Digital Writing and Research Lab's – Lesson Plans
Teaching Close Reading through Short Composition/Revision
This activity may have writers evaluate short compositions, but their subjects are quite tall: great Americans. Pupils read one another's compositions and closely examine how specific phrases and diction contribute to shaping American...
Education Development Center
Micro-Geography of the Number Line
Young mathematicians dive into the number line to discover decimals and how the numbers infinitely get smaller in between. They click the zoom button a few times and learn that the number line doesn't just stop at integers. Includes...
EngageNY
Mid-Unit Assessment: Comparing and Contrasting Two Texts: Simulated Research
Shoo fly. Scholars read DDT Spray Scares Mosquitoes Away, Study Finds and You Think You Have It Tough? to complete a mid-unit assessment. The learners compare and contrast author presentation and conduct a credibility check on each...
Curated OER
Punctuating Dialogue
Middle schoolers punctuate sentences containing dialogue. In this dialogue lesson plan students solve and create sentence puzzles which are sentences cut into individual parts.
Curated OER
Writing Thank You Notes
Sixth graders write to a veteran. In this letter writing lesson, 6th graders identify the five parts of a letter and discuss the importance of sending thank you notes. Students write a thank you note to a veteran.
Curated OER
Sentence Structure
Pupils complete sentence structure activities. In this sentence structure lesson, students discuss ways to piece together a sentence using the given words from the teacher. Pupils may also participate in related activities that range in...
Curated OER
The Social Skill of Communication
Fifth graders explore communication by analyzing manners. In this social skills lesson plan, 5th graders review the different forms of communication and how to present yourself in a phone conversation, face to face meeting, e-mail, etc....
Curated OER
Forgiveness and Gratitude
Students are introduced to the concepts of forgiveness and gratitude. As a class, they listen as they are read a story and note acts of forgiveness and gratitude. They answer comprehension questions and brainstorm definitions of peace...
Curated OER
Forgiveness
Learners brainstorm what they believe forgiveness means. Individually, they write about a time in which they forgave someone and how it made them feel. To end the lesson, they participate in a role play activity in which they must...
Curated OER
Test Your Grammar Skills
In this grammar skills lesson, students read the descriptions and select the correct punctuation mark for each example. Students complete 10 examples.
Curated OER
Who is on that Bill? Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Papers
Students, who are adult learners, participate in an Internet scavenger hunt in order to assimilate information about the biography of Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Papers. They look at the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers...
Curated OER
Yo! Conventions!
Learners get in groups, take a list of words, put them into story form, and punctuate them. They present their story to the class and consider how punctuation changes meaning. Great excercise.
Curated OER
Heart to Heart
Candy conversation hearts make writing a sweet pastime. Fifth graders write narratives demonstrating a complete thought and correct punctuation. The trick here is that they must use the words on five candy conversation hearts as part of...
Curated OER
Marostica, Una Citta Incantevole
Students explore various Italian websites on the city of Marostica. They complete a worksheet, list the cultural events they would like to see, create a poster of an imagined cultural festivity in Italy, or write a radio announcement.
Curated OER
Hard Times
Students take part in a lesson that demonstrates a learning cycle and can be applied to the practice of teaching in general. They prepare for learning, agree on learning outcomes, receive new information, construct new meaning, apply new...
Curated OER
Index Card Jigsaw
Students explore accomplishments of historical figures. Through participation in a hands-on activity, teams of students match names, quotes, views and political party affiliation to the correct picture. They create a chart from the...
Curated OER
Exercise for Writing a Summary Paragraph
Young scholars examine how to write article summaries of abstracts. In this writing skills lesson, students edit the noted sections of an abstract that is already written on the Old Testament Abstracts.
Curated OER
Nazis Flying Saucers – Film Sparks UFO Debate
Students explore the aircraft used in World War II. For this World History lesson, students read an article that describes a "flying saucer" created by the Nazi's. Upon completion of the reading, students answer questions on the article,...
Curated OER
At the Governor's Mansion
Students visit Florida Governor's mansion online, and create class book about interesting facts and trivia.
Curated OER
Show You Care
Learners construct a four-line poem to be used on the inside of a Valentine's Day card. They use a digital camera to show themselves to their "buddies" (local nursing home patients) who receive the cards on Valentine's Day.
Curated OER
Happy Holidays
Students create holiday story while working in cooperative learning groups, using Chris Van Allsburg's Polar Express as a writing prompt.
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
Tests and Technology: The Tools Your Students Will Need
Tips for teachers and students as they navigate the new world of computer-based standardized assessments.
Curated OER
Who? What? When? Where? Asking Questions
Sixth graders interview Veterans or role play to answer who, what, where, when questions. In this Veteran's Day questioning activity, 6th graders learn about the events in the military service of veterans. Students may simulate...