Curated OER
Writing Fiction: Using Older Characters
Out with the old and in with the new? Not so in this lesson plan, which explores the idea of writing older characters in fiction. Students learn the value of varying their characters, exploring different perspectives, and avoiding...
Arts & Humanities
Pizza Arts Storage Box
Where do you put all of those fantastic art projects you've done throughout the year? In a pizza box! Yes, learners will use pizza boxes to create strong vibrant portfolios for all their art work. Note: Clean pizza boxes can be donated...
Curated OER
Communicating:A Two-Way Need
Students engage an older adult in one-to-one contact. They develop communication skills that can be used in future interactions. They complete a handout and interview one older adult. They examine what society needs to do to help...
Curated OER
Older, Wiser, and Making a Difference
Students reflect on an adult who plays a significant role in their lives. They conduct peer interviews and write newspaper articles about these important individuals.
Curated OER
Common Ground: A Therapy Dog Program Between Students And Older Adults
Young scholars handle a therapy dog and take the school therapy dog to a local nursing home several times over the course of the school year. They complete a culminating project that focuses either on the entire experience or a specific...
Writer’s Digest Books
The Writing Prompt Boot Camp
Fourteen days of writing prompts (or 16 if you count the two bonus days) are featured in packet designed for high school, college level, or adult writers.
EngageNY
Choosing a Book That Interests Me: Seeking the Superhero Reader in Me
Selecting a "power book" and engaging in a structured class discussion are the learning targets for this fourth lesson in a larger unit. It is designed as a beginning of the year unit for establishing norms and routines in the classroom....
Lakeshore Learning
Presidents' Day Poem
What a great way to combine English language arts with your celebration of Presidents' Day! Youngsters are guided through the reading of a poem sung to the tune of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" on the jobs of the president of the United States,...
Curated OER
Rediscovering Children's Literature
Students, while analyzing children's literature works as a vehicle for a multitude of insights, practice analytical reading and writing scenarios about older adults. In retrospect, they read books aloud to young children as well as write...
Curated OER
Listen to Me Tell You the Story
Read a familiar story with repetitive lines that the class can remember. Afterward, make puppets and retell the story in small groups with an adult volunteer or an older child.
Curated OER
Student Opinion: How Impulsive Are You?
Sure to spark lively discussion in any Language Arts classroom, this article from The York Times asks the question, 'How much self-control do you have?'. Pupils begin by reading a short passage about a study on delayed gratification and...
Curated OER
Personal Experience Narratives
Help your middle schoolers identify personal experience narratives in their own lives through telling stories themselves and from family members or other adults. They study personal experience narratives in Swapping Stories and compare...
Curated OER
Ladybug Art
Students make thumbprints around the border. In this art lesson, students draw heads on narrow end of thumb print and then draw two short antaenna. Students draw an upside down y starting at the head to separate the wings and color the...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Inside, Outside, Upside Down
Students create a computer slide show of pictures representing directional words. After listening to several books with examples, they pair words such as inside and outside, below and above, or high and low. With older students or...
Breaking News English
More People to Stick to New Year's Resolutions
What makes a good New Year's resolution? Practice goal-setting and reading comprehension with a set of language arts activities. English learners work on cloze passages, synonym matches, interviewing exercises, and comprehension...
K12 Reader
Community Connections
Who helps our community run smoothly? Read a short passage about community members and helpers. After kids finish the passage, they answer five short questions on the other side of the page.
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Inside Out Fun!
It's amazing what you can do with a little bit of soap, baking soda, and corn starch. Follow the directions in this packet, mix up a batch of fun, and turn young scientists and artists loose to experiment and create chalk, paint, and...
Arts & Humanities
Make a Souvenir Suitcase
Shoe boxes are fantastic for art projects! Kids create travel boxes, where they can store their travel memorabilia. Tip: Instead of using this idea to make travel cases, create social studies boxes instead. Kids will make these travel...
Curated OER
Quilting the Past and Present
Young scholars construct a quilt using symbols of the past and present. For this communities lesson, students interview an older adult and discuss the history of their community. Young scholars create a quilt.
Curated OER
Religion, Culture, and Diversity
Students study world religions. For this diversity lesson, students interview their grandparents and other older adults about their religious beliefs and traditions. Students research world religions and discuss the diversity of cultural...
Curated OER
Art Mystery
Students explore famous artists in order to write mystery stories incorporating their life and works. They write their own based on their research of a particular artist.
Curated OER
Teens on Trial
Students read about the public reaction to the conviction of Alex and Derek King, and explore the issue of child offenders being tried and sentenced as adults. They compose letters to Florida Governor Jeb Bush, outlining their opinion on...
Curated OER
Teens on Screens
Students articulate the ways in which they use the Internet and envision and propose new uses for the Internet. They examine one teenager's vision and expression of teen culture and individual personality online by reading and...
Curated OER
Take Me Back to the Ball Game!
Students examine the role of sports in American society, analyzing both positive outcomes and its exclusive nature. They reflect on how the lessons that they participate in as students may carry with them into their adult lives.