Harper Collins
Parrot in the Oven: Response Journal
After completing Chapter 5 of Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida, readers make text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections to Victor Martinez's novel by crafting journal entries addressing comments and questions to characters in...
Curated OER
Student Opinion: Are You Popular, Quirky or Conformist?
Approach the topic of popularity with this resource from the New York Times and their Learning Network series. The article is about Alexandra Robbins' "Quirk Theory." Learners respond to the article excerpt either on paper or...
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Meet the Heros
Vaccine development is the focus of a lesson that explores its history, timeline, and how the scientific method aids the process. Following a discussion about Edward Jenner and Small Pox, learners answer questions in their journals then...
Curated OER
Dialogue Tags/ Synonyms for Said
Sixth graders analyze dialogue tags. In this synonyms instructional activity students work in groups analyzing a personal narrative. They enter the words onto a classroom chart as well as their notes or journal. The students replace tags...
Curated OER
Letter Writing
Third graders write to themselves or to known audiences, share news, explore new ideas, and record notes. They identify that holidays are days that people set aside to recognize a person or event that has made a great impression....
Curated OER
Words That Will Haunt You
Students create taxonomies of Halloween-related terms. Drawing from their compiled vocabulary lists and previous reading, they compose personal essays of their own memories of the holiday. Students present their essays at a...
Curated OER
Snapshot Autobiography
Learners write an autobiography. In this autobiographical writing lesson, students discuss the important events in their life and write about them on a worksheet. Learners illustrate each event in their autobiography.
Curated OER
The Power of Journals: Going Beyond the Text
Eighth graders define and use new vocabulary and identify the reasons why Native Americans captured Europeans during the colonial period. They write their own journal entries about the topic and explain the importance of journals as a...
EngageNY
Grade 12 ELA Module 1: Unit 1, Lesson 20
The March on Washington takes center stage in the discussion of chapter 15 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X; however, class members are presented with an entirely different view of the march from the ones they have previously studied....
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark
Students investigate Lewis and Clark. In this Lewis and Clark lesson, students search the Internet for information about Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Students use maps to understand the explorations and decide which...
Curated OER
Who's Who
Ninth graders read a review three pieces of literature. They then compare and relate each piece to the time period in which they were written. Next, they consult different resources and explain how these sources are similar and different...
Curated OER
Personal / Group Magazine
Sixth graders complete the magazine template in the Macmillan "Writer's Journal" available through the basic skills department using word processing, spreadsheet, graphic, and electronic resource (i.e.-Internet) skills
Curated OER
European Explorer's Photo Journal
Pupils study early European explorers. They choose one to research and complete a photo journal of his explorations, which includes maps, articles, etc.
Curated OER
John Muir Nature Journal
Students explain how John Muir carefully and quietly observed nature and record his observations in his journal with writings and drawings. Students create their own nature observation journal.
Curated OER
Descriptive Writing
Fifth graders develop compositions on self-selected topics. They choose a topic based upon their ability. Individual pupils earn points for each activity completed. Students use descriptive writing as they support their composition...
Curated OER
The "Write Sport"
Fifth graders discuss the history of sports in Iowa. In this sports lesson plan, 5th graders write a friendly sports letter and a how to directional writing. They write five entries in their journal from the point of view of a piece of...
Curated OER
Be A Perfect Person in Just Three Days- Lesson 5
Students read a chapter in a book. In this reading and vocabulary lesson, students predict what will happen in chapter 5 of Be A Perfect Person in Just Three Days, define new vocabulary words, read and discuss chapter 5, find...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Writing Process: Character Description Essays
Pupils analyze and evaluate an essay and write a character description. In this character description activity, students read and analyze an essay in a teacher-led lecture. Pupils brainstorm then write a well-developed...
Curated OER
Writing Through Reading
Students are introduced to a new method of writing developed by Robert Gay. In groups, they practice retelling or rewriting one of their fellow classmates stories. They are also introduced to the technique of transcribing and write in...
Curated OER
The Food Guide Pyramid - Daily Food Journals
Students examine the Food Guide Pyramid, then keep daily food journals. They evaluate their current nutritional habits and create plans for developing healthier eating habits.
Curated OER
Picture Writing
Learners use pictures to help them communicate their ideas. They write personal books or journals using pictures. Students can create daily blogs usig the internet and create a weekly newsletter.
Curated OER
Read, Write and Talk
Fourth graders explore electricity by reading a story in their class. In this research technique lesson, 4th graders read a Magic School Bus book together and decide which elements of the story are the most important when asked about...
Curated OER
Writing About Photographs: Responding to the Art of Dorothea Lange
Students view and discuss photographs by Dorothea Lange. They describe what they see, pose questions about the images, reflect on their personal responses, and create diaries written in the voices of individuals depicted in the images.
Curated OER
Daily Journals
Students develop writing skills by writing in computer-based journals throughout the schools year. This lesson for the upper-elementary classroom uses the Timeliner educational software program and can be adapted for a variety of levels...