Virginia Department of Education
Editing and Proofreading
This task is best utilized after a rough draft revision is completed. Writers pair-up and identify when the author uses the passive voice, clichés, and wordiness. Basic examples for the revision points are provided for the instructor to...
Curated OER
Verbs Rule!
Students practice writing and speaking using conventional grammar, usage, and sentence structure. Students practice as a whole class and then demonstrate their knowledge in written activities. Handouts and worksheets are imbedded within...
Curated OER
The Attack On Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941
In this Pearl Harbor worksheet, learners read about what happened on December 7th, 1941, read Roosevelt's speech in response, and complete activities in the passive voice about what they read. Students write the past participle of 10...
Curated OER
Understanding and Identifying Verbs
Students practice identifying the subject and verbs in sentences. In this verb lesson plan, students can explain the difference between active and passive verbs. Students complete a grade appropriate work sheet.
Curated OER
Mandela The Man
Ninth graders explore civil rights by reading several biographies. In this Nelson Mandela lesson plan, 9th graders discuss the trials and tribulations Nelson Mandela had to face in South Africa and how they were similar to the problems...
Road to Grammar
Understanding the -ED Ending
English is a complex language, so take some time to clarify one aspect that is often confusing for English language learners: the -ed ending. This resource includes information about the different ways the -ed ending is used and provides...
Curated OER
English Exercises: Test Exercises 2
In this online interactive English learning exercise, students respond to 62 fill in the blank questions regarding the use of gerunds, infinitives, questions, conditionals, comparatives, passive voice, reported speech, and prepositions....
Curated OER
Complete Sentences
In this subject and predicate worksheet, students underline the predicate in 5 sentences, the subject and draw a box around the predicate and writes three complete sentences of their own underlining the subject and circling the predicate.
Curated OER
Building Believable Characters
Students use descriptive strategies such as physical descriptions, background, and comparison of characters when writing narratives. They develop the topic with supporting details and precise diction to paint a visual image in the...
Curated OER
Ancient Book Found in Ireland
Young scholars discuss items archeologists search for during digs and read a news article about a 2200-year-old religious book found in Ireland. They examine the article for examples of the passive voice. They make lists of items for a...
Curated OER
Where Do I Fit In The Food Pyramid?
Students discuss how their daily diets fit into the dietary guidelines set out by the food pyramid. They write a paragraph describing good health habits and identify areas where their personal diet can be improved.
Curated OER
Concern over Assam Rhinos
Students study the illegal hunting of wild animals (rhinos) in India. They read a short news report, review related vocabulary, and complete a vocabulary matching exercise.
Curated OER
Fun With Formatting
Students investigate the concept of using a word processing program with the intention of improving formatting skills like centering text. They also highlight different text sections and demonstrate how to save changes made to a document...
Curated OER
Taxation Without Representation
Eighth graders empathize with how colonists felt when they were taxed without representation. They use a metaphor of students and a school principal to describe the strained relationship that developed between the colonies and Britain.
Curated OER
Consumer Complaint Menu Role-play
In this role play activity, students participate in a role play about a consumer complaint in a restaurant. Students complete 5 steps in the role play.
Curated OER
Calculating Postage
Students explore the services available to them at their local post office. As a class, students discuss the function of each method of delivery. Students choose a postal option appropriate to a scenario the instructor provides. This...