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Lawrence Virtual School
Context Clues
Considering a lesson on using context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words? This packet includes a brief reading passage about strategies readers can use and 12 very different graphic organizers, including a template for a...
Curated OER
Which vs. That in Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
Should you use which or that when using a restrictive clause? What about a non-restrictive clause? Young writers practice their grammar skills with this resource, which provides a straightforward guide to which vs. that, as well as ten...
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
Pardon Me, Your Modifier is Dangling
Lost! (or misplaced) a modifier. Last seen dangling at the end of a sentence! Reward offered! To underscore the humor, class members are each given a sample sentence to illustrate (A woman passed by, leading a Springer Spaniel, in a...
Utah Education Network (UEN)
8th Grade Poetry: Sonnet Poem
The third lesson of five in an eighth-grade poetry unit has young scholars comparing Shakespearean sonnets with Petrarchan sonnets. To begin, they examine the different structures of the two forms and their different rhyme schemes. After...
Curated OER
Egyptian Burial
Young scholars research burial tombs of ancient Egypt. Acting as pharaohs of Egypt, students create burial plans to decide what items they would include in their own tombs and why. They find another student to analyze their plan.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension: Context Clues
Fifth graders use context clues to help them understand unknown words. In this context clues instructional activity, 5th graders practice identifying context clues on a worksheet, then work with a peer to write their own story. Stories...
Curated OER
Poetry Analysis Lesson and Rubric
Analyzing poetry can be done using a variety of techniques that tap into student's prior knowledge.
Curated OER
Bright Star, would I were a as thou art Questions
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 5 short answer and essay questions based on the poem "Bright Star, would I were steadfast as thou art."
Curated OER
Defining Moments
Seventh graders use context clues to define words. For this language arts lesson, 7th graders engage in a class discussion regarding how we determine the meaning of words that we aren't familiar with. Then, students complete a very good...
Curated OER
Up Close and Personal with Black Bayou Lake
Students get up close and personal with Black Bayou Lake. Visiting web sites and taking virtual tours, they write multi-paragraph essays using descriptive words and literary devices.
Curated OER
Making a Family Newsletter: Using a Word Template
Students create a one-page family newsletter about a selected person in their family. They bring in a photo or use a digital camera to take a picture of their selected family member, and use a newsletter template to write and publish...
Curated OER
Inventors
Students brainstorm a list of inventions that have affected their lives. In groups, they use the internet to research a specific inventor and their invention. They use the information to write two paragraphs and share their information...
Curated OER
Presidents of the United States
Learners discuss American Presidents. They each complete research on one particular President and then, using a template, create a short biography (including a picture) about him. When all biographies are complete, they compile them into...
Curated OER
Latino-American Authors and Historical FIgures
Eighth graders examine various websites and gather information from them about influential Latino-Americans. They synthesize the information they gathered to create a poster about their chosen influential Latino-American. Students...
Curated OER
Creating Storyboards for Younger Students
Students create electronic storyboards for younger children about a nearby refuge and lake. After interviewing the younger students about their impressions of the lake, they use Powerpoint to make the storyboard, including the interview,...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Colons and Dashes
This tutorial offers two slideshows: one for colons and one for dashes. They each state the purpose of the mark and tell when they are used along with examples.
Other
Dash, Parentheses, Bracket, Ellipsis, and Slash
This site contains information on the correct use of the following types of punctuation: dash, parentheses, bracket, ellipsis, and slash. Examples are provided for each of the uses discussed.
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Madison: Writing Center: Grammar and Punctuation
This site provides a grammar reference for students. The rules for using dashes, commas, semicolons, coordinating conjunctions, and conjunctive adverb are included. Topics including subject-verb agreement, how to proofread, and twelve...
Other
Illinois State Univ.: Punctuation Made Simple Dash
How is a dash used in a sentence? "Punctuation Made Simple," answers this question and gives examples to make the concepts easier to grasp.
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Dashes
This page focuses on the rules for the use of dashes. Explains what a dash is, what it does, and the three formats of dashes (em, en, and the double hyphen). Examples are provided with the "dash" used in different contexts.
Grammar Tips
Grammar Tips: A Hyphen Is Not a Dash
This resource presents an explanation of the difference between a dash and a hyphen. Discusses the difference between an "n" and "m" dash and how to form each using a word processor.
Other
Illinois State University: Punctuation Made Simple
Brief tutorial on how to use some of the most confusing punctuation marks: colon, semicolon, comma, dash, and the apostrophe.
Capital Community College Foundation
Guide to Grammar and Writing: The Dash
Instructional resource providing notes and examples on the rules for using the dash.
Harvard University
Harvard Writing Center: Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style
Rather than lists of rules, this site provides practical advice on the use of commas, semicolons, dashes, hyphens, abbreviations, acronyms, split infinitives, "this," "that," italics, and underlining. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.2