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Work Patterned on Mondrian
Students study and describe aesthetic properties in art. They use criteria to participate in critiques.
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Comparing and Contrasting Heroes
Here is a language arts lesson that can be used with virtually any grade level. The only thing that changes is the reading level of the books. Learners compare and contrast different heroes and the characteristics they hold. They use a...
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Mother's Day Trip
Help your class develop their public speaking skills. They write original scripts for informative infomercials, plays, or poetry. They work to present their information with purpose.
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Color Your Destiny
Eighth graders read and discuss a variety of children's books that deal with feelings, self-concept and how they affect a person's perceptions of themselves as well as their world. They also tie in interrelationships of visual and...
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ADd IT-- ADjectives and ADverbs
Descriptive writing is a must for students to understand. Using adverbs and adjectives, they turn simple sentences into works of art. Each simple sentence gets a descriptive make-over. This lesson suggests using Laptops and SMART board...
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KWL Comprehension Strategy: Maus I and II
How much does your class know about World War II? Before reading Art Spiegelman's Maus I, lead your class in creating a KWL chart. Knowing the background and setting of the novel are extremely important in understanding this survivor's...
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Prepositions
Young readers practice using new vocabulary. They create clay animations that show examples of prepositions. They also create animated movies that help others learn the purpose of prepositions as well.
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Physical Education Word of the Week
Practice physical education vocabulary in your classroom. Working with language arts teachers, learners use dictionary skills to define and explain a word dealing with a concept in physical education. They also complete a task and have...
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Guided Reading with Jazz Baby
Jazz music and musicians are the focus of this language arts lesson. Young readers independently read the book Jazz Baby. To build fluency and independence they read silently, but are guided by directive comments from the teacher. They...
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Getting the Word Out
Discuss and generate blogs in this technology instructional activity. Middle and high schoolers explore examples of blogs and create their own blogs. Use this instructional activity throughout the year to reinforce concepts from your...
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Writing Concise Sentences
Use this online English skills worksheet on a computer lab day in your language arts class. Young writers respond to twelve questions that require them to write more concise sentences. They may check suggested answers.
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Messages and Viewpoint in Media
Explore media point of view. In this literacy and current events lesson plan, pupils identify examples of first and third person point of view in media articles. They analyze examples of media, interpret the messages, and determine...
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Maus: Problematic Situation Strategy
Do people really need “a newer, bigger Holocaust” in order to change? Or is it possible that by making text-to-self connections to the stories of others people that they can change? In order to connect to Art Spiegelman’s Maus, class...
Novelinks
Maus: Bingo Vacabulary Strategy
The definitions for unfamiliar words drawn from Art Spiegelman graphic novel memoir, Maus, provide the clues for a vocabulary bingo game.
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"Draw the Line"
Understanding the power of line in art is a step toward becoming a good artist. Provide a systematic way for learners to either show what they know about line, or explore how line affects the visual experience of the viewer. They create...
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Transition into the Common Core
Graphically organize and compare standards for the purpose of aligning curriculum to the Common Core.
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Art Smart
Students consider the importance of arts programs in public schools, explore the disparities in arts programs in the New York City school system.
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To Entertain
Second graders consider the author's purpose for writing a text. In this author's purpose lesson, 2nd graders discuss reasons why author's write a book and how it can often be for entertainment. Students read a book, provide two examples...
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Logos and Commercial Arts
Students identify popular logos and discuss the purpose they serve in advertising. They take a familiar logo and redesign it based on their own experience with the company it represents.
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Masks of Africa
Students explain the purpose of masks to various cultures in Africa. They recognize the conceptual patterns used to create African masks and illustrate their understanding by creating their own masks
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Reading Non-Fiction: Sentence Structure
Use this worksheet to help make explicit the connection between sentence structure, audience, and author's purpose. Readers track and find patterns in sentence structure in various nonfiction texts, and connect it to the purpose of the...
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Text Features of a Story
Bring the enjoyable story of Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel to your young readers. After reading the story as a class, students answer questions about a reading and make a graphic organizer. They make predictions,...
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Research
This research PowerPoint provides questions to consider when selecting a research topic. Emerging writers consider their purpose for writing and the audience they are writing for, and then practice narrowing down a topic given a list of...
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Colon and Semicolon Rules
Are your kids always mixing up the colon and the semicolon? Help make their purpose clear with this short presentation. Thirteen slides offer explanations, examples, and a short practice opportunity. Although it serves its purpose, the...