EngageNY
Structuring The Search: Categorizing Our Research
What can you contribute? Scholars read text to determine how ants contribute to the rainforest. First, they categorize and sort facts gathered from reading. Next, readers focus on specific terms in each paragraphs of the text Ants by...
The New York Times
Looking for Answers: Making Sense of the Boston Marathon Bombing
How should America respond to acts of domestic terrorism? What motivates or prompts a terrorist attack? After reading an opinion piece on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, your learners will critically analyze factors that could have...
Curated OER
Persuasive Speech Assignment
Practice using concrete evidence from various sources to back up an argument. The lesson emphasizes the use of support in a persuasive speech, as well as the importance of appealing to an audience's logic and emotions. You could modify...
Curated OER
Selecting the Tap: Water Safety
Examine water as a scarce natural resource instead of taking it for granted. Middle schoolers identify the traits of potable water, and research local water sources to determine if they are impaired or not.
EngageNY
Performance Task Preparation: Peer Critique and Mini-Lesson Addressing Common Errors: Revising Draft Essay to Inform
Time to revise! Using a writing evaluation rubric, scholars participate in a peer editing process to provide feedback on each others' informative essays. Next, pupils begin revising their drafts based on the feedback they receive. 
EngageNY
The Painted Essay for Opinion Writing: Writing Proof Paragraphs
It's time to proof read! Pupils read and analyze proof paragraphs from a model essay. They then practice writing their own proof paragraphs to express an opinion about offshore oil drilling.  
EngageNY
Writing to Inform: Analyzing a Model Using a Rubric
Learn to write right. Scholars analyze the model essay Adversity Faced by Townspeople in the Middle Ages. They discuss the essay and make annotations working with an elbow partner. Learners then take another look at the essay using a...
Virginia Department of Education 
Researching Information
Give your junior high researchers a clear concept of how to go about starting their research paper with the resources available in this exercise. Students develop an idea to research, and spend time in the library or computer lab...
Curated OER
Red Dirt Groundbreakers
Discover Oklahoma's first farmers. Read about 14 different agriculture workers and their contribution to Oklahoma's farming. After reading, have your class complete several activities such as researching an agriculturist, writing a...
Curated OER
Extreme Research Report
Investigate weather facts and figures to determine what has caused particular climate conditions. Research air pressure, temperature, wind, and humidity. Conduct online research to determine what air pressure, wind, temperature, and...
Curated OER
Writing a Screenplay
It's time to make a movie! Kids follow 15 steps to take their movie ideas from concept to script, following clear examples. The resource includes creative ways to guide learners into developing a few words and concepts into fully...
Curated OER
Religion in Japan Japanese Writing
Study the three writing systems of Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Your middle schoolers will practice writing Kanji and write a mini story in English which uses at least 10 of the Kanji in the place of the English words....
Curated OER
Transition Words for Better Writing
Improve learners' writing, comprehension, and analytical thinking by teaching the use of transition words.
Curated OER
Writing a Research Paper: Citing Sources and Revising
Young scholars complete a works cited page, make revisions on their writing, and improve their writing skills.  In this writing a research paper lesson, students create a bibliography using MLA format and peer evaluate the papers of...
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on tidal waves then draw a picture and write a report on the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on lightning then draw a picture and write a report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on weather then draw a picture and write a report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on weather fronts then draw a picture and write a report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on clouds then draw a picture and write a report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students conduct library or Internet research on humidity then draw a picture and write a report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research
In this Internet research worksheet, students complete a library or Internet search on astronauts then draw a picture and write a report on the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research: The Universe
Students search the Internet or library for information about the universe in this activity. Once they have answered the initial research question, students can draw a picture and write a short report about the topic.
Curated OER
Do Some Research: Atoms
Coupled with a lesson on atoms or a unit on research, this activity is a simple and helpful way for students to learn the research process, whether it's on the internet or in the library. After answering a question on atoms, students...
Curated OER
Do Some Research: Light Spectrum
Students explore both the scientifc world of the light spectrum and the research world of the library and/or internet in this activity, which asks a question about the light spectrum to be answered with student research. There is a space...