Beacon Learning Center
Power Words
Using words can create a power struggle! Using antonyms and synonyms can create a Power Words game! Check out this lesson plan that teachers your class the difference between the two and how to use a thesaurus.
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Homophones and Vivid Verbs
Young scholars define and practice using synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and homophones in complete sentences, paragraphs and essays. They include "vivid verbs" in their writing with the aid of a dictionary or thesaurus.
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Writing Similes
Fifth graders identify and write similes. They define simile and discuss different examples, and with the help of a thesaurus, write original similes that compare the colors of crayons to objects or feelings. Students copy their rough...
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Acronym Names
Students create an acronym out of their name. They use a thesaurus and the computer to create it. They also add pictures to make it more creative.
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Learning Words
Students listen to Jane Yolen's, All Those Secrets of the World. They engage in activities to find word meanings without using a dictionary. They practice using a vocabulary mapping handout.
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The Crucible
Students participate in a layered curriculum unit. Credit is earned for learning, which comes about through listening, discussion, reading, and/or doing. They are verbally assessed for each activity chosen to complete.
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Students identify lightning words from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to complete definition and synonym activities. In this word study lesson, students discuss lighting words and read a Mark Twain quote. Students then read specific...
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Star -Spangled Illustrations
Third graders create a PowerPoint presentation to show their patriotism and express their thoughts on the meaning of The Star-Spangled Banner with this exciting and creative activity.
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The Art of Paraphrasing
Tenth graders participate in an activity in which they practice paraphrasing sections of primary and secondary documents. They are to share their paraphrasing with the class to help with their confidence speaking in front of a group.
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Glossary, Index, and Table of Contents
Fourth graders use two separate sources to learn about index, glossary, and table of contents usage. In this library lesson, 4th graders use two books, Learning About Weather with Graphic Organizers, and The World Almanac for Kids, to...
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Luscious Language Boxes
Students experience a writing activity aimed at spicing up their writing. They use the classroom Luscious Language Box to add creative parts of speech to their writing.
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Learning New Words
Middle schoolers, working in groups, make as many words as possible in a given time, using flash cards that contain prefixes, words, and definitions. They chose group roles and participate in a numbers of time rounds of this activities.
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Parts of Speech: Active Verbs
Pupils use White Fang to help them study active verbs. In this grammar lesson, students define active verbs and find examples in the the novel White Fang. Pupils then use ProQuest to research a place they'd like to visit. Students write...
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Painting with Words
Fifth graders discuss words that are over used in their writing such as good, nice, happy, glad sad, etc. they complete a survey about word choice then hear a story and discuss descriptive phrases used in the story and how they help to...
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Poetry: What's on Your Plate (Part 2)
Students write a short paragraph using strong descriptions. In this using modifiers lesson plan, students define modifier, adjective, adverb, metaphor, and simile. Students then write a journal entry in which they write about a...
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Poetry Power
Second graders explore language arts by analyzing poems in their class. In this word play lesson, 2nd graders define the terms rhyme, rhythm and alliteration and identify their uses. Students utilize class word lists to write their own...
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The Social Skill of Communication
Fifth graders explore communication by analyzing manners. In this social skills lesson, 5th graders review the different forms of communication and how to present yourself in a phone conversation, face to face meeting, e-mail, etc....
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Different Audiences
Students examine levels of language difficulty for different audiences. They explore how to simplify texts to suit a younger audience. Students use a thesaurus to find synonyms. Students select a news article to rewrite. They create...
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Synonyms
Students complete online exercises for synonyms. In this synonyms lesson, students work in pairs to find pictures around the room and choose one as the music plays. Students write a word to describe the picture and discuss their choices....
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Vocabulary - Unfolding Meaning
Young scholars use the dictionary and thesaurus and are able to explain a definition in their own words.
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The Couplet
Students create the sounds of a thunderstorm with a symphony of body percussion to compose a couplet about rain using Microsoft word to publish. They are introduced to rhyming dictionaries and thesauruses and use Internet sources for...
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Intrigued with Yo-Yos!
Fifth graders review the writing process and complete a research activity. In this writing process lesson, 5th graders research yo-yos online and write a research paper about the topic.
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Journeys
Students write a story using their journey to school as the setting. In groups, they discuss their experiences and browse through books to get ideas for their story. They practice using a thesaurus to find new verbs or adjectives they...
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Where to Look for the USA?
Fifth graders, in groups, explore the the type of reference sources are needed to answer a question. Each group identifies where the material was located, and the teacher records the guess.