language arts lesson, students watch as the teacher records problems in a detective story. Young scholars record...
Curated OER
Identifying Clues to Help Solve a Mystery
Students investigate clues in mystery novels. In this genre study lesson, students read the book Sammy Keyes and The Hotel Thief and use the 5 W's to answer questions about the mystery. Students draw conclusions using the details from...
Curated OER
Textual Analysis: Forensic Science Files: Handwriting Analysis
Learn to analyze handwriting samples in a textual analysis lesson. Middle schoolers complete a textual analysis procedure based on the text Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. They also provide supporting evidence for their work.
Curated OER
Genre Lesson: Short Story
Stories from Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street provide sixth graders with an opporltunity to identify the elements of a short story. After several modeling exercises, readers use the provided worksheet to recording information...
Curated OER
Multiple Perspectives
Sixth graders watch and listen as teacher models how to contrast and compare perspectives in a story. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders engage in guided practice to compare and contrast perspectives in a selection titled "No...
Curated OER
Fact and Opinion
Sixth graders discuss the terms "explicit opinions," and "implicit opinions," from a text. In this literacy lesson, 6th graders analyze the author's techniques to find explicitly stated opinions. Additionally, students complete a...
Curated OER
Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Who killed Sam Westing? Model for your class members the components of a good prediction, and how to use these components to predict a mystery's solution. Class members use what they have learned to craft predictions while reading Ellen...
Curated OER
Red Herrings
Sixth graders make predictions while reading The Westing Game. In this prediction and mystery lesson, 6th graders identify red herrings while reading and compare those clues with their predictions. Students complete a series of...
Curated OER
Narrative Poetry
Sixth graders explore narrative poetry. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders create a group story. Students discuss the characteristics of narrative poetry and use a story elements checklist to determine which poems are narrative...
Common Sense Media
ABC Searching
Students explore English by completing an interactive computer activity. In this alphabet lesson, students research the Internet to create a picture dictionary which they share with classmates. Students locate digital images of words...
Curated OER
Today We Will Learn About Prefixes: non- not
Nonverbal, nonfat, nonfiction. The prefix non- (meaning not) is the focus of this affixes presentation that concludes with a check for understanding.
Curated OER
Who Polluted the River?
Study the impact of water pollution. A hands-on experiment and an interactive story about water pollution are the basis for the learning experience.
Curated OER
Food Insecurity
Explore food insecurity and resource scarcity with your class. They discuss the sharing of scarce resources, how to be good caretakers of these resources, and how choices impact the entire world.
Curated OER
Benjamin Franklin- Philanthropist
Students research and read a profile of Benjamin Franklin. In this philanthropic lesson, students research the projects of Benjamin Franklin and determine which were philanthropic, which were governmental and which were business...
Curated OER
What's Being Done?
Middle schoolers explore the concept of animal welfare. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students examine legislation that supports animals in their state as well as the role of the American Society for the Prevention of...
Curated OER
Community Foundations and Procedure
Young scholars understand what a community foundation is and how it gets input from the community. In this community foundation lesson, students form an advisory board to give suggestions. Young scholars learn procedures to hold meetings...
Curated OER
Community Foundations and Procedure
Learners research a foundation in their community and how it helps its citizens. They form a youth advisory committee and make recommendations to the mock boards of directors. They practice using parliamentary procedure to complete their...
Learning to Give
Africa - The Great Southland
Applying the five themes of geography, preteen explorers develop a visual aid for younger learners in celebration African American History Month. They investigate the political, geographic, economic, and social aspects of the continent...