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Lesson 3: Voice
Explore voice in writing with the story Chess Rumble. After examining the character's voice to understand the character better, sixth graders analyze and discuss the dialect, tone, and descriptive language used. A good way to focus on...
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Determine the Meaning of Unknown Words
Sixth graders explore the meanings of unknown words in science fiction. In this language arts lesson, 6th graders participate in a game of Balderdash and guess the meanings of given words. Students discuss how to use context clues to...
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Interpreting a Symbol
Analyze the symbols in the book, Only You Can Save Mankind in a fun science fiction activity. After investigating the symbols from the book, middle schoolers jot down any details they recall about objects or idea. Next, they brainstorm...
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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 Parks'...
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Character's Motive: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy
Sixth graders explore language arts by completing a reading comprehension worksheet. In this character study lesson, 6th graders read a crime story and investigate which character they belive committed the crime. Students complete a...
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Predicting a Mystery's Solution
Sixth graders explore the genre of mystery. In this language arts instructional activity, 6th graders predict the solution to a mystery based on the text. Students read a text and predict the solution.
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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....
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Mysterious Plot Problems
Students 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. Students record questions...
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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...
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Textual Analysis: Forensic Science Files: Handwriting Analysis
Learn to analyze handwriting samples in a textual analysis instructional activity. Middle schoolers complete a textual analysis procedure based on the text Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. They also provide supporting evidence for their...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Red Herrings
Sixth graders make predictions while reading The Westing Game. For this prediction and mystery lesson, 6th graders identify red herrings while reading and compare those clues with their predictions. Students complete a series of...
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Narrative Poetry
Sixth graders explore narrative poetry. For 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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Benjamin Franklin- Philanthropist
Students research and read a profile of Benjamin Franklin. In this philanthropic lesson plan, students research the projects of Benjamin Franklin and determine which were philanthropic, which were governmental and which were business...
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What's Being Done?
Students explore the concept of animal welfare. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine legislation that supports animals in their state as well as the role of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals....
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Community Foundations and Procedure
Students 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. Students learn procedures to hold meetings to agree on...
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Community Foundations and Procedure
Students 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...