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Writing Myths I
Explain a natural phenomenon in an original myth. After researching the phenomenon they have chosen, young readers use factual information to include in their myth. They find synonyms and new phrases to create vivid images as they...
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Context Skills
Here is a fine lesson on teaching ways to use context clues. Upper graders split up into groups and use sticky notes to cover up five words in a passage of text. The passages are rotated to the other groups, and learners must use their...
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"Spelldown" by Becky Mushko
Learners read Spelldown, by Becky Mushko and consider how it portrays the Appalachian community. They define and discuss vocabulary presented in the story and write a comparison/contrast paper analyzing two of the story's characters. The...
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Nouns in a Story
Students, assessing a variety of formatting tools with Microsoft Word, utilize a bank of vocabulary words to make a personal dictionary of nouns. They classify nouns for people, places, things and ideas and separate them into common and...
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Word Choice in Writing
Sixth graders explore language arts by writing dialogue. In this vocabulary choice instructional activity, 6th graders identify synonyms and the importance of using a thesaurus while writing dialogue in their own original work. Students...
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Idiom Workout
Teach your students that identifying a phrase as an idiom isn't an insult! Providing an ample definition of the term "idiom," as well as three categories of popular idioms ("get the..." "in a..." and "on the..."), the activity prompts...
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Antonym Comparison of Animals and Me
Students explore the purpose of antonyms. For this language arts lesson, students create a list of words to describe animals. Students use the list to generate antonyms for each descriptive word.
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Choosing Words Carefully
Use literacy tools to select precise vocabulary. High schoolers respond to discussion questions that require them to consider the denotation and connotation of words. They then read non-fiction passages and identify words in the passages...
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What is Your Story?
Students listen to Picnic In October and Memory Coat to explore the concept of memoirs. They interview a family member and write a personal memoir that reflects their own family history.
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5
"Timid, scared, terrified." High school scholars examine words, their denotations and connotations, in a series of exercises that use lines from Shakespeare to explore figurative language and word relationships. Participants then...
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Practice Book O
Whether you need resources for reading comprehension, literary analysis, phonics, vocabulary, or text features, an extensive packet of worksheets is sure to fit your needs. Based on a fifth-grade curriculum but applicable to any level of...
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What's Your Reference
In this reference material worksheet, students choose the correct reference for each question given. Students discover the differences in the materials found in the dictionary, the almanac, the atlas, the newspaper, and the thesaurus.
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Vivid Words
In this vocabulary and word study worksheet, students explore the use of vivid words as they complete 8 fill in the blank questions. Students may also complete the challenge question at the bottom of the sheet.
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Antonyms
In this antonyms worksheet, learners write the definition for antonyms and give 5 examples of antonyms. Students match the given words with their antonyms in the second activity. In the third activity, learners add prefixes to the words...
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Amazing Adjectives
Fourth graders compose sentences that use descriptive adjectives to describe a specific food and day that they both like and dislike. They should really enjoy coming up with words that describe their favorite and least favorite foods!
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Rooting One's Way To Meaning
Students use a thesaurus on the internet to explore the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. They find definitions of given words, draw a concept map for root words, and write four synonyms for each word. Students discover how Latin and...
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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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Intermediate Matching – Types of Books
In this book genre learning exercise, students draw a line from the book type words to their definitions. They match nine words, which include dictionary, cookbook, encyclopedia, and fiction, with the definition that best describes it.
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Investigate a New Word from "Notes from the Trail"
Students read and take notes from Notes from the Trail. In this reading fluency lesson, students read back and share their notes finding 7-10 new words. Students define, write an unrelated sentence and present.
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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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New Hampshire Unplugged
Students define technology and how it is used. They give a personal account of how technology has affected people and in what ways they have used technology. Students compare the technology of today with technology used in one era of...
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Stylistic Aspects of Composition
Learners explore verbs. They list and demonstrate verbs. Students discuss words that connote different meanings. They write paragraphs based on their word selection. Learners share their paragraphs with the class.
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Writing About Feelings
Students use four photos of themselves or draw four pictures of themselves, each showing a different feeling.
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The Price is Right - Advertisements
Fourth graders design written advertisements using cut out items from catalogs or newspapers in order to persuade consumers.