Curated OER
If I Could Have Been Somebody Else
Students research a specific person from American history who played a significant role and had an impact on future events and situations. They write a multi paragraph essay which includes three reasons explaining why they would have...
Curated OER
Community Brochures
Second graders research facets of their community in order to create an informational brochure. After brainstorming ideas of what could be included in the brochure, student groups get information from the internet, the library or a...
Curated OER
Proofreading
Learners review the techniques of editing and proofreading then complete writing prompt worksheet to assist the beginning of the writing process. They write a first draft on an assigned topic then revise, edit and format the finished...
Curated OER
To Whom It May Concern
Fourth graders produce and peer edit typed rough drafts of the business letters following the guidelines illustrated in the Eight Essential Parts of a business letter and save to disks. They complete the Where's the Math? scavenger hunt...
Curated OER
Kwanzaa Language Arts: The Tambiko
Young scholars read or hear about famous African Americans to learn about the ways in which they exemplify one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Curated OER
Survival Story
Students discuss the pros and cons of being deserted on an uninhabited island. Then they write their own survival stories and complete a story jacket.
Curated OER
Five Paragraph Essay
Eighth graders are introduced to the mechanics of writing a standard-form essay. They draft, edit and polish a five-paragraph essay about spending the day as an animal of their choice.
Curated OER
Job Interview
Eighth graders write a multi paragraphed, expository composition that explanins how one would conduct themself before, during, and after a job interview. In order to be prepared for the interview, 8th graders complete a thesis, have an...
Curated OER
McLean Train Yard
Students conduct online research and incorporate graphics and maps into a Powerpoint presentation that details life at the McLean train yard in its heyday.
Curated OER
Personally Speaking
Seventh graders read, "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," and write an expository essay discussing choices they have in society today compared with the character Kit.
Curated OER
The Odyssey Plan
Ninth graders read and analyze The Odyssey. They apply note-taking skills to identify enemy, type of enemy, and traits demonstrated throughout the book. Students create a storyboard that illustrates the selected episode from the book...
Curated OER
Photoelectric Devices
Fourth graders view a teacher-made PowerPoint presentation on how photoelectric devices work, and then they answer FCAT-like questions on the material presented. They answer questions about what they viewed in an assignment imbedded in...
Curated OER
The Only Superstitious Person Is Huck Finn
Fourth graders interview people from three different age groups about superstition including what they believe and why they believe it. This lesson goes along with the classic book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Curated OER
A Courtin' We Will Go
Young scholars investigate dialect in poetry as an indication of a people's culture in literature. They write a poem about dating in this era.
Curated OER
Exeter Model
Eighth graders analyze what makes poetry reading interesting to an audience. They read five short poems. Student free write their interpretations of those five poems. With the help of one line from their free writing, 8th graders start...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Giving Things a Name
Students label images seen on an interactive website. In this early writing lesson, students do their best to write the name of the object seen on the screen.
Curated OER
Growing Pains of the Yearling
Fourth graders read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Curated OER
Silly Nilly
Fourth graders create their own stories with a life lesson and illustrate them.
Curated OER
Help Me Find My Keys
Fourth graders write a five-paragraph essay on the topic: What mistakes have you made and then learned a life lesson from that experience?
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin: Using Transitions: Transitional Words and Phrases
Tables of words that show different types of sentence transitions. W.9-10.1c cohesion/clarity/reason, W.9-10.2c cohesion/clarity/transitions. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.4, W.11-12.1c Transitions/Cohesion, W.11-12.2c Transition/Cohesion....
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Additive Transition Words
This slideshow lesson focuses on additive transition words; it defines transition words and lists the categories. It explains what additive transitions do and when to use them, it provides a list of additive transition words and example...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Writing Effective Topic Sentences
This tutorial focuses on topic sentences using two slideshows. The first defines topic sentences, discusses purpose and placement, and provides a sample thesis statement followed by accompanying topic sentences samples. The second...
Grammarly
Grammarly Blog: Connecting Sentences
This Grammarly Handbook resource provides ways to connect sentences using transition words and punctuation (colons and semi-colons). Includes a list of transitional words and their uses, and a discussion of how punctuation is used to...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Using Transitional Expressions [Pdf]
Practice tying your sentences and ideas together with this worksheet on transitional expressions. W.9-10.1c cohesion/clarity/reason